BOSTON PROPERTIES INC
S-3/A, 2000-12-22
REAL ESTATE
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<PAGE>


   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2000

                                            Registration Statement No. 333-51024

================================================================================
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                           _________________________
                              AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                   FORM S-3

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           _________________________

                            BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                Delaware                                    04-2473675
      (State or other jurisdiction                       (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

                        800 Boylston Street, Suite 400
                       Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8001
                                (617) 236-3300
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code of
                   Registrant's principal executive offices)


                        Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Chairman
            Edward H. Linde, President and Chief Executive Officer
                            BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.
                        800 Boylston Street, Suite 400
                        Boston Massachusetts 02199-8001
                                (617) 236-3300
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                         _____________________________

                                   Copy to:

                            GILBERT G. MENNA, P.C.
                           ETTORE A. SANTUCCI, P.C.
                          Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP
                                Exchange Place
                       Boston, Massachusetts  02109-2881
                                (617) 570-1000
                         _____________________________

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

     If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.___

     If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. X
                                            ---

     If this form is used to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.___

     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.___

     If delivery of the Prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.__


The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file
a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.

================================================================================
<PAGE>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These +
+ securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the   +
+ Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This prospectus is not an  +
+ offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy      +
+ these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.      +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

               Subject to Completion.  Dated December 22, 2000.



Prospectus
----------


                        439,059 Shares of Common Stock


                            Boston Properties, Inc.


                                 ____________



     The selling stockholder identified in this prospectus, and any of its
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, may offer to sell
up to an aggregate of 439,059 shares of common stock of Boston Properties, Inc.
We are filing the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at
this time to fulfill a contractual obligation to do so, which we undertook at
the time of the original issuance of these shares.  We will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders but,
in fulfillment of our contractual obligations, we are bearing the expenses of
registration.


     Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"BXP."

     See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 4 for certain factors you should
consider before you invest in our common stock.

                             ____________________



     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if
this prospectus is truthful or complete.  It is illegal for any person to tell
you otherwise.


                             ____________________


                 The date of this prospectus is [___________]
<PAGE>

                              PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing
elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated herein by reference.  As this is a
summary, it may not contain all information that is important to you.  You
should read this entire prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest
in our common stock.

     Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "we," "us" or "our
company" in this prospectus refer collectively to Boston Properties, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, including Boston Properties Limited
Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, and their respective predecessor
entities for the applicable periods, considered as a single enterprise.

                             ____________________

                         About Boston Properties, Inc.

     We are a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate
investment trust or "REIT" and one of the largest owners and developers of
office properties in the United States.  We conduct substantially all our
business through our affiliate, Boston Properties Limited Partnership, in which
we are the sole general partner and hold a controlling economic interest.

     Our properties are concentrated in four core markets--Boston, midtown
Manhattan, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.  We have full-service offices in
Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Princeton, NJ, and achieve
efficiencies of scale by operating a centralized financial control and data
center at our Boston headquarters that is responsible for operating budgets,
billing and payments for all of our existing and development properties.

     We were formed to succeed to the real estate development, redevelopment,
acquisition, operating and leasing businesses associated with a predecessor
company founded by Messrs. Mortimer B.  Zuckerman and Edward H. Linde in 1970.
We believe that we have created significant value for our tenants and investors
by developing well located properties that meet the demands of today's office
tenants, redeveloping underperforming assets, and continuously improving the
marketing and management of our assets.


     Additional information regarding Boston Properties, including our audited
financial statements and descriptions of Boston Properties, is contained in the
documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.  See "Where You Can Find
More Information" on page 16.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                 THE OFFERING

     This prospectus relates to up to 439,059 shares of our common stock that
may be offered for sale by the selling stockholder.  On August 22, 2000, we
issued these shares of our common stock to the selling stockholder in connection
with our acquisition of the selling stockholder's rights associated with the
future development at the Prudential Center in Boston.  In connection with this
acquisition, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the selling
stockholder.  We are registering the common stock covered by this prospectus in
order to fulfill our contractual obligations under the registration rights
agreement.  Registration of the common stock does not necessarily mean that all
or any portion of such stock will be offered for sale by the selling
stockholder.

     We have agreed to bear the expenses of the registration of the common stock
under federal and state securities laws, but we will not receive any proceeds
from the sale of any common stock offered under this prospectus.


                     Tax Status of Boston Properties, Inc

     We have elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust under Sections
856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code.  As long as we qualify for
taxation as a real estate investment trust, we generally will not be subject to
federal income tax on that portion of our ordinary income and capital gains that
is currently distributed to our stockholders.  Even if we qualify for taxation
as a real estate investment trust, we may be subject to state and local taxes on
our income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on our
undistributed income.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                                 RISK FACTORS

     Before you purchase shares of our common stock from the selling
stockholders you should be aware that there are various risks in making such an
investment, including those described below.  You should consider carefully
these risk factors together with all of the information included or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus before you decide to purchase shares of our
common stock.  This section includes or refers to certain forward-looking
statements.  You should refer to the explanation of the qualifications and
limitations on such forward-looking statements discussed on page 18.

We may be unable to manage effectively our rapid growth and expansion into new
markets.

     We have grown rapidly since our initial public offering in June 1997 and
have entered or significantly expanded our real estate holdings in new markets.
If we do not effectively manage our rapid growth, we may not be able to make
expected distributions to our securityholders.

Our performance and value are subject to risks associated with our real estate
assets.

     Our economic performance and the value of our real estate assets, and
consequently the value of your investment, are subject to the risk that if our
office, industrial, and hotel properties do not generate revenues sufficient to
meet our operating expenses, including debt service and capital expenditures,
our cash flow and ability to pay dividends to you will be adversely affected.
The following factors, among others, may adversely affect the revenues generated
by our office, industrial, and hotel properties:

     .    downturns in the national and local economic climate;

     .    competition from other office, industrial, hotel and other commercial
          buildings;

     .    local real estate market conditions, such as oversupply or reduction
          in demand for office, industrial, hotel or other commercial space;

     .    vacancies or inability to rent spaces on favorable terms; and

     .    increased operating costs, including insurance premiums, utilities,
          and real estate taxes.

     Significant expenditures associated with each investment, such as debt
service payments, real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs are
generally not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in revenues from a
property.

We face risks associated with specific local market conditions.

     Our current properties are located primarily in seven regional markets:
greater Boston; midtown Manhattan; greater Washington, D.C.; greater San
Francisco; Princeton/East Brunswick, New Jersey; Richmond, Virginia; and
Baltimore, Maryland.  Local economic conditions in these markets may affect the
ability of our tenants to make lease payments.  The economic climate in each of
these local markets may depend on a limited number of industries, and therefore
a downturn in one of these industry sectors could adversely affect our
performance in the affected market.

Our investment in property development may be more costly than anticipated.

     We intend to continue to develop and substantially renovate office,
industrial and hotel properties. Our development and construction activities may
be exposed to the following risks:

     .    we may be unable to proceed with the development of properties because
          we cannot obtain financing with favorable terms;

                                       4
<PAGE>

     .    we may incur construction costs for a development project which exceed
          our original estimates due to increased materials, labor or other
          costs, which could make completion of the project uneconomical because
          we may not be able to increase rents to compensate for the increase in
          construction costs;

     .    we may be unable to obtain, or face delays in obtaining, required
          zoning, land-use, building, occupancy, and other governmental permits
          and authorizations, which could result in increased costs and could
          require us to abandon our activities entirely with respect to a
          project;

     .    we may abandon development opportunities after we begin to explore
          them and as a result we may fail to recover expenses already incurred;

     .    we may expend funds on and devote management's time to projects which
          we do not complete;

     .    we may be unable to complete construction and leasing of a property
          on schedule, resulting in increased debt service expense and
          construction or renovation costs;

     .    we may lease developed properties at below expected rental rates; and

     .    occupancy rates and rents at newly completed properties may fluctuate
          depending on a number of factors, including market and economic
          conditions, and may result in our investment not being profitable.

Our use of joint ventures may limit our flexibility with jointly owned
investments.

     We intend to develop properties in joint ventures with other persons or
entities when circumstances warrant the use of this structure.  The use of a
joint venture vehicle creates a risk of a dispute with our joint venturers and a
risk that we will have to acquire a joint venturer's interest in a development
for a price at which or at a time when we would otherwise not purchase such
interest. Our joint venture partners may have different objectives from us
regarding the appropriate timing and pricing of any sale or refinancing of
properties.

We face risks associated with property acquisitions.

     Since our initial public offering, we have made large acquisitions of
properties and portfolios of properties.  We intend to continue to acquire
properties and portfolios of properties, including large portfolios that could
continue to significantly increase our size and alter our capital structure. Our
acquisition activities and their success may be exposed to the following risks:

     .    we may be unable to acquire a desired property because of competition
          from other well capitalized real estate investors, including both
          publicly traded real estate investment trusts and institutional
          investment funds;

     .    even if we enter into an acquisition agreement for a property, it is
          usually subject to customary conditions to closing, including
          completion of due diligence investigations to our satisfaction;

     .    even if we are able to acquire a desired property, competition from
          other real estate investors may significantly increase the purchase
          price;

     .    we may be unable to finance acquisitions on favorable terms;

     .    acquired properties may fail to perform as we expected in analyzing
          our investments;

                                       5
<PAGE>

     .    our estimates of the costs of repositioning or redeveloping acquired
          properties may be inaccurate;

     .    acquired properties may be located in new markets, where we may face
          risks associated with a lack of market knowledge or understanding of
          the local economy, lack of business relationships in the area and
          unfamiliarity with local governmental and permitting procedures; and

     .    we may be unable to quickly and efficiently integrate new
          acquisitions, particularly acquisitions of portfolios of properties,
          into our existing operations, and as a result our results of
          operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

     We may acquire properties subject to liabilities and without any recourse,
or with only limited recourse, with respect to unknown liabilities.  As a
result, if liability were asserted against us based upon those properties, we
might have to pay substantial sums to settle it, which could adversely affect
our cash flow.  Unknown liabilities with respect to properties acquired might
include:

     .    liabilities for clean-up of undisclosed environmental contamination;

     .    claims by tenants, vendors or other persons dealing with the former
          owners of the properties;

     .    liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

     .    claims for indemnification by general partners, directors, officers
          and others indemnified by the former owners of the properties.

Potential inability to renew leases or re-lease space.

     We derive most of our income from rent received from our tenants.  If a
tenant experiences a downturn in its business, it may be unable to make timely
rental payments.  Also, when our tenants decide not to renew their leases, we
may not be able to relet the space.  Even if tenants decide to renew, the terms
of renewals or new leases, including the cost of required renovations or
concessions to tenants, may be less favorable than current lease terms.  As a
result, our cash flow could decrease and our ability to pay dividends to you
could be adversely affected.

We face potential adverse effects from a tenant's bankruptcy.

     The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant may adversely affect the
income produced by our properties.  Although we have not experienced material
losses from tenant bankruptcies in the past, our tenants could file for
bankruptcy protection in the future.  We cannot evict a tenant solely because of
its bankruptcy.  On the other hand, a bankruptcy court might authorize the
tenant to reject and terminate its lease with us.  In such case, our claim
against the bankrupt tenant for unpaid, future rent would be subject to a
statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent actually
owed under the lease, and, even so, our claim for unpaid rent would likely not
be paid in full.  This shortfall could adversely affect our cash flow and
results from operations.

We may have difficulty selling our properties limiting our flexibility.

     Large and high quality office, industrial and hotel properties like the
ones that we own can be hard to sell, especially if local market conditions are
poor.  This may limit our ability to change our portfolio promptly in response
to changes in economic or other conditions.  In addition, federal tax laws limit
our ability to sell properties that we have owned for fewer than four years, and
this may affect our ability to sell properties without adversely affecting
returns to our stockholders.  These restrictions reduce our ability to respond
to changes in the performance of our investments and could adversely affect our
financial condition and results of operations.

                                       6
<PAGE>

Our properties face significant competition.

     We face significant competition from developers, owners and operators of
office, industrial and other commercial real estate.  Substantially all of our
properties face competition from similar properties in the same area.  Such
competition may effect our ability to attract and retain tenants and may reduce
the rents we are able to charge.  These competing properties may have vacancy
rates higher than our properties, which may result in their owners being willing
to make space available at lower prices than the space in our properties.

Because we own hotel properties, we face general risks associated with such
properties.

     We own three hotel properties.  We lease these hotel properties to ZL Hotel
LLC, in which Mortimer B. Zuckerman, chairman of our board of directors, and
Edward H. Linde, our president and chief executive officer, are the sole member-
managers and have a 9.8% economic interest; two unaffiliated public charities
have a 90.2% economic interest in ZL Hotel LLC.  Marriott International, Inc.
manages these hotel properties under the Marriott(R) name pursuant to a
management agreement with ZL Hotel LLC.  ZL Hotel LLC pays us a percentage of
the gross receipts that the hotel properties receive.  Because the lease
payments we receive are based on a participation in the gross receipts of the
hotels, if the hotels do not generate sufficient receipts, our cash flow would
be decreased, which could reduce the amount of cash available for distribution
to our securityholders.  The following factors, among others, are common to the
hotel industry, and may reduce the receipts generated by our hotel properties:

     .    our hotel properties compete for guests with other hotels, a number of
          which have greater marketing and financial resources than our hotel-
          operating business partners;

     .    if there is an increase in operating costs resulting from inflation
          and other factors, our hotel-operating business partners may not be
          able to offset such increase by increasing room rates;

     .    our hotel properties are subject to the fluctuating and seasonal
          demands of business travelers and tourism; and

     .    our hotel properties are subject to general and local economic
          conditions that may affect demand for travel in general.

Compliance or failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and
other similar laws could result in substantial costs.

     The Americans with Disabilities Act generally requires that public
buildings, including office buildings and hotels, be made accessible to disabled
persons.  Noncompliance could result in imposition of fines by the federal
government or the award of damages to private litigants.  If, pursuant to the
Americans with Disabilities Act, we are required to make substantial alterations
and capital expenditures in one or more of our properties, including the removal
of access barriers, it could adversely affect our financial condition and
results of operations, as well as the amount of cash available for distribution
to our securityholders.

     We may also incur significant costs complying with other regulations.  Our
properties are subject to various federal, state and local regulatory
requirements, such as state and local fire and life safety requirements.  If we
fail to comply with these requirements, we could incur fines or private damage
awards.  We believe that our properties are currently in material compliance
with all of these regulatory requirements.  However, we do not know whether
existing requirements will change or whether compliance with future requirements
will require significant unanticipated expenditures that will affect our cash
flow and results from operations.

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<PAGE>

Some potential losses are not covered by insurance.

     We carry comprehensive liability, fire, flood, extended coverage and rental
loss insurance, as applicable, on our properties. We believe our coverage is of
the type and amount customarily obtained for or by an owner of similar
properties.  We believe all of our properties are adequately insured.  However,
there are certain types of losses, such as from wars or catastrophic acts of
nature, for which we cannot obtain insurance or for which we cannot obtain
insurance at a reasonable cost.  In the event of an uninsured loss or a loss in
excess of our insurance limits, we could lose both the revenues generated from
the affected property and the capital we have invested in the affected property.
We would, however, remain obligated to repay any mortgage indebtedness or other
obligations related to the property.  Any such loss could materially and
adversely affect our business and financial condition and results of operations.

     We carry earthquake insurance on our properties located in areas known to
be subject to earthquakes in an amount and subject to deductions which we
believe are commercially reasonable. However, the amount of our earthquake
insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover losses from earthquakes. In
addition, we may discontinue earthquake insurance on some or all of our
properties in the future if the premiums exceed the value of the coverage
discounted for the risk of loss. If we experience a loss which is uninsured or
which exceeds policy limits, we could lose the capital invested in the damaged
properties as well as the anticipated future revenue from those properties.
Moreover, if the damaged properties are subject to recourse indebtedness, we
would continue to be liable for the indebtedness, even if the properties were
irreparable.

Potential liability for environmental contamination could result in substantial
costs.

     Under federal, state and local environmental laws, we may be required to
investigate and clean up the effects of releases of hazardous or toxic
substances or petroleum products at our properties, regardless of our knowledge
or responsibility, simply because of our current or past ownership or operation
of the real estate.  If unidentified environmental problems arise, we may have
to make substantial payments which could adversely affect our cash flow and our
ability to make distributions to our securityholders because:

     .    as owner or operator we may have to pay for property damage and for
          investigation and clean-up costs incurred in connection with the
          contamination;

     .    the law typically imposes clean-up responsibility and liability
          regardless of whether the owner or operator knew of or caused the
          contamination;

     .    even if more than one person may be responsible for the contamination,
          each person who shares legal liability under the environmental laws
          may be held responsible for all of the clean-up costs; and

     .    governmental entities and third parties may sue the owner or operator
          of a contaminated site for damages and costs.

     These costs could be substantial and in extreme cases could exceed the
value of the contaminated property.  The presence of hazardous or toxic
substances or petroleum products or the failure to properly remediate
contamination may materially and adversely affect our ability to borrow against,
sell or rent an affected property.  In addition, applicable environmental laws
create liens on contaminated sites in favor of the government for damages and
costs it incurs in connection with a contamination.

     Environmental laws also govern the presence, maintenance and removal of
asbestos. Such laws require that owners or operators of buildings containing
asbestos:

     .    properly manage and maintain the asbestos;

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<PAGE>

     .    notify and train those who may come into contact with asbestos; and

     .    undertake special precautions, including removal or other abatement,
          if asbestos would be disturbed during renovation or demolition of a
          building.

Such laws may impose fines and penalties on building owners or operators who
fail to comply with these requirements and may allow third parties to seek
recovery from owners or operators for personal injury associated with exposure
to asbestos fibers.

     Some of our properties are located in urban and industrial areas where fill
or current or historic industrial uses of the areas have caused site
contamination.  Independent environmental consultants have conducted Phase I
environmental site assessments at all of our properties. These assessments
included, at a minimum, a visual inspection of the properties and the
surrounding areas, an examination of current and historical uses of the
properties and the surrounding areas and a review of relevant state, federal and
historical documents. Where appropriate, on a property-by-property basis, these
consultants have conducted additional testing, including sampling for asbestos,
for lead in drinking water, for soil contamination where underground storage
tanks are or were located or where other past site usages create a potential
environmental problem, and for contamination in groundwater.  Even though these
environmental assessments have been conducted, there is still the risk that:

     .    the environmental assessments and updates did not identify all
          potential environmental liabilities;

     .    a prior owner created a material environmental condition that is not
          known to us or the independent consultants preparing the assessments;

     .    new environmental liabilities have developed since the environmental
          assessments were conducted; and

     .    future uses or conditions such as changes in applicable environmental
          laws and regulations could result in environmental liability for us.

We face risks associated with the use of debt to fund acquisitions and
developments, including refinancing risk.

     We are subject to the risks normally associated with debt financing,
including the risk that our cash flow will be insufficient to meet required
payments of principal and interest.  We anticipate that only a small portion of
the principal of our debt will be repaid prior to maturity.  Therefore, we are
likely to need to refinance at least a portion of our outstanding debt as it
matures.  There is a risk that we may not be able to refinance existing debt or
that the terms of any refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms of the
existing debt.  If principal payments due at maturity cannot be refinanced,
extended or repaid with proceeds from other sources, such as new equity capital,
our cash flow will not be sufficient to repay all maturing debt in years when
significant "balloon" payments come due.

Rising interest rates would increase interest costs.

     We currently have, and may incur more, indebtedness that bears interest at
variable rates. Accordingly, if interest rates increase, so will our interest
costs, which would adversely affect our cash flow, our ability to service debt
and our ability to make distributions to our securityholders.

We have no corporate limitation on the amount of debt we can incur.

     Our management and board of directors have discretion under our certificate
of incorporation and bylaws to increase the amount of our outstanding debt.  Our
decisions with regard to the incurrence and maintenance of debt are based on
available investment opportunities for

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<PAGE>

which capital is required, the cost of debt in relation to such investment
opportunities, whether secured or unsecured debt is available, the effect of
additional debt on existing financial ratios and the maturity of the proposed
new debt relative to maturities of existing debt. We could become more highly
leveraged, resulting in increased debt service costs that could adversely affect
our cash flow and the amount available for payment of dividends. If we increase
our debt we may also increase the risk we will be unable to repay our debt.

Our financial covenants could adversely affect our financial condition.

     The mortgages on our properties contain customary negative covenants such
as those that limit our ability, without the prior consent of the lender, to
further mortgage the applicable property or to discontinue insurance coverage.
In addition, our credit facilities contain certain customary restrictions,
requirements and other limitations on our ability to incur indebtedness,
including total debt to assets ratios, secured debt to total asset ratios, debt
service coverage ratios and minimum ratios of unencumbered assets to unsecured
debt which we must maintain.  Our ability to borrow under our credit facilities
is subject to compliance with our financial and other covenants.  We rely on
borrowings under our credit facilities to finance acquisitions and development
activities and for working capital, and if we are unable to borrow under our
credit facilities, or to refinance existing indebtedness our financial condition
and results of operations would likely be adversely impacted.  If we breach
covenants in our debt agreements, the lender can declare a default and require
us to repay the debt immediately and, if the debt is secured, can immediately
take possession of the property securing the loan.  In addition, our credit
facilities are cross-defaulted to our other indebtedness, which would give the
lenders under our credit facilities the right also to declare a default and
require immediate repayment.

Our degree of leverage could limit our ability to obtain additional financing or
affect the market price of our stock.

     Debt to Market Capitalization Ratio is a measure of our total debt as a
percentage of the aggregate of our total debt plus the market value of our
outstanding common stock and interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership.
Our Debt to Market Capitalization Ratio was approximately 43.1% as of September
30, 2000.  To the extent that our board of directors uses our Debt to Market
Capitalization Ratio as a measure of appropriate leverage, the total amount of
our debt could increase as our stock price increases, even if we may not have a
corresponding increase in our ability to service or repay the debt.  Our degree
of leverage could affect our ability to obtain additional financing for working
capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, development or other general
corporate purposes.  Our degree of leverage could also make us more vulnerable
to a downturn in business or the economy generally.  There is a risk that
changes in our Debt to Market Capitalization Ratio, which is in part a function
of our stock price, or our ratio of indebtedness to other measures of asset
value used by financial analysts may have an adverse effect on the market price
of our stock.

Further issuances of stock may be dilutive to current stockholders.

     The interests of our existing stockholders could be diluted if additional
equity securities are issued to finance future developments and acquisitions
instead of incurring additional debt.  Our ability to execute our business
strategy depends on our access to an appropriate blend of debt financing,
including unsecured lines of credit and other forms of secured and unsecured
debt, and equity financing, including common and preferred equity.


Failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust would cause us to be taxed
as a corporation, which would substantially reduce funds available for payment
of dividends.

     If we fail to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income
tax purposes, we will be taxed as a corporation.  We believe that we are
organized and qualified as a real estate investment trust, and intend to operate
in a manner that will allow us to continue to qualify as a real

                                       10
<PAGE>

estate investment trust. However, we cannot assure you that we are qualified as
such, or that we will remain qualified as such in the future. This is because
qualification as a real estate investment trust involves the application of
highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code as to which
there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations, and involves
the determination of facts and circumstances not entirely within our control. In
addition, future legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or
court decisions may significantly change the tax laws or the application of the
tax laws with respect to qualification as a real estate investment trust for
federal income tax purposes or the federal income tax consequences of such
qualification.

     If we fail to qualify as a real estate investment trust we will face
serious tax consequences that will substantially reduce the funds available for
payment of dividends for each of the years involved because:

     .    we would not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to stockholders
          in computing our taxable income and would be subject to federal income
          tax at regular corporate rates;

     .    we also could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and
          possibly increased state and local taxes;

     .    unless we are entitled to relief under statutory provisions, we could
          not elect to be subject to tax as a real estate investment trust for
          four taxable years following the year during which we were
          disqualified; and

     .    all dividends will be subject to tax as ordinary income to the extent
          of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

     In addition, if we fail to qualify as a real estate investment trust, we
will no longer be required to pay dividends.  As a result of all these factors,
our failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust could impair our
ability to expand our business and raise capital, and would adversely affect the
value of our common stock.

In order to maintain our real estate investment trust status, we may be forced
to borrow funds on a short-term basis during unfavorable market conditions.

     In order to maintain our real estate investment trust status, we may need
to borrow funds on a short-term basis to meet the real estate investment trust
distribution requirements, even if the then prevailing market conditions are not
favorable for these borrowings.  To qualify as a real estate investment trust,
we generally must distribute to our stockholders at least 95% (reduced to 90%
for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000) of our net taxable income
each year, excluding capital gains.  In addition, we will be subject to a 4%
nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which dividends paid by us in
any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of our ordinary income, 95% of
our capital gain net income and 100% of our undistributed income from prior
years. We may need short-term debt to fund required distributions as a result of
differences in timing between the actual receipt of income and the recognition
of income for federal income tax purposes, or the effect of non-deductible
capital expenditures, the creation of reserves or required debt or amortization
payments.

Limits on changes in control may discourage takeover attempts beneficial to
stockholders.

     Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, our shareholder
rights agreement and the agreement of limited partnership of Boston Properties
Limited Partnership, as well as provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and
Delaware corporate law, may:

     .    delay or prevent a change of control over us or a tender offer, even
          if they might be beneficial to our stockholders; and

                                       11
<PAGE>

     .    limit our stockholders' opportunity to receive a potential premium for
          their shares of common stock over then-prevailing market prices.

     Stock Ownership Limit

     Primarily to facilitate maintenance of our qualification as a real estate
investment trust, our corporate charter generally prohibits ownership, directly,
indirectly or beneficially, by any single stockholder of more than 6.6% of the
number of outstanding shares of any class or series of our equity stock.  We
refer to this limitation as the "ownership limit."  Our board of directors may
waive or modify the ownership limit with respect to one or more persons if it is
satisfied that ownership in excess of this limit will not jeopardize our status
as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.  In addition,
under our corporate charter each of Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde, along with
their family and affiliates, as well as, in general, pension plans and mutual
funds, may actually and beneficially own up to 15% of the number of outstanding
shares of any class or series of our equity common stock.  Shares owned in
violation of the ownership limit will be subject to the loss of rights to
distributions and voting and other penalties.  The ownership limit may have the
effect of inhibiting or impeding a change in control.

     Operating Partnership Agreement

     We have agreed in the agreement of limited partnership of Boston Properties
Limited Partnership not to engage in business combinations unless limited
partners of Boston Properties Limited Partnership other than Boston Properties,
Inc. receive, or have the opportunity to receive, the same consideration for
their partnership interests as holders of our common stock in the transaction.
If these limited partners do not receive such consideration, we cannot engage in
the transaction unless 75% of these limited partners vote to approve the
transaction.  In addition, we have agreed in the partnership agreement that we
will not consummate business combinations in which we received the approval of
our stockholders unless these limited partners are also allowed to vote and the
transaction would have been approved had these limited partners been able to
vote as stockholders on the transaction.  Therefore, if our stockholders approve
a business combination that requires a vote of stockholders, the partnership
agreement requires the following before we can consummate the transaction:

     .    holders of interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership
          (including Boston Properties, Inc.) must vote on the matter;

     .    Boston Properties, Inc. must vote its partnership interests in the
          same proportion as our stockholders voted on the transaction; and

     .    the result of the partners' vote must be such that had such vote been
          a vote of stockholders, the business combination would have been
          approved.

     As a result of these provisions, a potential acquiror may be deterred from
making an acquisition proposal and we may be prohibited by contract from
engaging in a proposed business combination even though our stockholders approve
of the combination.

     Shareholder Rights Plan

     We have adopted a shareholder rights plan.  Under the terms of this
agreement, we can in effect prevent a person or group from acquiring more than
15% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, because, unless we approve of
the acquisition, after the person acquires more than 15% of our outstanding
common stock, all other stockholders will have the right to purchase securities
from us at a price that is less than their then fair market value, which would
substantially reduce the value and influence of the stock owned by the acquiring
person.  Our board of directors can prevent the agreement from operating by
approving the transaction, which gives us significant

                                       12
<PAGE>

power to approve or disapprove of the efforts of a person or group to acquire a
large interest in our company.

We may change our policies without obtaining the approval of our stockholders.

     Our operating and financial policies, including our policies with respect
to acquisitions, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and dividends,
are determined by our board of directors.  Accordingly, as a stockholder, you
will have little direct control over these policies.

Our success depends on key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed.

     We depend on the efforts of key personnel, particularly Mortimer B.
Zuckerman, Chairman of our board of directors, and Edward H. Linde, our
President and Chief Executive Officer.  Among the reasons that Messrs. Zuckerman
and E. Linde are important to our success is that each has a national reputation
which attracts business and investment opportunities and assists us in
negotiations with lenders.   If we lost their services, our relationships with
lenders, potential tenants and industry personnel would diminish.

     Our other executive officers who serve as managers of our offices have
strong regional reputations.  Their reputations aid us in identifying
opportunities, having opportunities brought to us, and negotiating with tenants
and build-to-suit prospects.  While we believe that we could find replacements
for these key personnel, the loss of their services could materially and
adversely effect our operations because of diminished relationships with
lenders, prospective tenants and industry personnel.

     Mr. Zuckerman has substantial outside business interests, including serving
as Chairman of the board of directors of U.S. News & World Report, The New York
Daily News and Applied Graphics Technologies, and serving as a member of the
board of directors of Snyder Communications, Chase Manhattan Corporation
National Advisory Board and Loews Cineplex. Such outside business interests
could interfere with his ability to devote time to our business and affairs.
Over the last twenty years, Mr. Zuckerman has devoted a significant portion,
although not a majority, of his business time to the affairs of Boston
Properties and its predecessors.   We have no assurance that he will continue to
devote any specific portion of his time to us, although at present, he has no
commitments which would prevent him from maintaining his current level of
involvement with our business.

Conflicts of interest exist with holders of interests in Boston Properties
Limited Partnership.

     Sales of properties and repayment of related indebtedness will have
     different effects on holders of interests in Boston Properties Limited
     Partnership than on our stockholders.

     Some holders of interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership,
including Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde, would incur adverse tax consequences
upon the sale of certain of our properties and on the repayment of related debt
which differ from the tax consequences to us and our stockholders.
Consequently, such holders of interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership
may have different objectives regarding the appropriate pricing and timing of
any such sale or repayment of debt.  While we have exclusive authority under the
agreement of limited partnership of Boston Properties Limited Partnership to
determine when to refinance or repay debt or whether, when, and on what terms to
sell a property, subject, in the case of certain properties, to the contractual
commitments described below, any such decision would require the approval of our
board of directors.  As directors and executive officers, Messrs. Zuckerman and
E. Linde have substantial influence with respect to any such decision.  Their
influence could be exercised in a manner inconsistent with the interests of
some, or a majority, of our stockholders, including in a manner which could
prevent completion of a sale of a property or the repayment of indebtedness.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     Agreement not to sell some properties.

     Under the terms of the agreement of limited partnership of Boston
Properties Limited Partnership, we have agreed not to sell or otherwise transfer
some of our properties, prior to specified dates, in any transaction that would
trigger taxable income, without first obtaining the consent of Messrs. Zuckerman
and E. Linde.  However, we are not required to obtain their consent if, during
the applicable period, each of them does not hold at least 30% of his original
interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership.  In addition, we have
entered into similar agreements with respect to other properties that we have
acquired in exchange for interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership.  As
of September 30, 2000, there were a total of 35 properties subject to these
restrictions, and those 35 properties are estimated to have accounted for
approximately 61.1% of our total revenue on a pro forma basis for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

     Boston Properties Limited Partnership has also entered into agreements
providing Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde and others with the right to guarantee
our additional and/or substitute indebtedness in the event that certain other
indebtedness is repaid or reduced.

     The agreements described above may hinder actions that we may otherwise
desire to take because we would be required to make payments to the
beneficiaries of such agreements if we violate these agreements.

     Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde will continue to engage in other activities.

     Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde have a broad and varied range of investment
interests. Either one could acquire an interest in a company which is not
currently involved in real estate investment activities but which may acquire
real property in the future.  However, pursuant to Mr. E. Linde's employment
agreement and Mr. Zuckerman's non-compete agreement, Messrs. Zuckerman and E.
Linde will not, in general, have management control over such companies and,
therefore, they may not be able to prevent one or more such companies from
engaging in activities that are in competition with our activities.

Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our
publicly traded securities.

     As with other publicly traded equity securities, the value of our common
stock depends on various market conditions which may change from time to time.
Among the market conditions that may affect the value of our publicly traded
securities are the following:

     .    the extent of investor interest in us;

     .    the general reputation of real estate investment trusts and the
          attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity
          securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based
          companies;

     .    our financial performance; and

     .    general stock and bond market conditions.

     The market value of equity securities is based primarily upon the market's
perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings
and cash dividends.  Consequently, our equity securities, including our common
stock, may trade at prices that are higher or lower than our net asset value per
share of common stock.  If our future earnings or cash dividends are less than
expected, it is likely that the market price of our common stock will diminish.

                                       14
<PAGE>

Market interest rates may have an effect on the value of our publicly traded
securities.

     One of the factors that investors may consider important in deciding
whether to buy or sell shares of a real estate investment trust is the dividend
with respect to such real estate investment trust's shares as a percentage of
the price of such shares, relative to market interest rates.  If market interest
rates go up, prospective purchasers of shares of a real estate investment trust
may expect a higher distribution rate on our common stock.  Higher market
interest rates would not, however, result in more funds for us to distribute
and, to the contrary, would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially
decrease funds available for distribution.  Thus, higher market interest rates
could cause the market price of our publicly traded securities to go down.

The number of shares available for future sale could adversely affect the market
price of our stock.

     We have entered into a number of private placement transactions where
shares of capital stock of Boston Properties, Inc. or interests in Boston
Properties Limited Partnership were issued both at the time of our initial
public offering and thereafter to owners of properties we acquired or to
institutional investors.  This stock, or stock issuable in exchange for such
interests in Boston Properties Limited Partnership, may be sold in the public
market over time pursuant to registration rights.  Additional stock reserved
under our employee benefit and other incentive plans, including stock options,
may also be sold in the public at some time in the future.  Future sales of
stock in the public securities markets could adversely affect the price of our
stock.  We cannot predict the effect that perception in the market that such
sales may occur will have on the market price of our stock.

We did not obtain new owner's title insurance policies in connection with
properties acquired during our initial public offering.

     We acquired many of our properties from our predecessors at the completion
of our initial public offering in June 1997.   Before we acquired these
properties each of them was insured by a title insurance policy.  We did not,
however, obtain new owner's title insurance policies in connection with the
acquisition of such properties.   Nevertheless, because in many instances we
acquired these properties indirectly by acquiring ownership of the entity which
owned the property and those owners remain in existence as our subsidiaries,
some of these title insurance policies may continue to benefit us.  Many of
these title insurance policies may be for amounts less than the current values
of the applicable properties.  If there was a title defect related to any of
these properties, or to any of the properties acquired at the time of our
initial public offering, that is no longer covered by a title insurance policy,
we could lose both our capital invested in and our anticipated profits from such
property.

      We have obtained title insurance policies for all properties that we have
acquired after our initial public offering.

We face possible adverse changes in tax and environmental laws.

     Generally, we pass through to our tenants costs resulting from increases in
real estate taxes.  However, we generally do not pass through to our tenants
increases in income, service or transfer taxes.  Similarly, changes in laws
increasing the potential liability for environmental conditions existing on our
properties or increasing the restrictions on discharges or other conditions may
result in significant unanticipated expenditures.  These increased costs could
adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and the
amount of cash available for payment of dividends.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and we are required to file reports and proxy
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and information at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission
at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549,
and at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regional Offices at 7 World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048, and Citicorp Center, 500 W.
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. You may also obtain
copies at the prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the
Securities and Exchange Commission at its principal office in Washington, D.C.
You may call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information about the public reference rooms. The Securities and
Exchange Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding registrants, including,
Boston Properties, Inc., that file electronically with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. You may access the Securities and Exchange Commission's web
site at http://www.sec.gov.


                    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to incorporate by
reference the information that we file with them.  Incorporation by reference
means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to
other documents that are legally considered to be part of this prospectus
supplement or the attached prospectus, and later information that we file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission will automatically update and supersede
the information in this prospectus, any supplement and the documents listed
below.  We incorporate by reference the specific documents listed below and any
future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section
13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act until we sell all of
the securities:

     .    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999;

     .    our Proxy Statement dated March 31, 2000 prepared in connection with
          our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 3, 2000;

     .    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
          2000, June 30, 2000 and September 30, 2000;

     .    our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2000, April 26,
          2000, July 27, 2000 and October 16, 2000;

     .    the description of our common stock contained in our Registration
          Statement on Form 8-A, filed on June 12, 1997 and all amendments and
          reports updating such description; and

     .    the description of the rights to purchase shares of our Series E
          Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock contained in our
          registration statement on Form 8-A, filed on June 12, 1997, and the
          description contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A/A
          filed on June 16, 1997 amending such description, and all amendments
          and reports updating that description.

    You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus.  We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
different information.  You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date
other than the date on the front of this prospectus or those documents.

                                       16
<PAGE>

    We will provide, without charge, at the written or oral request of anyone to
whom this prospectus is delivered, copies of the documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that
exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing. Written
requests should be directed to Boston Properties, Inc., 800 Boylston Street,
Suite 400, Boston, Massachusetts 02199, Attention: Investor Relations.
Telephone requests may be directed to (617) 236-3300.

                                       17
<PAGE>

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Statements incorporated by reference or made under the captions "Risk
Factors" and "Our Company" and elsewhere in this prospectus are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  When we use the
words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and
other similar expressions, they generally identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, for example, statements relating to
acquisitions and related financial information, development activities, business
strategy and prospects, future capital expenditures, sources and availability of
capital, environmental and other regulations and competition.

     You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking
statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect
our actual results, performance or achievements.  Some of the factors that could
cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, the following:

     .    we are subject to general risks affecting the real estate industry,
          such as the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable
          terms to generate rental revenues, and dependence on our tenants'
          financial condition;

     .    we may fail to identify, acquire, construct or develop additional
          properties; we may develop properties that do not produce a desired
          yield on invested capital; or we may fail to effectively integrate
          acquisitions of properties or portfolios of properties;

     .    financing may not be available, or may not be available on favorable
          terms;

     .    we need to make distributions to our stockholders for us to qualify as
          a real estate investment trust, and if we need to borrow the funds to
          make such distributions such borrowings may not be available on
          favorable terms;

     .    we depend on the primary markets where our properties are located and
          these markets may be adversely affected by local economic and market
          conditions which are beyond our control;

     .    we are subject to potential environmental liabilities;

     .    we are subject to complex regulations relating to our status as a real
          estate investment trust and would be adversely affected if we failed
          to qualify as a real estate investment trust; and

     .    market interest rates could adversely affect the market prices for our
          common stock, as well as our performance and cash flow.

     We caution you that, while forward looking statements reflect our good
faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. In addition, we
disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                                       18
<PAGE>

                                  OUR COMPANY


Boston Properties, Inc.

     We are a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate
investment trust or "REIT" and one of the largest owners and developers of
office properties in the United States. We conduct substantially all our
business through our affiliate, Boston Properties Limited Partnership, in which
we are the sole general partner and hold a controlling economic interest.

     Our properties are concentrated in four core markets--Boston, midtown
Manhattan, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.  We have full-service offices in
Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Princeton, NJ, and achieve
efficiencies of scale by operating a centralized financial control and data
center at our Boston headquarters that is responsible for operating budgets,
billing and payments for all of our existing and development properties.

     We were formed to succeed to the real estate development, redevelopment,
acquisition, operating and leasing businesses associated with a predecessor
company founded by Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde in 1970.  We believe that we
have created significant value for our tenants and investors by developing well
located properties that meet the demands of today's office tenants, redeveloping
underperforming assets, and continuously improving the marketing and management
of our assets.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of our
common stock.  It may not contain all the information that is important to you.
You can access complete information by referring to our certificate of
incorporation, bylaws, our shareholder rights plan and the Delaware General
Corporate Law.  Our shareholder rights plan is summarized below.  Our
shareholder rights plan, certificate of incorporation and bylaws are
incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part.

General

     Under our certificate of incorporation, we have authority to issue
250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share.  As of December
13, 2000, 86,629,222 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.  In
addition, as of December 13, 2000, 23,862,206 common units of Boston Properties
Limited Partnership which are exchangeable for common stock on a one-for-one
basis were outstanding.  We may issue common stock from time to time. Our board
of directors must approve the amount of stock we sell and the price for which it
is sold. Holders of our common stock do not have any preferential rights or
preemptive rights to buy or subscribe for capital stock or other securities that
we may issue. However, each outstanding share of our common stock currently has
attached to it one preferred share purchase right issued under our shareholder
rights plan, which is summarized below.  Our common stock does not have any
redemption or sinking fund provisions or any conversion rights.

     All of our common stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, fully paid
and nonassessable. This means that the full price for our outstanding common
stock will have been paid at the time of issuance and that any holder of our
common stock will not later be required to pay us any additional money for such
common stock.

Dividends

     Subject to the preferential rights of any other shares of our stock and the
provisions of our certificate of incorporation regarding excess shares, holders
of our common stock may receive dividends out of assets that we can legally use
to pay dividends when and if they are authorized and declared by our board of
directors.  Each common stockholder shares in the same proportion as other
common stockholders out of assets that we can legally use to pay distributions
after we pay or make adequate provision for all of our known debts and
liabilities in the event we are liquidated, dissolved or our affairs are wound
up.

Voting rights

     Subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation regarding
excess shares, holders of common stock will have the exclusive power to vote on
all matters presented to our stockholders, including the election of directors,
except as otherwise provided by Delaware law or as provided with respect to any
other shares of our stock.  Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote
per share.  There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors,
which means that at any meeting of our stockholders, the holders of a majority
of the outstanding common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for
election.

Other rights

     Subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation regarding
excess shares, all shares of our common stock have equal dividend, distribution,
liquidation and other rights, and have no preference, appraisal or exchange
rights, except for any appraisal rights provided by Delaware law.

     Holders of our common stock have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption
rights, or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.

                                       20
<PAGE>

     Delaware law generally requires that we obtain the approval of a majority
of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are entitled to vote before
we may consolidate our stock or merge with another corporation. However,
Delaware law does not require that we seek approval of our stockholders to enter
into a merger in which we are the surviving corporation following the merger if:

     .    our certificate of incorporation is not amended in any respect by the
          merger;

     .    each share of our stock outstanding prior to the merger is to be an
          identical share of stock following the merger; and

     .    any shares of common stock (together with any other securities
          convertible into shares of common stock) to be issued or delivered as
          a result of the merger represent no more than 20% of the number of
          shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the
          merger.

Restrictions on ownership

     For us to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal
Revenue Code, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned,
actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of
a taxable year.  To assist us in meeting this requirement, we may take actions
such as the automatic conversion of shares in excess of this ownership
restriction into excess shares to limit the ownership of our outstanding equity
securities, actually or constructively, by one person or entity.  See "Limits on
Ownership of Our Stock" beginning on page 24.

Transfer agent

     The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiserve.

Preferred shares

     Under our certificate of incorporation, we have authority to issue up to
50,000,000 shares of preferred stock.  As of December 13, 2000  we had
outstanding 2,000,000 shares of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock.
The general terms of our Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock are as
follows:

     .    Dividends on our Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock are
          cumulative from the date of original issuance and payable quarterly
          generally at a rate of 5.0% per annum through March 31, 1999; 5.5%
          through December 31, 1999; 5.625% through December 31, 2000; 6.0%
          through December 31, 2001; 6.5% through December 31, 2002; 7.0% until
          May 12, 2009; and 6.0% thereafter.

     .    On or after December 31, 2002, shares of our Series A convertible
          redeemable preferred stock are convertible, at the holder's election,
          into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $38.10 per
          share of common stock.

     .    Beginning on May 12, 2009, the Series A convertible redeemable
          preferred stock may be redeemed in six annual tranches at the election
          of either the holder or us. The liquidation preference of our Series A
          convertible redeemable preferred stock is $50 per share.

     Under our certificate of incorporation, we have authority to issue up to
150,000,000 shares of Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock.
As of December 13, 2000 none of the Series E Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding. Shares of our Series E Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock may be issued under our shareholder
rights plan, which is summarized beginning on page 22.

                                       21
<PAGE>

     We do not have any other preferred stock outstanding as of the date of this
prospectus. We may issue preferred stock from time to time, in one or more
series, as authorized by our board of directors. Prior to issuance of shares of
each series, our board of directors is required by the Delaware General
Corporation Law and our certificate of incorporation to fix for each series,
subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation regarding excess
shares, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers,
restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications
and terms or conditions of redemption, as are permitted by Delaware law. The
preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will have
no preemptive rights. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of
preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of
discouraging a takeover or other transaction that holders of our common stock
might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a
majority, of our common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the
then market price of such common stock.

Shareholder rights plan

     In 1997, our board of directors adopted a shareholder rights plan and
entered into a shareholder rights agreement with Fleet National Bank (f.k.a.
BankBoston, N.A.), as rights agent. The purpose of our shareholder rights plan
is to enhance our board of directors' ability to protect our stockholders'
interests by ensuring that such stockholders receive fair treatment in the event
that any coercive takeover attempt of Boston Properties is made in the future.
The rights plan is intended to provide our board of directors with sufficient
time to consider any and all alternatives to such an action. The rights may
discourage, delay or prevent hostile takeovers. They are not intended, however,
to interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our board
of directors.

     Under our shareholder rights plan, one preferred stock purchase right is
attached to each outstanding share of our common stock. We refer to these
preferred stock purchase rights as the "rights."  Each share of common stock
issued in the future will also receive a right until any of the rights become
exercisable.  Until a right is exercised, the holder of a right does not have
any additional rights as a stockholder.  These rights will expire on June 11,
2007, unless previously redeemed or exchanged by us as described below.  These
rights trade automatically with our common stock and will separate from the
common stock and become exercisable only under the circumstances described
below.

     In general, the rights will become exercisable when the first of the
following events happens:

     1.   ten calendar days after a public announcement that a person or group
          has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the sum of our
          outstanding common stock and excess stock; or

     2.   ten business days, or such other date determined by our board of
          directors, after the beginning of a tender offer or exchange offer
          that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more
          of the sum of our outstanding common stock and excess stock.

Under our shareholder rights plan, our common stock that may be issued in
exchange for outstanding common units of limited partnership interest in Boston
Properties Limited Partnership is not included in the definition of beneficial
ownership.

     However, if a person who became a limited partner of Boston Properties
Limited Partnership at the time of our initial public offering acquires
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the sum of our common stock and excess
stock, the rights will not become exercisable unless the acquisition results in
that person acquiring a greater percentage of the outstanding shares of our
outstanding common stock plus outstanding common units of limited partnership
interest of Boston Properties Limited Partnership than the percentage of
outstanding shares of common stock plus outstanding common units of limited
partnership interest of Boston Properties Limited Partnership that person

                                       22
<PAGE>

held at the completion of our initial public offering. In addition, no group of
which a person who became a partner of Boston Properties Limited Partnership at
the time of our initial public offering is a member will be deemed to
beneficially own our common stock and excess stock owned by that person. Common
units of limited partnership interest of Boston Properties Limited Partnership
held by Boston Properties, Inc. are excluded in making these calculations.

     If the rights become exercisable, holders of the rights will be able to
purchase from us a unit of preferred stock equal to one ten-thousandth of a
share of our Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock at a price
of $100 per unit, subject to adjustment.  We have designated 200,000 shares of
Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock and have reserved such
shares for issuance under our shareholder rights plan.  However, all rights
owned by any persons or groups triggering the event shall be void.

     In addition, if at any time following a public announcement that a person
or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the sum of our
outstanding common stock and excess stock:

     .    we enter into a merger or other business combination transaction in
          which we are not the surviving entity;

     .    we enter into a merger or other business combination transaction in
          which all or part of our common stock is exchanged; or

     .    we sell, transfer or mortgage 50% or more of our assets or earning
          power,

then each holder of a right, other than rights held by the person or group who
triggered the event, will be entitled  to receive, upon exercise, common stock
of the acquiring company equal to two times the purchase price of the right.

     At any time after our public announcement that a person or group has
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the sum of our outstanding
common stock and excess stock, our board of directors may, at its option,
exchange all or any part of the then outstanding and exercisable rights for
shares of our common stock or units of Series E Preferred Stock at an exchange
ratio of one share or one unit per right. However, our board of directors
generally will not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any
person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of our outstanding common
stock.

     We may redeem the rights at $.001 per right at any time before the date
that is ten days after a public announcement that a person or group has acquired
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the sum of our outstanding common stock
and excess stock. We may extend this redemption period at any time while the
rights are still redeemable. The rights will expire at the close of business on
June 11, 2007 unless we redeem them before that date.

     The above description of our shareholder rights plan is not intended to be
a complete description. For a full description of the shareholder rights plan,
you should read the rights agreement. You may obtain a copy of the rights
agreement at no charge by writing to us at the address listed on page 17.

                                       23
<PAGE>

                       LIMITS ON OWNERSHIP OF OUR STOCK


Ownership limits

     For us to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal
Revenue Code, among other things, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding
stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals
during the last half of a taxable year other than the first year, and such stock
must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a
taxable year of 12 months other than the first year or during a proportionate
part of a shorter taxable year.  In order to protect us against the risk of
losing our status as a real estate investment trust due to a concentration of
ownership among our stockholders, our certificate of incorporation provides that
generally no holder may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the
attribution provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than 6.6% of any class
or series of our stock.  Under our certificate of incorporation, a person
generally "beneficially owns" shares if:

     .    such person has direct ownership of such shares,

     .    such person has indirect ownership of such shares taking into account
          the constructive ownership rules of Section 544 of the Internal
          Revenue Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Internal
          Revenue Code, or

     .    such person would be deemed to beneficially own such shares pursuant
          to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     Our certificate of incorporation allows two exceptions to the 6.6%
ownership limit:

     15% Related party ownership limit:

     Each of Messrs. Zuckerman and E. Linde, together with their respective
     heirs, legatees, devisees and any other person whose beneficial ownership
     of our common stock would be attributed under the Internal Revenue Code to
     them, are subject to an ownership limit of 15% for each of them together
     with such persons related to them.

     15% Look-through entity ownership limit:

     Pension plans described in Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and
     mutual funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are
     subject to an ownership limit of 15%. Pension plans and mutual funds are
     among the entities that are not treated as stockholders under the "five or
     fewer requirement." Rather, the beneficial owners of such entities will be
     counted as stockholders for this purpose.

     The foregoing restrictions will not apply if our board of directors
determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or
to continue to qualify, as a real estate investment trust. In addition, the
foregoing restrictions do not apply with respect to an offeror in the event of
an all cash tender offer by it which has been accepted by at least two-thirds of
our outstanding stock.

Shares in excess of ownership limits

     Transfers of our stock or any security convertible into our stock or other
events that would create a direct or indirect ownership of our stock that would:

     .    violate the 6.6% ownership limit;

     .    violate the 15% ownership limit for related parties;

     .    violate the 15% ownership limit for look-through entities; or

                                       24
<PAGE>

     .    result in our disqualification as a real estate investment trust,
          including any transfer that results in:

          .    our stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons,

          .    Boston Properties being "closely held" with the meaning of
               Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, or

          .    Boston Properties constructively owning 10% or more of one of our
               tenants

shall be null and void and of no effect with respect to the shares in excess of
the applicable limit. Any such shares in excess of an applicable limitation will
be converted automatically into an equal number of shares of our excess stock
that will be transferred by operation of law to a trust for the benefit of a
qualified charitable organization selected by us, but not affiliated with us.
As soon as practicable after the transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee of
the trust will be required to sell such excess shares to a person or entity who
could own such shares without violating the applicable limit and distribute to
the original transferee-stockholder an amount equal to the lesser of:

     .    the proceeds of such sale, or

     .    the price paid for our stock in excess of the applicable limit by the
          original transferee-owner or, in the event that the original violative
          transfer was a gift or an event other than a transfer, the fair market
          value of the excess shares on the date they are sold by the trust.

     All dividends and other distributions received with respect to the excess
shares prior to their sale by the trust and any proceeds from the sale by the
trust in excess of the amount distributable to the original transferee-owner
will be distributed to the beneficiary of the trust.

Right to purchase excess shares

    In addition to the foregoing transfer restrictions, we have the right, for a
period of 90 days during the time any excess shares are held by the trust, to
purchase all or any portion of the excess shares for the lesser of the price
paid for the shares in excess of the applicable limit by the original
transferee-stockholder or the market price of our stock on the date we exercise
our option to purchase, which amount will be paid to the original transferee-
stockholder.  The market price will be determined in the manner set forth in our
certificate of incorporation.  The 90-day period begins on the date of the
violative transfer if the original transferee-stockholder gives notice to us of
the transfer or, if no such notice is given, the date on which our board of
directors determines that a violative transfer has been made.

Disclosure of stock ownership by our stockholders

     Each of our stockholders will upon demand be required to disclose to us in
writing any information with respect to the direct, indirect and constructive
ownership of shares of our stock as our board of directors deems necessary to
comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to real
estate investment trusts, to comply with the requirements of any taxing
authority or governmental agency or to determine any such compliance.

     These ownership limitations may have the effect of precluding the
acquisition of control of Boston Properties unless our board of directors
determines that our maintenance of real estate investment trust status is no
longer in our best interests.

                                       25
<PAGE>

                   IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND
                  OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

     The following is a summary of important provisions of Delaware law and our
certificate of incorporation and bylaws which affect us and our stockholders.
The description below is intended as only a summary.  You can access complete
information by referring to Delaware General Corporation Law and our certificate
of incorporation and bylaws.

Business combinations with interested stockholders under Delaware law

     Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prevents a publicly
held corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested
stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

     .    before the date on which the person became an interested stockholder,
          the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business
          combination or the transaction in which the person became an
          interested stockholder;

     .    the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the outstanding
          voting stock of the corporation at the beginning of the transaction in
          which it became an interested stockholder, excluding stock held by
          directors who are also officers of the corporation and by employee
          stock plans that do not provide participants with the rights to
          determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will
          be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

     .    after the date on which the interested stockholder became an
          interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the
          board of directors and the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding
          voting stock of the corporation voting at a meeting, excluding the
          voting stock owned by the interested stockholder.

     As defined in Section 203, an "interested stockholder" is generally a
person owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation. As
defined in Section 203, a "business combination" includes mergers,
consolidations, stock and assets sales and other transactions with the
interested stockholder.

     The provisions of Section 203 may have the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change of control of Boston Properties.

Amendment of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws

     Amendments to our certificate of incorporation must be approved by our
board of directors and generally by the vote of a majority of the votes entitled
to be cast at a meeting of our stockholders. However, a 75% stockholder vote is
required for amendments dealing with fundamental governance provisions of our
certificate of incorporation, such as:

     .    stockholder action

     .    the powers, election of, removal of and classification of directors

     .    limitation of liability

     .    amendment of our certificate of incorporation

     Unless otherwise required by law, our board of directors may amend our
bylaws by a majority vote of our directors then in office. Our bylaws may also
be amended by a majority stockholder vote

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<PAGE>

if our board of directors recommends the approval of the amendment, and
otherwise by a 75% stockholder vote.

Meetings of stockholders

     Under our bylaws, we will hold annual meetings of our stockholders at such
date and time as determined by our board of directors, Chairman or President.
Our bylaws require advance notice for our stockholders to make nominations of
candidates for our board of directors or bring other business before an annual
meeting of our stockholders.  Only our board of directors can call special
meetings of our stockholders and any special meeting is restricted to
considering and acting upon matters set forth in the notice of that special
meeting.

Board of directors

     Our board of directors is divided into three classes.  As the term of each
class expires, directors in that class will be elected for a term of three years
and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

     Our certificate of incorporation provides that a 75% vote of our board of
directors is required to approve fundamental changes or actions, including:

     .    a change of control of Boston Properties or of Boston Properties
          Limited Partnership;

     .    any amendment to the limited partnership agreement of Boston
          Properties Limited Partnership;

     .    any waiver of the limitations on ownership contained in our
          certificate of incorporation;

     .    certain issuances of equity securities by Boston Properties; and

     .    termination of our status as a REIT.

Shareholder rights plan and ownership limitations

     We have adopted a shareholder rights agreement.  In addition, our
certificate of incorporation contains provisions that limit the ownership by any
person of shares of any class or series of our capital stock.  See "Shareholder
rights plan" beginning on page 22 and "Limits on ownership of our stock"
beginning on page 24.

Limitation of directors' and officers' liability

     Our certificate of incorporation generally limits the liability of our
directors to Boston Properties to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law,
as it now exists or may in the future be amended. The Delaware General
Corporation Law permits a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers,
employees or agents and expressly provides that the indemnification provided for
under the Delaware General Corporation Law shall not be deemed exclusive of any
indemnification right under any bylaw, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors, or otherwise. Delaware law permits indemnification against expenses
and certain other liabilities arising out of legal actions brought or threatened
against such persons for their conduct on behalf of a corporation, provided that
each such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably
believed was in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests and, in the
case of a criminal proceeding, provided such person had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Delaware law does not allow
indemnification of directors in the case of an action by or in the right of a
corporation unless the directors successfully defend the action or
indemnification is ordered by the court.

     Our bylaws provide that our directors and officers will be, and, in the
discretion of our board of directors, non-officer employees may be, indemnified
by Boston Properties to the fullest extent

                                       27
<PAGE>

authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended,
against all expenses and liabilities actually and reasonably incurred in
connection with service for or on behalf of Boston Properties. Our bylaws also
provide that the right of directors and officers to indemnification shall be a
contract right and shall not be exclusive of any other right now possessed or
hereafter acquired under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, or
otherwise.

     Our certificate of incorporation contains a provision permitted by Delaware
law that generally eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary
damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty, including breaches involving
negligence or gross negligence in business combinations, unless the director has
breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, paid a dividend or
approved a stock repurchase in violation of the Delaware General Corporation Law
or obtained an improper personal benefit.  This provision does not alter a
director's liability under the federal securities laws.  In addition, this
provision does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as an
injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling Boston
Properties pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in
the opinion of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of
1933 and is therefore unenforceable.

Indemnification agreements

     We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors
and executive officers.  The indemnification agreements require, among other
things, that we indemnify our directors and executive officers to the fullest
extent permitted by law and advance to our directors and executive officers all
related expenses, subject to reimbursement if it is subsequently determined that
indemnification is not permitted.  Under these agreements, we must also
indemnify and advance all expenses incurred by our directors and executive
officers seeking to enforce their rights under the indemnification agreements
and cover our directors and executive officers under our directors' and
officers' liability insurance.  Although the form of indemnification agreement
offers substantially the same scope of coverage afforded by our certificate of
incorporation and our bylaws, it provides greater assurance to our directors and
executive officers that indemnification will be available, because, as a
contract, it cannot be modified unilaterally in the future by our board of
directors or by our stockholders to eliminate the rights it provides.

                                       28
<PAGE>

     FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR INVESTMENT

     The following is a general summary of the material federal income tax
considerations and consequences associated with an investment in our common
stock. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax
considerations and is not tax advice. Moreover, this summary does not deal with
all tax aspects or consequences that might be relevant to you in light of your
personal circumstances; nor does it deal with particular types of stockholders
that are subject to special treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, such as
insurance companies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. The Internal
Revenue Code provisions governing the federal income tax treatment of real
estate investment trusts are highly technical and complex, and this summary is
qualified in its entirety by the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions,
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial
interpretations thereof. The following discussion is based on current law and on
representations from us concerning our compliance with the requirements for
qualification as a real estate investment trust.

     We urge you, as a prospective investor, to consult your own tax advisor
with respect to the specific federal, state, local, foreign and other tax
consequences to you of the purchase, holding and sale of our common stock.

Federal income taxation

     In the opinion of our tax counsel, Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, commencing
with our first taxable year ended December 31, 1997, we have been organized in
conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment
trust under the Internal Revenue Code, and our method of operation will enable
us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real
estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code, provided that we have
operated and continue to operate in accordance with various assumptions and
factual representations made by us concerning our business, properties and
operations. We may not, however, have met or continue to meet such requirements.
Qualification as a real estate investment trust depends upon us having met and
continuing to meet the various requirements imposed under the Internal Revenue
Code through actual operating results. Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP has relied on
our representations regarding our operations and has not and will not review
these operating results. No assurance can be given that actual operating results
have met or will meet these requirements.

     If we have qualified and continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate
investment trust, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income
taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that is currently
distributed to stockholders. The real estate investment trust provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code generally allow a real estate investment trust to deduct
dividends paid to its stockholders. This deduction for dividends paid to
stockholders substantially eliminates the federal double taxation on earnings
that usually results from investments in a corporation. "Double taxation" refers
to taxation of income once at the corporate level when earned and once again at
the stockholder level when distributed. Additionally, a real estate investment
trust may elect to retain and pay taxes on a designated amount of its net long-
term capital gains, in which case the stockholders of the real estate investment
trust will include their proportionate share of the undistributed long-term
capital gains in income and receive a credit or refund for their share of the
tax paid by the real estate investment trust.

Failure to qualify

     If we fail to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust in any
taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax
on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, including any applicable
alternative minimum tax. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we
fail to qualify will not be deductible by us nor will they be required to be
made. In such event, to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and
profits, all distributions to stockholders will be dividends, taxable as
ordinary income, and subject to limitations of the Internal Revenue Code,
corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
Unless we are

                                       29
<PAGE>

entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also will be
disqualified from taxation as a real estate investment trust for the four
taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not
possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such
statutory relief. For example, we must derive a minimum percent of our gross
income from specified sources in order to qualify as a real estate investment
trust. If we fail to satisfy these gross income tests because nonqualifying
income that we intentionally incur exceeds the limit on such income, the
Internal Revenue Service could conclude that our failure to satisfy the tests
was not due to reasonable cause, which is a condition to qualification for
relief from the four-year disqualification rule.

Taxation of United States stockholders and potential tax consequences of their
investment in our common stock

    When we refer to a United States stockholder, we mean a holder of common
stock that is for federal income tax purposes

    .   an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

    .   a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United
        States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or

    .   a partnership, trust or estate treated as a domestic partnership, trust
        or estate.

For any taxable year for which we qualify for taxation as a real estate
investment trust, amounts distributed to taxable United States stockholders will
be taxed as follows.

    Distributions generally. Distributions other than capital gain dividends to
United States stockholders will be taxable as dividends to the extent of our
current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined for federal income tax
purposes. For purposes of determining whether distributions are out of current
or accumulated earnings and profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated
first to any of our outstanding preferred shares and then to our common stock.
Such dividends will be taxable to the stockholders as ordinary income and will
not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. To the
extent that we make a distribution to a United States stockholder in excess of
current or accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated
first as a tax-free return of capital with respect to the shares, reducing the
United States stockholder's tax basis in the shares, and the distribution in
excess of a United States stockholder's tax basis in the shares will be taxable
as gain realized from the sale of the shares. Dividends declared by us in
October, November or December of any year payable to a stockholder of record on
a specified date in any such month shall be treated as both paid by us and
received by the stockholder on December 31 of the year, provided that the
dividend is actually paid by us during January of the following calendar year.
United States stockholders may not include on their own federal income tax
returns any of our tax losses.

    Capital gain dividends. Dividends to United States stockholders that are
properly designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as long-term
capital gains, to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gains,
for the taxable year without regard to the period for which the stockholder has
held its common stock. However, corporate stockholders may be required to treat
up to 20% of particular capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Capital gain
dividends are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction for
corporations.

    Retained capital gains. A real estate investment trust may elect to retain,
rather than distribute, its net long-term capital gains received during the
year. To the extent designated by the real estate investment trust in a notice
to its stockholders, the real estate investment trust will pay the income tax on
such gains and the real estate investment trust stockholders must include their
proportionate share of the undistributed long-term capital gains so designated
in income. Each real estate investment trust stockholder will be deemed to have
paid its share of the tax paid by the real estate investment trust, which will
be credited or refunded to the stockholder. The basis of each

                                       30
<PAGE>

stockholder's real estate investment trust shares will be increased by its
proportionate amount of the undistributed long-term capital gains, net of the
tax paid by the real estate investment trust, included in such stockholder's
long-term capital gains.

    Passive activity loss and investment interest limitations. Distributions,
including deemed distributions of undistributed long-term capital gains, from us
and gain from the disposition of common stock will not be treated as passive
activity income, and therefore stockholders may not be able to apply any passive
losses against such income. Dividends from us, to the extent they do not
constitute a return of capital, will generally be treated as investment income
for purposes of the investment income limitation on the deductibility of
investment interest. However, net capital gain from the disposition of common
stock or capital gain dividends, including deemed distributions of undistributed
long-term capital gains, generally will be excluded from investment income.

    Sale of the common stock. Upon the sale or exchange of common stock, the
United States stockholder will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount realized on such sale and the tax basis of the
common stock sold or exchanged. Assuming such shares are held as a capital
asset, such gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares
have been held for more than one year. However, any loss recognized by a United
States stockholder on the sale of common stock held for not more than six months
and with respect to which capital gains were required to be included in such
stockholder's income will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent
of the amount of such capital gains so included.

    In general, the maximum tax rate imposed on the long-term capital gains of
non-corporate taxpayers is 20%, although a 25% maximum tax rate is imposed on
the portion of such gains attributable to the prior depreciation claimed in
respect of depreciable real property held for more than one year to the extent
such gain is not otherwise characterized as ordinary income under the
"recapture" provisions of Section 1250 of the code. The Secretary of the
Treasury has the authority to prescribe regulations on how the capital gains
rates will apply to sales and exchanges by partnerships and REITs and of
interests in partnerships and REITs. Pursuant to this authority, the Secretary
of the Treasury issued regulations relating to the taxation of capital gains in
the case of sales and exchanges of interests in partnerships. As of this time,
the Secretary of the Treasury has not issued regulations relating to the
taxation of capital gains in the case of sales or exchanges of interests in
REITs. Accordingly, you are urged to consult with your tax advisors with respect
to your capital gain tax liability resulting from any sale or taxable exchange
by you of our common stock.

    Treatment of tax-exempt stockholders. Distributions, including deemed
distributions of undistributed long-term capital gains, from us to a tax-exempt
employee pension trust or other domestic tax-exempt stockholder generally will
not constitute unrelated business taxable income unless the stockholder has
borrowed to acquire or carry its common stock. However, certain qualified trusts
that hold more than 10% by value of the shares of a particular real estate
investment trust may be required to treat a specified percentage of these
distributions, including deemed distributions of undistributed long-term capital
gains, as unrelated business taxable income.

Backup withholding

    Under the backup withholding rules, a United States stockholder may be
subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31% with respect to dividends paid
on, and gross proceeds from the sale of, the common stock unless such
stockholder (1) is a corporation or comes within other specific exempt
categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact or (2) provides a correct
taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup
withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup
withholding rules. A United States stockholder who does not provide us with its
current taxpayer identification number may be subject to penalties imposed by
the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount paid as backup
withholding will be creditable against the stockholder's income tax liability.

    We will report to stockholders and the Internal Revenue Service the amount
of any reportable payments, including any dividends paid, and any amount
withheld with respect to the common stock during the calendar year.

                                       31
<PAGE>

State and local tax

    Boston Properties and our stockholders may be subject to state and local tax
in various states and localities, including those in which we or our
stockholders transact business, own property or reside. The tax treatment of us
and our stockholders in such jurisdictions may differ from the federal income
tax treatment described above. Consequently, as a prospective investor, you
should consult your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax
laws on an investment in our common stock.

                                       32
<PAGE>

                REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER

    The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the
registration rights agreement, which we entered into in connection with our
August 22, 2000 acquisition of the selling stockholder's rights associated with
the future development of the Prudential Center in Boston. It may not contain
all the information that is important to you. You can access complete
information by referring to the registration rights agreement.

    Under the registration rights agreement, we are obligated to file a
registration statement covering the sale by the selling stockholder of the
common stock that it received in connection with the acquisition. Under the
terms of the registration rights agreement, we must use reasonable efforts to
cause the registration statement to be declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission and to keep the registration statement continuously
effective until the earlier of:

    .   the date on which the selling stockholder no longer holds any common
        stock issued in connection with the acquisition or

    .   the date on which all of the common stock issued in connection with the
        acquisition has become eligible for sale under Rule 144(k) of the
        Securities Act of 1933.

Any common stock sold by the selling stockholder pursuant to this prospectus
will no longer be entitled to the benefits of the registration rights agreement.

    The registration rights agreement requires that we bear all expenses of
registering the common stock with the exception of brokerage and underwriting
commissions and taxes of any kind and any legal, accounting and other expenses
incurred by the selling stockholder. We also agreed to indemnify the selling
stockholder and its officers, directors and other affiliated persons and any
person who controls the selling stockholder against all losses, claims, damages,
actions, liabilities, costs and expenses arising under the securities laws in
connection with the registration statement or this prospectus, subject to
limitations specified in the registration rights agreement. In addition, the
selling stockholder agreed to indemnify us and our directors, officers and any
person who controls our company against all losses, claims, damages, actions,
liabilities, costs and expenses arising under the securities laws if they result
from:

    .   written information furnished to us by the selling stockholder for use
        in the registration statement or this prospectus or any amendments to
        the registration statement or any prospectus supplements or

    .   the selling stockholder's failure to deliver, or cause to be delivered,
        this prospectus or any amendments or prospectus supplements to any
        purchaser of common stock covered by this prospectus from the selling
        stockholder through no fault of ours.

                                       33
<PAGE>



                            THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER

     The common stock offered by this prospectus may be offered from time to
time by the selling stockholder named below, or by any of its pledges, donees,
transferees or other successors in interest.  The amounts set forth below are
based upon information provided to us by representatives of the selling
stockholder, or on our records, as of December 13, 2000 and are accurate to the
best of our knowledge.  It is possible, however, that the selling stockholder
may acquire or dispose of additional shares of common stock or units from time
to time after the date of this prospectus.

     The Prudential Insurance Company of America, the selling stockholder,
either directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries, beneficially owned the
following securities as of December 13, 2000:

     o    439,059 shares of our common stock

          o    These shares do not include common stock that may be issued in
               exchange for units of limited partnership interest in Boston
               Properties Limited Partnership beneficially held by the selling
               stockholder as of December 13, 2000.

     o    Prudential Securities Incorporated, an indirect wholly-owned
          subsidiary of the selling stockholder, beneficially owned 18,199
          shares of common stock held in certain discretionary accounts on
          behalf of clients of Prudential Securities Incorporated. The selling
          stockholder disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares of common
          stock because the voting and disposition of these shares is controlled
          by the clients or by management of Prudential Securities Incorporated
          and not by the selling stockholder.

     o    QM Accounts, managed by the selling stockholder or its affiliates,
          owned 169,200 shares of our common stock and Jennison Series Funds and
          Jennison Mutual Funds, managed by the selling stockholder or its
          affiliates, owned 471,500 shares of common stock and 341,800 shares of
          common stock, respectively. The selling stockholder disclaims
          beneficial ownership of such shares because the voting and disposition
          of such shares is controlled for the benefit of QM Accounts and
          Jennison accounts and the selling stockholder is not the beneficial
          owner of such shares.

     o    2,000,000 shares of our Series A convertible redeemable preferred
          stock

     o    2,993,414 common units of limited partnership interest in Boston
          Properties Limited Partnership

          o    All of these common units may be exchanged, under circumstances
               set forth in the agreement of limited partnership of Boston
               Properties Limited Partnership, for an equal number of shares of
               common stock.

     o    167,394 Series Three Preferred Units of limited partnership interest
          in Boston Properties Limited Partnership

          o    After December 31, 2002, these preferred units become
               convertible, at the holder's election, into common units at a
               conversion price of $38.10 per common unit, which common units
               may be exchanged, into common stock under circumstances set forth
               in the agreement of limited partnership of Boston Properties
               Limited Partnership, for a number of shares of common stock equal
               to the number of common units.




                                       34
<PAGE>



     This registration statement of which this prospectus is a part registers
the sale by the selling stockholder of 439,059 shares of our common stock that
the selling stockholder acquired in connection with our acquisition of the
selling stockholder's rights associated with the future development of the
Prudential Center in Boston. Assuming that all of these shares of common stock
are sold by the selling stockholder, after this offering the selling
stockholder, either directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries, will
beneficially own the following securities:

     o    2,993,414 common units of partnership interest of Boston Properties
          Limited Partnership, which represent 12.54% of the 23,862,206 total
          outstanding common units and represent 2.7% of the aggregate of all
          outstanding shares of common stock and common units

     o    2,000,000 shares of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock,
          comprising all of the issued and outstanding Series A convertible
          redeemable preferred stock

     o    167,394 Series Three Preferred Units of limited partnership interest
          in Boston Properties Limited Partnership, comprising all of such
          preferred units outstanding

     All information is as of, and based on securities outstanding as of
December 13, 2000, and does not assume the conversion or exchange of any
outstanding shares of our preferred stock or units of limited partnership of
Boston Properties Limited Partnership.



                                       34



<PAGE>

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    We will not receive any of the proceeds of the sale by the selling
stockholder of the common stock covered by this prospectus.

                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    This prospectus relates to the possible sale from time to time of up to an
aggregate of 439,059 shares of common stock by the selling stockholder, or any
of its pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest. We are
registering the common stock pursuant to our obligations under the registration
rights agreement, but the registration of the common stock does not necessarily
mean that any of the common stock will be offered or sold by the selling
stockholder.

    The distribution of the common stock may be effected from time to time in
one or more underwritten transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be
changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related
to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any underwritten offering
may be on a "best efforts" or a "firm commitment" basis. In connection with any
underwritten offering, underwriters or agents may receive compensation in the
form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholder.
Underwriters may sell the common stock to or through dealers, and such dealers
may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions
from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may
act as agents.

    The selling stockholder and any underwriters, dealers or agents that
participate in the distribution of the common stock may be deemed to be
underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933, and any profit on the sale of the
common stock by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by
any underwriters, dealers or agents might be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. At any time a particular offer
of common stock is made by the selling stockholder, a prospectus supplement, if
required, will be distributed that will, where applicable:

    .   identify any underwriter, dealer or agent;

    .   describe any compensation in the form of discounts, concessions,
        commissions or otherwise received by each underwriter, dealer or agent
        and in the aggregate to all underwriters, dealers and agents;

    .   identify the amounts underwritten;

    .   identify the nature of the underwriter's obligation to take the common
        stock; and

    .   provide any other required information.

    The sale of common stock by the selling stockholder may also be effected by
selling common stock directly to purchasers or to or through broker-dealers. In
connection with any such sale, any such broker-dealer may act as agent for the
selling stockholder or may purchase from the selling stockholder all or a
portion of the common stock as principal, and may be made pursuant to any of the
methods described below. Such sales may be made on the New York Stock Exchange
or other exchanges on which the common stock are then traded, in the over-the-
counter market, in negotiated transactions or otherwise at prices and at terms
then prevailing or at prices related to the then-current market prices or at
prices otherwise negotiated.

                                       36
<PAGE>

    Common stock may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions:

    .   block transactions in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of
        such shares as agent but may position and resell all or a portion of the
        block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

    .   purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal and resale by such
        broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to any supplement to this
        prospectus;

    .   a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution
        in accordance with applicable New York Stock Exchange or other stock
        exchange rules;

    .   ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such
        broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

    .   sales "at the market" to or through a market maker or into an existing
        trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such shares; and

    .   sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading
        markets, including direct sales to purchasers.

    In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholder may
arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers will receive
commissions or other compensation from the selling stockholder in amounts to be
negotiated immediately prior to the sale that will not exceed those customary in
the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation
from purchasers of the common stock which is not expected to exceed that which
is customary in the types of transactions involved.

    To comply with applicable state securities laws, the common stock will be
sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, common stock may not be sold in some states
unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an
exemption from such registration or qualification requirement is available and
is complied with.

    All expenses relating to the offering and sale of the common stock, other
than commissions, discounts and fees of underwriters, broker-dealers or agents,
will be paid by us. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder against
some losses, claims, damages, actions, liabilities, costs and expenses,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See "Registration Rights
of the Selling Stockholder" beginning on page 34.

                                    EXPERTS

    The financial statements of Boston Properties, Inc. as of December 31, 1999
and 1998 and for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 and for the period
from June 23, 1997 to December 31, 1997 and of The Boston Properties Predecessor
Group for the period from January 1, 1997 to June 22, 1997, all incorporated by
reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in this registration statement have
been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    Certain legal matters, including the validity of the common stock offered
through this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar
LLP. Gilbert G. Menna, the sole stockholder of Gilbert G. Menna, P.C., a partner
of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, serves as one of our Assistant Secretaries. Mr.
Menna, and other partners of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, together own
approximately 20,000 shares of our common stock. Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP
occupies

                                       37
<PAGE>

approximately 26,000 square feet at our property at 599 Lexington Avenue, New
York, NY under a lease that expires in 2002.

                           VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK

  The validity of the common stock we are offering will be passed upon for us by
Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.

                                       38
<PAGE>

================================================================================

  You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus,
incorporated herein by reference or contained in a prospectus supplement.
Neither we nor the selling stockholder has authorized anyone else to provide you
with different or additional information. The selling stockholder is not making
an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You
should not assume that the information in this prospectus, or incorporated
herein by reference, or in any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date
other than the date on the front of those documents.

                               _________________

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Page
                                                                                ----
<S>                                                                             <C>
Prospectus Summary...........................................................      2
Risk Factors.................................................................      4
Where You Can Find More Information..........................................     16
Incorporation of Documents By Reference......................................     16
Forward-Looking Statements...................................................     18
Our Company..................................................................     19
Description of Common Stock..................................................     20
Limits on Ownership of Stock.................................................     24
Important Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation
   and Bylaws................................................................     26
Federal Income Tax Considerations and Consequences of Your Investment........     29
Registration Rights of the Selling Stockholder...............................     33
The Selling Stockholder......................................................     34
Use of Proceeds..............................................................     36
Plan of Distribution.........................................................     36
Experts......................................................................     37
Legal Matters................................................................     37
Validity of Common Stock.....................................................     38
</TABLE>

                               ________________

================================================================================



                                439,509 Shares
                                of Common Stock



                            Boston Properties, Inc.

                               ______________

                                  Prospectus
                               ______________





                            [______________], 2000




================================================================================
<PAGE>

                PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
         -------------------------------------------

    The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being registered are set forth in the following table (all amounts
except the registration fee are estimated):

    Registration fee -- Securities and Exchange Commission..  $ 4,800
    Accountants' fees and expenses..........................    5,000
    Blue Sky fees and expenses..............................    1,500
    Legal fees and expenses (other than Blue Sky)...........    7,500
    Printing expenses.......................................    2,000
    Miscellaneous...........................................      200

    TOTAL...................................................  $21,000
                                                              =======

    All expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being offered shall be borne by Boston Properties, Inc.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
         -----------------------------------------

    Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide certain limitations on
the liability of our directors and officers for monetary damages to Boston
Properties.  Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws obligate Boston
Properties to indemnify its directors and officers, and permit Boston Properties
to indemnify its employees and other agents, against certain liabilities
incurred in connection with their service in such capacities.  These provisions
could reduce the legal remedies available to Boston Properties and our
stockholders against these individuals.

    Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our directors and
officers to Boston Properties to the fullest extent permitted from time to time
by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Delaware General Corporation Law
permits, but does not require, a corporation to indemnify its directors,
officers, employees or agents and expressly provides that the indemnification
provided for under the Delaware General Corporation Law shall not be deemed
exclusive of any indemnification right under any bylaw, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, or otherwise.  The Delaware General Corporation Law
permits indemnification against expenses and certain other liabilities arising
out of legal actions brought or threatened against such persons for their
conduct on behalf of the corporation, provided that each such person acted in
good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed was in or not opposed to
the corporation's best interests and in the case of a criminal proceeding, had
no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.  The Delaware
General Corporation Law does not allow indemnification of directors in the case
of an action by or in the right of the corporation (including stockholder
derivative suits) unless the directors successfully defend the action or
indemnification is ordered by the court.

    Our certificate of incorporation contains a provision permitted by Delaware
law that generally eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary
damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty, including breaches involving
negligence or gross negligence in business combinations, unless the director has
breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, paid a dividend or
approved a stock repurchase in violation of the Delaware General Corporation Law
or obtained an improper personal benefit.  The provision does not alter a
director's liability under the federal securities laws.  In addition, this
provision does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as an
injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty.

    Our bylaws provide that our directors and officers will be, and, in the
discretion of our board of directors, non-officer employees may be, indemnified
by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may
in the future be amended, against all expenses and liabilities actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with service for or on behalf of Boston
Properties. Our

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

bylaws also provide that the right of directors and officers to indemnification
shall be a contract right and shall not be exclusive of any other right now
possessed or hereafter acquired under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders, or otherwise.

    We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors
and executive officers.  The indemnification agreements require, among other
matters, that we indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by law and advance to the directors and officers all related expenses,
subject to reimbursement if it is subsequently determined that indemnification
is not permitted.  Under these agreements, we must also indemnify and advance
all expenses incurred by directors and officers seeking to enforce their rights
under the indemnification agreements and may cover directors and officers under
our directors' and officers' liability insurance.  Although the form of
indemnification agreement offers substantially the same scope of coverage
afforded by law, it provides additional assurance to directors and officers that
indemnification will be available because, as a contract, it cannot be modified
unilaterally in the future by our board of directors or our stockholders to
eliminate the rights it provides.  It is the position of the Securities and
Exchange Commission that indemnification of directors and officers for
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 is against public policy and
unenforceable pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Item 16. Exhibits.
         --------

4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Boston Properties,
       Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Boston Properties, Inc.'s
       Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-25279)).

4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Boston Properties, Inc. (incorporated
       herein by reference to Boston Properties, Inc.'s Registration Statement
       on Form S-11 (File No. 333-25279)).

4.3    Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Boston
       Properties Limited Partnership (incorporated herein by reference to
       Boston Properties, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 1998,
       filed with the Commission on July 15, 1998).

4.4    Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of June 16, 1997 between Boston
       Properties, Inc. and Fleet National Bank (f.k.a. BankBoston, N.A.), as
       Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Boston Properties,
       Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-25279)).

*5.1   Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP as to the legality of the
       securities and interests being registered.

*8.1   Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP as to certain tax matters.

23.1  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Public Accountants.

23.2  Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP (included as part of Exhibits 5.1
       and 8.1).

24.1  Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration
       Statement as filed).

*99.1  Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 22, 2000, by and between
       Boston Properties, Inc. and The Prudential Insurance Company Of America.

_____________________

* Previously Filed

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

Item 17. Undertakings.
         ------------

     (a)  Boston Properties, Inc. hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made pursuant to this Registration Statement, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement:

               (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
    the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
    after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
    post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
    represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
    Registration Statement; and

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
    plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
    or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission by Boston Properties pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement;

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

     (b)  Boston Properties hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of Boston
Properties' annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of Boston Properties pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
Boston Properties has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by Boston Properties of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of Boston Properties in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, Boston Properties
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Boston
Properties, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on
this 22nd day of December, 2000.

                         BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.


                         By:  /s/ Edward H. Linde
                              ---------------------------------------------
                              Name:  Edward H. Linde
                              Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer

    KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Edward H. Linde
and Douglas T. Linde as such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person in such
person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement
(or any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective
upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933), and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact
and agent, or any substitute or substitutes of any of them, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Signature                         Title                         Date
<S>                         <C>                                     <C>
          *                 Chairman of the Board of Directors      December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Mortimer B. Zuckerman

/s/ Edward H. Linde         President and Chief Executive Officer,  December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Edward H. Linde             Director (Principal Executive Officer)

          *                 Chief Financial Officer (Principal      December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Douglas T. Linde            Financial Officer and Principal
                            Accounting Officer)

          *                 Director                                December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Alan J. Patricof

          *                 Director                                December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Ivan G. Seidenberg

          *                 Director                                December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Martin Turchin

          *                 Director                                December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Alan B. Landis

          *                 Director                                December 22, 2000
---------------------------
Richard E. Salomon
</TABLE>
* By: /s/ Edward H. Linde
      --------------------
Edward H. Linde
Attorney-in-fact

                                      II-4
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                     Description


4.1       Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Boston
          Properties, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Boston
          Properties, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-
          25279)).

4.2       Amended and Restated Bylaws of Boston Properties, Inc. (incorporated
          herein by reference to Boston Properties, Inc.'s Registration
          Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-25279)).

4.3       Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Boston
          Properties Limited Partnership (incorporated herein by reference to
          Boston Properties, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30,
          1998, filed with the Commission on July 15, 1998).

4.4       Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of June 16, 1997 between Boston
          Properties, Inc. and Fleet National Bank (f.k.a. BankBoston, N.A.), as
          Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Boston Properties,
          Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-25279)).

*5.1      Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP as to the legality of the
          securities and interests being registered.

*8.1      Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP as to certain tax matters.

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Public Accountants.

23.2     Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP (included as part of Exhibits
          5.1 and 8.1).

24.1     Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration
          Statement as filed).

*99.1     Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 22, 2000, by and between
          Boston Properties, Inc. and The Prudential Insurance Company Of
          America.

__________________

* Previously Filed




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