S-3ASR 1 cmw3838.htm REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Registration No. 333-________


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

REGAL-BELOIT CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Wisconsin 39-0875718
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

200 State Street
Beloit, Wisconsin 53511-6254
(608) 364-8800
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

_____________________________________

Paul J. Jones, Esq.  
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary with a copy to:
Regal-Beloit Corporation Benjamin F. Garmer, III, Esq.
200 State Street Jay O. Rothman, Esq.
Beloit, Wisconsin 53511-6254 Foley & Lardner LLP
(608) 364-8800 777 East Wisconsin Avenue
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5306
including area code, of agent for service) (414) 271-2400

_________________

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

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

        If any of the securities being registered on this 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, check the following box. |X|

        If this 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. |_|

        If this 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. |_|

        If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. |X|

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. |_|

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer |X| Accelerated filer |_| Non-accelerated filer |_| Smaller reporting company |_|
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

_________________


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of
securities to be registered

Amount to be registered/
Proposed maximum offering price per unit/
Proposed maximum offering price

Amount of registration fee
Debt Securities (1) $0 (1)

Common Stock, $.01 par value

Common Stock Purchase Rights (2)

Warrants

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units


(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. This registration statement also covers delayed delivery contracts that may be issued by the Registrant under which the party purchasing such contracts may be required to purchase debt securities 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) The common stock purchase rights are attached to and traded with the shares of common stock being registered. The value attributable to the common stock purchase rights, if any, is reflected in the value attributable to the common stock.



Prospectus

Debt Securities
Common Stock
Warrants
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units

_________________

        We may offer and sell from time to time our securities in one or more classes or series and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the times of the offerings. Selling shareholders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell from time to time shares of our common stock in such amounts as set forth in a prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by any selling shareholders.

        This prospectus describes the general manner in which our securities may be offered using this prospectus. We will provide specific terms of the securities, including the offering prices, in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the specific issue of securities carefully before you invest.

        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. The supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution.

        Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RBC.”

        Investment in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material for a discussion of certain factors which should be considered in an investment of the securities which may be offered hereby.

_________________

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

_________________

The date of this prospectus is November 12, 2008.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
About This Prospectus   2
Cautionary Statement   3
Regal Beloit Corporation   4
Selling Shareholders   4
Use of Proceeds   4
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges   4
Description of Debt Securities   5
Description of Capital Stock   6
Description of Warrants   8
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units   9
Where You Can Find More Information 10
Plan of Distribution 11
Legal Matters 14
Experts 14

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        Unless the context otherwise requires, in this prospectus, “Regal Beloit,” “company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “ours” refer to Regal Beloit Corporation and its subsidiaries.

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities or combinations of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer and the shares of our common stock that selling shareholders may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement and/or other offering material may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other offering material together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

        You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or other offering material. 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 offers to sell or solicitations to buy the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any other offering material, or the information we previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

        This prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus and any other offering material, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and any other offering material, may contain “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our management’s judgment regarding future events. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar words. Actual results and events could differ materially and adversely from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including:

  economic changes in global markets where we do business, such as currency exchange rates, inflation rates, interest rates, recession, foreign government policies and other external factors that we cannot control;

  unanticipated fluctuations in commodity prices and raw material costs;

  cyclical downturns affecting the global market for capital goods;

  unexpected issues and costs arising from the integration of acquired companies and businesses;

  marketplace acceptance of new and existing products including the loss of, or a decline in business from, any significant customers;

  the impact of capital market transactions that we may effect;

  the availability and effectiveness of our information technology systems;

  unanticipated costs associated with litigation matters;

  actions taken by our competitors;

  difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations; and

  other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those described in Item 1A-Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2008 and from time to time in our other reports filed with the SEC.

        All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the applicable cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus and any other offering material are made only as of their respective dates, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.




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REGAL BELOIT CORPORATION

        We are one of the largest global manufacturers of commercial, industrial, and HVAC electric motors, electric generators and controls, and mechanical motion control products. Many of our products hold leading market positions in a variety of essential commercial, industrial and residential applications, and we believe we have one of the most comprehensive product lines in the markets we serve. We sell our products to a diverse global customer base using more than 20 recognized brand names through a multi-channel distribution model to leading original equipment manufacturers, distributors and end users across many markets.

        We are a Wisconsin corporation and our principal executive offices are located at 200 State Street, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511. Our telephone number is (608) 364-8800.

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

        We may register shares of common stock covered by this prospectus for re-offers and resales by any selling shareholders to be named in a prospectus supplement. Because we are a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, which we refer to as the “Securities Act,” we may add secondary sales of shares of our common stock by any selling shareholders by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC. We may register these shares to permit selling shareholders to resell their shares when they deem appropriate. A selling shareholder may resell all, a portion or none of such shareholder’s shares at any time and from time to time. Selling shareholders may also sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of their shares of our common stock in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We do not know when or in what amounts the selling shareholders may offer shares for sale under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We may pay all expenses incurred with respect to the registration of the shares of common stock owned by the selling shareholders, other than underwriting fees, discounts or commissions, which will be borne by the selling shareholders. We will provide you with a prospectus supplement naming the selling shareholders, the amount of shares to be registered and sold and any other terms of the shares of common stock being sold by each selling shareholder.

USE OF PROCEEDS

        We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sales of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        The following table presents our ratios of consolidated earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented.

Nine Months Ended Years Ended December 31,
September 27, 2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges(1) 7.62x 7.98x 8.81x 5.55x 6.41x 5.63x

  (1) For purposes of calculating the ratios of consolidated earnings to fixed charges, earnings before taxes, minority interests and fixed charges are divided by fixed charges. “Fixed charges” represent interest and the estimated interest component of rent expense.



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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        We may offer debt securities separately, upon exercise of a debt warrant, in connection with a stock purchase contract or as part of a stock purchase unit from time to time in the form of one or more series of debt securities. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the debt securities that may be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to such offering.













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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

        The following description is a summary of elements of our capital stock and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more complete descriptions set forth in our articles of incorporation, our bylaws and our rights agreement, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Common Stock

        We are authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value. Our common stock is entitled to such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors in accordance with applicable law. Our ability to pay dividends is dependent upon a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, general financial condition, general business conditions and other factors.

        Only the holders of our common stock will be entitled to vote for the election of members to our board of directors and on all other matters. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share of common stock held by them on all matters properly submitted to a vote of shareholders, subject to Section 180.1150 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law. See “— Statutory Provisions.” Shareholders have no cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of shares entitled to exercise more than 50% of the voting power are able to elect all of the directors to be elected. The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of our common stock represented and voted is required for the election of directors. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with staggered terms of three years each.

        All shares of common stock are entitled to participate equally in distributions in liquidation. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe for or purchase our shares. There are no conversion rights, sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to our common stock. We do not have the authority to issue any shares of preferred stock.

        The transfer agent for our common stock is Computershare Investor Services (250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021; telephone number (781) 575-2879).

Common Share Purchase Rights

        We have entered into a rights agreement pursuant to which each outstanding share of our common stock has attached a right to purchase one-half of one share of our common stock. Each share of our common stock subsequently issued by us prior to the expiration of the rights agreement will likewise have attached a right. Under circumstances described below, the rights will entitle the holder of the rights to purchase additional shares of our common stock. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to our common stock include the accompanying rights.

        Currently, the rights are not exercisable and trade with our common stock. If the rights become exercisable, then each full right, unless held by a person or group that beneficially owns more than 15% of our outstanding common stock, will initially entitle the holder to purchase one-half of one share of our common stock at a purchase price of $60 per full share, or $30 per half share, subject to adjustment. The rights will become exercisable only if a person or group has acquired, or announced an intention to acquire, 15% or more of our outstanding common stock. Under some circumstances, including the existence of a 15% acquiring party, each holder of a right, other than the acquiring party, will be entitled to purchase at the right’s then-current exercise price, shares of our common stock having a market value of two times the exercise price. If another corporation acquires us after a party acquires 15% or more of our common stock, then each holder of a right will be entitled to receive the acquiring corporation’s common shares having a market value of two times the exercise price. The rights may be redeemed at a price of $0.001 until a party acquires 15% or more of our common stock and, after that time, may be exchanged for one share of our common stock per right until a party acquires 50% or more of our common stock. The rights expire on January 28, 2010, subject to extension. Under the rights agreement, our board of directors may reduce the thresholds applicable to the rights from 15% to not less than 10%. The rights do not have voting or dividend rights and, until they become exercisable, have no dilutive effect on our earnings.

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        The rights will not be triggered if a person or group becomes a beneficial owner of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock solely as a result of an acquisition of our common stock by us, which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such person to 15%.

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions

        Under our articles of incorporation, our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered terms of three years each. Each class is to be as nearly equal in number as possible, with one class being elected each year. Our articles of incorporation also provide that:

  directors may be removed from office only for cause and only with the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at an election of directors;

  any vacancy on the board of directors or any newly created directorship may be filled by the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum; and

  our shareholders have no cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of shares of our common stock entitled to exercise more than 50% of the voting power are able to elect all of the directors to be elected.

Statutory Provisions

        Section 180.1150 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law provides that the voting power of shares of public Wisconsin corporations such as us held by any person or persons acting as a group in excess of 20% of our voting power is limited to 10% of the full voting power of those shares, unless full voting power of those shares has been restored pursuant to a vote of shareholders. Sections 180.1140 to 180.1144 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law contain some limitations and special voting provisions applicable to specified business combinations involving Wisconsin corporations such as us and a significant shareholder, unless the board of directors of the corporation approves the business combination or the shareholder’s acquisition of shares before these shares are acquired. Similarly, Sections 180.1130 to 180.1133 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law contain special voting provisions applicable to some business combinations involving public Wisconsin corporations, unless specified minimum price and procedural requirements are met. Following commencement of a takeover offer, Section 180.1134 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law imposes special voting requirements on share repurchases effected at a premium to the market and on asset sales by the corporation, unless, as it relates to the potential sale of assets, the corporation has at least three independent directors and a majority of the independent directors vote not to have the provision apply to the corporation.




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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

        We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, common stock or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.

        The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the warrant agreements.

        Reference is made to the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the particular issue of warrants offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement and/or other offering material for the terms of and information relating to such warrants, including, where applicable:

  the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

  the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

  the designation and number of units of other securities purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase other securities and the price at which such number of units of such other securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

  the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

  U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to such warrants;

  the amount of warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

  any other terms of such warrants.

        Warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

        Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such principal amount of debt securities or such number of shares of common stock or other securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in such prospectus supplement and/or other offering material. After the close of business on the expiration date, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by us, unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised shall be specified in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to such warrants.

        Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or other securities, holders of such warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of debt securities, common stock or other securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable Indenture, or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the common stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

        We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or other securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “stock purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities, warrants, other securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as “stock purchase units.” The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a specified manner. The stock purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.

        The stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. The prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to a particular issue of stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units will describe the terms of those stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, including the following:

  if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

  any other information we think is important about the stock purchase contracts or the stock purchase units.






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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We also filed a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. You may read and copy the registration statement and any other document that we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. You can also find our public filings with the SEC on the internet at a web site maintained by the SEC located at http://www.sec.gov.

        We are “incorporating by reference” specified documents that we file with the SEC, which means:

  incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus;

  we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents; and

  information we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus.

        We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus and before the end of the offering of the securities pursuant to this prospectus:

  our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007;

  our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 29, June 28 and September 27, 2008;

  our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 16, 2008; and

  the description of our common stock and common stock purchase rights contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed January 18, 2005, and any amendment or report updating that description.

        Information in this prospectus supersedes related information in the documents listed above, and information in subsequently filed documents supersedes related information in both this prospectus and the incorporated documents.

        We will promptly provide, without charge to you, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents. Requests should be directed to:

Corporate Secretary
Regal Beloit Corporation
200 State Street
Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 364-8800

        You can also find these filings on our website at www.regal-beloit.com. We are not incorporating the information on our website other than these filings into this prospectus.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell our securities, and any selling shareholder may sell shares of our common stock, in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:  (i) through agents; (ii) to or through underwriters; (iii) through brokers or dealers; (iv) directly by us or any selling shareholders to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; or (v) through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material 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 selling shareholders, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. Additionally, because selling shareholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, selling shareholders may be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

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

        The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions, at negotiated prices, at a fixed price or fixed prices (that may be subject to change), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at various prices determined at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices.

        Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us or any selling shareholder 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 and/or other offering material, 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, and any selling shareholder will sell shares of our common stock 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. Transactions through brokers or dealers may include block trades in which brokers or dealers will attempt to sell shares as agent but may position and resell as principal to facilitate the transaction or in crosses, in which the same broker or dealer acts as agent on both sides of the trade. 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. In addition, any selling shareholder may sell shares of our common stock in ordinary brokerage transactions or in transactions in which a broker solicits purchases.

        Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us or any selling shareholder and the sale thereof may be made by us or any selling shareholder 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.

        Any selling shareholders may also resell all or a portion of their shares of our common stock in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act provided they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule, Section 4(1) of the Securities Act or other applicable exemptions, regardless of whether the securities are covered by the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

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

        Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements with us or any selling shareholder 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. The terms and conditions of any indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material. We may pay all expenses incurred with respect to the registration of the shares of common stock owned by any selling shareholders, other than underwriting fees, discounts or commissions, which will be borne by the selling shareholders.

        We or any selling shareholder may also sell shares of our common stock through various arrangements involving mandatorily or optionally exchangeable securities, and this prospectus may be delivered in connection with those sales.

        We or any selling shareholder may enter into derivative, sale or forward sale transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material indicates, in connection with those transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, including in short sale transactions and by issuing securities not covered by this prospectus but convertible into, or exchangeable for or representing beneficial interests in such securities covered by this prospectus, or the return of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of such securities. The third parties may use securities received under derivative, sale or forward sale transactions, or securities pledged by us or any selling shareholder or borrowed from us, any selling shareholder or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us or any selling shareholder in settlement of those transactions 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) and/or other offering material.

        Additionally, any selling shareholder may engage in hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection with distributions of shares or otherwise. In those transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume with such selling shareholder. Any selling shareholder also may sell shares short and redeliver shares to close out such short positions. Any selling shareholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers which require the delivery of shares to the broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such shares pursuant to this prospectus. Any selling shareholder also may loan or pledge shares, and the borrower or pledgee may sell or otherwise transfer the shares so loaned or pledged pursuant to this prospectus. Such borrower or pledgee also may transfer those shares to investors in our securities or the selling shareholder’s securities or in connection with the offering of other securities not covered by this prospectus.

        Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us or any selling shareholder. Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of shares for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both. Compensation as to a particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent might be in excess of customary commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with transactions involving shares. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by us or any selling shareholder may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in the resales.

        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 and/or other offering material, 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.

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        Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or any selling shareholder and our respective 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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 the activities at any time. An underwriter may carry out these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

        The place and time of delivery for securities will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement and/or other offering material for such securities.







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LEGAL MATTERS

        The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Foley & Lardner LLP. The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The opinions of Foley & Lardner LLP and counsel for any underwriters or agents may be conditioned upon and may be subject to assumptions regarding future action required to be taken by us and any underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the issuance of any securities. The opinions of Foley & Lardner LLP and counsel for any underwriters or agents may be subject to other conditions and assumptions, as indicated in the prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial statement schedule and include an explanatory paragraph referring to our adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Statement No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, FASB Statement No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans — an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R), and FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.







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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.      Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

        The aggregate estimated expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby are currently anticipated to be as follows (all amounts are estimated). All expenses of the offering will be paid by Regal Beloit Corporation (the “Company”).

Amount
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee     $ (1)
Printing expenses    (2)
Legal fees and expenses    (2)
Accounting fees and expenses    (2)
Miscellaneous (including any applicable listing fees, rating agency fees,  
   trustee and transfer agent’s fees and expenses)    (2)

      Total   $  


(1) Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2) The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable, and the expenses cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15.      Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Article IX of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, requires that the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted or required by Sections 180.0850 to 180.0859, inclusive, of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, including any amendments thereto (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent such amendment permits or requires the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than prior to such amendment), indemnify its Directors and Officers against any and all liabilities, and pay or reimburse any and all properly documented reasonable expenses, incurred thereby in any proceedings to which any such Director or Officer is a party because he or she is or was a Director or Officer of the Company. The Company shall also indemnify an employee who is not a Director or Officer, to the extent that the employee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of a proceeding, for all expenses incurred in the proceeding if the employee was a party because he or she is or was an employee of the Company. The rights to indemnification granted under the Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to indemnification against liabilities or the allowance of expenses which a Director, Officer or employee (or such other person) may be entitled under any written agreement, Board resolution, vote of shareholders of the Company, the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law or otherwise. The Company may, but shall not be required to, supplement the foregoing rights to indemnification against liabilities and allowance of expenses under this paragraph by the purchase of insurance on behalf of any one or more of such Directors, Officers or employees, whether or not the Company would be required or permitted to indemnify or allow expenses to such Director, Officer or employee. All capitalized terms used in this paragraph and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in Section 180.0850 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law.

        The Company maintains a liability insurance policy for its Directors and Officers as permitted by Wisconsin law, which may extend to, among other things, liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        The general effect of the foregoing provisions may be to reduce the circumstances in which an officer or director may be required to bear the economic burden of the foregoing liabilities and expense.

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Item 16.      Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

        The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Registration Statement.

Item 17.      Undertakings.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

    (a)        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) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 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), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

    (b)        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.


    (c)        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.


    (d)        That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:


    (i)        Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and


    (ii)        Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.


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    (e)        That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:


    (i)        Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;


    (ii)        Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;


    (iii)        The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and


    (iv)        Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.


        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of its annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the 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 Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the issue 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.

        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 in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant 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 of Beloit, State of Wisconsin, on this 12th day of November, 2008.

REGAL BELOIT CORPORATION


 
By:  /s/ Henry W. Knueppel
        Henry W. Knueppel
        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David A. Barta and Paul J. Jones, and each of them individually, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and revocation, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Signature Title Date

/s/ Henry W. Knueppel
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and November 12, 2008
Henry W. Knueppel Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Mark J. Gliebe
President, Chief Operating Officer November 12, 2008
Mark J. Gliebe and Director

/s/ David A. Barta
Vice President and Chief Financial November 12, 2008
David A. Barta Officer (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)

/s/ Christopher L. Doerr
Director November 12, 2008
Christopher L. Doerr

/s/ Thomas J. Fischer
Director November 12, 2008
Thomas J. Fischer

/s/ Dean A. Foate
Director November 12, 2008
Dean A. Foate

/s/ G. Frederick Kasten, Jr.
Director November 12, 2008
G. Frederick Kasten, Jr.

/s/ Rakesh Sachdev
Director November 12, 2008
Rakesh Sachdev

Signature Title Date
     
/s/ Carol N. Skornicka Director November 12, 2008
Carol N. Skornicka

/s/ Curtis W. Stoelting
Director November 12, 2008
Curtis W. Stoelting










S-2


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit  
Number Document Description

(1) Form of Underwriting Agreement.*

(4.1) Articles of Incorporation of Regal Beloit Corporation, as amended through April 20, 2007. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 20, 2007 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.2) Amended and Restated Bylaws of Regal Beloit Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 20, 2007 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.3) Indenture, dated April 5, 2004, between Regal Beloit Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on June 21, 2004 (Reg. No. 333-116706)]

(4.4) First Supplemental Indenture, dated December 9, 2004, between Regal Beloit Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2004 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.5) Rights Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2000, between Regal Beloit Corporation and BankBoston, N.A. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 31, 2000 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.6) First Amendment to Rights Agreement, effective as of June 11, 2002, between Regal Beloit Corporation and BankBoston, N.A. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.7) Second Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004, between Regal Beloit Corporation and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on November 18, 2004 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.8) Third Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2004, between Regal Beloit Corporation and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Regal Beloit Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on January 6, 2005 (File No. 001-07283)]

(4.9) Form of Indenture.

(4.10) Form of Senior Debt Securities.*

(4.11) Form of Warrant.*

(4.12) Form of Warrant Agreement.*

(4.13) Form of Stock Purchase Contract.*

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, the Company agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, any instrument defining the rights of holders of long-term debt that is not filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement.

(5) Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP (including consent of counsel).

(12) Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

(23.1) Consent of Foley & Lardner LLP (filed as part of Exhibit (5)).


Exhibit  
Number Document Description

(23.2) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

(24) Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).

(25) Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.**

* To be filed by amendment or under subsequent Current Report on Form 8-K.

** To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.