As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2010

Registration No. 333-      

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

 

Teleflex Incorporated

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

155 South Limerick Road

Limerick, Pennsylvania 19468

(610) 948-5100

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Laurence G. Miller

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

155 South Limerick Road

Limerick, Pennsylvania 19468

Tel.: (610) 948-5100

Fax: (610) 948-5101

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

 

Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

 

Roxane F. Reardon

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Tel: (212) 455-2000

Fax: (212) 455-2502

 

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time on or 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.  o

 

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.  þ

 

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.  o

 

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.  o

 

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.  þ

 

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.  o

 

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. (Check one):

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Teleflex Incorporated

 

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preference Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

 

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any of the following securities:

 

 

In addition, certain selling stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of our common stock or preference stock, in each case, in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TFX.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on a securities exchange.

 

This prospectus provides a general description of these securities. We will provide the specific terms of the securities, including the names of any selling stockholders, if applicable, in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell the securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.

 

 

 

 

Investing in these securities involves risks. See the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase these securities, including the information under “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K (as it may be updated in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is August 2, 2010.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings from time to time. In addition, certain selling stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of our common stock or preference stock, in each case, in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this shelf registration, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the names of any selling stockholders, if applicable. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We also include in the prospectus supplement where applicable, information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities. Therefore, if there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

 

We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

 

Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this prospectus: (i) “the Company,” “us,” “we,” “our” and “Teleflex” refer to Teleflex Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries and their respective predecessors and (ii) “this prospectus” refers to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We are currently subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and in accordance therewith file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy (at prescribed rates) any such reports, proxy statements and other information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings will also be available to you on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement, parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement.

 

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information about us by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents and reports listed below:

 

 

We also incorporate by reference the information contained in all other documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering. The information contained in any such document will be considered part of this prospectus from the date the document is filed with the SEC. We do not incorporate by reference any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K in any future filings unless otherwise stated.

 

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

 

If you make a request for such information in writing or by telephone, we will provide you, without charge, a copy of any or all of the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Any such request should be directed to:

 

Teleflex Incorporated
Attn: Jake Elguicze, Vice President Investor Relations
155 South Limerick Road
Corporate Officer
Limerick, PA 19468
(610) 948-2836

 

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements made in this prospectus, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “guidance,” “potential,” “continue,” “project,” “forecast,” “confident,” “prospects,” and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about our business and the industry and markets in which we operate. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including:

 

 

There may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them does, what impact they will have on our results of operation and financial condition. You should carefully read the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a description of certain rights that could, among other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements.

 

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Such statements speak only as to the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, regardless of future developments or availability of new information.

 

We are principally a global provider of medical technology products that enable healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes, reduce infections and enhance patient and provider safety. We primarily develop, manufacture and supply single-use medical devices used by hospitals and healthcare providers for common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in critical care and surgical applications. We serve hospitals and healthcare providers in more than 140 countries.

 

We provide a broad-based platform of medical products, which we categorize into four groups: Critical Care, Surgical Care, Cardiac Care and OEM and Development Services. Critical care, representing our largest product group, includes medical devices used in vascular access, anesthesia, urology and respiratory care applications;

surgical care includes surgical instruments and devices; and cardiac care includes cardiac assist devices and equipment. We also design and manufacture instruments and devices for other medical device manufacturers.

 

In addition to our medical business, we also have businesses that serve niche segments of the aerospace and commercial markets with specialty engineered products. Our aerospace products include cargo-handling systems, containers and pallets for commercial air cargo and military aircraft actuators. Our commercial products include driver controls, engine assemblies and drive parts for the marine industry.

 

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

 

Teleflex Incorporated is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 155 South Limerick Road, Limerick, Pennsylvania 19468, and our telephone number at this location is (610) 948-5100. Our website is www.teleflex.com. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

Our business is subject to uncertainties and risks. Before deciding whether to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as updated by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings we make with the SEC. Our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.

 

Unless we otherwise state in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, investments in our subsidiaries, possible acquisitions and the repurchase, redemption or retirement of securities, including shares of our common stock. The net proceeds may be temporarily invested or applied to repay short-term or revolving debt prior to use. In the case of a sale of our common stock or preference stock by any selling stockholders, we will not receive any of the proceeds from such a sale.

 

The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus. During the periods indicated, we had no outstanding shares of preference stock, and accordingly, our historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges is the same as our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preference dividends in all periods.

 

Earnings available for fixed charges consist of pre-tax earnings from continuing operations before income or loss from equity investees, fixed charges, distributed earnings of equity investees and amortization of capitalized interest, reduced by non-controlling interest income or loss. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt discount and expenses and the portion of rental expense estimated to be the equivalent of interest.

 

 

The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities. You should also read the indenture between us and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee under which the debt securities will be issued. We have filed a form of indenture governing debt securities with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.

 

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either our senior debt, our senior subordinated debt or our subordinated debt. We refer to the subordinated debt securities and the senior subordinated debt securities together as the subordinated securities. Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated or subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement for the series may change and supplement the summary below.

 

General Terms of the Indenture

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

 

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount”, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt securities:

 

 

 

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will discuss certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities, if any, and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted, if any.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, including, for example, shares of our equity securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

 

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

We cannot consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, and we cannot permit any other person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless (1) we will be the continuing entity or (2) the successor person to which our assets are transferred is a corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership or other entity organized under the laws of any domestic or foreign jurisdiction and it expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no Event of Default (as defined below) under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default under the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing. When the person to whom our assets are transferred has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we shall be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.

 

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or sale, lease or transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any modifications of this covenant.

 

Events of Default

 

The term “Event of Default,” when used in the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, means any of the following:

 

 

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and interest on all of the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series may, after satisfying certain conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences involving such series.

 

If an Event of Default relating to certain events in our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount (or, if the debt securities are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

 

The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

 

 

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture. In addition, we will be required to notify the trustee in writing upon the occurrence of any such default.

 

Transfer and Exchange

 

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depositary, or a nominee (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the subheading “— Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

 

Certificated Debt Securities.  You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any

transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

 

You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.

 

Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System.  Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary.

 

We anticipate that the depositary will follow the following procedures with respect to book-entry debt securities.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the related global debt security, which we refer to as participants, or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global debt security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security beneficially owned by such participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the book-entry debt securities. Ownership of book-entry debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the related global debt security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants). The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities.

 

So long as the depositary for a global debt security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global debt security, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below, beneficial owners of book-entry debt securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of a certificate in definitive form representing securities and will not be considered the owners or holders of those securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person beneficially owning book-entry debt securities must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the related global debt security and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

 

We understand, however, that under existing industry practice, the depositary will authorize the persons on whose behalf it holds a global debt security to exercise certain rights of holders of debt securities, and the indenture provides that we, the trustee and our respective agents will treat as the holder of a debt security the persons specified in a written statement of the depositary with respect to that global debt security for purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by holders of the debt securities pursuant to the indenture.

 

We will make payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on book-entry debt securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the related global debt security. We, the trustee and any other agent of ours or agent of the trustee will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to beneficial ownership interests.

 

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

We will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for each global debt security if the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the book-entry debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities and, in that event, will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for the global debt securities of that series. Global debt securities will also be exchangeable by the holders for certificated debt securities if an Event of Default with respect to the book-entry debt securities represented by those global debt securities has occurred and is continuing. Any certificated debt securities issued in exchange for a global debt security will be registered in such name or names as the depositary shall instruct the trustee. We expect that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of book-entry debt securities relating to such global debt security.

 

We have obtained the foregoing information concerning the depositary and the depositary’s book-entry system from sources we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

Legal Defeasance.  The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series, and to maintain paying agencies and certain provisions relating to the treatment of funds held by paying agents). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, foreign government obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.

 

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

 

Defeasance of Certain Covenants.  The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon compliance with certain conditions:

 

 

 

Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default.  In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the Event of Default. However, we shall remain liable for those payments.

 

Modification of the Indenture

 

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:

 

 

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each series then outstanding and affected add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

 

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or any interest, if any, on any debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.

 

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

 

The indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future stockholder, officer or director of ours or any successor corporation in their capacity as such shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

 

Governing Law

 

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

 

Concerning our Relationship with the Trustee

 

From time to time, we and our subsidiaries may maintain ordinary banking and credit relationships with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and its affiliates.

 

The following description of our capital stock is a summary. You should keep in mind, however, that it is our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificates of designations that are a part of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), and not this summary, which define your rights as a securityholder. There may be other provisions in these documents that are also important to you. You should read these documents for a full description of the terms of our capital stock. Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificates of designations, and our Amended and Restated Bylaws are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these documents.

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 200.5 million shares, of which 200 million shares are designated as common stock, with a par value of $1 per share, 500,000 shares are designated as preference stock, with a par value of $1 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

Voting Rights.  Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share held of record on all matters as to which stockholders are entitled to vote. There are no cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. The quorum required at any stockholders’ meeting for consideration of any matter is a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, represented in person or by proxy. Generally, all matters submitted to a meeting of stockholders will be decided by the vote of the holders of record of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock present at such meeting, represented in person or by proxy.

 

Dividend Rights.  Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preference stock and any other provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Rights Upon Liquidation.  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled, after payment of all of our obligations, and subject to the rights of holders of shares of any outstanding preference stock, to receive pro rata any assets distributable to stockholders in respect of shares held by them.

 

Miscellaneous.  All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. No shares of common stock are subject to redemption or a sinking fund.

 

Listing.  Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “TFX.” On July 30, 2010 the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $56.67 per share.

 

Common Stock Available for Issuance Under Stock Plans.  We have two stock-based compensation plans under which equity-based awards may be made. Our 2000 Stock Compensation Plan (the “2000 plan”) provides for the granting of incentive and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock units to directors, officers and key employees. Under the 2000 plan, we are authorized to issue up to 4 million shares of common stock, but no more than 800,000 of those shares may be issued as restricted stock. Options granted under the 2000 plan have an exercise price equal to the average of the high and low sales prices of our common stock on the date of the grant, rounded to the nearest $0.25. Generally, options granted under the 2000 plan are exercisable three to five years after the date of the grant and expire no more than ten years after the grant. Outstanding restricted stock units generally vest in one to three years. Outstanding restricted stock units generally vest in one to three years. In 2009, we granted incentive and non-qualified options to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock and granted restricted stock units representing 175,684 shares of common stock under the 2000 plan. As of December 31, 2009, 294,858 shares were available for future grant under the 2000 plan.

 

Our 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 plan”) provides for the granting of various types of equity-based awards to directors, officers and key employees. These awards include incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and other stock-based awards. Under the 2008 plan, we are authorized to

issue up to 2.5 million shares of common stock, but grants of awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights may not exceed 875,000 shares. Options granted under the 2008 plan have an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. In 2009, we granted incentive and non-qualified options to purchase 471,144 shares of common stock under the 2008 plan. As of December 31, 2009, 2,033,856 shares were available for future grant under the 2008 plan.

 

Certain Effect of Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock.  As of July 14, 2010, we had approximately 39,927,082 shares of common stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may use these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public or private offerings to raise additional capital, facilitating corporate acquisitions or paying a dividend on our capital stock.

 

The existence of unissued and unreserved shares of common stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management. In addition, if we issue preference stock, such an issuance could render more difficult or discourage a third party’s attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management, and could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

 

Transfer Agent.  The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

Preference Stock

 

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by shareholders, to issue up to 500,000 shares of preference stock in one or more series. The holders of our preference stock do not have the right to vote, except as our board of directors establishes, or as provided in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as determined by state law.

 

The board of directors has the authority to determine the terms of each series of preference stock, within the limits of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and the laws of the state of Delaware. These terms include the number of shares in a series, the consideration, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, terms of redemption, conversion or exchange rights and voting rights, if any.

 

Effects on Our Common Stock if We Issue Preference Stock

 

If we issue preference stock, it may negatively affect the holders of our common stock. These possible negative effects include the following:

 

 

Specific Provisions of Our Charter and Bylaws and Delaware Law

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation; Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

Constitution of Board of Directors.  Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the board of directors must consist of not less than 6 and not more than 15 directors.

 

Removal of Directors; Vacancies; Newly Created Directorships.  Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide that no director can be removed except for cause and (i) upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or (ii) upon the majority vote of the entire board of directors. Any vacancies on our board of directors or newly created directorships

resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director or by our stockholders.

 

Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders.  Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called at any time by the board of directors. In addition, stockholders are not entitled to call a special meeting of the stockholders.

 

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nomination.  Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to propose other business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary or assistant corporate secretary at our principal executive offices. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice regarding the nomination of candidates for election of directors or the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders must be delivered to the corporate secretary not less than ninety days nor more than one hundred and twenty days prior to the first anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting. If the date of the annual meeting is convened more than thirty days before or more than sixty days after such anniversary date, the stockholder’s notice will be timely if it is delivered not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of such meeting is first made.

 

Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice regarding the nomination of candidates for election of directors at a special meeting of stockholders must be delivered to the corporate secretary not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the board of directors to be elected at such meeting. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.

 

Amendment.  Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation may generally be amended by the adoption of a resolution by our board of directors setting forth the proposed amendment, declaring its advisability and submitting the proposed amendment for approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding stock.

 

Our Amended and Restated Bylaws may generally be amended by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding stock. The provisions of our Amended and Restated Bylaws may also be amended by the board of directors by an affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors.

 

In addition, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that certain specified provisions of our Amended and Restated Bylaws cannot be altered, amended, supplemented or repealed except by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the outstanding stock.

 

Limitation of Liability; Indemnification.  The Delaware Corporation Law authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regarding unlawful dividends or stock repurchases and redemptions, or (iv) for transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director will be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except as otherwise provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of the Company and its stockholders to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duty of care as a director except in certain limited situations. These provisions do not limit or eliminate rights of us or any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief such as an injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director’s fiduciary duty of care.

 

The Company shall indemnify 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 (a “Proceeding”), whether civil, criminal,

administrative, arbitrative, or investigative, or any appeal in such a Proceeding or any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such a Proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, provided that he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions.  Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires the approval of the holders of 80% of the outstanding shares of all classes of capital stock voting together as a single class for certain transactions between the Company and a “Related Person” involving securities or other property having a fair market value greater than $500,000. A “Related Person” is any person (other than the Company or any subsidiary) who is the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, considered for such purpose as a single class.

 

The transactions requiring such supermajority shareholder approval include (i) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other person or any merger of any other person into the Company, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition by the Company of all or any substantial part of its assets to or with any other person, or (iii) the issuance or transfer by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company of any securities of the Company having voting power to any other person in exchange for securities, cash or other property or a combination thereof.

 

The 80% shareholder voting requirement does not apply to any such transactions, if, prior to the time that the Related Person became a Related Person, the Company’s board of directors shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such Related Person setting forth, at least generally, the substance of the terms on which such transaction shall thereafter be consummated.

 

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation also contains a “fair price” provision, which is designed to insure that minority shareholders who do not dispose of all of their Company stock in a takeover tender offer to acquire the Company will not later be forced to sell or exchange their shares at a lower price or receive a less desirable form of consideration.

 

The primary purpose of the above described provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation is to discourage other persons from attempting to acquire control of the Company through the acquisition of a substantial number of shares of capital stock followed by a forced merger, sale of assets or similar transaction without negotiating with management. The provisions also may serve to reduce the danger of possible conflicts of interest between a substantial shareholder on the one hand and the Company and its other shareholders on the other.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

 

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless:

 

 

 

The term “business combination” is defined generally to include, among other things, mergers or consolidations between a Delaware corporation and an “interested stockholder,” transactions with an “interested stockholder” involving the assets or stock of the corporation or its majority-owned subsidiaries, transactions which increase an interested stockholder’s percentage ownership of stock and the receipt by an interested stockholder of a disproportionate financial benefit provided by or through the corporation or its majority-owned subsidiaries.

 

The term “interested stockholder” is defined to include any person, other than the corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation, that is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, at any time within three years immediately prior to the relevant date, or the affiliates and associates of any such person.

 

Section 203 makes it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. The provisions of Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors, because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

 

The following description of the depositary shares and the terms of the deposit agreement is a summary. It summarizes only those aspects of the depositary shares and those portions of the deposit agreement that we believe will be most important to your decision to invest in our depositary shares. You should keep in mind, however, that it is the deposit agreement, and not this summary, which defines your rights as a holder of depositary shares. There may be other provisions in the deposit agreement that are also important to you. You should read the deposit agreement for a full description of the terms of the depositary shares.

 

The particular terms of the depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent to which the general provisions described below may apply to such depositary shares will be outlined in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

General

 

We may choose to offer from time to time fractional interests in our debt securities and shares of our common stock or preference stock. If we do so, we will issue fractional interests in our debt securities, common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, in the form of depositary shares. Each depositary share would represent a fractional interest in a security of a particular series of debt securities, a fraction of a share of common stock, a fraction of a share of a particular series of preference stock, as the case may be, and would be evidenced by a depositary receipt.

 

We will deposit the debt securities, and shares of common stock and preference stock represented by depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary which we will name in the applicable

prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, as an owner of a depositary share you will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a debt security or share of common stock or preference stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the debt security, common stock, or preference stock, as the case may be, represented by the depositary share, including, as the case may be, interest, dividend, voting, conversion, redemption, sinking fund, repayment at maturity, subscription and liquidation rights.

 

Interest, Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The depositary will distribute all payments of interest, cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the debt securities, common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, in proportion to the numbers of the depositary shares owned by the applicable holders on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount, however, that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.

 

If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled to it, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this happens, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net sale proceeds to the holders. The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights that we offer to holders of the preference stock will be made available to the holders of depositary shares.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

If we redeem a debt security, common stock or a series of preference stock represented by depositary shares, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the redemption proceeds received by the depositary. The depositary will mail notice of redemption not less than 30, and not more than 60, days before the date fixed for redemption to the record holders of the depositary shares to be redeemed at their addresses appearing in the depositary’s books. The redemption price for each depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price for each debt security or share of common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, payable in relation to the redeemed series of debt securities, common stock or preference stock. Whenever we redeem debt securities or shares of common stock or preference stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing, as the case may be, fractional interests in the debt securities or shares of common stock or preference stock redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot, proportionately or by any other equitable method as the depositary may determine.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be considered outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the cash, securities or other property payable upon the redemption and any cash, securities or other property to which the holders of the redeemed depositary shares were entitled upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.

 

The amount distributed in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amount required to be withheld by us or the depositary on account of any taxes.

 

Exercise of Rights under the Indentures or Voting the Common Stock or Preference Stock

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which you are entitled to vote, or of any request for instructions or directions from you as holder of fractional interests in debt securities, common stock or preference stock, the depositary will mail to you the information contained in that notice. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary how to give instructions or directions with respect to the debt securities represented by that holder’s depositary shares or how to vote the amount of the common stock or preference stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The record date for the depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the debt securities, common stock or preference stock, as the case may be. The depositary will endeavor, to the extent practicable, to give instructions or directions with respect to the debt securities or to vote the amount of the common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, represented by the

depositary shares in accordance with those instructions. We will agree to take all reasonable action which the depositary may deem necessary to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from giving instructions or directions with respect to your fractional interests in the debt securities or voting shares of the common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, if it does not receive specific instructions from you.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

We may enter into an agreement with the depositary at any time to amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement. However, the holders of a majority of the depositary shares must approve any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares. We or the depositary may terminate the deposit agreement only if (a) all outstanding depositary shares issued under the agreement have been redeemed or (b) a final distribution in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up has been made to the holders of the depositary shares.

 

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

 

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to resign, and we may at any time remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal will take effect when a successor depositary has been appointed and has accepted the appointment. Appointment must occur within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. The successor depositary 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 $50,000,000.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The depositary will forward all reports and communications from us which are delivered to the depositary and which we are required or otherwise determine to furnish to holders of debt securities or preference stock, as the case may be.

 

We and the depositary will not be liable under the deposit agreement to you other than for our gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if we or the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our and the depositary’s obligations under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our respective duties under the agreement. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceedings relating to any depositary shares, debt securities, common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, unless a satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting debt securities or shares of common stock or preference stock, as the case may be, for deposit, you or other persons believed to be competent and on documents which we and the depositary believe to be genuine.

 

The following description of the warrants and terms of the warrant agreement is a summary. It summarizes only those aspects of the warrants and those portions of the warrant agreement which we believe will be most important to your decision to invest in our warrants. You should keep in mind, however, that it is the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to the warrants, and not this summary, which defines your rights as a warrantholder. There may be other provisions in the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to the warrants which are also important to you. You should read these documents for a full description of the terms of the warrants.

 

We may issue warrants to purchase debt or equity securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with any offered securities. The warrants may be attached to or separate from those offered securities. We will issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. 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 or beneficial owners of warrants.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants. These terms may include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase for cash the amount of debt or equity securities, at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the debt or equity securities that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises the warrant for less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

 

We may issue from time to time purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and obligating us to sell to the holders, debt securities, shares of common stock or preference stock, or other securities that may be sold under this prospectus at a future date or dates, as the case may be. The consideration payable upon settlement of the purchase contracts, as well as the principal amount of debt securities or number of shares of common stock, preference stock or other securities deliverable upon settlement, may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us or third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, in each case, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the relevant securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts in a specified manner and, in certain circumstances, we may deliver newly issued prepaid purchase contracts, often known as prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original purchase contract.

 

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts and, if applicable, the prepaid securities and the document pursuant to which the prepaid securities will be issued.

 

We may issue from time to time units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date.

 

Any applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

 

 

We may sell any series of debt securities, common stock, preference stock, depository shares, warrants, purchase contracts and units being offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents, to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. In addition, certain selling stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of our common stock or preference stock, in each case, in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering. The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We may offer and sell securities from time to time to certain of our pension plans. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering, including the names of any selling stockholders, underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to us and/or the selling stockholders from such sale, any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers or any securities exchange on which such securities may be listed. Any initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

Any discounts, concessions or commissions received by underwriters or agents and any profits on the resale of securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and such underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities, if any are purchased. The maximum compensation to be received by any participating Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member will not be greater than 8% for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under this prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

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 parties 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 parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

 

We may also sell securities upon the exercise of rights that may be distributed to security holders.

 

Under certain circumstances, we may repurchase offered securities and reoffer them to the public as set forth above. We may also arrange for repurchase and resale of such offered securities by dealers.

 

We may also offer and sell securities, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms referred to as remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the securities they remarket.

 

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as agents for them to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases we must approve such institutions. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that the purchase of the offered securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts.

In connection with the offering of securities, we and/or the selling stockholders may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price, with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. If we and/or the selling stockholders grant any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.

 

The securities may be a new issue of securities that have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any securities.

 

We and/or the selling stockholders may indemnify agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or our agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms may be entitled to contribution with respect to payments that such parties may be required to make in respect thereof. Our agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

 

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment 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.

 

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any selling stockholders, underwriters, brokers, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement. In case of any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

 

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by our counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.

 

The financial statements and the financial statement schedule and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to Teleflex Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 27, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered.

 

 

 

 

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the following provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) permits a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation, to eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such a provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the GCL (relating to unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions), or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article THIRTEENTH of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that except to the extent otherwise provided by the DGCL, our directors shall not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation has the power to indemnify 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, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity in another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such 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 the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action or suit brought by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification of any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or person serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity in another enterprise) against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit is permitted if such person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; however, no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such

person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery, or the court in which such action or suit was brought, shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Article V of our Amended and Restated Bylaws provides generally that we will indemnify 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, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was or has agreed to become our director, officer or employee or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee, agent or similar functionary of another enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or in his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, subject to the conditions substantively similar to those in Section 145 to the DGCL, described above.

 

Under the DGCL, a Delaware corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the corporation for another enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation has the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the Section 145 of the DGCL. Article V of our Amended and Restated Bylaws requires that we purchase and maintain insurance to protect us and any person who is or was or has agreed to become our director or officer or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee, agent or similar functionary of another enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her or incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of Article V of the Bylaws, provided that such insurance is available on acceptable terms, as determined by a vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. We have purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

 

The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed provisions of the DGCL and the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws of Teleflex Incorporated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each of the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a)(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;

 

(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 this 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act 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 this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in the periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act 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 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 that 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 the prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act 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.

 

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

 

(c) 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 Act.

 

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act 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 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned 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 Limerick, State of Pennsylvania, on August 2, 2010.

 

Teleflex Incorporated

 

Jeffrey P. Black

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW BY ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Richard A. Meier and Laurence G. Miller and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents with full and several power of substitution, for him or her and 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 any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, as amended, for the offering to which this registration statement relates), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all 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 and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on August 2, 2010: