SC 13D/A 1 b43459scsc13dza.txt NORTEK, INC. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934* (AMENDMENT NO. 15) NORTEK, INC. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share Special Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (Title of Class of Securities) 65655910 (CUSIP NUMBER) COPY TO: Richard L. Bready Douglass N. Ellis, Jr., Esq. c/o Nortek, Inc. Ropes & Gray 50 Kennedy Plaza One International Place Providence, RI 02903 Boston, MA 02110 (401) 751-1600 (617) 951-7000 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) June 20, 2002 (Dates of Events which Require Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box: [ ] NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of this schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Page 1 of 7 Pages CUSPIP NO. 65655910 SCHEDULE 13D Page 2 of 7 Pages 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS Richard L. Bready 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) / / (b) / / 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS Not Applicable 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) / / 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF 7. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES BENEFICIALLY 408,150 - Common Stock OWNED BY 1,588,697- Special Common Stock EACH REPORTING 8. SHARED VOTING POWER PERSON WITH 236,800 - Common Stock 46,263 - Special Common Stock 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 408,150 - Common Stock 1,588,697- Special Common Stock 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 236,800 - Common Stock 46,263 - Special Common Stock Page 2 of 7 Pages CUSPIP NO. 65655910 SCHEDULE 13D Page 3 of 7 Pages 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 408,150 - Common Stock 1,588,697- Special Common Stock 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES /X/ The amount set forth in Row (11) excludes 236,800 shares of Common Stock and 46,263 shares of Special Common Stock held in various benefit plans of the Issuer for which the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership. 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 16.1% of Common Stock, including Special Common Stock. 91.9% of Special Common Stock 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN Page 3 of 7 Pages ITEM 1. SECURITY ISSUER. The class of equity securities to which this Statement on Schedule 13D (the "Statement") relates is the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), and the Special Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Special Common Stock"), each of Nortek, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"). The principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 50 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND. (a) The person filing this statement is Richard L. Bready (hereinafter referred to as "Bready" or the "Reporting Person"). (b) The business address of the Reporting Person is Nortek, Inc., 50 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. (c) The present principal employment of the Reporting Person is as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer. (d) The Reporting Person has not been convicted in any criminal proceeding, excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors, in the last five years. (e) The Reporting Person has not been a party, in the last five years, to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction resulting in his being subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. (f) The Reporting Person is a citizen of the United States of America. ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION. Not Applicable. ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION. On June 20, 2002, the Issuer, Nortek Holdings, Inc. ("Nortek Holdings"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer, and K Holdings, Inc. ("K Holdings"), an affiliate of Kelso & Company, L.P. ("Kelso"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization (the "Recapitalization Agreement") pursuant to which all publicly owned outstanding shares of capital stock of the Issuer, with the exception of some shares owned by certain members of management, will be acquired for $46.00 per share in cash (the "Transaction"). The foregoing description of the Transaction is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Recapitalization Agreement, the Senior Secured Credit Facility Commitment Letter dated May 31, 2002 by and between Nortek, Fleet Capital Corporation and Fleet Securities, Inc., and the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter dated June 20, 2002 by and between Kelso, Page 4 of 7 Pages UBS AG, Stamford Branch, and UBS Warburg LLC, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER. (a-b) As of June 20, 2002, the Reporting Person directly owned (x) 1,588,697 shares of Special Common Stock, including 1,215,515 such shares that the Reporting Person has a right to acquire pursuant to certain vested employee stock options, and (y) 408,150 shares of Common Stock, including 150,000 such shares that the Reporting Person has a right to acquire pursuant to certain vested employee stock options. These shares represent 16.1% of all outstanding shares, if the shares of Common Stock and Special Common Stock are taken as a group, and 91.9% of the shares of Special Common Stock. The Reporting Person has both sole voting and dispositive power with respect to these shares. Various defined benefit pension plans of the Issuer and certain of its subsidiaries held 236,800 shares of Common Stock and 46,263 shares of Special Common Stock as of June 20, 2002. Under the provisions of the trust agreement governing these benefit pension plans, authorized representatives of the Issuer may instruct the trustee of such plans regarding the acquisition and disposition of plan assets and the voting of securities held by the trust relating to such pension plans. While the Reporting Person is one of these authorized representatives, the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by these benefit pension plans. (c) Not Applicable (d) Not applicable. (e) Not applicable. ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER. The Reporting Person has entered into a Voting Agreement dated June 20, 2002 with the Issuer and K Holdings pursuant to which the Reporting Person has agreed, subject to the terms of such agreement, to vote all of his Common Stock and Special Common Stock in favor of the Transaction and in favor of any actions required in furtherance thereof. The foregoing description of the Voting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Voting Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4 and is incorporated herein by reference. The Reporting Person has also entered into an Exchange Agreement dated June 20, 2002 with the Issuer, Nortek Holdings and K Holdings pursuant to which the Reporting Person has agreed to sell his interest in 373,182 shares of Special Common Stock and exchange the remainder of his shares and stock options for shares and stock options of Nortek Holdings in connection with the Transaction. The foregoing description of the Exchange Agreement is qualified in its Page 5 of 7 Pages entirety by reference to the Exchange Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 5 and is incorporated herein by reference. Except for such agreements, the Reporting Person presently has no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with any other person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including but not limited to the transfer or voting of any shares of Common Stock or Special Common Stock, finder's fees, joint ventures, loans or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss or the giving or withholding of proxies. ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS. 1. Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization dated June 20, 2002 by and between Nortek, Inc., Nortek Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., and K Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Kelso & Company, L.P. 2. Senior Secured Credit Facility Commitment Letter dated May 31, 2002 by and between Nortek, Inc., Fleet Capital Corporation and Fleet Securities, Inc. 3. Bridge Facility Commitment Letter dated June 20, 2002 by and between Kelso & Company, L.P., UBS AG, Stamford Branch and UBS Warburg LLC. 4. Voting Agreement dated June 20, 2002 by and between Nortek, Inc., K Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Kelso & Company, L.P., and Richard L. Bready. 5. Exchange Agreement dated June 20, 2002 by and between Nortek, Inc., Nortek Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., K Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Kelso & Company, L.P., and Richard L. Bready. 6 Press Release, dated June 20, 2002. Page 6 of 7 Pages SIGNATURES After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: June 21, 2002 /s/ Richard L. Bready ------------------------------ Richard L. Bready Page 7 of 7 Pages