<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001656423-22-000035.txt : 20221101
<SEC-HEADER>0001656423-22-000035.hdr.sgml : 20221101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220909151830
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001656423-22-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220909

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSTON PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037540
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				042473675
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172363300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSTON PROPERTIES LTD PARTNERSHIP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043121
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172363300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i4e43bcbe3cf04e2f82cf3cdddb79740c_33"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Boston Properties, Inc.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">800 Boylston Street, Suite 1900</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Boston, MA 02199-8103</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">September 9, 2022</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">VIA EDGAR</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Mses. Amanda Ravitz and Barbara Jacobs</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Disclosure Review Program</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">100 F Street, N.E.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C.  20549-7010</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Re&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Boston Properties, Inc. </font></div><div style="text-indent:72pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A</font></div><div style="text-indent:72pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Filed April 6, 2022</font></div><div style="text-indent:72pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">File No. 001-13087</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Dear Mses. Ravitz and Jacobs&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">This letter is submitted in response to the comments of the staff of the Disclosure Review Program of the Division of Corporation Finance (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) with respect to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 6, 2022 (the &#8220;Proxy Statement&#8221;) of Boston Properties, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) as set forth in your letter (the &#8220;Comment Letter&#8221;) dated August 31, 2022 to Michael E. LaBelle, Chief Financial Officer of Boston Properties, Inc.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For reference purposes, the text of the Comment Letter has been reproduced herein with responses below each numbered comment.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 6, 2022</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">General</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Comment No. 1</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">Please expand your discussion of the reasons you believe that your leadership structure is appropriate, addressing your specific characteristics or circumstances. In your discussion, please also address how the experience of the Lead Independent Director is brought to bear in connection with your board&#8217;s role in risk oversight.</font></div><div style="margin-top:15pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Response to Comment No. 1</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We acknowledge the Staff&#8217;s comment and confirm that the Company will expand its future proxy statement disclosures to address the topics referenced in Comment No. 1.</font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Mses. Amanda Ravitz and Barbara Jacobs</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Disclosure Review Program</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Securities and Exchange Commission </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">September 9, 2022</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Page 2</font></div></div><div style="margin-top:20pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:20pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Comment No. 2</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">Please expand upon the role that your Lead Independent Director plays in the leadership of the board. For example, please enhance your disclosure to address whether or not your Lead Independent Director&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">a.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.68pt">Represent&#91;s&#93; the board in communications with shareholders and other stakeholders&#59; or</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">b.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">Require&#91;s&#93; board consideration of, and&#47;or override&#91;s&#93; your CEO on, any risk matters.</font></div><div style="margin-top:15pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Response to Comment No. 2</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We acknowledge the Staff&#8217;s comment and confirm that the Company will expand its future proxy statement disclosures to address the topics referenced in Comment No. 2.</font></div><div style="margin-top:20pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Comment No. 3</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">3.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">Please expand upon how your board administers its risk oversight function. For example, please disclose&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">a.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.68pt">the timeframe over which you evaluate risks (e.g., short-term, intermediate-term, or long-term) and how you apply different oversight standards based upon the immediacy of the risk assessed&#59;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">b.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">whether you consult with outside advisors and experts to anticipate future threats and trends, and how often you re-assess your risk environment&#59;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">c.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.68pt">how the board interacts with management to address existing risks and identify significant emerging risks&#59;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">d.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">whether you have a Chief Compliance Officer and to whom this position reports&#59; and</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">e.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.68pt">how your risk oversight process aligns with your disclosure controls and procedures.</font></div><div style="margin-top:15pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Response to Comment No. 3</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We acknowledge the Staff&#8217;s comment and confirm that the Company will enhance its future proxy statement disclosures to address the topics referenced in Comment No. 3.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In addition to the foregoing responses, the Company also commits to enhancing its future proxy statement disclosures to address any material developments in the Company&#8217;s risk oversight structure.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">*        *        *</font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Mses. Amanda Ravitz and Barbara Jacobs</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Disclosure Review Program</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Securities and Exchange Commission </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">September 9, 2022</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Page 3</font></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">If you have any questions concerning these responses, please contact me at (617) 236-3352.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:180pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sincerely,</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:180pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-indent:180pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:42.788%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:98.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; Michael E. LaBelle</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-indent:180pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Michael E. LaBelle</font></div><div style="padding-left:180pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Boston Properties, Inc.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:27pt;text-indent:-27pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">cc&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Eric G. Kevorkian</font></div><div style="text-indent:27pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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