-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, FHhG4QByWZWmAbqNYvz+jIgLU0OocIup7wEkmH2vEMRxx275/wNkKmItwsz5vN95 SrLWZLJUSvbVa+4MPm343A== 0000038725-08-000076.txt : 20080923 0000038725-08-000076.hdr.sgml : 20080923 20080923150332 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000038725-08-000076 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-A12G/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080923 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080923 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000038725 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MOTORS & GENERATORS [3621] IRS NUMBER: 350827455 STATE OF INCORPORATION: IN FISCAL YEAR END: 0725 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-A12G/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-00362 FILM NUMBER: 081084379 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 400 E SPRING ST CITY: BLUFFTON STATE: IN ZIP: 46714 BUSINESS PHONE: 2608242900 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 400 E SPRING STREET CITY: BLUFFTON STATE: IN ZIP: 46714 8-A12G/A 1 form8a_a.htm FORM 8-A12G/A form8a_a.htm

 
 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 8-A/A
 
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Indiana
35-0827455
(State of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
400 East Spring Street
 
Bluffton, Indiana
46714
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [  ]

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X]

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: _____.  (if applicable).
 
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
None

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
Title Of Each Class
To Be So Registered
Name Of Each Exchange On Which
Each Class Is To Be Registered
Preference Stock Purchase Rights
      The NASDAQ Stock Market
                        

 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
This Form 8-A/A amends the Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 19, 1999 (“Form 8-A”), filed by Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (the “Company”) with respect to the rights to purchase Series I Junior Participating Preference Stock of the Company (the “Rights”) issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1999, between the Company and Illinois Stock Transfer Company, an Illinois corporation, as previously amended by the First Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of December 1, 2006, between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, a national banking association (“LaSalle Bank”), and by the Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of July 11, 2007, between the Company and LaSalle Bank, as may be further amended and modified from time to time (the “Rights Amendment”).  The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated by reference or filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1 through 4.4.
 
Item 1 of Form 8-A is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:
 
Effective September 30, 2008, the Company removed LaSalle Bank National Association as the Rights Agent (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and appointed Wells Fargo as the new Rights Agent, as set forth in the Third Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2008, by and between the Company and Wells Fargo, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.4 and incorporated herein by reference.
 
The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Registration Statement:
 
Exhibit No.                                Description
 
     4.1
Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1999, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and Illinois Stock Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 19, 1999, File No. 000-00362).

     4.2
First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2006, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Form 8-A/A filed on December 8, 2006, File No. 000-00362).

     4.3
Second Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2007, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 16, 2007, File No. 000-00362).

     4.4
Third Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2008, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Rights Agent (filed herewith).


 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
 
Dated:                      September 23, 2008
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
 
By:
/s/ John J. Haines
Name:
John J. Haines
Title:
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
 
and Secretary (Principal Financial and
 
Accounting Officer)

 

 
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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.                                Description
 
     4.1
Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1999, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and Illinois Stock Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 19, 1999, File No. 000-00362).

     4.2
First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2006, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Form 8-A/A filed on December 8, 2006, File No. 000-00362).

     4.3
Second Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2007, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 16, 2007, File No. 000-00362).

     4.4
Third Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2008, by and between Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Rights Agent (filed herewith).

 
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EX-4.4 2 exhibit4_4.htm EXHIBIT 4.4 exhibit4_4.htm
Exhibit 4.4
 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This THIRD AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT effective as of September 22, 2008 (this “Third Amendment”) is between Franklin Electric Co., Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”).

WHEREAS, the Company previously entered into the Rights Agreement dated as of October 15, 1999, as amended by the First Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of December 1, 2006 and the Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of July 11, 2007 (as amended, the “Rights Agreement”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 21 of the Rights Agreement, the Company has given notice to LaSalle Bank National Association that effective September 30, 2008, it is being removed as Rights Agent (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and Wells Fargo is being appointed as the successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Wells Fargo has expressed its willingness and desire to serve as such appointed successor Rights Agent effective as of September 30, 2008, subject to the parties entering into this Third Amendment pursuant to the provisions of Section 27 of the Rights Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed between the Company and Wells Fargo that:

1.  
Upon execution of this Third Amendment, Wells Fargo does hereby become a party to the Rights Agreement and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all of the covenants, terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement as though an original party thereto and as “Rights Agent” thereunder.

2.  
The Rights Agreement shall be amended to, among other things, reflect the appointment of Wells Fargo as Rights Agent, as follows:

a.  
The title page of the Rights Agreement shall be amended to replace the name of the party designated as “LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION” with the name “WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION”.

b.  
The introductory paragraph of the Rights Agreement shall be amended to have the name of the Rights Agent changed from “LaSalle Bank National Association” to “Wells Fargo Bank, National Association”.
 
c.  
Section 26 of the Rights Agreement shall be amended to replace the name and address of “LaSalle Bank National Association, 135 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois  60603, [Attention: Mark Rimkus]” with the following: “Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, 161 North Concord Exchange, South St. Paul, Minnesota  55075-1139, Attention: Manager of Account Administration”.
 
 
 
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d.  
The definition of “Rights Agreement” as set forth in the first paragraph of the second page of Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced as follows:

“the Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1999, between Franklin Electric Co., Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”) and Illinois Stock Transfer Company, an Illinois corporation, as amended by the First Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of December 1, 2006, between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association (“LaSalle Bank”), by the Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of July 11, 2007, between the Company and LaSalle Bank, and by the Third Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of September 22, 2008, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association (the “Rights Agent”), as may be further amended and modified from time to time (the “Rights Amendment”)”.

3.  
Wells Fargo hereby represents and warrants to the Company that Wells Fargo (a) is a legal business entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by a federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, or (b) is an affiliate of a legal business entity described in the foregoing clause (a).

4.  
The execution and delivery of this Third Amendment has been duly and validly authorized and approved by each of the parties hereto, and no other proceedings (corporate or otherwise) on the part of the parties hereto are necessary to authorize this Third Amendment.  This Third Amendment has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each of the parties hereto and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such parties, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms.

5.  
Except as expressly amended by this Third Amendment, all terms, conditions and other provisions contained in the Rights Agreement are hereby ratified and reaffirmed.  The Rights Agreement, after giving effect hereto, shall remain in full force and effect.

6.  
Upon execution hereof, each reference in the Rights Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” “herein,” “hereof,” or words of like import referring to the Rights Agreement shall mean and refer to the Rights Agreement, as amended by this Third Amendment. In addition, any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the date hereof may refer to the Rights Agreement without making specific reference to this Third Amendment; but nevertheless all references to the Rights Agreement shall be a reference to such document as amended hereby.  If this Third Amendment is inconsistent with (or affects the interpretations of) unamended portions of the Rights Agreement, the provisions of (or interpretations suggested by) this Third Amendment shall control.

 
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This Third Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Indiana law.

7.  
This Third Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original, but all together only one agreement.

*           *           *


 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Wells Fargo have caused this Third Amendment to Rights Agreement to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of this 22nd day of September, 2008.

 
Attest:
Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
   
By:                                           
By:                                         
   Mandy Longenberger
Angela M. Hughes
   Corporate Paralegal
Counsel, Governance Manager,
 
Assistant Secretary
   
Attest:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
   
By:                                           
By:                                         
   Name:
Name:
   Title:
Title:
   
Acknowledged and agreed as of
 
this [___] day of _______, 2008:
 
   
Attest:
LaSalle Bank National Association
By:                                           
By:                                         
   Name:
Name:
   Title:
Title:

 
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