Copies of incorporation or organization) 04-2695240 ---------------------------------- (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) One Boston Scientific Place Natick, Massachusetts 01760-1537 (508) 650-8000 -------------------------------------------------------------- (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,Correspondence to:

Approximate date of registrants' principal executive offices) Lawrence J. Knopf Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel Boston Scientific Corporation One Boston Scientific Place Natick, Massachusetts 01760-1537 (508) 650-8000 ------------------------------------------------ (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,commencement of agent for service) Copy to: Johan V. Brigham, Esq. Bingham Dana LLP 150 Federal Street Boston, MA 02110 (617) 951-8000 ----------- APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE AND FROM TIME TO TIME THEREAFTER. -----------proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this ~~form~~Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ~~[_]~~o

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

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

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

If delivery of the ~~prospectus~~Prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. ~~[_] -----------~~ o

=========================== ============ ================ ================== ================ PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED PER SHARE

(1) ~~PRICE (1) REGISTRATION FEE - --------------------------- ------------ ---------------- ------------------ ----------------~~ ~~Common Stock, $0.01 par value~~	Such indeterminate number or amount of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units of Boston Scientific Corporation as may from time to time be issued and having an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $1,500,000,000 or the equivalent amount denominated in one or more foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies. This Registration Statement also covers delayed delivery contracts that may be issued by Boston Scientific Corporation under which the party purchasing such contracts may be required to purchase senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. Such contracts may be issued together with the specific securities to which they relate. In addition, securities registered hereunder may be sold either separately or as units comprised of more than one type of security registered hereunder.

(2)	Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The aggregate offering price of the senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units and the exercise price of any securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants registered hereby, will not exceed $1,500,000,000.

(3)	Exclusive of accrued interest and distributions, if any.

(4)	The aggregate maximum public offering price of all offered securities issued pursuant to this registration statement will not exceed $1,500,000,000. Pursuant to Rule 429(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the $1,500,000,000 of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units of Boston Scientific Corporation being registered hereunder includes $3,868,750 of securities previously registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-64887) filed by Boston Scientific Corporation and certain of its affiliates which was declared effective on June 3, 1999. Accordingly, this registration statement also constitutes post effective amendment No. 1 to such prior registration statement, and the prospectus contained herein covers a total combined maximum aggregate offering of $1,500,000,000 of Boston Scientific Corporation’s securities.

(5)	Also includes such indeterminate number of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares, shares of common stock, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units as may be issued upon conversion or exchange of any securities as may be offered pursuant to the prospectus filed with this Registration Statement that provide for conversion or exchange into other securities or upon exercise of warrants for such securities. No separate consideration will be received for the senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, or common stock issuable upon conversion of or in exchange for securities as may be offered pursuant to the prospectus filed with this Registration Statement.

(6)	Such amount represents the principal amount of any senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities issued at their principal amount, the issue price of any senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities issued at an original issue discount, the liquidation preference of any preferred stock or depositary shares, the amount computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) for any common stock, the issue price of any warrants, the exercise price of any securities issuable upon exercise of warrants, the purchase price of any stock purchase contract and the issue price of any stock purchase units.

(7)	Warrants may be sold separately or with other securities.

(8)	Includes an indeterminable number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares to be issuable by Boston Scientific Corporation upon settlement of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.

(9)	Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended.

(10)

Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at a statutory rate of $126.70 per ~~share. 925,862 $22.36 $20,702,274 $4,948 =========================== ============ ================ ================== ================~~ $1,000,000 of securities registered, pursuant to which a fee of $189,559.83 is being paid with respect to $1,496,131,250 of Boston Scientific Corporation’s securities. Pursuant to Rule 429(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a registration fee of $354,000 was previously paid on September 30, 1998 in connection with the filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-64887), of which $490.17 is attributable to the $3,868,750 of securities being carried forward and is being applied to offset the current filing fee.

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee, based on the average of the high and low prices for the Company's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on January 3, 2002 in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. ----------- THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS

THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ALSO CONSTITUTES POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-64887, WHICH WAS DECLARED EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 3, 1999. SUCH ~~DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS~~POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT SHALL HEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE ~~DATE UNTIL~~CONCURRENTLY WITH THE ~~REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT~~EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ~~SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE~~AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION ~~8(a)~~8(C) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, ~~OR UNTIL~~AS AMENDED. PURSUANT TO RULE 429 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE PROSPECTUS FILED AS PART OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ~~SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS~~ALSO CONSTITUTES A PROSPECTUS FOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-64887. THE ~~COMMISSION, ACTING~~$3,868,750 AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES REMAINING UNSOLD FROM REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-64887 WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE ADDITIONAL $1,496,131,250 AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES, TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO ~~SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.~~ THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO ENABLE BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION TO OFFER AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $1,500,000,000 OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE COMBINED PROSPECTUS.

The ~~information contained in~~Registrant hereby amends this ~~prospectus is not complete and~~Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be ~~changed. We may not sell these securities~~necessary to delay its effective date until the ~~registration statement filed~~Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, ~~is effective. This prospectus is not an offer~~acting pursuant to ~~sell securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.~~ said Section 8(a), may determine.

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

The securities covered by this prospectus may ~~sell up~~be sold from time to ~~925,862 shares of common stock of~~time by Boston Scientific Corporation. ~~All~~We may offer the securities independently or together in any combination for sale directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future date.

When we offer securities we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the ~~selling stockholders received~~specific issue of securities, including the ~~shares being offered through our acquisition~~offering price of ~~RadioTherapeutics Corporation. BSC will not receive~~the securities. You should carefully read this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the specific issue of securities before you decide to invest in any of ~~the proceeds from the sale of~~these securities.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

Our common shares ~~by the selling stockholders. BSC's common stock is listed~~are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ~~"BSX"~~“BSX”. On January 3, 2002 the last sale price of the common stock, as reported on the NYSE, was $22.21 per share. When used in this Prospectus, the term "selling stockholder" includes donees, transferees, pledgees and other successors in interest. ----------- Investing in the common stock of BSC involves a high degree of risk. See "Forward Looking Statements" beginning on page 3. -----------

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ~~-----------~~

The ~~selling stockholders~~securities may be offered and sold to or through underwriters, dealers or agents as designated from time to time, or directly to one or more other purchasers or through a combination of such methods. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using the “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell ~~all or a portion of their shares of common stock~~the securities described in this prospectus ~~through~~in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $1,500,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in ~~public or private transactions, including underwritten transactions, on or off~~this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the New York Stock Exchange, at prevailing market prices, or at privately negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may sell shares directly to purchasers or through brokers or dealers or an underwritten offering. Brokers, dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders. More information is provided in the section titled "Plan of Distribution." The date of this Prospectus is [______], 2002. ~~TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- Where~~heading “Where You Can Find More Information................................ 2 Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference.................... 2 Forward-Looking Statements......................................... 4 The Company........................................................ 6 UseInformation.”

In this prospectus we use the terms “Boston Scientific Corporation,” “we,” “us,” and “our” to refer to Boston Scientific Corporation and our consolidated subsidiaries. References to “securities” includes any security that we might sell under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. References to “$” and “dollars” are to United States dollars.

This prospectus contains summaries of ~~Proceeds.................................................... 6 Selling Stockholders............................................... 7 Plan~~certain provisions contained in some of Distribution...............................................12 Legal Matters......................................................12 Experts............................................................13 the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since then.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the ~~Securities~~SEC. These reports, proxy statements and ~~Exchange Commission. You may~~other information can be read and ~~copy any document we file at: o the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549; and o~~copied at the public reference facilities at the SEC's regional office located at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You can also obtain copies of any documents we file at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Sectionroom of the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.~~, 20549.~~ 20549 at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information onabout the public reference ~~rooms. Our~~room. The SEC ~~filings are~~ also ~~available to the public from the SEC's Website~~maintains a web site athttp://~~www.sec.gov. Reports~~www.sec.govthat contains our SEC filings. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us ~~can also~~may be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We ~~have filed~~are “incorporating by reference” into this prospectus specific documents that we file with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-3 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock offered hereby. As permitted by the SEC, this prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement. Such additional information may be obtained from the locations described above. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any document are not necessarily complete. You should refer to the document for all the details. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those ~~documents. The information incorporated by reference is~~documents that are considered ~~to be~~ part of this ~~prospectus, and information~~prospectus. Information that we file ~~later~~subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and ~~supersede~~supercede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, and any ~~future filings~~documents that we ~~will make~~file with the SEC under ~~Sections~~Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the ~~Securities~~ Exchange Act after the date of ~~1934, before~~this prospectus until the termination of the offerings of all of the securities registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, is withdrawn or all of the shares of common stock registered hereunder have been sold: o our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 filed on April 2, 2001; o our definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 6, 2001; o our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2001, June 30, 2001 and September 30, 2001; o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2001; o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2001; and o our Registration Statements pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and any amendment or report filed for the purposes of updating any such description. 2 part:


	•	our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003;

	•	our definitive 2004 Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A;

	•	our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004;

	•	our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004;

	•	the description of our common stock set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act on April 3, 1992, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating this information; and

	•	our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 9 2004; June 1, 2004 (only Item 2 relating to the Advanced Bionics acquisition); June 4, 2004, as amended and supplemented by our Current Report on Form 8-K/ A filed with the SEC on August 6, 2004; June 22, 2004; and June 25, 2004.

You may also request a copy of these filings, ~~without exhibits,~~ at no cost, by writing or telephoning ~~Investor Relations~~our investor relations department at the following address:

Telephone: (508) 650-8555 YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS). WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION DIFFERENT FROM THAT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS WILL OFFER TO SELL, AND SEEK OFFERS TO BUY, SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ONLY IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE OFFERS AND SALES ARE PERMITTED. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR OF ANY SALE OF OUR COMMON STOCK. IN THIS PROSPECTUS, "BOSTON SCIENTIFIC," "WE," "US" AND "OUR" REFERS TO BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION (UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES). 3

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified and superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus, ~~including~~any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference ~~contains "forward-looking statements"~~include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We intend ~~the~~such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in these ~~sections.~~provisions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about our market opportunity, strategies, competition, expected activities, expected profitability and investments as we pursue our business plan, and the adequacy of our available cash resources. These forward-looking statements are usually accompanied by words such as ~~"believe," "anticipate," "plan," "seek," "expect," "intend"~~“believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions. The forward-looking information is based on various factors and was derived using numerous assumptions.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, and our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those set forth below and elsewhere in this ~~prospectus.~~prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The factors set forth below and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement should be read and understood as being applicable to all related ~~forward- looking~~forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this ~~prospectus.~~prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement (including the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein). The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement (including the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein) represent our judgment as of the ~~date~~dates of this ~~prospectus.~~prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, or the dates of the documents incorporated herein or therein, as the case may be. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. ~~An example~~

Examples of forward-looking statements discussed in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement (including the documents incorporated by reference ~~in this prospectus)~~herein and therein) include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to, and our performance may be affected by: o our ability to timely implement our global operations plan within our cost estimates, to retain and attract employees as we implement our plant optimization initiative, to effectively manage our inventories during the plan's transition period and to achieve estimated operating savings; o our ability to achieve manufacturing cost declines, gross margin benefits and inventory reductions from our manufacturing process and supply chain programs; o our ability to realize benefits from the Embolic Protection Incorporated, Catheter Innovations Incorporated, Quanam Medical Corporation, Interventional Technologies, Inc., RadioTherapeutics Corporation and Cardiac Pathways Corporation acquisitions, including purchased research and development; o our ability to manage accounts receivable, manufacturing costs and inventory levels and mix, and to react effectively to the changing managed care environment, reimbursement levels and worldwide economic and political conditions; o the potential impacts of continued consolidation among health care providers, trends toward managed care, disease state management and economically motivated buyers, health care cost containment, the financial viability of health care providers, more stringent regulatory requirements and more vigorous enforcement activities; o management's ability to position us to take advantage of opportunities that exist in the markets we serve; o our continued commitment to refine existing products and procedures and to develop new technologies that can reduce risk, trauma, cost, procedure time, and the need for aftercare; o our ability to develop and launch products on a timely basis, including products resulting from purchased research and development and increased research and development spending; o risks associated with international operations; o the potential effect of foreign currency fluctuations on revenues, expenses and resulting margins and the trend toward increasing sales and expenses denominated in foreign currencies; o our ability to maintain our effective tax rate for 2001 and to substantially recover our net deferred tax assets; 4 o our ability to meet our projected cash needs and obtain additional financing, if necessary; o our ability to manage our relationship with Medinol during the pendency of the litigation and the outcome of the litigation; o NIR(R) coronary stent sales as a percentage of worldwide sales and the mix of coronary stent platforms; o volatility in the coronary stent market, competitive offerings and the timing of submission for and receipt of regulatory approvals to market new coronary and peripheral stent platforms; o our ability to compete in the coronary stent markets; o the decline of global NIR(R)coronary stent market share as physicians acceptance of the current NIR(R)coronary stent platform erodes; o the development of competing or technologically advanced products by our competitors; o the effect of litigation and compliance activities on our legal provision and cash flow; o the impact of stockholder class action, patent, product liability, Federal Trade Commission, Medinol and other litigation, as well as the outcome of the U.S. Department of Justice investigation and the adequacy of our product liability insurance; o the potential impact resulting from the euro conversion, including competitive implications related to pricing, and foreign currency considerations; and o the timing, size and nature of strategic initiatives and research and development platforms available to us.


	•	volatility in the coronary stent market, competitive offerings and the timing of receipt of regulatory approvals to market existing and anticipated drug-eluting stent technology and other coronary and peripheral stent platforms;

	•	our ability to continue significant growth in revenue, gross profit, earnings and cash flow resulting from the sale of the TAXUS drug-eluting stent system in the United States, and to launch the TAXUS stent system in Japan in 2006;

	•	the continued availability of the TAXUS stent system in sufficient quantities and mix, our ability to prevent disruptions to our TAXUS manufacturing processes and to maintain or replenish inventory levels consistent with forecasted demand around the world;

	•	the impact of new drug-eluting stents on the size of the coronary stent market and distribution of share within the coronary stent market in the United States and around the world;

	•	the overall performance of and continued physician confidence in drug-eluting stents and the results of drug-eluting stent clinical trials undertaken by us or our competitors;

	•	our ability to capitalize on the opportunity in the drug-eluting stent market for continued growth in revenue and earnings and to maintain worldwide market leadership positions through reinvestment in our drug-eluting stent program;

	•	our ability to take advantage of our position as one of two early entrants in the United States drug-eluting stent market, to anticipate competitor products as they enter the market and to take advantage of opportunities that exist in the markets we serve;


	•	our ability to manage inventory levels, accounts receivable and gross margins relating to our TAXUS stent system and to react effectively to worldwide economic and political conditions;

	•	our ability to successfully develop products and technologies in addition to our TAXUS drug-eluting stent technology;

	•	our ability to manage research and development and other operating expenses in light of expected revenue growth over the next twelve months;

	•	our ability to achieve benefits from our increased focus on internal research and development and our ability to capitalize on opportunities across our businesses;

	•	our ability to integrate the acquisitions and other strategic alliances we have consummated since early 2001;

	•	our ability to successfully complete planned clinical trials and to develop and launch products on a timely basis within cost estimates, including the successful completion of in-process projects from purchased research and development;

	•	the timing, size and nature of strategic initiatives, market opportunities and research and development platforms available to us and the ultimate cost and success of these initiatives;

	•	our ability to maintain a 24 percent effective tax rate, excluding net special charges, during 2004 and to substantially recover our deferred tax assets;

	•	our ability to meet our projected cash needs over the next twelve months, to maintain borrowing flexibility and to renew or refinance our borrowings beyond the next twelve months;

	•	our ability to issue debt or equity securities on terms reasonably acceptable to us;

	•	risks associated with international operations including compliance with local legal and regulatory requirements;

	•	the potential effect of foreign currency fluctuations and interest rate fluctuations on revenues, expenses and resulting margins;

	•	the effect of litigation, risk management practices including self-insurance and compliance activities on our loss contingency, legal provision and cash flow;

	•	the impact of stockholder, patent, product liability, Medinol Ltd. and other litigation, as well as the ultimate outcome of the United States Department of Justice investigation; and

	•	risks associated with regulatory compliance, quality systems standards and complaint-handling investigations.

Several other important factors, in addition to the specific factors discussed in connection with ~~such~~each forward-looking ~~statements~~statement individually, could affect our future results and growth rates and could cause those results and rates to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained ~~herein. Such~~in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. These additional factors include, among other things, future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions, new product introductions, demographic trends, third-party intellectual property, financial market conditions, our future business decisions and those of our competitors, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, we wish to caution each reader of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to consider carefully these factors as well as the specific factors discussed with each forward-looking statement in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, therein and as disclosed in our filings with the ~~SEC as such~~SEC. These factors, in some cases, have affected, and in the future (together with other factors) could affect, our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed ~~herein. 5~~ in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

We are a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of ~~less invasive~~ medical ~~devices. Our~~devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties, ~~including: o~~including interventional cardiology; o electrophysiology; o gastroenterology; o neuro-endovascular therapy; o pulmonary medicine; o interventional radiology; o oncology; o urology;cardiology, peripheral interventions, vascular surgery, neurovascular intervention, electrophysiology, endoscopy, oncology, urology and ~~o vascular surgery.~~gynecology. Since we were formed in 1979, we have advanced the practice of less-invasive medicine by providing a broad portfolio of innovative products, technologies and services across a wide range of medical specialties. Our products are generally inserted into the human body through natural openings or small incisions in the skin and can be guided to most areas of the anatomy to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical problems. These products ~~provide effective~~help physicians and other medical professionals improve their patients’ quality of life by providing alternatives to ~~traditional~~surgery.

Our products are offered for sale by two dedicated business groups: Cardiovascular and Endosurgery. The Cardiovascular organization focuses on products and technologies for use in interventional cardiology, peripheral interventions, vascular surgery, ~~by reducing~~electrophysiology, and neurovascular procedures. The Endosurgery organization focuses on products and technologies for use in oncology, endoscopy, urology and gynecology procedures. In 2004, we also entered the microelectronics market.

Our mission is to improve the quality of patient care and the productivity of health care delivery through the development and advocacy of less-invasive medical devices and procedures. This is accomplished through the continuing refinement of existing products and procedures and the investigation and development of new technologies that can reduce risk, trauma, cost, procedure time and the need for aftercare. ~~We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.~~ Our approach to innovation combines internally developed products and technologies with those obtained externally through strategic acquisitions and alliances. Building relationships with development companies and inventors allows us to support our current franchises as well as expand into complementary businesses.

Our principal executive offices are located at One Boston Scientific Place, Natick, ~~Massachusetts~~MA 01760-1537. Our telephone number is (508) 650-8000. Our ~~address on the World Wide Web~~website is ~~http://www.bsci.com. The information~~located atwww.bostonscientific.com. Information contained on our ~~web site~~website is not incorporated in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement (or any document incorporated by reference ~~into this prospectus~~herein or therein).

On June 1, 2004, we acquired 100 percent of the fully diluted equity of Advanced Bionics Corporation, a privately-held company located in Valencia, California, for an initial payment of approximately $740 million in cash, plus earn out payments tied to future performance milestones. The initial purchase price was funded by the issuance of commercial paper.

On September 24, 2004, we announced that Advanced Bionics was voluntarily recalling worldwide all unimplanted CLARION® and ~~should~~HiResolution® cochlear implants. The devices are being recalled due to the potential presence of moisture in the internal circuitry, which can cause the device to stop functioning. The total number of devices shipped but not ~~be considered~~implanted is estimated to be ~~a part of~~440. We do not believe that this ~~prospectus.~~ recall will materially impact our future operating results.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock of Boston Scientific covered by this prospectus will go to the stockholders who offer and sell their shares. Accordingly, we will not receive any of the proceeds from any sales of this common stock. 6 SELLING STOCKHOLDERS All of the selling stockholders listed below received the shares being offered hereby in connection with our acquisition of RadioTherapeutics Corporation ("RTC"). Under an agreement and plan of merger dated as of November 7, 2001, we agreed to register the common stock of Boston Scientific issued to the selling stockholders and to keep the registration statement effective until the shares offered hereby first become availablesecurities for resale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or until all of the registered shares have been sold, whichever comes first. Our registration of the common stock held by the selling stockholders does not necessarily mean that the selling stockholders will sell all or any of their shares. None of our directors or executive officers are selling shares in this offering. This prospectus covers the offer and sale by each selling stockholder of all of their Boston Scientific common stock received in connection with our acquisition of RTC. After the completion of the offering, if all of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus are sold, each selling stockholder will no longer own any Boston Scientific common stock received in connection with our acquisition. Set forth below are (i) the names of each selling stockholder, and (ii) the maximum number of shares of common stock each selling stockholder received as a result of our acquisition of RTC. Over the last three years, Messrs. Auth, Behl, Curtis, French, Rosati and Starling were directors of RTC and Messrs. Behl, Curtis and French were executive officers of RTC prior to its acquisition by Boston Scientific. In addition, some of the selling stockholders listed below are current or former employees or consultants of RTC. The information contained in the table below has been provided by the selling stockholders. SHARES SHAREHOLDER OFFERED - ----------- ------- Atherton Venture Fund I, LLC 4,824 David C. Auth, Ph.D. 109,331 BARB Associates LLC 2,413 Behl Family Trust U/D/T Dated 8/8/91 232,066 Behl Family Trust u/d/t 4/13/73 22,914 Danielle Brigadier-Anderson 28 Tom Burns 374 Charco Ventures 4,776 Charman Corporation 39,120 Douglas M. Coldwell, M.D. 1,683 Tracey Cole 399 Compass Chicago Partners, L.P. 7,216 Compass Venture Partners, L.P. 8,857 Compass Management Partners, L.P. 748 Compass Technology Partners, L.P. 8,181 Constantin Cope, M.D. 1,683 Gary A. Curtis, Trustee, Courtney Curtis Educational Trust 12,272 7 Gary A. Curtis, Trustee, Curtis Family Trust dated 7/4/91 59,515 Pauline Drent 5,040 Stuart M. Essig 4,488 Mark Fazzio 350 Robert C. Fitzwilson, Trustee of the Robert C. Fitzwilson Trust, dated 6/24/87 21,309 Matthew Frank 6,576 French Family Trust, dated 5/1/92, Glendon E. French, Trustee 19,133 White Dove Properties Limited Partnership 21,037 Gaubert Properties 1,707 Claude J. And Sandra P. Gaubert, Trustees, Gaubert Family Trust, Dated 6/19/87 1,707 Howard W. Geiger and Melissa W. Geiger, JTWROS 4,544 Paul M. Goeld and Carmen M. Goeld, Trustees of the Goeld Family Trust u/d/t dated November 8, 1996 5,610 Theresa Gonnella 102 Jerry C. Griffin, M.D. & Janice B. Schwartz, M.D., PA Employees Pension Trust 6,040 Gustav F. Haas, Ph.D., Trustee of the Gustav F. Haas 1991 Trust, UA 12/5/91 1,869 William M. Helvey, M.D. & Z. Grace Helvey 2,805 James M. Heslin, Esq. 4,925 Mark Hofmeister 210 Howard M. Holstein, Esq. 336 Stacie L. Huebschwerlen 374 Warren F. and Norma A. Huebschwerlen, Trustees of the Huebschwerlen Family Trust dated 8/30/66 373 Greater Bay Trust Company, Custodian for Warran Huebschwerlen IRA 2,805 William Wells Hutchins, M.D. 5,610 8 EARL L. JACKSON & JULIA E. JACKSON as Trustees of THE EARL & JULIA JACKSON TRUST DATED SEPT. 4, 2001 2,805 Susan Jackson, Trustee of the Susan Jackson Trust, dated 9/15/89 21,187 Jerry Jarrard 280 Sue R. Kang 747 Amy Kelly 210 Eben Kermit 3,699 Mark L. and Penny Kermit, Trustees of the Kermit 1987 Trust 3,577 Gerald T. Keusch 2,805 Theodore C. Klint 3,739 James B. Klint, M.D. & Kristin E. Klint, Trustees of the Klint Family Trust u/d/t 2/1/93 1,869 Steve Landreville 1,122 Stephanie Lao Goco 14 Susan Lavery 192 Sang Ho Lee, M.D. 3,739 Eric G. LeVeen 841 Robert F. LeVeen, M.D. 8,415 Steven Lopez 1,314 Julie Luong 38 Peter Lyons 4,161 William G. Mavity 2,214 William G. Mavity, Trustee of The Rebecca Mavity Bypass Trust U/D/D 10/4/96 1,869 Michael McCollum 1,552 Glen Wallace McLaughlin 2,867 Glen McLaughlin 2,867 Karen McLaughlin 28 9 Leslie F. Murdock 1,869 Radha and Subra Narayan 4,674 Colin J. and S. Anne Nichols as Trustees for Nichols Family 1995 Trust dated March 21, 1995 29,733 Thomas Palermo 3,593 Robert Reiss 4,428 Sharon Anne Riddle 19,070 Sutro & Co. Inc. Account C/F Mario M. Rosati IRA Rollover DTD 05/01/00, number GNA - R16032-D5 2,805 Mario M. Rosati, Esq. 3,677 Mario M. Rosati, Trustee Of The Mario M. Rosati Trust U/D/T Dtd 1-5-90 4,776 Searle Venture Capital Company 2,867 James M. Shapiro and Sarah B. Shapiro as Trustees under the James M. and Sara B. Shapiro Family Trust 3,366 David S. Shields, M.D. 56 The R. Simkins 1995 Trust 14,634 John B. Simpson, M.D. & Rita Lynn Simpson, Trustees of the Simpson Family Trust u/d/t 1/12/90 7,479 Carl Simpson, Jr. 1,683 William Starling 4,207 William N. Starling, Jr. and Dana Gregory Starling, Trustees of the Starling Family Trust, U/D/T August 15, 1990 11,341 Roger A. Stern, Ph.D. 3,366 Paul F. Stremel, Trustee, Stremel Family Trust Of 1992 1,122 Gary H. Stroy 841 LeAnn Stroy 841 Chien-Hsiung Sun 5,610 Sandy Thorne 280 10 Matt Tisch 455 Rika Ueda 1,122 Kirsten Valley 4,207 Charles J. Wagner 3,104 Charles F. Wagner, Trustee, Wagner Family Trust 308 Lawrence Way, M.D., Trustee FBO The Way Living Trust, U/A/D 12/16/93 1,869 Kara Weldon 262 Bruce H. and Karen S. Wiener, Trustees of the Bruce H. and Karen S. Wiener 1985 Trust 28,688 Josephine N. Wong and Hastings S. Wong, Trustees for the Wong Family Trust UAD 5/5/93 1,122 WS Investment Company 94B 26,581 WS Investment Company 96A 537 WS Investment Company 96B 504 WS Investment Company 97A 2,524 WS Investment Company 97B 2,945 WTI Ventures 13,815 ============================================================================== TOTAL 925,862 ============================================================================== 11 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION We are registering shares of our common stock on behalf of the selling stockholders. As used in this prospectus, "selling stockholders" includes donees, transferees, pledgees and other successors in interest (other than purchasers pursuant to this prospectus) selling shares received from a named selling stockholder after the date of this prospectus. We will pay for all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the shares. The selling stockholders will pay for all selling discounts and commissions, if any. The selling stockholders may offer and sell their shares from time to time in one or more of the following types of transactions (including block transactions): o on the New York Stock Exchange, o in the over-the-counter market, o in privately negotiated transactions, or o a combination of such methods of sale. The selling stockholders may sell their shares at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use brokers, dealers or agents to sell their shares. The persons acting as agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions. This compensation may be paid by the selling stockholders or the purchasers of the shares for whom such persons may act as agent, or to whom they may sell as a principal, or both. The selling stockholders and any agents or broker-dealers that participate with the selling stockholders in the offer and sale of the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. Any commissions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the shares by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Neither we nor any selling stockholder can presently estimate the amount of such compensation. Because a selling stockholder may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, the selling stockholders will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,general corporate purposes, which may include, ~~delivery through~~without limitation, repurchases or redemptions of our outstanding debt securities or other reductions of our outstanding borrowings, working capital, business acquisitions or other strategic alliances, investments in or loans to subsidiaries, capital expenditures or for such other purposes as may be specified in the ~~facilities~~applicable prospectus supplement.

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges, on a consolidated basis for the periods indicated, was as follows (unaudited):

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the six months ended June 30, 2004 is not necessarily indicative of the ~~New York Stock Exchange pursuant to Rule 153 under~~results that may be expected for the ~~Securities Act of 1933.~~entire year. The ~~selling stockholders~~data above includes special charges (credits) recorded in conjunction with acquisitions, restructurings and ~~any other person participating~~litigation. The ratios above should be read in a distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by the selling stockholders and any other such person. Furthermore, under Regulation M, any person engaged in the distribution of the securities may not simultaneously engage in market-making activitiesconjunction with respect to the particular securities being distributed for certain periods prior to the commencement of or during such distribution. All of the above may affect the marketability of the securities and the availability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities. We are not aware of whether the selling stockholders have entered into any agreements, understanding or arrangements with any broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares, nor are we aware of whether there is a coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares by the selling stockholders. Selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, provided they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the shares of common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon Bingham Dana LLP. As of January 2, 2002, four attorneys at Bingham Dana beneficially owned an aggregate of 10,643 shares of Boston Scientific common stock. 12 ~~EXPERTS Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited~~ our consolidated financial statements ~~and financial statement schedule~~(including the notes thereto) included ~~or incorporated by reference~~ in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2000,~~2003 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six month period ended June 30, 2004, each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

This section contains a description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent to which these general provisions may apply to any series of debt securities will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. This description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture covering the debt securities (as described below). The following summary of the material terms of the indenture is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of some terms used in the indenture. You should review the indenture that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part for additional information.

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. Senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities may be issued under an indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, between us and JP Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. Any modifications to the terms applicable to any debt securities will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. The indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act.

The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations. The indebtedness represented by (i) senior unsecured debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and (ii) subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness. Unsecured debt securities will be effectively junior to any existing or future secured debt, and all of our debt securities will be effectively junior to any existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. See “— Subordination.”

The indenture will provide for the issuance by us from time to time of debt securities in one or more series. The indenture will set forth the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provide that such terms shall be set forth in, or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution and/or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to that series.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities for a description of the following terms of the debt securities offered thereby and by this prospectus:


	•	the form and title of those debt securities, and whether they are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;

	•	any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities;

	•	the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities is payable;

	•	the rate or rates, if any, at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which that interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which that interest will be payable, our right, if any, to defer or extend an interest payment date and the regular record date, if any, for interest payable on any registered security on any interest payment date, or the method by which any of the foregoing will be determined, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

	•	the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable, where any registered securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where the debt securities may be surrendered for exchange, where the debt securities that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and, if different than the location specified in the indenture, the place or places where notices or demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities and the indenture may be served;


	•	the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or the option of a Holder (as defined in the indenture), if we or a Holder is to have that option;

	•	our obligation or right, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;

	•	if other than as expressed in the indenture, the denomination or denominations in which any registered securities or bearer securities of that series will be issuable;

	•	if other than the trustee, the identity of each security registrar and/or paying agent;

	•	if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof under the indenture, or the method by which that portion will be determined;

	•	if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies in which payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable or in which the debt securities will be denominated;

	•	whether payments on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and the manner in which those payments will be determined;

	•	whether the principal of, or premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on the debt securities are to be payable, at our election or the election of a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the election date) and the terms and conditions upon which this election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies in which the debt securities are to be so payable, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of the indenture;

	•	the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent (as defined in the indenture), if any, or any depositaries;

	•	the applicability, if any, of the defeasance or covenant defeasance provisions, and any modifications to the related provisions of the indenture;

	•	provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders of debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

	•	any changes to the events of default or covenants specified in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

	•	whether the debt securities are to be issuable as registered securities or bearer securities and the related terms and conditions;

	•	the date as of which any bearer securities and any temporary global security will be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first debt security of the series;

	•	the person to whom any interest in any registered security of the series will be payable (if other than the person in whose name that debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for that interest), the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on any bearer security will be payable (if other than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature) and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global security on an interest payment date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the indenture;


	•	if the debt securities are to be issuable in definitive form and any related conditions;

	•	if the debt securities are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for those debt securities to be authenticated and delivered;

	•	whether, under what circumstances and the currency or currencies in which we will pay Additional Amounts (as defined in the indenture) to any Holder who is not a United States person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem those debt securities rather than pay the Additional Amounts;

	•	the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be convertible or exchangeable;

	•	whether the debt securities are subject to subordination and the terms of that subordination; and

	•	any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences relating to the debt securities.

With respect to debt securities of any series denominated in United States dollars, the registered securities of that series, other than registered securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the bearer securities of that series, other than bearer securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), will be issuable in a denomination of $5,000, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities denominated in any currency other than United States dollars or a composite currency will specify the denominations thereof.

One or more series of debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which is below market rates at the time of issuance. One or more series of debt securities may be floating rate debt securities which are exchangeable for fixed rate debt securities. We may describe certain federal income tax consequences and special considerations, if any, applicable to each series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest, if any, on any registered security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name that security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest at our office or agency maintained for such purpose as set forth in the indenture;provided, however, that we may, at our option, pay each installment of interest, if any, on any registered security by (i) mailing a check for that interest installment, payable to or upon the written order of the person entitled thereto as set forth in the indenture, to the address of that person as it appears on the Security Register (as defined in the indenture) or (ii) transferring an amount equal to that interest installment to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee.

The indenture provides that the following will be “events of default” with respect to any series of debt securities:


	•	default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of that series, when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

	•	default in the payment of, the principal of, or premium, if any, on any debt security of that series when due at its maturity or upon acceleration;

	•	default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the debt securities of that series and the indenture;

	•	default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement by us in the indenture which affects or is applicable to debt securities of such series (other than a default in the performance, or breach of a covenant or agreement which is specifically dealt with elsewhere in the indenture), and the continuation of that default or breach for a period of 60 days after the trustee has given us, or


		after Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding securities of that series have given us and the trustee, written notice thereof;

	•	certain events relating to our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

	•	any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series.

No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities issued under the indenture necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued thereunder. Any modifications to the foregoing events of default will be described in any prospectus supplement.

The indenture provides that if an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets above occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal of all those debt securities (or, in the case of original issue discount securities or indexed securities, the portion of the principal amount thereof as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the fifth bullet above occurs and is continuing, then the principal of all those debt securities (or, in the case of original issue discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount thereof as may be specified in the terms thereof) will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any Holder. In certain cases, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of Holders of all those debt securities, rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration.

The indenture provides that the trustee will not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by the indenture. The indenture provides that no Holder may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, to enforce the indenture except in the case of failure of the trustee thereunder to act for 60 days after it has received a request to enforce the indenture by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series (in the case of an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets above) or a request to enforce the indenture by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities then outstanding (in the case of an event of default specified in the fifth bullet above), and an offer of reasonable indemnity. This provision will not prevent any Holder from enforcing payment of principal thereof, and premium, if any, on and interest, if any, thereon at the respective due dates.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to debt securities of that series. The trustee may, however, refuse to follow any direction that it determines may not lawfully be taken or would be illegal or in conflict with the indenture or involve it in personal liability or which would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders not joining in that proceeding.

The indenture provides that the trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to any series of debt securities, give to Holders of debt securities of that series notice of such default if that default has not been cured or waived. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on or interest on, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of, any debt securities of that series, the trustee will be protected in withholding the notice if it determines in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the interest of Holders of the debt securities of such series.

We will be required to file annually with the trustee an officers’ certificate as to compliance with all conditions and covenants under the terms of the indenture.

Modifications of and amendments to the indenture may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series issued under the indenture that is affected by the modification or amendment;provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:


	•	change the Stated Maturity (as defined in the indenture) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on or any installment of interest on any debt security of that series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or premium, if any, on or the rate of interest, if any, thereon, or change any of our obligations to pay Additional Amounts (except as contemplated or permitted by the indenture), or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security (as defined in the indenture) of that series that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of any Holder of any debt security of such series, or change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any debt security of that series or premium, if any, on or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the redemption date or repayment date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any debt security;

	•	reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture, for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults applicable to that series thereunder and their consequences provided for in the indenture, or reduce the quorum or voting with respect to debt securities of that series; or

	•	modify any of the provisions relating to supplemental indentures requiring the consent of Holders or relating to the waiver of past defaults or relating to the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture which affect that series cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby.

We may, with respect to any series of debt securities, omit to comply with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture if Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected waive compliance. No such waiver will extend to or affect any term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until the waiver becomes effective, our obligations and the duties of the trustee to Holders of debt securities of that series in respect of the applicable term, provision or condition will remain in full force and effect.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series (in the case of an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets under “Events of Default,” above) or the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the debt securities then outstanding (in the case of an event of default specified in the fifth bullet under “Events of Default,” above) may, on behalf of all those Holders, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any such debt security and except a default in respect of a covenant or provision the modification or amendment of which would require the consent of the Holder of each outstanding debt security affected.

We will not consolidate with or merge with or into any other corporation or transfer all or substantially all of our property and assets as an entirety to any person, unless:


	•	either we will be the continuing person, or the person (if other than us) formed by the consolidation or into which we are merged or to which all or substantially all of our properties and assets are transferred is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia which expressly assumes all of our obligations under each series of debt securities and the indenture with respect to each such series;

	•	immediately before and immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no event of default and no event which, after notice or passage of time or both, would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing. Notwithstanding this limitation, any of our Subsidiaries (as defined in the indenture) may consolidate with, merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to us or any other Subsidiary or Subsidiaries; and

	•	we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that the consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and the supplemental indenture complies with the indenture and that all conditions precedent therein provided for relating to the transaction have been complied with.

The indenture will provide that with respect to each series of senior debt securities, unless otherwise set forth in the related prospectus supplement, we will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (as defined in the indenture) upon any of our property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for:


	•	Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on our or our Subsidiaries’ books, as the case may be, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States;

	•	carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

	•	pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

	•	deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

	•	easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of our business or that Subsidiary;

	•	Liens in existence on the date of the first issuance by us of senior debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture;provided that no such Lien is spread to cover any additional property after such date and that the amount of debt secured thereby is not increased;

	•	Liens securing our debt and that of our Subsidiaries incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets;provided that (A) such Liens will be created substantially simultaneously with the acquisition of such fixed or capital assets, (B) such Liens do not at any time encumber any


		property other than the property financed by such debt and (C) the amount of debt secured thereby is not increased;

	•	Liens on the property or assets of a corporation that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof;providedthat (A) such Liens existed at the time such corporation became a Subsidiary and were not created in anticipation thereof, (B) any such Lien is not spread to cover any property or assets of such corporation after the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary, and (C) the amount of debt secured thereby is not increased;

	•	Liens pursuant to any Receivables Transaction (as defined in the indenture) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding 20% of our Consolidated Tangible Assets (as defined in the indenture); and

	•	Liens (not otherwise permitted hereunder) (A) which secure obligations not exceeding the greater of (1) $100.0 million or (2) 20% of our Consolidated Net Worth (as defined in the indenture), in each case in aggregate amount at any time outstanding, or (B) with respect to which we effectively provide that the senior debt securities outstanding under the indenture are secured equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) the debt secured by such Lien.

If so specified in the prospectus supplement with respect to debt securities of any series, we at our option:


	•	will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of that series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of that series, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of that series, maintain paying agencies, and hold money for payment in trust); or

	•	will not be subject to certain specified covenants with respect to the debt securities of that series as set forth in the related prospectus supplement,

in each case if we deposit with the trustee, in trust, money or Government Obligations (as defined in the indenture) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and interest on, the outstanding debt securities of that series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such debt securities.

To exercise any such option, we are required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the Holders of the debt securities of that series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes and, in the case of a discharge pursuant to the first bullet above, either a ruling to such effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service or an opinion that there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law to such effect. We are required to deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that no event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing.

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any of the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other of our securities or property will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Those terms will include the conversion or exchange price (or manner of calculation thereof), the exchange or conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory (at the option of the Holder or at our option), and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares, or other of our securities or property to be received by the Holders would be calculated. The conversion or exchange price of any debt securities of any series that is convertible into our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares may be adjusted for any stock dividends, stock

Certain provisions of the indenture relating to the subordination of the subordinated debt securities are summarized below. The extent to which a particular series of subordinated debt securities is subordinated to other of our indebtedness will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for that series and the indenture may be modified by a supplemental indenture to reflect those subordination provisions. The particular terms of subordination of an issue of subordinated debt securities may supersede the general provisions of the indenture summarized below.

Upon any distribution to our creditors in a liquidation, dissolution or reorganization, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness, but our obligation to make payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. Except as provided in a prospectus supplement and the related authorizing resolution and/or supplemental indenture, if any, no payment of principal or interest may be made on the subordinated debt securities at any time if a default on senior indebtedness exists that permits the holders of such senior indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or we have received notice of such default. The authorizing resolution and/or supplemental indenture may also provide that subordinated debt securities issued thereunder are subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of future senior subordinated debt securities, if any. After all senior indebtedness is paid in full and until the subordinated debt securities are paid in full, Holders of the subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of holders of senior indebtedness to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to such Holders have been applied to the payment of senior indebtedness. By reason of such subordination, in the event of any distribution of assets upon our insolvency, certain of our general creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of subordinated debt securities.

If so specified in any prospectus supplement, debt securities of any series may be issued under a book-entry system in the form of one or more global securities. Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary, which will be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or the Depositary. Global securities will be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

The Depositary has advised us that it is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York banking law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depositary was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Depositary’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of which (and/or their representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such global security to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of that successor.

The specific terms of the Depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all Depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a global security, the Depositary will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by that global security to the participants’ accounts. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents with respect to the debt securities or by us if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by us.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of a participant’s interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary for that global security. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by participants or persons that hold interests through participants. The laws of some states require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by a global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of that series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture.

Principal, premium, if any, on and any interest payments on debt securities registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of a global security representing the debt securities. None of us, the trustee, any paying agent or the security registrar for any debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or securities for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the Depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will credit immediately participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security or securities for the debt securities as shown on the records of the Depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security or securities held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participants.

A global security representing all but not part of an offering of debt securities will be exchangeable for debt securities in definitive form of like tenor and terms if:


	•	the Depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global security or if at any time the Depositary is no longer eligible to be in good standing as a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after we receive notice or become aware of the ineligibility; or

	•	we at any time determine not to have all of the debt securities represented in an offering by a global security and notify the trustee to this effect.

Further, if we so specify with respect to the debt securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security may, on terms acceptable to us, receive debt securities in definitive form. In that instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to have debt securities

The Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

The indenture and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act incorporated by reference therein contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become one of our creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us or any Affiliate (as defined in the indenture);provided, however, that if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the indenture or in the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate that conflict or resign.

None of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders, as such, or any of our Affiliates will have any personal liability in respect of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities by reason of his, her or its status as such.

The indenture is, and the debt securities offered hereby will be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any series of preferred stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to any series of preferred stock so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that preferred stock. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Delaware law, the provisions of the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as amended, also referred to as the Charter, and the Certificate of Designation relating to a particular series of preferred stock which will be in the form filed or incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at or prior to the time of the issuance of that series of preferred stock.

Under our Charter and our by-laws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, our board of directors is authorized without further shareholder action to adopt resolutions, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the board, providing for the issuance of up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more series, and to fix by resolution any of the powers, designations, preferences and relative dividend participation, option or other rights thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption terms and liquidation preferences, and the number of shares constituting each such series. Preferred stock, upon issuance against full payment of the purchase price therefor, will be fully paid and nonassessable. As of the date of this prospectus, we had no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock offered will describe the specific terms thereof, including, where applicable:


	•	the title, designation, number of shares and stated value of the preferred stock;

	•	the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;

	•	the dividend rates, if any (or method of calculation), whether that rate is fixed or variable or both, and the dates on which dividends will be payable, whether those dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends will begin to cumulate;

	•	the dates on which the preferred stock will be subject to redemption and the applicable redemption prices;

	•	any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

	•	the convertibility or exchangeability of the preferred stock;

	•	if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which the preferred stock is denominated and/or in which payments will or may be payable;

	•	the method by which amounts in respect of the preferred stock may be calculated and any commodities, currencies or indices, or the value, rate or price relevant to that calculation;

	•	the place where dividends and other payments on the preferred stock are payable and the identity of the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for the preferred stock;

	•	any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange; and

	•	any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund, voting and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions.

The federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any series of preferred stock will be generally described in the prospectus supplement related thereto.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, each series of preferred stock will rankpari passuas to dividends and liquidation rights in all respects with each other series of preferred stock.

Holders of preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive cash dividends, when and as declared by our board of directors out of our assets legally available for payment, at those rates and on the dates as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Each dividend will be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock books on the record dates fixed by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Different series of the preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different rates or based upon different methods of determination. Those rates may be fixed or variable or both. Dividends on any series of the preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative as provided in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. Except as provided in the related prospectus supplement, no series of preferred stock will be entitled to participate in our earnings or assets.

Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, in the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to shareholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to that series of preferred

stock upon liquidation, liquidating distributions in an amount set forth in the prospectus supplement related to that series of preferred stock, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends up to the date fixed for distribution for the current dividend period and, if that series of the preferred stock is cumulative, for all dividend periods prior thereto, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement with respect to that series of preferred stock. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, amounts payable with respect to a series of preferred stock and any other shares of our capital stock rankingpari passuas to any distribution with that series of preferred stock are not paid in full, holders of that series of preferred stock and of such other shares will share ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After payment in full of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.

Neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of our property and assets, our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with us, will be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us.

The terms, if any, on which shares of a series of preferred stock may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, or may have the benefit of a sinking fund, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.

The voting rights attaching to any series of preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The terms, if any, on which shares of any series of preferred stock are convertible or exchangeable will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. The prospectus supplement will describe the securities or rights into which the shares of preferred stock are convertible or exchangeable (which may include other preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, common stock or other of our securities or rights (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies or indices) or securities of other issuers or a combination of the foregoing), and the terms and conditions upon which those conversions or exchanges will be effected including the initial conversion or exchange prices or rules, the conversion or exchange period and any other related provisions. Those terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, the exchange or conversion period, provisions as to whether the conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the consideration to be received by holders of that series of preferred stock would be calculated.

The transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for each series of preferred stock will be designated in the related prospectus supplement.

The following description of the terms of the depositary shares sets forth certain general terms and provisions of depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement, and the related deposit agreement and depositary receipt, and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to that deposit agreement, depositary shares and depositary receipt, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those depositary shares. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its

entirety by reference to, the provisions of the applicable deposit agreement, which will be in the form filed or incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at or prior to the time of the issuance of those depositary shares, as well as our Charter or any certificate of designation describing the applicable series of preferred stock.

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of a series of preferred stock as depositary shares, rather than full shares of preferred stock. In such event, we will issue depositary receipts for those depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular class or series of preferred stock, as described in the related prospectus supplement.

Shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement, between us and a bank or trust company selected by us having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. We refer to this entity as a Preferred Stock Depositary. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of the Preferred Stock Depositary with respect to those depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all of the rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock represented thereby (including dividend, voting, conversion, exchange, redemption, and liquidation rights, if any).

Depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional interests in shares of preferred stock as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The Preferred Stock Depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of a series of preferred stock to the record holders of depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of the depositary receipts owned by those holders on the relevant record date (subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the Preferred Stock Depositary). The Preferred Stock Depositary will distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent, and the balance not so distributed will be held by the Preferred Stock Depositary and added to and treated as part of the next sum received by such Preferred Stock Depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary shares then outstanding.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Preferred Stock Depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of such depositary shares owned by those holders, unless the Preferred Stock Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the Preferred Stock Depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method it deems equitable and practicable to effect the distribution, including the public or private sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds therefrom to holders of depositary shares.

The amount so distributed to record holders of depositary receipts in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amount required to be withheld by us or the Preferred Stock Depositary on account of taxes.

The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of the preferred stock will be made available to holders of depositary shares.

If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the Preferred Stock Depositary resulting from redemption, in whole or in part, of such class or series of preferred stock held by the Preferred Stock Depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price and other amounts per share, if any, payable in respect of such class or series of preferred stock. Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the Preferred Stock Depositary, the Preferred Stock Depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all of the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined to be equitable by the Preferred Stock Depositary.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares with respect to those depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price upon that redemption. Any funds deposited by us with the Preferred Stock Depositary for any depositary shares which the holders thereof fail to redeem shall be returned to us after a period of two years from the date those funds are so deposited.

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of a class or series of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the Preferred Stock Depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares of such class or series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary receipts on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the related class or series of preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the Preferred Stock Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The Preferred Stock Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by those depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Preferred Stock Depositary in order to enable the Preferred Stock Depositary to do so. The Preferred Stock Depositary will abstain from voting the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holder of depositary shares representing those shares of preferred stock. The Preferred Stock Depositary will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is taken in good faith and does not result from the negligence or willful misconduct of the Preferred Stock Depositary.

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of each depositary receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of related preferred stock as set forth in the related prospectus supplement.

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by those depositary receipts pursuant to the terms thereof.

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended at any time by agreement between us and the Preferred Stock Depositary.

However, amendments, if any, which materially and adversely alter the rights of holders of depositary receipts or that would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights of holders of the underlying preferred stock, will be ineffective unless the amendment has been approved by holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding under the deposit agreement. Every holder of outstanding depositary receipts at the time the amendment, if any, becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold its depositary receipts, to consent to the amendment and to be bound by the applicable deposit agreement as amended thereby.

We may terminate a deposit agreement upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the Preferred Stock Depositary if a majority of each class or series of preferred stock subject to the deposit agreement consents to its termination, whereupon the Preferred Stock Depositary will deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by such holder, the number of whole or fractional shares of preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by those depositary receipts, together with any other property held by the Preferred Stock Depositary with respect to those depositary receipts. Additionally, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:


	•	all outstanding depositary shares related thereto have been redeemed;

	•	there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock underlying those depositary shares in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of the related depositary receipts; or

	•	each share of related preferred stock has been converted into our capital stock not so represented by depositary shares.

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay the Preferred Stock Depositary’s fees and charges in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and initial issuance of depositary receipts and any redemption or conversion of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay all other transfer and other taxes, governmental charges and fees and charges of the Preferred Stock Depositary that are not expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.

A Preferred Stock Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove any Preferred Stock Depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor Preferred Stock Depositary and that successor Preferred Stock Depositary’s acceptance of the appointment. The successor Preferred Stock Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

The Preferred Stock Depositary will forward all reports and communications which we deliver to the Preferred Stock Depositary and which we are required or otherwise determine to furnish to holders of the preferred stock.

Neither we nor any Preferred Stock Depositary will be liable if we or it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our or its control in performing our or its obligations under a deposit agreement. Our obligations and the obligations of any Preferred Stock Depositary under a deposit agreement will be limited to performing in good faith our and its respective duties thereunder (in the case of any action or inaction in the voting of a class or series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares), gross negligence or willful misconduct excepted. We and any Preferred Stock Depositary will not

be obligated under the deposit agreement to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares, depositary receipts or shares of any preferred stock represented thereby unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the Preferred Stock Depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting shares of preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed and presented by the proper party or parties.

The following description of the terms of the common stock sets forth certain general provisions of the common stock as contained in our Charter and by-laws and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Delaware law and our Charter and by-laws in their entirety.

We are currently authorized to issue up to 1,200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of June 30, 2004, there were 842,167,705 shares of our common stock outstanding. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BSX.”

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights and the common stock is not subject to redemption. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock, whether currently outstanding or designated and issued in the future. See “Description of Preferred Stock.”

Subject to the preferences of holders of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to dividends and other distributions when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in all such dividends and other distributions.

Except as otherwise provided by law or by the designation of the preferences, limitations and relative rights of any series of preferred stock, the voting power with respect to us is held by holders of our common stock. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held. Holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights and, therefore, holders of a plurality of shares voting in the election of directors may elect the entire class of our board of directors standing for election at a shareholders’ meeting at which a quorum is present.

Except as otherwise provided by the certificate of designation and limitations and relative rights of any series of preferred stock, in the event of any of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment of all our liabilities and obligations and after payment has been made to holders of each series of preferred stock of the full amount to which they are entitled, holders of shares of common stock will be entitled to share, ratably according to the number of shares of common stock held by them, in all remaining assets available for distribution to holders of the common stock.

Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. We are subject to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporate Law, or the DGCL. Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a

period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, consolidations, assets sales, and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

Liability of Directors and Officers. As permitted by the DGCL, our Charter provides that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except in certain circumstances involving wrongful acts, such as the breach of a director’s duty of loyalty, acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. Our directors are also subject to liability under Section 174 of the DGCL, which makes directors personally liable for unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions if the unlawful conduct is willful or results from negligence.

Under our Charter and by-laws (and in accordance with Section 145 of the DGCL), we shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding. These include civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceedings by reason of the fact that the person is or was one of our directors, officers or employees, or is or was serving in that capacity or as an agent at our request for another entity. Our indemnity covers expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of an action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interest and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. We will indemnify a person in a derivative action under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the person is adjudged to be liable to us in performance of his or her duty. Derivative actions are actions by us or in our right to procure a judgment in our favor. Our agents may be similarly indemnified at the discretion of our board of directors. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements provide rights of indemnification substantially similar to and in certain respects broader than those provided by our Charter and by-laws.

Classified Board of Directors; Removal; Vacancies. Our Charter and by-laws provide that the board of directors be divided into three classes of directors as nearly equal in size as possible, with staggered three year terms, so that one of the three classes of the directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders. Our Charter provides that vacancies on the board of directors may only be filled by a majority of the board of directors then in office and further provides that directors may only be removed by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. The provisions of our Charter and by-laws that govern the number, election, classification and terms of the board of directors may not be amended without the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Meetings of Stockholders.Our Charter provides that stockholder action can only be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and that the business permitted to be conducted at any meeting of stockholders is limited to the business brought before the meeting by the Chairman of the board of directors or our President or at the request of a majority of the members of the board of directors. Our Charter and by-laws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called only by the Chairman of the board of directors or pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the total number of directors which we would have if there were no vacancies on the board of directors. Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require that the board of directors call a special meeting of stockholders.

Stockholder Nomination of Directors. Our by-laws contain a procedure for stockholder nomination of directors. The by-laws provide that any record owner of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of


	•	the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated;

	•	a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons to be nominated;

	•	a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming them) pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by the stockholder;

	•	other information regarding each nominee proposed as would have been included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act; and

	•	the consent of each nominee to serve as director if elected.

The presiding officer of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with this procedure.

The procedure for stockholder nomination of directors described above may have the effect of precluding a nomination for election of directors at a particular meeting if the required procedure is not followed.

Stock Repurchases; Change of Control.Our Charter prohibits us, with certain exceptions, from purchasing any shares of our stock from any person, entity or group that beneficially owns 5% or more of our voting stock at an above-market price, unless a majority of our disinterested stockholders approve the transaction. In addition, our Charter empowers the board of directors, when considering a tender offer or merger or acquisition proposal, to take into account factors in addition to potential economic benefits to stockholders and to consider constituencies other than stockholders.

Amendment of Charter and By-Laws.The DGCL provides generally that the vote of a majority of shares entitled to vote is required to act on most matters and to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Our Charter and by-laws contain provisions requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting stock, voting together as a single class, to amend certain provisions of the Charter and our by-laws, including certain of the foregoing provisions. Such a supermajority vote would be in addition to any separate class vote that might in the future be required with respect to shares of preferred stock then outstanding.

Miscellaneous. The foregoing and other provisions of Delaware law and the Charter and our by-laws could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, may discourage bids for the common stock at a premium over the market price of the common stock and may adversely affect the market price of the common stock.

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Mellon Investor Services LLC.

The following description of the terms of the warrants sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the warrants offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock or any combination thereof, which we refer to as, collectively, the Underlying Warrant Securities. The warrants may be issued independently or together with any series of Underlying Warrant Securities and may be attached or separate from the Underlying Warrant Securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any series of warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:


	•	the title of the warrants;

	•	the aggregate number of warrants;

	•	the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

	•	the currency or currencies in which the price of the warrants may be payable;

	•	the designation and terms of the Underlying Warrant Securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the number of such Underlying Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

	•	the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the Underlying Warrant Securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

	•	the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which that right will expire;

	•	whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;

	•	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

	•	if applicable, the designation and terms of the Underlying Warrant Securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each Underlying Warrant Security;

	•	if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related Underlying Warrant Securities will be separately transferable;

	•	information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

	•	if applicable, a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations; and

	•	any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

The warrant agreement for a series of warrants may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

The following description of the terms of the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units.

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to holders, a specified number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares at a future date. The consideration per share of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares may be fixed at the time that the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. Any such formula may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to such stock purchase contract upon the occurrence of certain events. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units, which we refer to as stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, including United States Treasury securities, in each case securing holders’ obligations to purchase common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders of the stock purchase units, or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner.

Each applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. The description in the prospectus supplement will not purport to be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.

We may sell the securities in any one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) through agents; (ii) to or through underwriters; (iii) through dealers; and/or (iv) directly by us to purchasers. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain the terms of the transaction, name or names of any underwriters, dealers, agents and the respective amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by them, the initial public offering price of the securities, and the applicable agent’s commission, dealer’s purchase price or underwriter’s discount.

Any initial offering price, dealer purchase price, discount or commission may be changed from time to time.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us or by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

If underwriters are utilized in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such agents, underwriters and dealers may be required to make in respect thereof.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

Each series of securities will be a new issue and, other than the common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of

securities on an exchange, and in the case of the common stock, on any additional exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.

The place and time of delivery for securities will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement for such securities.

The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Lawrence J. Knopf, our Assistant General Counsel, and by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the related prospectus supplement.

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, have audited our consolidated financial statements and schedule incorporated by reference or included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere inwithin the registration statement. Our financial statements and ~~financial statement~~ schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young ~~LLP's report,~~LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. 13

The financial statements of Advanced Bionics Corporation as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2003, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Current Report on form 8K/A of Boston Scientific Corporation filed on August 6, 2004, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Item 14. ~~OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.~~ Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The ~~following table sets forth the costs~~aggregate estimated expenses, other than underwriting discounts and ~~expenses payable by Boston Scientific~~commissions, in connection with the sale of the securities being ~~registered. All amounts~~registered hereby are ~~estimates except the registration fee. Amounts~~currently anticipated to be ~~Paid ---------- SEC registration fee.......................................... $ 4,948 Legal fees~~as follows (all amounts except for the Securities and expenses....................................... $ 5,000 Accounting fees and expenses.................................. $ 5,000 Miscellaneous................................................. $ 1,500 TOTAL......................................................... $16,448 ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The General Corporation LawExchange Commission filing fee are estimated). All expenses of the ~~State~~offering will be paid by Boston Scientific Corporation.

Under our Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and by-laws (and in accordance with Section 145 ~~provisions relating to~~of the ~~indemnification of officers and directors. Article VI of our Restated By-laws contains provisions requiring indemnification by us of our directors and officers~~Delaware General Corporate Law), we shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by ~~law.~~the Delaware General Corporate Law any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding. These ~~provisions extend~~include civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceedings by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company, or is or was serving in that capacity or as an agent at the request of the Company for another entity.

Our indemnity covers expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid or to ~~expenses~~be paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred ~~by directors or officers~~ in connection with the defense or settlement of an action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interest and, with respect to any ~~such~~criminal action or ~~proceeding. Our board of directors has general authority~~proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. We will indemnify ~~any officer or director against losses arising out~~a person in a derivative action under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the person is adjudged to be liable to us in performance of his or her ~~service as such, unless prohibited~~duty. Derivative actions are actions by ~~law. We carry insurance~~us or in our right to ~~cover potential costs of~~procure a judgment in our favor. Our agents may be similarly indemnified at the ~~foregoing indemnification~~discretion of our ~~officers and~~board of directors.

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

Item 16. EXHIBITS. Exhibit No. Document - ----------- -------- 4.1 Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.1, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-11083); Certificate of Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.2, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, File No. 1-11083); Certificate of Second Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.3, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, File No. 1-11083); and Restated By-laws of the Company (Exhibit 3.2, Registration No. 33-46980). 4.2 Description of Capital Stock contained in the items listed in Exhibit 4.1. * 5.1 Opinion and consent of Bingham Dana LLP regarding the common stock registered hereby. * 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. 23.2 Consent of Bingham Dana LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page filed herewith). - ---------------------- * Filed herewith. II-1 ~~ITEM~~Exhibits.


*	To be filed pursuant to Item 601 as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company in connection with a specific offering.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made of securities registered hereby, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,


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


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

	(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

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


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


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

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

(b) The undersigned ~~registrants~~registrant hereby ~~understand~~undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, ~~of 1933,~~ each filing of the ~~registrant's~~Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit ~~plan's~~plan’s annual report pursuant to ~~Section~~section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the ~~registration statement~~Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered ~~herein,~~therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) If the securities to be registered are to be offered at competitive bidding, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to use its best efforts to distribute prior to the opening of bids, to prospective bidders, underwriters and dealers, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus which at that time meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, as contained in the registration statement, together with any supplements thereto, and (2) to file an amendment to the registration statement reflecting the results of bidding, the terms of the reoffering and related matters to the extent required by the applicable form, not later than the first use authorized by the issuer after the opening of bids, of a prospectus relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, unless no further public offering of such securities by the issuer and no reoffering of such securities by the purchasers is proposed to be made.

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act ~~of 1933~~ may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the ~~registrants~~registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or

otherwise, the ~~registrants have~~registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the ~~registrants~~registrant will, unless in the opinion of ~~their~~its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. ~~II-2~~

(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that (1) for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and (2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1993, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(f) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.

(g) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim information.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, ~~the registrant~~Boston Scientific Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the ~~City~~Town of Natick, ~~The~~ Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on ~~this 4th~~the 30th day of January, 2002. BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION By: /s/ Lawrence C. Best -------------------------- Name: Lawrence C. Best Title: Senior Vice President - Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer September, 2004.


	By	/s/ LAWRENCE C. BEST



	Lawrence C. Best
	Senior Vice President — Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and ~~Directors of Boston Scientific Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint Lawrence C. Best,~~appoints Paul W. Sandman, ~~and~~ Lawrence J. Knopf and ~~each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them,~~Kristin S. Caplice, and each of them, ~~singly, to sign~~his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, severally, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for ushim and in ~~our names~~his name, place and stead, in ~~the capacities indicated below the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed herewith and~~ any and all ~~pre-effective and post-effective~~capacities, to sign any or all amendments to ~~said~~this Registration Statement, and ~~generally~~ to dofile the same, with all ~~such things~~exhibits thereto, and other documents in ~~our names and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and Directors to enable Boston Scientific Corporation to comply~~connection therewith, with ~~the provisions of the Securities Act, and all requirements of~~ the Securities and Exchange Commission, ~~hereby~~granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power of authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming ~~our signatures, as they~~all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be ~~signed~~done by ~~our said attorneys or any of them, to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.~~ virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement ~~on Form S-3 has~~and the Power of Attorney set forth above have been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the ~~4th~~30th day of January, 2002. /s/ John E. Abele - ------------------------ Director, Founder Chairman John E. Abele /s/ Lawrence C. Best - ------------------------ Senior Vice President - Finance and Lawrence C. Best Administration and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ Joseph A. Ciffolillo - ------------------------ Director Joseph A. Ciffolillo /s/ Joel L. Fleishman - ------------------------ Director Joel L. Fleishman /s/ Marye Anne Fox, Ph.D. - ------------------------ Director Marye Anne Fox, Ph.D. II-3 /s/ Ray J. Groves - ------------------------ Director Ray J. Groves /s/ Lawrence L. Horsch - ------------------------ Director Lawrence L. Horsch /s/ Ernest Mario, Ph.D. - ------------------------ Director Ernest Mario, Ph.D. /s/ N. J. Nicholas, Jr. - ------------------------ Director N. J. Nicholas, Jr. /s/ Peter M. Nicholas - ------------------------ Director, Founder and Chairman of the Board Peter M. Nicholas /s/ Warren B. Rudman - ------------------------ Director Warren B. Rudman /s/ James R. Tobin - ------------------------ Director, President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Tobin (Principal Executive Officer) II-4 September, 2004.

EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Document - ----------- -------- 4.1 Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.1, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-11083); Certificate of Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.2, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, File No. 1-11083); Certificate of Second Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.3, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, File No. 1-11083); and Restated By-laws of the Company (Exhibit 3.2, Registration No. 33-46980). 4.2 Description of Capital Stock contained in the items listed in Exhibit 4.1. * 5.1 Opinion and consent of Bingham Dana LLP regarding the common stock registered hereby. * 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. 23.2 Consent of Bingham Dana LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page filed herewith). - ---------------------- * Filed herewith. II-5


Delaware		04-2695240
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)






		Proposed Maximum	Proposed Maximum	Amount of
Title of Each Class of Securities	Amount to be	Offering Price Per	Aggregate Offering	Registration
to be Registered	Registered(1)(2)(9)	Security(2)(3)(9)	Price(2)(3)(4)(9)	Fee(4)


Senior Debt Securities(5)(6)

Subordinated Debt Securities(5)(6)

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value(5)(6)

Depositary Shares(5)(6)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value(5)(6)

Warrants(5)(6)(7)

Stock Purchase Contracts(5)(6)(8)

Stock Purchase Units(5)(6)(8)

Total	$1,500,000,000		$1,500,000,000	$189,559.83(10)


	Amount

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	$	189,559.83
Blue Sky fees and expenses		—
Printing and engraving expenses		20,000
Legal fees and expenses (other than Blue Sky fees and expenses)		85,000
Accounting fees and expenses		40,000
Miscellaneous (including any applicable listing fees, Trustee and Transfer Agent’s fees and expenses)		356,500

Total	$	691,059.83


	1.1			Form of Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement — Basic Provisions
	*1.2			Form of Equity Securities Underwriting Agreement
	*1.3			Form of Depositary Shares Underwriting Agreement
	+3.1			Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.1, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-11083); Certificate of Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.2, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-11083); Certificate of Second Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.3, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, File No. 1-11083); and Certificate of Third Amendment of Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.4, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
	+3.2			Restated By-laws of the Company (Exhibit 3.2, Registration No. 33-46980)
	+4.1			Specimen Certificate for shares of the Company’s Common Stock (Exhibit 4.1, Registration No. 33-46980)
	*4.2			Form of Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock
	4.3			Form of Debt Securities Indenture
	*4.4			Form of Debt Securities
	*4.5			Form of Deposit Agreement with respect to the Depositary Shares (including the terms of Depositary Receipts to be issuable thereunder)
	*4.6			Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant)
	*4.7			Form of Stock Purchase Contract (including Form of Stock Purchase Contract Certificate), and, if applicable, Pledge Agreement
	*4.8			Form of Unit Agreement (including Form of Unit Certificate)
	**5.1			Opinion of Lawrence J. Knopf as to legality of the Securities
	**5.2			Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP as to legality of the Securities
	12.1			Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Company
	23.1			Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
	23.2			Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of Advanced Bionics Corporation
	**23.3			Consent of Lawrence J. Knopf (included in Exhibit 5.1)
	**23.4			Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)
	24.1			Powers of Attorney (included in signature pages)
	25.1			Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of JP Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee for the Debt Securities.



Name and Signature				Title


/s/ JOHN E. ABELE John E. Abele				Director, Founder Chairman

/s/ URSULA M. BURNS Ursula M. Burns				Director

/s/ LAWRENCE C. BEST Lawrence C. Best				Senior Vice President — Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ JOEL L. FLEISHMAN Joel L. Fleishman				Director

/s/ MARYE ANNE FOX Marye Anne Fox				Director


One Boston Scientific Place Natick, Massachusetts 01760-1537 (508) 650-8000 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of the Registrant’s principal executive offices)		Paul W. Sandman, Esq. Senior Vice President Secretary and General Counsel Boston Scientific Corporation One Boston Scientific Place Natick, Massachusetts 01760-1537 (508) 650-8000 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for the Registrant)


	Page

About this Prospectus		1
Where You Can Find More Information		2
Forward-Looking Statements		3
The Company		5
Use of Proceeds		6
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		6
Description of Debt Securities		7
Description of Preferred Stock		16
Description of Depositary Shares		18
Description of Common Stock		22
Description of Warrants		24
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units		26
Plan of Distribution		27
Legal Matters		28
Experts		28
EX-1.1 FORM OF DEBT SECURITIES U/A
EX-4.3 FORM OF DEBT SECURITIES INDENTURE
EX-12.1 STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION
EX-23.1 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
EX-23.2 CONSENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
EX-25.1 FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY



Name and Signature				Title


/s/ RAY J. GROVES Ray J. Groves				Director

/s/ ERNEST MARIO Ernest Mario				Director

/s/ N.J. NICHOLAS JR. N.J. Nicholas Jr.				Director

/s/ PETER M. NICHOLAS Peter M. Nicholas				Director, Founder and Chairman of the Board

/s/ JOHN E. PEPPER John E. Pepper				Director

/s/ UWE E. REINHARDT Uwe E. Reinhardt				Director

/s/ WARREN B. RUDMAN Warren B. Rudman				Director

/s/ JAMES R. TOBIN James R. Tobin				Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)


**	To be filed by amendment.

+	Incorporated by reference.