CABOT INDUSTRIAL TRUST
8-K, 1999-04-29
REAL ESTATE
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              -------------------- 

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 29, 1999


                             CABOT INDUSTRIAL TRUST
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


          Maryland                    1-13829                  04-3397866
(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)             File Number)           Identification No.)
                  



                          Two Center Plaza, Suite 200
                          Boston, Massachusetts 02108
             (Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (617) 723-0900


                                 Not Applicable
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
<PAGE>
 
Item 5.   Other Events.

     Attached are documents relating to the issuance of debt securities by Cabot
Industrial Properties, L.P. pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-71585.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

     (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired or To Be Acquired

               Not applicable.
 

     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

               Not applicable.


     (c)  Exhibits.
 
          99.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities to be issued
               pursuant to Cabot L.P. and Cabot Industrial Trust's Form S-3
               Registration Statement, File No. 333-71585.

          99.2 Form of Supplemental Indenture to be entered into among Cabot
               L.P. and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

          99.3 Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt as to legality of debt
               securities.
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    CABOT INDUSTRIAL TRUST


Date:     April 29, 1999            By:  /s/ Neil E. Waisnor
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                    Neil E. Waisnor
                                    Senior Vice President--Finance
                                    Treasurer and Secretary

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1
 
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                       CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.


                  $[    ] of [   ]% Redeemable Notes due 20[  ]



                                                               [         ], 1999

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
c/o J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
      60 Wall Street
      New York, New York  10260

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Cabot Industrial Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Operating Partnership"), by this agreement (the "Agreement") proposes to issue
 ---------------------                            ---------                    
and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (collectively, the
                                                                           
"Underwriters"), the aggregate principal amount of its debt securities
- -------------                                                         
identified in Schedule I hereto (the "Securities"), to be issued under an
                                      ----------                         
indenture dated [           ], 1999 (the "Base Indenture") as supplemented by
                                          --------------                     
the first supplemental indenture thereto to be dated [         ], 1999 (the
                                                                           
"Supplemental Indenture" and, together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture")
- -----------------------                                              ---------  
between Cabot Industrial Trust, Inc., a Maryland real estate investment trust
and the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership (the "Company"), the
                                                                -------       
Operating Partnership and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
                                                                 -------   

          The Company and the Operating Partnership have prepared and filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in accordance with the
                                             ----------                         
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), a
                                                             --------------
registration statement (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I
hereto) on
<PAGE>
 
                                      -2-


Form S-3, relating to certain securities (the "Shelf Securities") to
                                               ----------------     
be issued from time to time by the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the
case may be.  The Operating Partnership also has filed with, or proposes to file
with, the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act ("Rule 424")
                                                                     --------  
a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities (a "Prospectus
                                                                    ----------
Supplement").  The registration statement as amended to the date of this
- ----------                                                              
Agreement and including any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(B)
under the Securities Act (a "Rule 462(B) Registration Statement") is hereinafter
                             ----------------------------------                 
referred to as the "Registration Statement" and the related prospectus covering
                    ----------------------                                     
the Shelf Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities
is hereinafter referred to as the "Basic Prospectus."  The Basic Prospectus as
                                   ----------------                           
supplemented by any applicable Prospectus Supplement specifically relating to
the Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities is
hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus."  Any reference in this Agreement to
                                ----------                                      
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any preliminary form of
Prospectus (a "Preliminary Prospectus") previously filed with the Commission
               ----------------------                                       
pursuant to Rule 424 or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include
the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
under the Securities Act that were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(collectively, the "Exchange Act") on or before the date of this Agreement or
                    ------------                                             
the date of the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to "amend,"
"amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, the
Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed
to refer to and include any documents filed under the Exchange Act after the
date of this Agreement, or the date of the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be,
which are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

          Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership hereby severally
agrees with the Underwriters as follows:

          1.   The Operating Partnership hereby agrees to issue and sell the
Securities to the several Underwriters as hereinafter provided, and each
Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees to purchase,
severally and not jointly, from the Operating Partnership, the respective
principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in
Schedule II hereto at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto plus
accrued interest, if any, from the date specified in Schedule I hereto to the
date of payment and delivery.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -3-

          2.   The Operating Partnership understands that the several
Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of their respective portions
of the Securities and (ii) initially to offer the Securities upon the terms set
forth in the Prospectus.

          3.   Payment for the Securities shall be made to the Operating
Partnership or to its order in immediately available funds on the date and at
the time and place set forth in Schedule I hereto (or at such other time and
place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth Business Day
thereafter, as the Underwriters and the Operating Partnership may agree in
writing). The time and date of such payment for the Securities are referred to
herein as the "Closing Date." Such payment will be made upon delivery to the
               ------------
Underwriters of the Securities registered in such names and in such
denominations as the Underwriters shall request not less than two full Business
Days prior to the date of delivery, with any transfer taxes payable in
connection with transfer to the Underwriters duly paid by the Operating
Partnership. As used herein, the term "Business Day" means any day other than a
                                       ------------
day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City. The
Securities will be delivered through the book-entry facilities of The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC") and will be made available for inspection by the
                ---
Underwriters at the office of Cahill Gordon & Reindel at 80 Pine Street, New
York, New York 10005 not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

          4.        (a)  The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and
severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof and as
of the Closing Date that:

               (i)    the Company and the Operating Partnership meet the
     requirements for use of Form S-3 for the sale of the Securities, and the
     Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission;

               (ii)   the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including
     the financial statements, schedules and related notes included in the
     Prospectus, as of the date hereof and at the time the Registration
     Statement became effective, and when any post-effective amendment to the
     Registration Statement or Rule -462(b) Registration Statement becomes
     effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with
     the Commission, did or will comply in all material respects with all
     applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of
     1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder (the "TIA") and will contain all statements required to be
                      ---
     stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the TIA. The
     Prospectus, including the financial statements, schedules and related 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -4-

     notes included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, as of the
     date hereof, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, at
     the Closing Date, and when any post-effective amendment to the Registration
     Statement or Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective or any
     amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, did
     or will comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of
     the Securities Act and the TIA and will contain all statements required to
     be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the TIA. On the
     date the Registration Statement was declared effective, on the date hereof,
     on the date of filing of any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and on the
     Closing Date, no part of the Registration Statement or any amendment did or
     will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
     the statements therein not misleading. On the date the Registration
     Statement was declared effective, on the date hereof, as of the date of the
     Prospectus, on the date of filing of any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
     and at the Closing Date, the Prospectus did not and will not contain an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading. If a Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement is filed in connection with the offering and sale of the
     Securities, the Company and the Operating Partnership will have complied or
     will comply with the requirements of Rule 111 under the Securities Act
     relating to the payment of filing fees therefor. The foregoing
     representations and warranties in this Section 4(a)(ii) do not apply to (i)
     that part of the Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement of
     Eligibility and Qualification under the TIA (the "Form T-1"), and (ii) any
                                                       --------
     statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity with
     information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company
     or the Operating Partnership by the Underwriters specifically for inclusion
     in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
     thereto. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has distributed
     any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the
     Securities other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
     Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other materials, if any, permitted by the
     Securities Act (which were disclosed to the Underwriters and the
     Underwriters' counsel);
<PAGE>
 
                                      -5-

               (iii)  any Preliminary Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424
     under the Securities Act and each 462(b) Registration Statement, if any,
     (A) complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with all
     applicable provisions of the Securities Act and (B) did not contain an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading; each Preliminary Prospectus and
     the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the
     offering of Securities will, at the time of such delivery, be identical in
     content to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
     Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
     S-T;


               (iv)   the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
     Securities Act comply, or will comply, as the case may be, in all material
     respects with the Exchange Act, and, when read together with other
     information included in, and incorporated by reference in, the Prospectus,
     at the time the Registration Statement became effective, as of the date of
     the Prospectus and as of the Closing Date, or during the period specified
     in Section 5(e) did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
                                                               --------
     however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to the Form
     -------
     T-1 or any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
     with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in
     writing by such Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the Registration
     Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

               (v)    (A) there are no contracts or other documents required by
     the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or
     required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus that
     have not been so filed or described as required; (B) each contract to which
     either the Company, the Operating Partnership or the Subsidiaries (as
     defined below) is a party and to which reference is made in the Prospectus
     or which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement has been duly
     and validly executed by the Company, the Operating Partnership, or the
     Subsidiaries, as the case 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -6-

     may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership
     is in full force and effect in all material respects in accordance with its
     terms, and no such contracts have been assigned by the Company, the
     Operating Partnership, or the Subsidiaries except as contemplated in the
     Prospectus; and (C) the Company and the Operating Partnership know of no
     present situation or condition or fact that would prevent compliance by the
     Company, the Operating Partnership or the Subsidiaries in all material
     respects with the terms of any such contract;

               (vi)   other than the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit A hereto
     (the "Subsidiaries"), the Company does not own, beneficially or of record,
           ------------
     any material interest in, or control, any partnership, joint venture,
     limited liability company, unincorporated association, corporation or other
     entity;

               (vii)  each of Arthur Andersen LLP, KPMG LLP,
     PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which are the accounting firms that certified
     the financial statements and supporting schedules included in or
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, is an independent
     public accountant as required by the Securities Act;

               (viii) the financial statements, supporting schedules and related
     notes included in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration
     Statement and Prospectus comply in all material respects with the
     requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and
     present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the entity or
     entities or group presented or included therein, as of the respective dates
     thereof, and its or their consolidated results of operations and cash flows
     for the respective periods covered thereby, in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the
     periods involved, except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus and
     except as the unaudited quarterly financial statements may not contain
     certain footnote disclosure that would be required under generally accepted
     accounting principles. The financial information and data included in or
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     present fairly the information included or incorporated by reference
     therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent, except as may be
     noted therein, with that of the financial statements, schedules and notes
     included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
<PAGE>
 
                                      -7-

     Prospectus and the books and records of the respective entity or entities
     or group presented or included therein. Except as otherwise noted in the
     Prospectus, pro forma financial information included or incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been
     prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities
     Act and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA")
                                                                      -----
     guidelines with respect to pro forma financial information, and includes
     all adjustments necessary to present fairly the pro forma financial
     condition of the entities or group presented or included therein at the
     respective dates indicated and the results of operations and cash flows for
     the respective periods specified. The Company's and the Operating
     Partnership's ratio of earnings to fixed charges included in the Prospectus
     and in Exhibit 12 to the Registration Statement have been calculated in
     compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K of the Commission. No other
     financial statements (or schedules) of the Company, the Operating
     Partnership, any predecessor of the Company and/or the Operating
     Partnership or any other entity are required by the Act or the Exchange Act
     to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus;

               (ix)   since the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and except as set
     forth or contemplated therein (A) there has not been any material adverse
     change in or affecting the business, management, condition (financial or
     otherwise), results of operations or business prospects of the Operating
     Partnership, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole
     (each, a "Material Adverse Change," and any event or state of facts that
               -----------------------
     could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change being
     herein referred to as a "Prospective Material Adverse Change"); (B) no
                              -----------------------------------
     casualty loss, condemnation or other adverse event with respect to any
     property owned by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the
     Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Properties") that is material to the
                                      ----------
     Operating Partnership, the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
     has occurred; (C) neither the Operating Partnership, the Company nor any of
     the Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or
     not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Operating
     Partnership, the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (D)
     there has been no change in the capital shares of the Company or the
     partnership interests of the Operating Partnership, or any increase
<PAGE>
 
                                      -8-

     in the indebtedness of the Company or the Operating Partnership or the
     indebtedness encumbering the Properties;

               (x)    the Company (A) has been duly organized and is validly
     existing as a real estate investment trust in good standing under the laws
     of the State of Maryland, with the trust power and authority to own, lease
     and operate its properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged
     and proposes to engage as described in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
     Agreement and (B) is duly qualified as a foreign trust and is in good
     standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which such
     qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
     property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so
     qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a
     material adverse effect on the business, management, condition (financial
     or otherwise), results of operations or business prospects of the Operating
     Partnership, the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a 
     "Material Adverse Effect");
      -----------------------   

               (xi)   (A) the Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is
     validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws
     of the State of Delaware, with partnership power and authority to own,
     lease and operate its properties, to conduct the business in which it is
     engaged and proposes to engage as described in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
     Agreement; (B) the Operating Partnership is duly qualified or registered as
     a limited partnership and is in good standing under the laws of each other
     jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration is required,
     whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
     business, except where the failure to be so qualified or registered or in
     good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (C) the Company is
     the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and is the holder of
     a general partnership interest in the Operating Partnership constituting as
     of the date hereof approximately 92.9% of all general and limited
     partnership interests (the "Units") and (D) the Second Amended and Restated
     Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated February 4, 1998, substantially in
     the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the "Operating
                                                                      ---------
     Partnership Agreement") has been duly and validly authorized, is in full
     ---------------------
     force and effect and is a valid and binding agreement of the parties
<PAGE>
 
                                      -9-

     thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

               (xii)  (A) each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and
     is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization,
     with power and authority (corporate, partnership or other) to own, lease
     and operate its properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged
     and proposes to engage as described in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus (B) and has been duly qualified to do business and is in good
     standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns, leases
     or operates properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
     qualification, other than where the failure to be so qualified or in good
     standing, singly or in the aggregate with all other such failures, would
     not have a Material Adverse Effect; and all the outstanding shares of
     capital stock and Units of each Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership
     have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid, and are owned
     by the Operating partnership, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all
     Liens except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus;

               (xiii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company and the Operating Partnership and, assuming due
     authorization, execution and delivery by the Underwriters, constitutes
     valid and binding agreements of the Company and the Operating Partnership,
     enforceable against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance
     with their terms, subject to (a) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
     fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now
     or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
     creditors and (b) the effect of general principles of equity, whether
     enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and in the
     discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
     brought;

               (xiv)  the Securities have been approved for listing on the New
     York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), subject only to official notice of issuance;
                           ---- 
               (xv)   (A) the Securities have been duly authorized by the
     Company, as general partner of the Operating Partnership, and, when
     authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of
     the Indenture, and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement,
     such Securities will be valid and legally binding unsecured obligations of
     the Operating Partnership entitled to the benefit of the Indenture and
<PAGE>
 
                                      -10-

     enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with their
     respective terms, subject to (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
     fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now
     or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
     creditors and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether
     enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the
     discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
     brought; (B) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
     Indenture Act and prior to the issuance of the Securities will be duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Operating
     Partnership, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
     by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of
     the Company and the Operating Partnership, enforceable in accordance with
     its terms subject to (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
     conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
     hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
     creditors and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether
     enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the
     discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
     brought; (C) the Securities will conform, and the Indenture will conform,
     to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and (D) the
     Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture;

               (xvi)  (A) neither the Operating Partnership, the Company, nor
     any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its partnership agreement,
     declaration of trust, certificate of incorporation or by-laws, as the case
     may be, and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, neither the Operating Partnership, the Company, nor any of the
     Subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both
     would be, in violation of, or in default under, any contract, indenture,
     mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or
     instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its respective
     properties or assets is bound or affected, except for violations and
     defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Material
     Adverse Effect; (B) the issuance and sale of the Securities by the
     Operating Partnership and the performance by the Operating Partnership of
     its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the
     transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a
     breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
<PAGE>
 
                                      -11-

     constitute a default under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
     trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to
     which the Operating Partnership, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
     a party or by which the Operating Partnership, the Company or any of the
     Subsidiaries is bound or affected or to which any of the property or assets
     of the Operating Partnership, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
     subject, except for any such violation, conflict, breach or default that,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect,
     or result in the creation or imposition of any material Lien upon any of
     the Properties, nor will any such action result in any violation of the
     provisions of its partnership agreement, declaration of trust, certificate
     of incorporation or by-laws, as the case may be, of the Operating
     Partnership, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any applicable law
     or statute or, except for such matters as would not result in a Material
     Adverse Effect, any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental
     agency or body having jurisdiction over the Operating Partnership, the
     Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties;
     (C) and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
     qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
     required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by
     the Company and the Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated
     by this Agreement, except such consents, approvals, authorizations,
     registrations and qualifications as have been obtained under the Securities
     Act and as may be required under applicable state securities, real estate
     syndication or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
     distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;

               (xvii) no material consent, approval, authorization or order of,
     or any filing or declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body
     or any other entity is required in connection with the offering, issuance
     or sale of the Securities hereunder except such as have been obtained under
     the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the TIA and such as may be
     required under state securities, Blue Sky or real estate syndication laws
     or the by-laws, the corporate financing rule or the conflict of interests
     rule of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD")
                                                                        ----
     in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the
     Securities or such as have been received prior to the date of this
     Agreement, and except for the filing of this Agreement and the
<PAGE>
 
                                      -12-

     Indenture with the Commission as exhibits to a Form 8-K, which the Company
     and the Operating Partnership agree to make in a timely manner;

              (xviii) other than as set forth or contemplated in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no legal or
     governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of
     the Company or the Operating Partnership, threatened to which the Operating
     Partnership, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is or may be a party or
     of which any property of the Operating Partnership, the Company or any of
     the Subsidiaries or any Property is or may be the subject, that,
     individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect, and, to the knowledge of the Company and the
     Operating Partnership, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated
     by governmental authorities or others;

               (xix)  (A) no labor dispute with the employees of the Company,
     the Operating Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries exists or, to the
     knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, is threatened that
     could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (xx)   (A) the Company is organized and operates in a manner so
     as to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under Sections 856
                                                       ----
     through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
                                                                        ----
     and will timely and effectively elect to be taxed as a REIT under the Code
     commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 1998 and (B) the
     Company, the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries intend to continue
     to qualify as a REIT for the foreseeable future;

               (xxi)  the Operating Partnership, the Company, and each of the
     Subsidiaries possess such certificates, authorizations or permits issued by
     the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or
     bodies as are necessary to conduct the business now operated or proposed to
     be operated by each of them, except where the failure to obtain any such
     certificate, authorization or permit, individually or in the aggregate,
     would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company, the
     Operating Partnership, nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
     of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
     certificate, authority or permit that, individually or in the aggregate, if
     the subject of an adverse decision, ruling or finding, would
<PAGE>
 
                                      -13-

     have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (xxii) (A) the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries hold
     good and marketable title to each of the Properties free and clear of all
     Liens, other than those which the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     indicate affect the Properties and subject, however, to (1) utility
     easements serving such Properties, (2) Liens for taxes not due and payable,
     (3) zoning and similar governmental land use matters affecting such
     Properties that are consistent with the current uses of such Properties,
     (4) matters of title not adversely affecting the use, value or
     marketability of title to such Properties, (5) other statutory liens not
     due and payable and (6) liens that are not material in character, amount or
     extent and do not materially detract from the value or interfere with the
     use of the Properties or otherwise materially impair the business
     operations being conducted or proposed to be conducted thereon; (B) all
     Liens that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus are disclosed therein; (C) none of the Company, the
     Operating Partnership, nor any of the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of
     the Company and the Operating Partnership, any other party to any lease
     relating to any Property is in default under any such lease and neither the
     Company nor the Operating Partnership is aware of any event that, with the
     giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a
     default under any such lease, except in each case such defaults that,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
     (D) each of the leases pursuant to which all or any portion of the
     Properties are demised is in full force and effect in all material respects
     and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
     no tenant thereunder has a right of first refusal to purchase the premises
     demised thereunder; (E) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor
     any of the Subsidiaries party to any mortgages or other security documents
     or other agreements encumbering or otherwise recorded against the
     Properties is in default thereunder and neither the Company nor the
     Operating Partnership is aware of any event that, with the giving of notice
     or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a default under any such
     mortgage, document or agreement, except in each case such defaults that,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
     (F) each of the Properties is in compliance with all applicable codes, laws
     and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes,
     laws and regulations), except for such
<PAGE>
 
                                      -14-

     failures to comply that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
     Material Adverse Effect; (G) neither the Company nor the Operating
     Partnership has knowledge of any pending or threatened condemnation, zoning
     change or other proceeding or action that will in any manner affect the
     size of, use of, improvements on, construction on or access to the
     Properties, except such proceedings or actions that, individually or in the
     aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (H) any real
     property and buildings held under lease by the Operating Partnership, the
     Company or the Subsidiaries and described in the Prospectus are held by
     them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as
     are not material and do not interfere in any material respect with the use
     made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the
     Operating Partnership, the Company or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be;

               (xxiii) (A) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus and except for activities, conditions, circumstances or
     other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
     Material Adverse Effect, the Operating Partnership, the Company and the
     Subsidiaries have complied and are in compliance with all Environmental
     Laws (as hereinafter defined); (B) the Operating Partnership, the Company,
     and the Subsidiaries have not used, and have not permitted the use of, the
     Properties or any other real property owned or operated by any of them for
     activities or operations that involve the handling, use, processing,
     manufacturing, generating, producing, storing, refining, recycling,
     transporting, spilling, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
     injecting, burying, leaching, dumping, disposing of or releasing into the
     environment or otherwise dealing with Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter
     defined), except for Hazardous Materials utilized in the ordinary course of
     maintaining such Properties or property, provided such use would not, in
     the ordinary course of business, give rise to liability under any
     Environmental Law; (C) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has
     knowledge of any seepage, leaking, escaping, leaching, discharging,
     injection, release, emission, spill, pumping, pouring, emptying, dumping or
     other release of Hazardous Materials into the environment relating to
     activities or operations at or from the Properties or any other real
     property owned or occupied by the Company including, without
<PAGE>
 
                                      -15-

     limitation any land or water on, at, under or adjacent to such Properties
     or property owned or operated by the Operating Partnership, the Company or
     the Subsidiaries or on, at, under or from land or water from which
     Hazardous Materials might seep, flow or drain into such land or water,
     except such as, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect; (D) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus, neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of
     the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and neither the Company nor
     the Operating Partnership has any knowledge of, any occurrence or
     circumstance that, with notice or passage of time or both, would give rise
     to a claim or liability under or pursuant to any Environmental Law except
     such as, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect; and (E) none of the Properties are included or, to the
     knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, proposed for
     inclusion on the National Priorities List issued by the United States
     Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") pursuant to CERCLA (as
                                           ---
     hereinafter defined) or on the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
     Compensation and Liability Information System list, and no such Property
     has otherwise been publicly identified by the EPA as a potential CERCLA
     site or to the knowledge of the Company included, or proposed for
     inclusion, on any list or inventory issued pursuant to any other
     Environmental Law or issued by any other governmental authority having or
     claiming jurisdiction under Environmental Laws or with respect to such
     Property.

               As used herein, "Hazardous Material" shall include, without
                                ------------------
     limitation, any and all substances, materials and wastes including, without
     limitation, asbestos, and petroleum products, constituents and wastes,
     regulated, pursuant to the common law or any federal, state or local
     environmental or worker health or safety law, ordinance, rule or regulation
     including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
     Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. (S)(S) 9601 et seq.
                                                                    -------
     ("CERCLA"), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. (S)(S)
       ------
     1801 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. (S)(S)
          -------
     9601 et seq., the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of
          -------
     1986, 42 U.S.C. (S)(S) 11001 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15
                                  -------
     U.S.C. (S)(S) 2601 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
                        -------
     Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. (S)(S) 136 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.
                                          -------
     (S)(S) 7401 et seq., the Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control
     Act), 33
<PAGE>
 
                                      -16-

     U.S.C. (S)(S) 1251 et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. (S)(S)
                        -------
     300f-300j-11, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. (S)(S)

     651 et seq., as any of the above statutes may have been amended from time
         -------
     to time, and in the regulations adopted and publications promulgated
     pursuant to each of the foregoing (the foregoing, collectively,
     "Environmental Laws");
      ------------- ----     
    
               (xxiv)  neither the Company, the Operating Partnership, any of
     the Subsidiaries nor any of their respective affiliates or related persons
     has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or
     that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or
     manipulation of the price of the Securities;

               (xxv)   neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of
     the Subsidiaries is, or will after the Closing Date be, subject to
     registration as an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
     "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company
     Act of 1940, as amended;

               (xxvi)  no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or
     among the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries on
     the one hand, and the trustees, officers, shareholders, customers, clients,
     tenants or suppliers of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of
     the Subsidiaries on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act
     to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is
     not so described;

               (xxvii) the statements set forth in the Prospectus under the
     captions "Description of the Notes" and "Description of Debt Securities,"
     insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the
     Securities, and under the captions and "Selected Provisions of Maryland Law
     and of Cabot Trust's Declaration of Trust and Bylaws" and "Federal Income
     Tax Consequences," to the extent such statements purport to describe
     matters of law or regulation or constitute summaries of documents described
     therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects ;

               (xxviii)(A) the Company and/or the Operating Partnership has and
     will maintain property and casualty insurance in favor of the Company, the
     Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries (as the case may be) with
     respect to each of the Properties, in an amount and on such terms as is
     reasonable and customary for businesses of the type conducted and
<PAGE>
 
                                      -17-

     proposed to be conducted by the Company, the Operating Partnership and
     the Subsidiaries; neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor the
     Subsidiaries has received from any insurance company written notice of any
     material defects or deficiencies affecting the insurability of any such
     Properties;

               (xxix)   each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the
     Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has filed all material foreign, federal,
     state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested
     extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file
     would not have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required
     to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against
     it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for
     any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in
     good faith or as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus;

               (xxx)    the Operating Partnership is properly treated as a
     partnership for federal income tax purposes and not as a "publicly traded
     partnership";

               (xxxi)   the Company and the Operating Partnership maintain
     systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
     assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with
     management's general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are
     recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
     conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain
     accountability for assets; (C) access to assets, financial and corporate
     books and records is permitted only in accordance with management's general
     or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets
     is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
     action is taken with respect to any differences;

               (xxxii)  the Securities will have an investment grade rating from
     one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations as of
     the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as specified in Schedule I
     hereto;

               (xxxiii) (A) each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of
     Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is maintained, administered or contributed to
     by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees
     of the Company and its affiliates has been maintained in compliance with
<PAGE>
 
                                      -18-

     its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules
     and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, except
     where such noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
     a Material Adverse Effect; (B) no prohibited transaction, within the
     meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred
     with respect to any such plan; (C) for each such plan that is subject to
     the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no
     "accumulated funding deficiency" as defined in Section 412 of the Code has
     been incurred, whether or not waived, and the fair market value of the
     assets of each such plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid
     contributions) exceeded the present value of all benefits accrued under
     such plan determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions;

               (xxxiv)  except as set forth in the Prospectus, each of the
     Company, the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries own or possess all
     patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks,
     trade names, copyrights and know-how (including trade secrets and other
     unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information,
     systems or procedures (collectively, the "Intellectual Property"))
                                               ---------------------
     necessary to conduct the business in which it is engaged and proposes to
     engage as described in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement,
     except to the extent that the failure to own or possess such Intellectual
     Property would not have a Material Adverse Effect and, except as described
     in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company, the
     Operating Partnership, nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
     of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect
     to any Intellectual Property, except for notices the content of which, if
     accurate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (xxxv)   each Property is served by all utilities necessary for
     its use and operation as currently used or proposed to be used and is
     accessible from a public road or right of way;

               (xxxvi)  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose
     has been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating
     Partnership threatened by the Commission; and

               (xxxvii) The Company and the Operating Partnership will execute a
<PAGE>
 
                                      -19-

     Supplemental Indenture designating the series of debt securities to be
     offered and its related terms and provisions in accordance with the
     provisions of the Base Indenture.

               (b)    Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company or
the Operating Partnership and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for
the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or
the Operating Partnership, as applicable, to each Underwriter as to matters
covered therein .

               5.    The Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and
severally covenant and agree with the several Underwriters as follows:

               (a)    in respect of the offering of the Securities, the
     Operating Partnership will (i) prepare a Prospectus Supplement setting
     forth the aggregate principal amount of Securities covered thereby and
     their terms not otherwise specified in the Basic Prospectus pursuant to
     which the Securities are being issued, the names of the Underwriters
     participating in the offering and the aggregate principal amount of
     Securities that each severally has agreed to purchase, the names of the
     Underwriters acting as co-managers in connection with the offering, the
     price at which the Securities are to be purchased by the Underwriters from
     the Operating Partnership, the initial public offering price, the selling
     concession and reallowance, if any, and such other information as the
     Underwriters and the Operating Partnership deem appropriate in connection
     with the offering of the Securities, (ii) file the Prospectus in a form
     approved by the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act
     no later than the Commission's close of business on the second Business Day
     following the date of determination of the offering price of the Securities
     and (iii) furnish copies of the Prospectus to the Underwriters and to such
     dealers as the Underwriters shall specify in New York City, as soon as
     practicable (but in any event in sufficient time as to allow the
     Underwriters and such dealers to deliver such Prospectus prior to or
     simultaneously with confirmations of sale) after the date of this Agreement
     in such quantities as the Underwriters may reasonably request;

               (b)    to deliver, at the expense of the Operating Partnership,
     to the Underwriters a total of six signed copies of the Registration
     Statement (as originally filed) and each amendment thereto, in each case
     including exhibits, and, during the period mentioned in paragraph (f)
<PAGE>
 
                                      -20-

     below, to each of the Underwriters and to dealers effecting transactions in
     the Securities as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments
     and supplements thereto) as the Underwriters may reasonably request;

               (c)    the Operating Partnership will furnish to the Underwriters
     without charge, as many copies of the exhibits and documents incorporated
     by reference in the Registration Statement as the Underwriters may
     reasonably request;

               (d)    (i) at any time when the Prospectus is required to be
     delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in connection with
     sales of Securities, not to file any amendment to the Registration
     Statement or any Rule 462(B) Registration Statement or to make any
     amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, of which the Underwriters shall
     not previously have been advised or to which the Underwriters or counsel
     for the Underwriters shall reasonably object; and to prepare and file with
     the Commission, promptly upon the Underwriters' reasonable request, any
     amendment to the Registration Statement, Rule 462(B) Registration
     Statement, or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus that, in the
     opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, may be necessary in connection
     with the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, and to use its
     best efforts to cause the same to become promptly effective and (ii) if
     applicable, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
     furnished to the Underwriters will be identical in content to the
     electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
     pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T;


               (e)    to advise the Underwriters promptly, and to confirm such
     advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement shall have become or
     becomes effective, (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement
     shall have become effective, (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or
     any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the
     Underwriters with copies thereof, (iv) of any request by the Commission for
     any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement
     to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (v) of the issuance by
     the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
     any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or
     threatening of any
<PAGE>
 
                                      -21-

     proceeding for that purpose, (vi) of the occurrence of any event, within
     the period referenced in paragraph (f) below, as a result of which the
     Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
     in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in
     which such statements are made, not misleading, and (vii) of the receipt by
     the Company or the Operating Partnership of any notification with respect
     to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale
     in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
     such purpose; and to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
     prevent the issuance of any such stop order, or of any order preventing or
     suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of
     any order suspending any such qualification of the Securities, or
     notification of any such order thereof and, if issued, to use its
     commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as possible the
     withdrawal thereof;

               (f)    if, during such period of time after the first date of the
     public offering of the Securities as in the reasonable opinion of counsel
     for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by
     law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or any
     dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary to amend
     or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in
     the light of the circumstances in which such statements are made, not
     misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
     comply with applicable federal and state securities law, to reasonably
     promptly prepare and furnish, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose
     names and addresses the Underwriters will furnish to the Operating
     Partnership) to which Securities may have been sold by the Underwriters and
     to any other dealers upon request, such amendments or supplements to the
     Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as
     so amended or supplemented will comply with applicable federal and state
     securities law; provided, however, that any amendments or supplements made
                     --------  -------
     more than one year after the first date of the public offering of the
     Securities shall be made at the expense of the Underwriters;

               (g)    to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to qualify
     the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky and real
     estate syndication laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters shall
<PAGE>
 
                                      -22-

     reasonably request and to continue such qualification in effect so long as
     reasonably required for distribution of the Securities and to pay all fees
     and expenses (including commercially reasonable fees and disbursements of
     counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with such
     qualification; provided that the Company shall not be required to file a
     general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to qualify as
     a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction, and provided, further, that all
                                                    --------
     fees and expenses incurred in connection with qualifying the Securities for
     offer and sale after the first anniversary of the public offering of such
     Securities shall be paid by the Underwriters;

               (h)    to make generally available to its security holders and to
     the Underwriters, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a
     period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of
     the Operating Partnership occurring after the effective date of the
     Registration Statement, which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(A)
     of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated
     thereunder;

               (i)    for such period as the Securities remain outstanding, to
     furnish to the Underwriters copies of all reports or other communications
     (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Securities and copies of
     any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the
     Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
     "NASD") or any national securities exchange;
      ----         
     
               (j)    during the period when the Prospectus is required to be
     delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in connection with
     sales of the Securities, to file all documents required to be filed by it
     with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act
     within the time periods required by the Exchange Act;

               (k)    whether or not the transactions contemplated in this
     Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause
     to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
     obligations of the Company and the Operating Partnership hereunder,
     including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all costs and
     expenses (i) incident to the preparation, issuance, execution and delivery
     of the Securities, (ii) incident to the preparation, printing and filing
     under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and
     any Preliminary Prospectus (including in each case all
<PAGE>
 
                                      -23-

     exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto), (iii) incurred in connection
     with the registration or qualification of the Securities under the
     applicable securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may
     reasonably designate (including reasonable fees of counsel for the
     Underwriters and its reasonable disbursements in connection therewith),
     (iv) in connection with the listing of the Securities on any stock
     exchange, (v) related to any required filing with, and review by, the NASD,
     (vi) in connection with the printing (including word processing and
     duplication costs) and delivery of this Agreement, all other agreements
     relating to underwriting and syndication arrangements and the furnishing to
     the Underwriters and dealers of copies of the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus, including mailing and shipping, as herein provided, (vii)
     any expenses incurred by the Company or the Operating Partnership in
     connection with a "road show" presentation to potential investors and
     (viii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar;

               (l)    the Operating Partnership will use the net proceeds
     received by it from the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement
     in the manner specified in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption "Use
     of Proceeds";

               (m)    the Company and the Operating Partnership will use their
     reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Securities on the
     NYSE;

               (n)    the Company and the Operating Partnership will use their
     best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done and performed
     under this Agreement by the Company and the Operating Partnership prior to
     the Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of
     the Securities;

               (o)    the Company will use its best efforts to continue to
     qualify as a REIT under the Code unless the Company determines that it is
     no longer in its best interests to be so qualified;

               (p)    to take all reasonable action necessary to enable Duff &
     Phelps Credit Rating Co., (Duff & Phelps"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
                                -------------
     ("Moody's"), and Standard Poor's Corporation ("S&P") to provide their
       -------                                      ---
     respective credit ratings of the Securities, as specified in Schedule I
     hereto.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -24-

               6.     The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder to
purchase the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the performance by
the Company and the Operating Partnership of their respective obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

               (a)    (i) (A) the Registration Statement (excluding the Rule 462
     Registration Statement) shall have become effective (or if a post-effective
     amendment is required to be filed under the Securities Act, such post-
     effective amendment shall have become effective) not later than 5:00 P.M.,
     New York City time, on the date hereof, (B) if the Company has elected to
     rely on Rule 462(B), the Rule 462 Registration Statement shall have become
     effective not later than 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date
     hereof, and (C) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment shall be in effect,
     and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened
     by the Commission; (ii) the Prospectus shall have been filed with the
     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(B) within the applicable time period
     prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the
     Securities Act and in accordance with Section 5(A) hereof; and (iii) all
     requests for additional information by the Commission shall have been
     complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Underwriters;

               (b)    the representations and warranties of the Company and the
     Operating Partnership contained herein shall be true and correct on and as
     of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date and the
     Company and the Operating Partnership shall have complied with all
     agreements and all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied
     hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date;

               (c)    subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement
     and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any
     downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of (i) any intended or
     potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change that does not
     indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities of or
     guaranteed by the Company or the Operating Partnership by any "nationally
     recognized statistical rating organization", as such term is defined for
     purposes of Rule 436(G)(2) under the Securities Act;

               (d)    (i) since the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Prospectus and as of the Closing Date, there shall not have
     been
<PAGE>
 
                                      -25-

     any change in the capital shares or long-term debt of the Company or the
     Operating Partnership and there shall not have occurred any Material
     Adverse Change or any Prospective Material Adverse Change, otherwise than
     as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, the effect of which in the judgment of the Underwriters makes
     it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
     delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the
     manner contemplated in the Prospectus and (ii) neither the Company, the
     Operating Partnership, nor any of the Subsidiaries shall have sustained
     since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in or
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or
     interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth
     or contemplated in the Prospectus;

               (e)    the Underwriters shall have received on and as of the
     Closing Date, a certificate of an executive officer of the Company with
     specific knowledge about the Company's financial matters reasonably
     satisfactory to the Underwriters to the effect set forth in subsections (a)
     through (d) (with respect to the respective representations, warranties,
     agreements and conditions of the Company and the Operating Partnership) of
     this Section 6;

               (f)    Mayer, Brown & Platt, counsel for the Company and the
     Operating Partnership, shall have furnished to the Underwriters its written
     opinion addressed to the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in form and
     substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

               (i)    the Company is a duly organized and validly existing real
             estate investment trust in good standing under the laws of the
             State of Maryland, with power and authority to own, lease and
             operate its properties, to conduct the businesses in which it is
             engaged and proposes to engage, as described in the Registration
             Statement and the Prospectus, and to enter into and perform its
             obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture;

               (ii)   the Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is
             validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under
             the laws of the State of Delaware, with partnership power and
             authority to
<PAGE>
 
                                      -26-

             own, lease and operate its properties, to conduct the business
             in which it is engaged and proposes to engage, as described in the
             Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and to enter into and
             perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture;

               (iii)  each Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership set forth on
             Exhibit A hereto has been duly organized and is validly existing
             and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
             organization with power and authority (corporate, partnership or
             other, as applicable) to own, lease and operate its properties and
             to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and all of
             the issued shares of capital stock, Units or other partnership
             interests of each Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership have been
             duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and, with
             respect to Subsidiaries that are corporations, nonassessable, and
             (except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus) are owned of
             record directly or indirectly by the Operating Partnership, and, to
             the best of such counsel's knowledge, free and clear of all Liens;

               (iv)   each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the
             Subsidiaries has been duly qualified for the transaction of
             business and is in good standing under the laws of each
             jurisdiction in which such qualification or good standing is
             required, based on its ownership or leasing of property or the
             conduct of its business, other than where the failure to be so
             qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse
             Effect;

               (v)    other than as set forth or contemplated in the
             Registration Statement and the Prospectus, to such counsel's
             knowledge (but without independent investigation), there are no
             legal or governmental investigations, actions, suits or proceedings
             pending or threatened to which the Company, the Operating
             Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries is or may be a party or to
             which any property of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the
             Subsidiaries, or any Property is or may be the subject that, if
             determined adversely to the Company, the Operating Partnership or
             any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, would have a
             Material Adverse Effect;
<PAGE>
 
                                      -27-

               (vi)   such counsel does not know of any contracts or other
             documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the
             Registration Statement or required to be described in the
             Prospectus that are not so filed or described as required;

               (vii)  this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
             delivered by the Company and the Operating Partnership and is a
             valid, binding agreement thereof enforceable against each such
             party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability
             may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
             liquidation, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the rights
             and remedies of creditors generally and general principles of
             equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
             a proceeding in equity or at law), and except as rights to
             indemnity hereunder may be limited by applicable law;

               (viii) the Registration Statement is effective under the
             Securities Act and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no
             stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
             Statement has been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings
             therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission;

               (ix)   the Registration Statement at the time it became effective
             and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (in
             each case, other than the Form T-1 and the financial statements,
             supporting schedules and other financial data included therein, as
             to which such counsel need not express any opinion) as of the date
             hereof and as of the Closing Date complied as to form in all
             material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act;

               (x)    to the best of such counsel's knowledge, neither the
             Operating Partnership, the Company, nor any of the Subsidiaries is
             in violation of its partnership agreement, declaration of trust,
             certificate of incorporation or by-laws, as the case may be, and,
             except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company, the
             Operating Partnership nor any of the Subsidiaries is, or with the
             giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation
             of, or in default under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
             trust, loan agreement, note, lease, joint venture or partnership
<PAGE>
 
                                      -28-

             agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to
             which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the
             Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them is bound or
             affected or to which any of the Properties or any other properties
             or assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the
             Subsidiaries is bound, except for any such violations and defaults
             as would, individually or in the aggregate, not reasonably be
             expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the
             Operating Partnership; the issuance and sale of the Securities by
             the Operating Partnership and the performance by the Company and
             the Operating Partnership of their obligations under this Agreement
             and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will
             not conflict with or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or
             both, result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
             constitute a default under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed
             of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or
             instrument, known to such counsel, to which the Operating
             Partnership, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
             by which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is bound or
             affected to which any of the property or assets of the Company or
             any of the Subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in
             any violations of any applicable law, statute or regulation, or any
             administrative or court decree or order or rule, known to such
             counsel, of any court or governmental agency or body having
             jurisdiction over the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of
             the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties except for
             any such violation, conflict, breach or default that, individually
             or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or
             result in the creation or imposition of any material Lien upon any
             of the Properties, nor will any such action result in any violation
             of the provisions of the partnership agreement, declaration of
             trust, certificate of incorporation or by-laws, as the case may be,
             of the Operating Partnership, the Company or any of the
             Subsidiaries;

               (xi)   no consent, approval, authorization, order, license,
             registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental
             agency or body is required for the issuance and sale of the
             Securities or the consummation by the Company and the Operating
<PAGE>
 
                                      -29-

             Partnership of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
             except such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations and
             qualifications as have been obtained under the Securities Act and
             as may be required under applicable state securities, real estate
             syndication or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
             distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and such
             additional steps as may be required by or with the NASD;

             (xii) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no person has any
             right to require the Company to include any securities owned by
             such person in the securities registered pursuant to the
             Registration Statement;

             (xiii) the statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk
             Factors--Provisions of our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws, and our
             Shareholder Rights Plan, may discourage acquisition proposals and
             attempts to change our Board of Trustees" "--We would incur adverse
             tax consequences if we fail to qualify as a REIT," "--Our business
             consists primarily of acquiring and operating real estate and is
             therefore subject to real estate investment and operating risks--We
             may incur significant environmental remediation costs or
             liabilities," "--Our business consists primarily of acquiring and
             operating real estate and is therefor subject to real estate
             investment and operating risks--We may be adversely affected by
             changes in laws," "--There are potential conflicts of interest in
             our operations--Our duties to our shareholders may conflict with
             our duties to the partners of Cabot L.P.," "--There are potential
             conflicts of interest in our operations--We have significant
             shareholders who could control our operations," "We are subject to
             real estate financing risks--Rising interest rates will generally
             increase our borrowing costs" "Federal Income Tax Consequences,"
             "Description Debt Securities"; and "Selected Provisions of Maryland
             Law and Cabot Trust's Declaration of Trust and Bylaws," insofar as
             such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, legal
             conclusions, documents or proceedings referred to therein, are
             accurate in all material respects;

             (xiv) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the
             Subsidiaries is, or will after giving effect to the offering of the
<PAGE>
 
                                      -30-

             Securities be subject to registration as, an "investment company"
             or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" as such terms
             are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

             (xv) the Securities have been approved for listing on the NYSE,
             subject only to official notice of issuance;

             (xvi) each of the Underwriters will receive valid title to the
             Securities, free and clear of all security interests, mortgages,
             pledges, liens, encumbrances, claims and equities created by the
             Company, the Operating Partnership and any Subsidiary if the
             Underwriters acquire such Securities in good faith and without
             notice of any such security interests, mortgages, pledges, liens,
             encumbrances, claims or equities;

             (xvii) the partnership agreement of each of the Operating
             Partnership and of each Subsidiary that is a partnership has been
             duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by each of the
             Company, the Operating Partnership and the respective Subsidiaries,
             to the extent they are parties thereto, and is valid, legally
             binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms;

             (xviii) the issuance of the Securities has been duly authorized by
             the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership, and when
             executed and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the
             terms of the Indenture, and delivered to, and paid for by, the
             Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such
             Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
             the Operating Partnership entitled to the benefits provided for in
             the Indenture, enforceable against the Operating Partnership in
             accordance with their terms, subject to (a) the effect of
             bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
             moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
             relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and
             (b) the effect of general principles of equity, whether enforcement
             is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and in the
             discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
             brought;

             (xix) (A) the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture have
<PAGE>
 
                                      -31-

             each been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by
             the Company and the Operating Partnership and, assuming due
             authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will
             constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and
             the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Company and the
             Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to (a)
             the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
             reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter
             in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
             creditors and (b) the effect of general principles of equity,
             whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
             law, and in the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
             therefor may be brought, and (B) the Indenture has been duly
             qualified under the TIA;

             (xx) the Indenture and the Securities conform in all material
             respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement
             and the Prospectus under the captions "Description of Debt
             Securities" and "Description of the Notes," respectively;

             (xxi) the Registration Statement has been declared effective under
             the Securities Act and the Indenture has been qualified under the
             TIA, the Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
             424 within the applicable time period prescribed by Rule 424 and,
             to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
             effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has
             been issued and no proceeding for that purpose is pending or
             threatened by the Commission;

             (xxii) the documents filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and
             incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than the
             financial statements and supporting schedules therein and other
             financial data, as to which no opinion need be rendered), when they
             were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material
             respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable,
             and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and

             (xxiii) the Company and the Operating Partnership satisfy all
             conditions and requirements for filing the Registration Statement
             on Form S-3 under the Act.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -32-

               Such opinion shall also contain a statement that no information
          has come to the attention of such counsel that causes such counsel to
          believe that the Registration Statement (other than the financial
          statements, supporting schedules and other financial data included
          therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief),
          including the documents incorporated therein by reference, at the time
          the Registration Statement became effective, contained any untrue
          statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
          required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
          therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as amended and
          supplemented, if applicable, as of the date hereof and as of the
          Closing Date, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
          omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
          necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
          circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

               In addition, Mayer, Brown & Platt shall reconfirm the opinion
          filed as Exhibit 8 to the Registration Statement as of the date hereof
          and permit the Underwriters to rely on such opinion as if it were
          addressed to the Underwriters.

               In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely (A) as to
          matters involving the application of laws of the state of Maryland on
          an opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, to the extent such
          counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if
          at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably
          satisfactory to Underwriters' counsel) of other counsel reasonably
          acceptable to the Underwriters, familiar with the applicable laws; (B)
          as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on
          certificates or statements of responsible officers of the Company and
          certificates or other written statements of officials of jurisdictions
          having custody of documents respecting corporate existence or good
          standing.  The opinion of such counsel for the Company shall state
          that the opinion of any such other counsel is in form satisfactory to
          such counsel and, in such counsel's opinion, the Underwriters and they
          are reasonably justified in relying thereon;

               (g) on the effective date of the Registration Statement and the
          effective date of the most recently filed post-effective amendment, if
          any, to the Registration Statement, and also on the Closing Date, each
          of Arthur Andersen LLP, KPMG LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -33-

          shall have furnished to the Underwriters letters, dated the respective
          dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the
          Representatives, containing statements and information of the type
          customarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters
          with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
          information contained in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus, including statements with respect to a review in
          accordance with SAS 71 of any interim financial information contained
          in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

               (h) the Underwriters shall have received on and as of the Closing
          Date an opinion addressed to the Underwriters of Cahill Gordon &
          Reindel, counsel to the Underwriters, with respect to the due
          authorization and valid issuance of the Securities, the Registration
          Statement, the Prospectus and such other related matters as the
          Underwriters may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have
          received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to
          enable them to pass upon such matters; in rendering such opinion, such
          counsel may rely as to matters involving the application of the laws
          of the state of Maryland on an opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews &
          Ingersoll;

               (i) the Securities shall have been approved for listing on the
          NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance;

               (j) on or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
          furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents
          as the Underwriters shall reasonably request; and

               (k) at the Closing Date, the Securities shall have the ratings
          accorded by any "nationally recognized statistical organization," as
          defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(G)(2) under the Act
          as specified in Schedule I hereto, and the Operating Partnership shall
          have delivered to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. a letter, dated as of
          such date, from each such rating organization, or other evidence
          satisfactory J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., confirming that the
          Securities have such ratings. Since the date hereof, there shall not
          have occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to the Securities
          or any of the Company's securities or the Operating Partnership's
          other securities by any such rating organization, and no such rating
          organization shall have publicly announced that it has under
          surveillance or review, with 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -34-

          possible negative implications, its rating of the Securities or any of
          the Company's securities or the Operating Partnership's other
          securities.

          7. The Company and the Operating Partnership agree, jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and
directors, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other expenses
incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim
asserted) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented if the Company or the Operating Partnership shall have
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus,
or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to
any Underwriter furnished to the Company or the Operating Partnership in writing
by such Underwriter through the Underwrite rs expressly for use therein;
provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership shall
- --------  -------
be liable to any Underwriter under this paragraph of Section 7 to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability results solely from an untrue
statement of a material fact contained in, or the omission of a material fact
from, a Preliminary Prospectus if (i) such untrue statement or omission was
completely corrected in the Prospectus prior to the written confirmation of the
sale of the Securities giving rise to such liability, (ii) such Underwriter sold
Securities to the person alleging such loss, claim, damage or liability without
sending or giving the Prospectus at or prior to the written confirmation of the
sale of the Securities giving rise to such liability, (iii) the Company or the
Operating Partnership had furnished copies of the Prospectus to such Underwriter
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Securities giving rise to
such liability and (iv) such Underwriter would not have been subject to such
liability if it had delivered the Prospectus to such person at or prior to the
written confirmation of such sale.

          Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its trustees, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement, the Operating Partnership and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company
and 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -35-

the Operating Partnership to each Underwriter, but only with reference to
information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
such Underwriter through the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
Preliminary Prospectus.

          If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceeding paragraphs, such person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
                                             ------------------                 
notify the person or persons against whom such indemnity may be sought (each an
"Indemnifying Person") in writing, and such Indemnifying Person, upon request of
 -------------------                                                            
the Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled
to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Person may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of
such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any
Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person
unless (i) such Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have
mutually agreed to the contrary, (ii) such Indemnifying Person has failed within
a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified
Person or (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include an Indemnifying Person and an Indemnified Person and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood that an
Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred.  Any such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control
persons of Underwriters shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc., and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers
who sign the Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership and such control
persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company.  The
Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, such Indemnifying Person agrees to
indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested an Indemnifying Person
to reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the third sentence of this 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -36-

paragraph, such Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 90 days after receipt by such Indemnifying
Person of the aforesaid request, (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall not have
reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement and (iii) such Indemnified Person shall not have
received actual notice in writing that such Indemnifying Person is contesting
such request. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of
the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified
Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.

          If the indemnification provided for in the first and second paragraphs
of this Section 7 is unavailable to an Indemnified Person in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the
offering and sale of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company and the Operating Partnership and the total underwriting discounts
received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the
cover of the Prospectus.  The relative fault of the Company and the Operating
Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Operating
Partnership, on the one hand, or by the Underwriters on the other hand and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -37-

opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

          Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters
agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
                             --------                                          
treated as one entity for such purposes) or by any other method of allocation
that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified
Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
the immediately proceeding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by
such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event
shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(F) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion
to the respective number of Securities set forth opposite their names in
Schedule I hereto, and not joint.

          The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and
shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.

          The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7
and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating
Partnership set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors,
the Operating Partnership or any other person controlling the Company or the
Operating Partnership and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the
Securities.

          8. Notwithstanding anything herein contained, this Agreement may be
terminated in the absolute discretion of the Underwriters, by notice given to
the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to
the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially
limited on 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -38-

or by the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ
National Market, (ii) trading of any securities of or guaranteed by the Company
or the Operating Partnership shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities, or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in the judgment of the Underwriters, is material and adverse and that, in
the judgment of the Underwriters, makes it impracticable to market the
Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

          9. This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of (x)
execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto and (y) release of
notification of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or, if
applicable, any post-effective amendment) by the Commission.

          If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall
fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities that
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to
purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of
Securities to be purchased on such date by all Underwriters, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the principal
amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II
hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite
the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions
as the Underwriters may specify, to purchase the Securities that such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such
date; provided that in no event shall the principal amount of Securities that
      --------                                                               
any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 be increased
pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of the principal
amount of Securities that such Underwriter is obligated to purchase on such date
hereunder without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If, on the Closing
Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and
the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default
occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to
be purchased on such date, and arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the
Underwriters, the Company and the Operating Partnership for the purchase of such
Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the
Company or the Operating 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -39-

Partnership. In any such case either the Underwriters or the Operating
Partnership shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event
for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not
relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of
such Underwriter under this Agreement.

         10. If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any
of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company or the
Operating Partnership to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the
conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company or the Operating
Partnership shall be unable to perform their respective obligations under this
Agreement or any condition of the Underwriters' obligations cannot be fulfilled,
each of the Company and the Operating Partnership agrees, jointly and severally,
to reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this
Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel)
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering
contemplated hereunder.

         11. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the
Underwriters jointly or by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. alone on behalf of the
Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Underwriters jointly or by J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc. alone shall be binding upon the Underwriters. All notices
and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given, c/o J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260 (Facsimile: (212) 648-
5705), Attention: Syndicate Department, with a copy to Cahill Gordon & Reindel,
80 Pine Street, New York, New York, 10005, Attention Gerald S. Tanenbaum, Esq.
Notices to the Company or the Operating Partnership shall be given c/o the
Company at Two Center Plaza, Suite 200, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 (Facsimile:
(617) 723-0896); Attention: Robert E. Patterson, President, with a copy to
Mayer, Brown & Platt, 350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90071-
1503, Attention: James R. Walther, Esq.

         12. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Underwriters, the Company, the Operating Partnership and any controlling
person referred to herein and their respective successors, heirs and legal
representatives. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any other person, firm or corporation any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed to be a successor by 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -40-

reason merely of such purchase.

         13. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall
be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

         14. Any obligation or liability whatsoever of the Company or of the
Operating Partnership that may arise at any time under this Agreement or any
obligation or liability that may be incurred by either of them pursuant to any
other instrument, transaction or undertaking contemplated hereby, shall be
satisfied, if at all, out of the Company's or the Operating Partnership's assets
only. No such obligation or liability shall be personally binding upon, nor
shall resort for the enforcement thereof be had to, the property of any
shareholder, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of either of the
Company or the Operating Partnership, regardless of whether such obligation or
liability is in the nature of contract, tort, or otherwise.

         15. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflicts
of laws provisions thereof.
<PAGE>
 
                                     -S1-

          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return ten counterparts hereof.

                              Very truly yours,

                              CABOT INDUSTRIAL TRUST

                              By:
                                 ----------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                              CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

                              By:   Cabot Industrial Trust,
                                     General Partner

                              By:
                                 ----------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

Accepted:

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
 & SMITH INCORPORATED
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
 INCORPORATED
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.

By: J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

By:
   --------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:
<PAGE>

                                                            SCHEDULE I

Underwriters:                          J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
                                       Goldman, Sachs & Co.               
                                       Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner      
                                        & Smith Incorporated              
                                       PNC Capital Markets, Inc.          
                                       Prudential Securities Incorporated 
                                       Salomon Smith Barney Inc.           

Underwriting Agreement dated:          [            ], 1999

Registration Statement No.:            333-71585       

Title of Securities:                   [            ]% Reedemable Notes due 
                                       20[ ] (the "Notes")

Aggregate principal amount:            $

Price to Public:                       [       ]%

Purchase Price:                        [       ]%

Underwriting Discount:                 [       ]%

Indenture:                             Indenture to be dated as of [          ]
                                       1999, as supplemented, by supplemental 
                                       indenture No. 1 to be dated 
                                       [            ], 1999, each between the 
                                       Company and the Operating Partnership 
                                       and the Trustee.

Maturity:                              [           ], 20[  ]

Interest Rate:                         [    ]%

Interest Payment Dates:                Payable semi-annually on [        ] and 
                                       [       ] of each year, commencing 
                                       [         ], 1999.

Optional Redemption                    The Notes are redeemable at any time at 
Provisions:                            the option of the Operating Partnership,
                                       in whole or in part, at the redemption
                                       prices set forth in the Prospectus
                                       Supplement.
<PAGE>

Sinking Fund Provisions:             None

Defeasance Provisions:               Standard defeasance and covenant defeasance
                                     provisions.

Ratings:                             Duff & Phelps: BBB
                                     Moody's: (P)Baa2
                                     S&P: BBB-

Lockup Provisions:                   None

Other Provisions:                    [           ]

Closing Date and
Time of Delivery:                    [           ], 1999, [     ] A.M.

Closing Location:                    Mayer, Brown & Platt
                                     1675 Broadway
                                     New York, NY  10019
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     SCHEDULE II

                                                     Principal Amount of Notes
Underwriters                                         To Be Purchased
 
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. .....................              $
Goldman, Sachs & Co .............................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
           Incorporated .........................
PNC Capital Markets, Inc ........................
Prudential Securities Incorporated ..............
Salomon Smith Barney Inc ........................   ----------------------------
         Total                                                 $
                                                    ============================
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------

                                  Subsidiaries
                                  ------------
                     [To be updated by Mayer Brown & Platt]

                              Cabot Advisors, Inc.
                              Bristol Property LLC
                             Guilford Property LLC
                             Fontana Property 6 LLC
                             Fontana Property 7 LLC
                             Linthicum Property LLC
                        The Meadows Business Center LLC
                          Rowland Street Holdings, LLC
                        San Fernando Road Holdings, LLC
                          Cabot Industrial Members LLC
                  Annapolis Junction Land Limited Partnership
                      BWI Warehouse #4 Limited Partnership
                            GR-6 Limited Partnership
                            GR-7 Limited Partnership
                            Port Capital Center LLP
                 West Nursery Land Holding Limited Partnership

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2




                      CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P., 
                                     
                                    ISSUER

                                      to

                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

                                    TRUSTEE

                                _______________


                         Supplemental Indenture No. 1

                         Dated as of April [  ], 1999

                                _______________


                                $[   ],000,000

                                      of

                           [    ]% Notes due 20[  ]
<PAGE>
 
          SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO. 1, dated as of April [  ], 1999 (the
"Supplemental Indenture"), between CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P., a limited
- -----------------------                                                        
partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware
(herein called the "Operating Partnership"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New
                    ---------------------                                   
York banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State
of New York, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").
                                            -------   

                     RECITALS OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP

          The Operating Partnership and Cabot Industrial Trust, a company duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (herein called
the "Company"), have heretofore delivered to the Trustee an Indenture dated as
     -------                                                                  
of April [  ], 1999 (the "Original Indenture" and, together with the
                          ------------------                        
Supplemental Indenture, the "Indenture"), a form of which has been filed with
                             ---------                                       
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, as an exhibit to the Operating Partnership's Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-71585), providing for the issuance from time to
time of Debt Securities of the Operating Partnership (the "Securities").
                                                           ----------   

          Section 301 of the Original Indenture provides for various matters
with respect to any series of Securities issued under the Original Indenture to
be established in an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture.

          Section 901(7) of the Original Indenture provides for the Operating
Partnership and the Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the
Original Indenture to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
provided by Sections 201 and 301 of the Original Indenture.

          The Board of Directors of Cabot Industrial Trust, the general partner
of the Operating Partnership, has duly adopted resolutions authorizing the
Operating Partnership to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

          All the conditions and requirements necessary to make this
Supplemental Indenture, when duly executed and delivered, a valid and binding
agreement in accordance with its terms and for the purposes herein expressed,
have been performed and fulfilled.

          NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

          For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
series
<PAGE>
 
                                      -3-

of Debt Securities provided for herein by the Holders thereof, it is mutually
covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of
the Notes (as defined) or of either series thereof, as follows:

                                  ARTICLE ONE

                  RELATION TO ORIGINAL INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS

          Section 1.1  RELATION TO ORIGINAL INDENTURE.

          This Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the
Original Indenture.

          Section 1.2  DEFINITIONS.

          For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise
expressly provided for or unless the context otherwise requires:

             (1) capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
     respective meanings assigned to them in the Original Indenture; and

             (2) all references herein to Articles and Sections, unless
     otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of
     this Supplemental Indenture.

          "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person (i) existing at
           ---------------------                                                
the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the
acquisition of assets from such Person other than, in each case, Indebtedness
incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a
Subsidiary or such acquisition.  Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to be
incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any Person or the
date the acquired Person becomes a Subsidiary.

          "Adjusted Treasury Rate," with respect to any Redemption Date, is the
           ----------------------                                              
rate per annum equal to the semi-annual bond equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue,
expressed as a percentage of its principal amount, equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

          "Annual Debt Service Charge" means, for any period, the aggregate
           --------------------------                                      
<PAGE>
 
                                      -4-

interest expense for such period in respect of, and the amortization during such
period of any original issue discount of, Indebtedness of the Operating
Partnership and its Subsidiaries and the amount of dividends which are payable
during the period in respect of Disqualified Stock.

          "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is
           ------------                                                         
neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in The City of
New York or the City of Boston are authorized or required by law, regulation or
executive order to close.


          "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock
           -------------                                                      
(including preferred stock), shares, interests, participations or other
ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other
than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for corporate stock),
warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

          "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
           -------------------------                                           
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of
selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term
of such Notes.

          "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption
           -------------------------                                       
Date, (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that
Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations obtained, or (b) if the Trustee obtains fewer than three
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

          "Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service" for any period means
           ----------------------------------------------                      
Earnings from Operations of the Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries plus
amounts which have been deducted, and minus amounts which have been added, for
the following (without duplication):  (i) interest on Indebtedness of the
Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries; (ii) provision for taxes of the
Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries based on income; (iii) amortization
of debt discount and deferred financing costs; (iv) provisions for gains and
losses on properties and property depreciation and amortization; (v) increases
in deferred taxes and other non-cash items; (vi) the effect of any non-cash
charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Earnings
from Operations for such period; (vii) amortization of deferred charges; and
(viii) interest income related to investments irrevocably deposited with an
agent of the Operating Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, as
<PAGE>
 
                                      -5-

the case may be, for the purpose of an "in substance" defeasance in accordance
with GAAP of any indebtedness or other obligations.

          "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which, at
           ----------------------                                              
any particular time, its corporate trust business is principally administered,
which office at the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New
York  10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration and, for purposes of the
Place of Payment provisions of Sections 305 and 1002 of the Original Indenture,
is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate
Trust Administration.


          "Disqualified Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any Capital
           ------------------                                                
Stock of such Person which by the terms of such Capital Stock (or by the terms
of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or
exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise:  (i) matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise
(other than Capital Stock which is redeemable solely in exchange for Capital
Stock which is not Disqualified Stock or the maturity price or redemption price
of which may, at the option of such Person, be paid in Capital Stock which is
not Disqualified Stock); (ii) is convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock; or (iii) is redeemable at the option of
the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than Capital Stock which is
redeemable solely in exchange for Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock
or the redemption price of which may, at the option of such Person, be paid in
Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock), in each case on or prior to the
stated maturity of the Notes.

          "Earnings from Operations" for any period means net income excluding
           ------------------------                                           
(i) provisions for gains and losses on sales of investments; (ii) extraordinary
and non-recurring items; and (iii) property valuation losses, each as reflected
in the consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership and its
Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP.

          "Encumbrance" means any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge or security
           -----------                                                      
interest of any kind; provided, however, that the term "Encumbrance" shall not
                      --------  -------                                       
include any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge or security interest securing any
indebtedness or any other obligation which has been the subject of an "in
substance" defeasance in accordance with GAAP pursuant to the terms of such
indebtedness or other obligation on the terms of any instrument creating or
evidencing it.

          "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
           ------------                                                        
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -6-

          "Indebtedness" of the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of the
           ------------                                                       
Operating Partnership means any indebtedness of the Operating Partnership or any
such Subsidiary, whether or not contingent, in respect of:  (i) borrowed money
or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, whether or not
such indebtedness is secured by any Encumbrance existing on property owned by
the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership; (ii)
indebtedness for borrowed money of a Person other than the Operating Partnership
or a Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership which is secured by any Encumbrance
existing on property owned by the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of the
Operating Partnership, to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of
indebtedness so secured and (y) the fair market value of the property subject to
such Encumbrance; (iii) the reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise,
in connection with any letters of credit actually issued or amounts representing
the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or
services, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade
payable, and all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any
title retention agreement; (iv) the principal amount of all of the Operating
Partnership's and any Operating Partnership Subsidiary's obligations with
respect to the redemption or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock; or (v)
any lease of property by the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of the
Operating Partnership as lessee which is reflected on the Operating
Partnership's consolidated balance sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance
with GAAP; and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any
obligation by the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Operating
Partnership to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise
(other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business),
Indebtedness of another Person (other than the Operating Partnership or any
Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership); it being understood that indebtedness
shall be deemed to be incurred by the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of
the Operating Partnership whenever the Operating Partnership or such Subsidiary
shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof;
Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership existing prior to the
time it became a Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership shall be deemed to be
incurred upon such Subsidiary's becoming a Subsidiary of the Operating
Partnership; and Indebtedness of a Person existing prior to a merger or
consolidation of such Person with the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of
the Operating Partnership in which such Person is the successor to the Operating
Partnership or such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred upon the
consummation of such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that the term
                                              --------  -------               
"Indebtedness" shall not include any such indebtedness that has been the subject
of an "in substance" defeasance in accordance with GAAP pursuant to the terms of
such indebtedness or other
<PAGE>
 
                                      -7-

obligation on the terms of any instrument creating or evidencing it.

          "Intercompany Indebtedness" means Indebtedness to which the only
           -------------------------                                      
parties are the Operating Partnership, the Company and any Subsidiary of either
of them (but only so long as such Indebtedness is held solely by any of the
Operating Partnership, the Company and any such Subsidiary) that is subordinate
in right of payment to the Notes.

          "Notes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.
           -----                                                  

          "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
           ---------------                                                      
Operating Partnership.

          "Reference Treasury Dealer" means (a) each of J.P. Morgan Securities
           -------------------------                                          
Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
PNC Capital Markets, Inc., Prudential Securities Incorporated, and Salomon Smith
Barney Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of
                                             --------  -------                
the foregoing shall cease to be primary U.S. Government securities dealers in
New York City, the Operating Partnership shall substitute therefor another
primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City; and (b) any other
primary U.S. Government securities dealer selected by the Operating Partnership.

          "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
           ------------------------------------                             
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the Operating Partnership, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount,
quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

          "Total Assets" as of any date means the sum of (i) the Undepreciated
           ------------                                                       
Real Estate Assets and (ii) all other assets of the Operating Partnership and
its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding accounts
receivable and intangibles); provided, however, that the term "Total Assets"
                             --------  -------                              
shall not include any assets which have been deposited in trust in connection
with an "in substance" defeasance of any indebtedness or other obligations.

          "Total Unencumbered Assets" means the sum of (i) those Undepreciated
           -------------------------                                          
Real Estate Assets not subject to an Encumbrance for borrowed money and (ii) all
other assets of the Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries not subject to an
Encumbrance for borrowed money, determined in accordance with GAAP (but
excluding accounts receivable and intangibles); provided, however, that 
                                                --------  ------- 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -8-

the term "Total Unencumbered Assets" does not include any assets which have been
deposited in trust in connection with an "in substance" defeasance of any
indebtedness or other obligations.

          "Undepreciated Real Estate Assets" as of any date means the cost
           --------------------------------                               
(historical cost plus the cost of capital improvements) of real estate assets of
the Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation
and amortization, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

          "Unsecured Indebtedness" means Indebtedness which is not secured by
           ----------------------                                            
any Encumbrance upon any of the properties of the Operating Partnership or any
Subsidiary.

                                  ARTICLE TWO

                              THE SERIES OF NOTES

          Section 2.1  TITLE OF THE SECURITIES.

          There shall be a series of Securities designated the "[   ]% Notes due
20[  ]" (the "Notes").
              -----   

          Section 2.2  LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT.

          The aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall be limited to $[
],000,000, and, except as provided in this Section and in Section 306 of the
Original Indenture, the Operating Partnership shall not execute and the Trustee
shall not authenticate or deliver Notes in excess of such aggregate principal
amount.

          Nothing contained in this Section 2.2 or elsewhere in this
Supplemental Indenture, or in the Notes, is intended to or shall limit execution
by the Operating Partnership or authentication or delivery by the Trustee of
Notes under the circumstances contemplated by Sections 303, 304, 305, 306, 906,
1107 and 1305 of the Original Indenture.

          Section 2.3  INTEREST AND INTEREST RATES; MATURITY DATE OF NOTES.

          The Notes will bear interest at a rate of [ ]% per annum from [ ],
1999 or from the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to which interest
has
<PAGE>
 
                                      -9-

been paid or duly provided for, payable semiannually in arrears on
[     ] and [     ] of each year, commencing on [     ], 1999 (each, an
                                                                       
"Interest Payment Date"), and, if not otherwise an Interest Payment Date, at the
- ----------------------                                                          
Stated Maturity, to the Persons in whose name such Notes are registered in the
Security Register at the close of business on [    ] or [     ] (whether or not
a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date
(each, a "Regular Record Date").  Interest will be computed on the basis of a
          -------------------                                                
360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.  The interest so payable on any
Note which is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment
Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Note
is registered on the relevant Regular Record Date, and such defaulted interest
shall instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Note is registered on
the Special Record Date or other specified date determined in accordance with
the Original Indenture.

          If any Interest Payment Date or Stated Maturity falls on a day that is
not a Business Day, the required payment shall be made on the next Business Day
as if it were made on the date such payment was due and no interest shall accrue
on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment
Date or Maturity, as the case may be.

          The Notes will mature on [     ], 20[  ].

          Section 2.4  LIMITATIONS ON INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS.

          (a) The Operating Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness, other than Intercompany Indebtedness,
if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional
Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Operating Partnership
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP
would be greater than 60% of the sum of (without duplication) (i) the Total
Assets of the Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the
calendar quarter covered in the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form
10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed
with the Commission (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act,
then[, subject to Section 703 of the Original Indenture,] with the Trustee, or
if the Operating Partnership has not yet filed its first quarterly report on
Form 10-Q, then as of December 31, 1998) prior to the incurrence of such
additional Indebtedness and (ii) the purchase price of any real estate assets or
mortgage loans receivable acquired, and the amount of any securities offering
proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real
estate assets or mortgage loans receivable or used to reduce Indebtedness), by
the
<PAGE>
 
                                      -10-

Operating Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such calendar
quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of
such additional Indebtedness.

          (b) The Operating Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness if the ratio of Consolidated Income
Available for Debt Service to the Annual Debt Service Charge for the four
consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such
additional Indebtedness is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5:1 on a
pro forma basis after giving effect thereto and to the application of the
- --- -----                                                                
proceeds therefrom and calculated on the assumption that (i) such Indebtedness
and any other Indebtedness incurred by the Operating Partnership and its
Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period and the application
of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Indebtedness, had
occurred at the beginning of such period; (ii) the repayment or retirement of
any other Indebtedness by the Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries since
the first day of such four-quarter period had been repaid or retired at the
beginning of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of
Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon
the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such period); (iii) in the
case of Acquired Indebtedness or Indebtedness incurred in connection with any
acquisition since the first day of such four-quarter period, the related
acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate
adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma
                                                                    --- -----
calculation; and (iv) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the
Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since
the first day of such four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or
sale, or asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition or any related
repayment of Indebtedness had occurred as of the first day of such period with
the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition
being included in such pro forma calculation.
                       --- -----             

          (c) The Operating Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness secured by any Encumbrance on or in any
of the property of the Operating Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, whether
owned at the date of this Supplemental Indenture or thereafter acquired, if,
immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional
Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Operating Partnership
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis which is secured by any Encumbrance
on property of the Operating Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries would be
greater than 40% of the sum of (without duplication) (i) the Total Assets of the
Operating Partnership and its
<PAGE>
 
                                      -11-

Subsidiaries as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in the Operating
Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as
the case may be, most recently filed with the Commission (or, if such filing is
not permitted under the Exchange Act, then with the Trustee, or if the Operating
Partnership has not yet filed its first quarterly report on Form 10-Q, then as
of December 31, 1998) prior to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness
and (ii) the purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgage loans
receivable acquired, and the amount of any securities offering proceeds received
(to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or
mortgage loans receivable or used to reduce Indebtedness), by the Operating
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such calendar quarter,
including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such
additional Indebtedness.

          (d) The Operating Partnership and its Subsidiaries must at all times
have Total Unencumbered Assets equal to 150% or more of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Unsecured Indebtedness of the Operating
Partnership and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

          Section 2.5  REDEMPTION.

          The Notes may be redeemed at any time at the option of the Operating
Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of
(i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date and (ii) an amount equal to the
sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on the Notes to be redeemed (not including any portion of such payments
of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date
on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus [      ] basis points (the
"Redemption Price")plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption
- -----------------                                                            
Date.

          Section 2.6  PLACE OF PAYMENT.

          The Places of Payment where the Notes may be presented or surrendered
for payment, where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange and where notices and demands to and upon the Operating Partnership in
respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be served shall be in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, and the office or agency for such
purpose shall initially be located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York
10286.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -12-

          Section 2.7  METHOD OF PAYMENT.

          Payment of the principal of and interest on any Notes not represented
by a global security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office maintained for
that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, in
such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that
                                                         --------  -------      
at the option of the Operating Partnership, payments of interest on the Notes
may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as
such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to
an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto located within the United
States.

          Section 2.8  CURRENCY.

          Principal and interest on the Notes shall be payable in Dollars.

          Section 2.9  REGISTERED SECURITIES; GLOBAL FORM.

          The Notes shall be issuable and transferable in fully registered form
as Registered Securities, without coupons.  The Notes shall be issued in the
form of one or more permanent global securities.  The depository for the Notes
shall be The Depository Trust Company ("DTC").  The Notes shall not be issuable
                                        ---                                    
in definitive form except as provided in Section 305 of the original Indenture.

          Section 2.10  FORM OF NOTES.

          The Notes shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A
hereto.

          Section 2.11  REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.

          The Trustee shall initially serve as Security Registrar and Paying
Agent for the Notes.

          Section 2.12  DEFEASANCE.

          The provisions of Sections 1402 and 1403 of the Original Indenture,
together with the other provisions of Article Fourteen of the Original
Indenture, shall be applicable to the Notes.  The provisions of Section 1403 of
the Original Indenture shall apply to the covenants set forth in Sections 2.4
and 2.15 of this Supplemental Indenture and to those covenants specified in
Section 1403 of the Original Indenture.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -13-

          Section 2.13  ACCELERATION OF MATURITY.

          Upon acceleration of the Stated Maturity of the Notes in accordance
with Section 502 of the Original Indenture, the Holders of the Notes shall be
entitled to receive, from the Operating Partnership, an amount equal to the
Redemption Price set forth in Section 2.5 of this Supplemental Indenture,
determined as if a redemption had occurred on the same date as the Event of
Default.

          Section 2.14  WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1011 of the Original
Indenture, the Operating Partnership may omit in any particular instance to
comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in the Original Indenture
and in this Supplemental Indenture and with any other term, provision or
condition with respect to the Notes (except any such term, provision or
condition which could not be amended without the consent of all Holders of the
Notes or such series thereof, as applicable), if before or after the time for
such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all
Outstanding Notes, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such
instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition.  Except
to the extent so expressly waived, and until such waiver shall become effective,
the obligations of the Operating Partnership and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.

          Section 2.15  NO GUARANTY BY THE CORPORATION.

          The Guarantee set forth in Article Sixteen of the Original Indenture
shall not be in effect with respect to the Notes.

                                 ARTICLE THREE

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

          Section 3.1  RATIFICATION OF ORIGINAL INDENTURE.

          Except as expressly modified or amended hereby, the Original Indenture
continues in full force and effect and is in all respects confirmed and
preserved.

          Section 3.2  GOVERNING LAW.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -14-

          This Supplemental Indenture and each Note shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.  This
Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions.

          Section 3.3  COUNTERPARTS.

          This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

          Section 3.4  CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

          Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties,
responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be
assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture.  This
Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all
the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Indenture with the same force
and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and
made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto.

          Section 3.5  TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE.

          The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner for or in respect
of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
<PAGE>
 
                                      S-1

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized, all as of the day and year first written above.

                              CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

                              By:  Cabot Industrial Trust, its General Partner

                              By:
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

                              By:
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:
<PAGE>
 

                                                                    EXHIBIT A TO
                                                          SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

          UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), 55 WATER STREET,
                                                       ---                    
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT
FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO
SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON
IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST
HEREIN.

          THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING SET FORTH IN THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF DTC OR A
NOMINEE OF DTC.  THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES
DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC
TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC OR ITS NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE.

Registered No.                                              PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
CUSIP No.:                                                  $

                       CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

                            [    ]% NOTE DUE 20[  ]

          CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P., a limited partnership duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred
to as the "Operating Partnership," which term shall include any successor Person
           ---------------------                                                
under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, upon presentation, the
principal sum of [            ] DOLLARS on [      ], 20[  ], and to pay interest
on the outstanding principal amount
<PAGE>
 
                                      -2-

thereon from [ ], 1999, or from the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date
to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on
[ ] and [ ] in each year, commencing [ ], 1999, at the rate of [ ]% per annum,
until the entire principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The
interest so payable and punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest
Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose
name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record
Date for such interest, which shall be the [ ] or [ ] (whether or not a Business
Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such
interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may either be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by
the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the Securities not more
than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may
be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this
Security will be made at the office or agency maintained for that purpose in The
City of New York, New York or elsewhere as provided in the Indenture, in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at
                                                      --------  -------
the option of the Operating Partnership payments of principal and interest on
the Notes (other than payments of principal and interest due at Maturity) may be
made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an
account of the Person entitled thereto located within the United States.

          Securities of this series are one of a duly authorized issue of
securities of the Operating Partnership (herein called the "Securities"), issued
                                                            ----------          
and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture (herein called the
                                                                            
"Original Indenture"), dated as of [      ], 1999, among the Operating
- -------------------                                                   
Partnership, Cabot Industrial Trust and The Bank of New York, (herein called the
"Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Original
 -------                                                               
Indenture), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of 
[ ], 1999 (herein called the "Supplemental Indenture", and, together with the
                            ----------------------                         
Original Indenture, the "Indenture"), between the Operating Partnership and the
                         ---------                                             
Trustee, to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is
hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Operating Partnership, the Trustee and
the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are
<PAGE>
 
                                      -3-

authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated in
the Supplemental Indenture, limited in aggregate principal amount to 
$[ ],000,000.

          Securities of this series may be redeemed at any time at the option of
the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, upon notice of not more than 60
nor less than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Redemption Price set
forth in Section 2.5 of the Supplemental Indenture.

          The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a)
the entire Indebtedness of the Operating Partnership on this Security and (b)
certain restrictive covenants and the related defaults and Events of Default
applicable to the Operating Partnership, in each case, upon compliance by the
Operating Partnership with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, which
provisions apply to this Security.

          If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Securities may be declared due and payable
in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to
the Securities, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the Securities of this series at the time outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it and the
Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of Securities of this series at the time outstanding a direction
inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such
proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity.  The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder
of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any
interest on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Operating Partnership and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each
series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Operating
Partnership and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of
Securities then Outstanding
<PAGE>
 
                                      -4-

affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at
the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series,
to waive compliance by the Operating Partnership with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive
and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of
any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange
herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is
made upon this Security.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Operating
Partnership, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and
Redemption Price, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place and
rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Operating Partnership in any Place of Payment where the
principal of (and Redemption Price, if any) and interest on this Security are
payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Operating Partnership and the Security Registrar duly
executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and
thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations
and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same.  No service charge shall be made
for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Operating Partnership
may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Operating Partnership, the Trustee and any agent of the Operating
Partnership or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is
registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security
may be overdue, and
<PAGE>
 
                                      -5-

neither the Operating Partnership, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

          No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement
contained in the Indenture or in this Security, or because of any Indebtedness
evidenced hereby or thereby, shall be had against any promoter, as such, or
against any past, present or future partner, officer or director, as such, of
the Operating Partnership or of any successor, either directly or through the
Operating Partnership or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or
constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal
or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived
and released by the acceptance of this Security by the Holder thereof and as
part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities of this series.

          All capitalized terms used in this Security which are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

          THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING THIS SECURITY, SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

          Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform
Security Identification Procedures, the Operating Partnership has caused "CUSIP"
numbers to be printed on the Securities of this series as a convenience to the
Holders of such Securities.  No representation is made as to the correctness or
accuracy of such CUSIP numbers as printed on the Securities, and reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be
entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose.
<PAGE>
 
                                      S-1


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P. has caused this
instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:       , 1999

                              CABOT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

                              By:   Cabot Industrial Trust, its
                                    General Partner


                              By:
                                  --------------------------------- 
                                   Name:
                                   Title:

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:       , 1999

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

                              By:
                                  --------------------------------- 
   
                                  Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
 

                                ASSIGNMENT FORM

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby
                        sells, assigns and transfers unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL
SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING
NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
- ---------------------------------------------
                                               ...............................
- ---------------------------------------------

 
           .........................................................
             (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address including
                             Zip Code of Assignee)

                                        

 ............................................................................... 
the within Security of Cabot Industrial Properties, L.P. and hereby does
irrevocably constitute and appoint

 ..........Attorney to transfer said Security on the books of Cabot Industrial
Properties, L.P. with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated...............................    ........................................

                                        ........................................


NOTICE:  The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it
appears on the first page of the within Security in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

     Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one
     of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The
     Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York
     Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion
     Program (SEMP); or (iv) another guarantee program acceptable to the
     Trustee.


             ...........................
             Signature Guarantee

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 99.3

                       [Mayer, Brown & Platt letterhead]



                                 April 29, 1999



Cabot Industrial Properties, L.P.
Two Center Plaza, Suite 200
Boston, MA 02108-1906

                      Re:      % Redeemable Notes due 200_

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Cabot Industrial Properties, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership") of which Cabot Industrial
Trust (the "Company") is the sole general partner, in connection with the sale
of the Operating Partnership's    % Redeemable Notes due 200_ ( the "Debt
Securities"), as set forth in the Form S-3 Registration Statement, File No. 333-
71585 (the "Registration Statement"), filed with Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), the
prospectus (the "Prospectus") which is a part of the Registration Statement and
the supplement thereto that describes the Debt Securities (the "Prospectus
Supplement").  The Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the
"Indenture") among the Operating Partnership, the Company and The Bank of New
York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), and a supplemental indenture (the
"Supplemental Indenture") among the Operating Partnership, the Company and the
Trustee.

     As counsel to the Operating Partnership, we are generally familiar with the
proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Operating Partnership in
connection with the authorization and issuance of the Debt Securities and, for
the purposes of this opinion, have assumed such proceedings will be timely and
properly completed in the manner presently proposed and as contemplated in the
Prospects and the Prospectus Supplement.

     In connection with our preparation and delivery of this opinion, we have
examined originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the Operating Partnership's
Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership and such records,
certificates and other documents of the Operating Partnership and the Company,
and have considered such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or
appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.  As to certain matters of fact
relevant to our 
<PAGE>
 
Cabot Industrial Properties, L.P.
April 29, 1999
Page 2



conclusions expressed herein, we have relied upon certificates of public
officials and written or oral statements or other representations of officers of
the Company. In rendering this opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and
the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us
as copies. In addition, this opinion is based on applicable law and our
knowledge and understanding of relevant factual matters as of the date hereof.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the assumptions, conditions
and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Debt Securities
will, when issued against payment therefor as contemplated by the Prospectus
Supplement, be legally issued and enforceable obligations of the Operating
Partnership.

     The opinion set forth herein is subject to the following exceptions,
limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect
of general principles of equity, whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought; (iii) the unenforceability under certain
circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the
indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to a liability
where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; (iv) we
express no opinion concerning the enforceability of any waiver of rights or
defenses with respect to stay, extension or usury laws; and (v) we express no
opinion with respect to whether acceleration of the Debt Securities may affect
the collectability of any portion of the stated principal amount thereof which
might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon.


                                         Very truly yours,


                                         MAYER, BROWN & PLATT


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