Form S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2015

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

MOHAWK INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   52-1604305

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 12069

160 S. Industrial Blvd.

Calhoun, Georgia 30701

(706) 629-7721

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

R. David Patton

Vice President-Business Strategy, General Counsel and Secretary

Mohawk Industries, Inc.

160 S. Industrial Blvd.

Calhoun, Georgia 30701

(706) 629-7721

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Paul J. Nozick

Alston & Bird LLP

One Atlantic Center

1201 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

(404) 881-7000

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

 

Amount to be registered/

Proposed maximum aggregate offering price per unit/

Proposed maximum offering price/

Amount of registration fee

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

   

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

Debt Securities

  (1)

Warrants

 

Purchase Contracts

 

Units (2)

 

 

 

(l) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
(2) Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or indenture and will represent an interest in two or more debt or equity securities, warrants or purchase contracts, which may or may not be separable from one another.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

From time to time, we may offer to sell common stock, preferred stock (which we may issue in one or more series), debt securities (which we may issue in one or more series), warrants and purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities. The debt securities, preferred stock, warrants and purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common or preferred stock or other securities. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the ticker symbol “MHK.”

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be described in a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities.

 

 

You should refer to the risk factors included in our periodic reports and other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and carefully consider that information before buying our securities.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission 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.

 

 

Prospectus dated February 27, 2015.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Important Information About This Prospectus

     1   

Available Information

     1   

Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference

     2   

Special Note on Forward Looking Statements and Risk Factors

     2   

Company Summary

     4   

Description of Securities We May Offer

     4   

Description of Common Stock

     5   
     Page  

Description of Preferred Stock

     5   

Description of Debt Securities

     6   

Description of Warrants

     11   

Description of Purchase Contracts or Units

     12   
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges      16   
Use of Proceeds      16   
Plan of Distribution      16   
Validity of the Securities      18   
Experts      18   
 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the manner in which the securities will be offered. No person is authorized to give any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We are only offering the securities in places where sales of those securities are permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein is current as of any date other than the date of such information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We urge you to read this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering material together with additional information described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference.”

In this prospectus, we refer to common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units collectively as the “securities.” The terms “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Mohawk Industries, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries, except that in the discussion of the capital stock and related matters, these terms refer solely to Mohawk Industries, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us 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 public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov and through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common stock is listed.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement to a contract or other document, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014;

 

    our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 16, 2015;

 

    the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January 29, 1992; and

 

    all documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on or after the date of this prospectus and before the completion or termination of the applicable offering.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus, excluding exhibits to those documents, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. These documents are available on our website at http://www.mohawkind.com. You can also request those documents from our Corporate Secretary at the following address and telephone number:

Mohawk Industries, Inc.

160 South Industrial Boulevard

Calhoun, Georgia 30701

(706) 629-7721

Except as expressly provided above, no other information, including information on our website, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

Certain of the statements in this prospectus and the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, particularly those anticipating future performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies, proposed acquisitions, and similar matters, and those that include the words “could,” “should,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “forecast,” “expects,” “estimates” or similar expressions constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For those statements, Mohawk claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements will be accurate because they are based on many assumptions, which involve risks and uncertainties. The following important factors could cause future results to differ: changes in economic or industry conditions; competition; inflation or deflation in raw material prices and other input costs; inflation or deflation in consumer markets; energy costs and supply; changes in foreign exchange rates; timing and level of capital expenditures; timing and implementation of price increases for the Company’s products; impairment charges; integration of acquisitions; international operations; introduction of new products; rationalization of operations; tax, product and other claims litigation; and other risks identified in Mohawk’s SEC reports and public announcements.

 

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We do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or risks or the eventual outcome of the facts underlying the forward-looking statements except as required by law. New information, future events or risks may cause the forward-looking events we discuss in this prospectus not to occur or to occur in a manner different from what we expect.

The risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and as updated in any future filings with the SEC, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. There may also be other risks that we are unable to predict at this time.

 

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COMPANY SUMMARY

Mohawk Industries, Inc., which we refer to as Mohawk or the Company, is a leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. The Company’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, wood, stone and vinyl flooring. The Company’s industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate its brands in the marketplace and satisfy all flooring related remodeling and new construction requirements. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include American Olean®, Bigelow®, Daltile®, Durkan®, Karastan®, Kerama Marazzi®, Lees®, Marazzi®, Mohawk®, Pergo®, Quick-Step® and Unilin®. During the past decade, the Company has transformed its business from an American carpet manufacturer into the world’s largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia and the United States.

The Company has three reporting segments: the Carpet segment, the Ceramic segment and the Laminate and Wood segment. The Carpet segment designs, manufactures, sources, distributes and markets its carpet and rug product lines in a broad range of colors, textures and patterns for residential and commercial applications in both remodeling and new construction. In addition, the Carpet segment markets and distributes ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, resilient floor covering, carpet pad and flooring accessories. The Carpet segment markets and distributes its flooring products under various brands, including the following brand names: Aladdin®, Bigelow, Durkan, Horizon®, Karastan, Lees, Mohawk, Mohawk ColorCenters®, Mohawk Floorscapes®, Mohawk Home®, Portico® and SmartStrand® which it sells through independent floor covering retailers, home centers, mass merchandisers, department stores, shop at home, buying groups, commercial dealers and commercial end users. Some products are also marketed through private labeling programs. The Carpet segment’s soft surface operations are vertically integrated from the extrusion of resin and recycled post-consumer plastics to the manufacturing and distribution of finished carpets and rugs.

The Ceramic segment designs, manufactures, sources, distributes and markets a broad line of ceramic tile, porcelain tile and natural stone products used in the residential and commercial markets for both remodeling and new construction. In addition, the Ceramic segment sources, markets and distributes other tile related products. The Ceramic segment markets and distributes its products under various brands, including the following brand names: American Olean, Daltile, Kerama Marazzi, Marazzi and Ragno® which it sells through independent distributors, home center retailers, individual floor covering retailers, ceramic specialists, commercial dealers and commercial end users. The Ceramic segment operations are vertically integrated from the production of raw material for body and glaze preparation to the manufacturing and distribution of ceramic and porcelain tile.

The Laminate and Wood segment designs, manufactures, sources, licenses, distributes and markets laminate and hardwood flooring used primarily in the residential market for both remodeling and new construction. In addition, the Laminate and Wood segment licenses certain patents related to laminate flooring installation. The Laminate and Wood segment markets and distributes its flooring products under various brands, including the following brand names: Columbia Flooring®, Century Flooring®, Mohawk, Pergo, Quick-Step and Unilin which it sells through retailers, independent distributors and home centers. In Europe, the Laminate and Wood segment also produces roofing elements, insulation boards, medium-density fiberboard, chipboards and other wood products.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units that we may offer from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the related prospectus supplement and other offering material.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following summary of the terms of our common stock, including our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Restated Bylaws, as amended, which we refer to as our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, respectively, may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. You should refer to, and read this summary together with, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to review all of the terms of our common stock that may be important to you.

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue a total of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2014, we had 72,912,608 issued and outstanding shares of our common stock held by approximately 269 stockholders of record. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MHK.”

Each share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes, consisting, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire board of directors, with each class elected for staggered three-year terms expiring in successive years. Further, to amend, alter or repeal the provision of our Certificate of Incorporation related to the classification of the board of directors, our Certificate of Incorporation requires the approval of the holders of not less than 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares of capital stock, voting together as a single class. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting for the election of directors. In addition, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to participate equally in dividends when our board of directors declares dividends on our common stock out of legally available funds. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of our common stock will have the right to a ratable portion of the assets remaining after satisfaction in full of the prior rights of our creditors and of all liabilities. No shares of our common stock have any preemptive, redemption or conversion rights, or the benefits of any sinking fund.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following summary describes generally some of the terms of preferred stock that we may offer from time to time in one or more series. The specific terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material relating to that series of preferred stock along with any general provisions applicable to that series of preferred stock. The following description of our preferred stock, and any description of preferred stock in a prospectus supplement and other offering material, may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the certificate of designations, preferences and rights relating to the particular series of preferred stock, which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the preferred stock. You should refer to, and read this summary together with, the applicable certificate of designations, preferences and rights and the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material to review the terms of a particular series of our preferred stock that may be important to you.

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, our board of directors is authorized to issue, without further stockholder approval, up to 60,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, in one or more series. For each series of preferred stock, our board of directors may determine whether such preferred stock will have voting powers. Our board of directors may also determine the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any preferred stock we issue. Our board of directors will determine these terms by resolution adopted before we issue any shares of a series of preferred stock. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not designated or issued any series of preferred stock.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

The following description of the terms of the debt securities contains certain general terms that may apply to the debt securities. The specific terms of any debt securities will be described in one or more prospectus supplements relating to those debt securities and other offering materials we may provide.

Unless we indicate otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued under an Indenture dated as of January 31, 2013, between Mohawk Industries, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. We refer to the Indenture, as may be supplemented from time to time, as the “Indenture.”

We have summarized below the material provisions of the Indenture and the debt securities, or indicated which material provisions will be described in the related prospectus supplement. These descriptions are only summaries, and each investor should refer to the Indenture, which describes completely the terms and definitions summarized below and contains additional information regarding the debt securities. Any reference to particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture in any statement under this heading qualifies the entire statement and incorporates by reference the applicable section or definition into that statement.

The debt securities will be our direct general obligations and may be secured or unsecured.

The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. The Indenture allows us to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.

We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. As a result, claims of holders of the debt securities will effectively have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, except to the extent that we may be recognized as a creditor of those subsidiaries. In addition, our right to participate as a shareholder in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary (and thus the ability of holders of the debt securities to benefit as creditors of the company from such distribution) is junior to creditors of that subsidiary.

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The debt securities may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies. We may also issue debt securities, from time to time, with the principal amount, interest or other amounts payable on any relevant payment date to be determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, securities or baskets of securities, commodity prices, indices or any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance. In addition, we may issue debt securities as part of units issued by us. All references in this prospectus, or any prospectus supplement to other amounts will include premium, if any, other cash amounts payable under the applicable indenture, and the delivery of securities or baskets of securities under the terms of the debt securities.

Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate, which may be zero, or a floating rate.

The prospectus supplement and other offering materials we may provide relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered will specify the particular terms of, and other information relating to, those debt securities.

Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities, or Original Issue Discount Securities. Original Issue Discount Securities bear no interest or bear interest at below market rates and will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of Original Issue Discount Securities will contain information relating to United States federal income tax, accounting, and other special considerations applicable to Original Issue Discount Securities.

 

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Holders may present debt securities for exchange or transfer, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions stated in the debt securities and described in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material we may provide. We will provide these services without service charge except for any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with these services and subject to any limitations provided in the Indenture.

If any of the securities are held in global form, the procedures for transfer of interests in those securities will depend upon the procedures of the depositary for those global securities. See “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” below.

We will generally have no obligation to repurchase, redeem, or change the terms of debt securities upon any event (including a change in control) that might have an adverse effect on our credit quality.

Events of Default

The following are events of default under the Indenture with respect to any series of debt securities:

 

    failure to pay any installment of interest on such series of debt securities when due and the continuance of such failure for 30 days;

 

    failure to pay principal of, or premium, if any, on such series of debt securities when due;

 

    failure to deposit any sinking fund payment with respect to such series of debt securities when due and the continuance of such failure for 30 days;

 

    failure to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement in respect of such series of debt securities and the continuance of such failure for 60 days after receipt by Mohawk from the trustee or by Mohawk and the trustee from the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities outstanding of written notice of such failure specifying such failure and requiring the same to be remedied;

 

    certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Mohawk; and

 

    any other event of default we may provide for that series of debt securities.

If an event of default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of a particular series occurs and continues, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of such series of outstanding debt securities may declare the principal amount of such series of debt securities to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, such principal amount, or portion thereof will automatically become due and payable without any action by the trustee or any holder. In the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, only a specified portion of the principal amount may be accelerated. However, at any time after an acceleration with respect to the debt securities of a particular series has occurred, but before a judgment or decree based on such acceleration is entered, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “Modification and Waiver” below.

If the principal or any premium or interest on any debt security is payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars and such currency is not available to Mohawk for making payment due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond Mohawk’s control, Mohawk is entitled to satisfy its obligations to holders of such debt securities by making such payment in U.S. dollars in an amount equal to the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amount payable in such other currency, as determined by the trustee as provided in the Indenture. Any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. Dollars where the required payment is in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will not constitute an event of default under the Indenture.

 

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Subject to the duty of the trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders have offered the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. Subject to such indemnification and certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a particular series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series.

Other than with respect to a lawsuit for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on any series of debt securities when due, the Indenture provides that no holder of such series of debt securities may institute any action against Mohawk under the Indenture without first complying with the conditions set forth in the Indenture.

Mohawk will furnish to the trustee an annual statement as to Mohawk’s performance of certain of its obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in such performance.

Modification and Waiver

Modifications and amendments of the Indenture with respect to any series of debt securities outstanding may be made by Mohawk and the trustee with the consent of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series, except that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the applicable series affected thereby:

 

    extend the stated maturity date of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any such debt security, or reduce the principal amount of or the rate (or extend the time for payment) of interest on, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any such debt security;

 

    reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

    change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any such debt security;

 

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, any such debt security;

 

    reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of such series of outstanding debt securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver provided for in the Indenture;

 

    modify any of the waiver provisions of the Indenture, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected thereby;

 

    cause any such debt security to become subordinate in right of payment to any other debt, except to the extent provided in the terms of such security; or

 

    if such debt security provides that the holder may require us to repurchase or convert such debt security, impair such holder’s right to require repurchase or conversion of such debt security on the terms provided therein.

Mohawk and the trustee may also modify and amend the Indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities in limited circumstances, such as clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect the holders.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of the holders of all such debt securities, waive Mohawk’s compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture or such series of debt securities. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of the holders of all such debt securities, waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, such debt securities or in respect of any provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected thereby.

 

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Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The Indenture provides that Mohawk may, at its option, elect to discharge its obligations with respect to any series of debt securities (“Legal Defeasance”). If Legal Defeasance occurs, Mohawk will be deemed to have paid and discharged all amounts owed under the applicable series of debt securities, and the Indenture will cease to be of further effect as to such series of debt securities, except that:

 

    holders will be entitled to receive timely payments for the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, such series of debt securities, from the funds deposited for that purpose (as explained below);

 

    Mohawk’s obligations will continue with respect to the issuance of temporary debt securities, the registration of debt securities, and the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of the applicable series;

 

    the trustee will retain its rights, powers, trusts, duties, and immunities, and Mohawk will retain its obligations in connection therewith; and

 

    other Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture will remain in effect.

In addition, Mohawk may, at its option and at any time, elect to cause the release of its obligations with respect to most of the covenants in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) with respect to any series of debt securities. If Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment events and bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization events) relating to Mohawk described under “Events of Default” will no longer constitute events of default with respect to such series of debt securities. Mohawk may exercise Legal Defeasance regardless of whether it previously exercised Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance (each, a “Defeasance”) with respect to any series of debt securities:

(1) Mohawk must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of holders of the debt securities of such series, U.S. legal tender, U.S. government securities, a combination thereof or other obligations as may be provided with respect to such series of debt securities, in amounts that will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the applicable series of debt securities on the stated date for payment or any redemption date thereof, and the trustee must have, for benefit of holders of such debt securities, a valid and perfected security interest in the obligations so deposited;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, Mohawk must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that:

 

    Mohawk has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service, a ruling, or

 

    since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that holders of such series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, Mohawk must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that holders of such series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(4) no default or event of default with respect to such debt securities may have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture on the date of the deposit with respect to such series of debt securities (other than a default or event of default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit); in addition, no event of default relating to bankruptcy or insolvency may occur at any time from the date of the deposit to the 91st calendar day thereafter;

(5) the Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance may not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (excluding the Indenture) to which Mohawk or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Mohawk or any of its subsidiaries is bound;

(6) Mohawk must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the deposit was not made by Mohawk with the intent of preferring the holders of such debt securities over any other creditors of Mohawk or the intent to hinder, delay or defraud any other of its creditors;

(7) the Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance may not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless that trust is qualified, or exempt from regulation, under that Act; and

(8) Mohawk must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate confirming the satisfaction of conditions in clauses (1) through (6) above, and an opinion of counsel confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (1) (with respect to the validity and perfection of the security interest), (2), (3) and (5) above.

If the amount deposited with the trustee to effect a Covenant Defeasance is insufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the applicable series of debt securities when due, then Mohawk’s obligations under the Indenture and such series of debt securities will be revived, and such Defeasance will be deemed not to have occurred.

Restrictive Covenants

We will describe restrictive covenants for any series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering materials relating to such series of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

Mohawk may not consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease its assets substantially as an entirety to, any entity, unless:

 

    Mohawk is the surviving entity or, if not, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into which Mohawk is merged or which acquires or leases Mohawk’s assets is organized and existing under the laws of any U.S. jurisdiction and expressly assumes Mohawk’s obligations with respect to the debt securities and under the Indenture;

 

    no default or event of default exists or will occur immediately after giving effect to the transaction; and

 

    Mohawk has delivered to the trustee the certificates and opinions required under the Indenture.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

Mohawk will issue the debt securities only in registered form, without interest coupons. Unless provided otherwise in the prospectus supplement and the other offering materials relating to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but Mohawk may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or government charge payable in connection therewith. If any series of the debt securities are to be redeemed in part, Mohawk will not be required to issue, register the

 

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transfer of or exchange such series of the debt securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or to register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities being redeemed in part.

Mohawk will cause to be kept at the office of the registrar a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, Mohawk will provide for the registration of the debt securities and registration of transfers of the debt securities. Mohawk initially will appoint the trustee as paying agent and registrar for the debt securities. Mohawk may change or terminate the appointment of any paying agent or registrar, or appoint additional or other such agents or approve any change in the office through which any such agent acts. Mohawk shall notify the trustee of the name and address of any registrar, co-registrar or paying agent that is not a party to the Indenture.

The Trustee

All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities will be effected by the trustee or its agent at an office designated by the trustee at its corporate trust office.

The Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the existence of an event of default under the Indenture, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. Subject to these provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee.

The Indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor of Mohawk, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to liquidate certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with Mohawk or any of its affiliates. If the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

Affiliates of the trustee may serve as agents and lenders under our credit facilities or engage in other transactions with us or our affiliates from time to time.

Governing Law

New York law governs the Indenture and will govern the debt securities.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock or other securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants, if any, under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among others, the aggregate number of warrants offered, the exercise price of the warrants, the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable and any other specific terms of the warrants.

 

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The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any warrants we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer warrants. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable warrant agreement if we offer warrants, see “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable warrant agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS OR UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified or varying number of shares of common stock and/or preferred stock at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of shares of common stock and/or preferred stock. The price per share and the number of shares may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are entered into or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be entered into separately or as a part of a stock purchase unit that consists of (a) stock purchase contracts and (b) warrants. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or require the holders of the stock purchase units to make periodic payments to us. These payments may be secured or unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a specified manner.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable purchase contract agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable purchase contract agreement if we offer stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, see “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable purchase contract agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.

LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

Global Notes

We will issue any debt securities in the form of one or more global notes in definitive, fully registered, book-entry form. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, the global notes will be deposited with or on behalf of the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.

DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, beneficial interests in the global notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may hold interests in the global notes through either DTC (in the United States), Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, Luxembourg, which we refer to as Clearstream, or Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as Euroclear (in Europe), either directly if they are participants in such systems or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the U.S. depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

 

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DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations, some of whom, and/or their representatives, own DTC. The depositary is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its direct and indirect participants are on file with the SEC.

Clearstream has advised us that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its customers, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream customer either directly or indirectly.

Euroclear has advised us that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V., which we refer to as the Euroclear Operator. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers, and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

We understand that the Euroclear Operator is licensed by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission to carry out banking activities on a global basis. As a Belgian bank, it is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission.

We have provided the descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear in this prospectus solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of those organizations and are subject to change by them from time to time. None of us, any underwriter nor the trustee takes any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and you are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

 

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We expect that under procedures established by DTC:

 

    upon deposit of global notes with DTC or its custodian, DTC will credit on its internal system the accounts of direct participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal amounts of such global notes; and

 

    ownership of the debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with respect to interests of direct participants, and the records of direct and indirect participants, with respect to interests of persons other than participants.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the debt securities represented by a global note to those persons may be limited.

In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person having an interest in debt securities represented by a global note to pledge or transfer those interests to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global note, DTC or that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by that global note for all purposes under the indenture and under the debt securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global note will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by that global note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated notes and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture or under the debt securities for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee. Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a global note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that holder is not a direct or indirect participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities under the applicable indenture or a global note.

Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of debt securities by DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of those organizations relating to the debt securities.

Distributions on the debt securities represented by global notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment on the debt securities represented by a global note, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the global note as shown in the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global note held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. The participants will be responsible for those payments.

Distributions on the debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of its customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the Terms and Conditions). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution

 

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of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

Distributions on the debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of its participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Clearstream customers and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear, as applicable, and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving the debt securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their U.S. depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of the debt securities received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in the debt securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of the debt securities by or through a Clearstream customer or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of the debt securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.

Certificated Notes

Individual certificates in respect of any debt securities will not be issued in exchange for global notes, except in very limited circumstances. We will issue or cause to be issued certificated notes to each person that DTC identifies as the beneficial owner of the debt securities represented by a global note upon surrender by DTC of the global note if:

 

    DTC notifies us that it is no longer willing or able to act as a depositary for such global note or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and we have not appointed a successor depositary within 90 days of that notice or becoming aware that DTC is no longer so registered;

 

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    an event of default has occurred and is continuing, and DTC requests the issuance of certificated notes; or

 

    we determine not to have the debt securities of such series represented by a global note.

Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the debt securities. We and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the certificated notes to be issued.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The Company’s consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012      2013      2014  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (unaudited) (1)

     2.1         2.4         3.7         4.1         5.5   

 

(1) Earnings are defined as the sum of earnings before income taxes, fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest less capitalized interest. Fixed charges are defined as interest expensed and capitalized plus interest within rent expense, which is estimated to be one-third of rent expense.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may offer and sell the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts or units in any one or more of the following ways:

 

    to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;

 

    directly to one or more other purchasers;

 

    through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

    through agents on a best-efforts basis; or

 

    otherwise through a combination of any of the above methods of sale.

Each time we sell such securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will name the issuer of the securities and any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities. The prospectus supplement will also set forth the terms of the offering, including:

 

    the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale of the securities;

 

    any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

    any public offering or purchase price and any discounts or commissions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers;

 

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    any commissions allowed or paid to agents;

 

    any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed;

 

    the method of distribution of the securities;

 

    the terms of any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into with the underwriters, brokers or dealers; and

 

    any other information we think is important.

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account. The securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

    at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

    at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

    at prices related to such prevailing market prices;

 

    at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or

 

    at negotiated prices.

Such sales may be effected:

 

    in transactions on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

    in transactions in the over-the-counter market;

 

    in block transactions in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade;

 

    through the writing of options; or

 

    through other types of transactions.

The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities offered will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discount or concession allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.

The securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in, the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made, by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain institutional investors to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date.

 

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Institutional investors with which these contracts may be made include, among others:

 

    commercial and savings banks;

 

    insurance companies;

 

    pension funds;

 

    investment companies; and

 

    educational and charitable institutions.

In all cases, these purchasers must be approved by us. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that (a) the purchase of the securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which that purchaser is subject and (b) if the securities are also being sold to underwriters, we must have sold to these underwriters the securities not subject to delayed delivery. Underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents used by us in any offering of securities under this prospectus may be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to be reimbursed by us for certain expenses.

Subject to any restrictions relating to debt securities in bearer form, any securities initially sold outside the United States may be resold in the United States through underwriters, dealers or otherwise.

Any underwriters to which offered securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time.

The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.

To comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

Alston & Bird LLP will pass upon the validity of any securities we offer by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. If the validity of any securities is also passed upon by counsel for underwriters participating in an offering of securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, the underwriters’ counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Mohawk Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is a statement of the expenses (all of which are estimated) we expect to incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions:

 

    

Amount

to be paid

 

SEC registration fee

   $ *   

Legal fees and expenses

     **   

Accounting fees and expenses

     **   

Printing fees

     **   

Trustee’s fees and expenses

     **   

Miscellaneous

     **   

Total (without SEC registration fee)

   $             **   

 

* We are registering an indeterminate amount of securities under this registration statement, and in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), we are deferring payment of any additional registration fee until the time that the securities are sold under this registration statement pursuant to a prospectus supplement.
** Estimates of these fees and expenses are not presently known. Estimates of the fees and expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Article 11 of our Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision, permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, limiting the personal monetary liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision and Delaware law provides that the provision does not eliminate or limit liability for:

 

    any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

    any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

    acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

    unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

    any transaction from which the director derived an improper benefit.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, permits indemnification against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with actions, suits or proceedings in which a director, officer, employee or agent is a party by reason of the fact that he or she is or was such a director, officer, employee or agent, if 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 corporation and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. However, in connection with actions by or in the right of the corporation, such indemnification is not permitted if such person has been adjudged liable to the corporation unless the court determines that, under all of the circumstances, such person is nonetheless fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. Article 12 of our Certificate of Incorporation provides for such indemnification.

 

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Section 145 of the DGCL also permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability that may be asserted against, or incurred by, such persons in their capacities as directors or officers of the corporation whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such persons against such liabilities under the provisions of such sections. Mohawk has purchased such insurance.

Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that the statutory provision is not exclusive of any other right to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or independent directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

Article XII of our Bylaws contains provisions regarding indemnification that parallel those described above.

 

Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  

Incorporated by Reference to Filings Indicated

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement    *
  4.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (see Article 4)    Exhibit 3.1 to Mohawk’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.
  4.2    Restated Bylaws, as amended (see Articles 2, 6 and 9).    Exhibit 3.2 to Mohawk’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 6, 2007.
  4.3    Indenture    Exhibit 4.1 to Mohawk’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2013.
  4.4    Specimen of Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Designation of Preferred Stock.    *
  4.5    Form of Note    *
  4.6    Form of Warrant    *
  5.1    Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP.    **
12.1    Statement regarding computation of earnings to fixed charges.    **
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP.    **
23.2    Consent of Alston & Bird LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)   
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).   
25.1    Form T-1 statement of eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee for the debt securities    **

 

* To be filed by amendment to the registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
** Filed herewith.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

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

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

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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.

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

(A) 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

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which 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 prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

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

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

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

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

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

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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 SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Calhoun, State of Georgia, on the 27th day of February, 2015.

 

MOHAWK INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:  

  /s/ Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum

 

Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the individuals whose signatures appear below constitute and appoint Frank H. Boykin and R. David Patton, 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 to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, 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 of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum        

Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and

    Director (Principal Executive

    Officer)

  February 27, 2015

/s/ Frank H. Boykin        

Frank H. Boykin

  

Chief Financial Officer (Principal

    Financial Officer)

  February 27, 2015

/s/ James F. Brunk        

James F. Brunk

  

Corporate Controller and Chief

    Accounting Officer (Principal

    Accounting Officer)

  February 27, 2015

/s/ Karen A. Smith Bogart        

Karen A. Smith Bogart

   Director   February 27, 2015

/s/ Bruce C. Bruckmann        

Bruce C. Bruckmann

   Director   February 27, 2015

/s/ Frans De Cock        

Frans De Cock

   Director   February 27, 2015

/s/ John F. Fiedler

John F. Fiedler

   Director   February 27, 2015


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Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Richard C. Ill        

Richard C. Ill

   Director   February 27, 2015

/s/ Joseph A. Onorato        

Joseph A. Onorato

   Director   February 27, 2015

/s/ William Henry Runge, III        

William Henry Runge, III

   Director   February 27, 2015

/s/ W. Christopher Wellborn        

W. Christopher Wellborn

   Director   February 27, 2015