As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2019

 

Registration No. 333-             

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Minnesota
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  41-0908057
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

14000 Technology Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2290
(952) 937-4000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Jeffrey A. Graves
President and Chief Executive Officer
MTS Systems Corporation
14000 Technology Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2290
(952) 937-4000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With copies to:

 

Todd Klemmensen   Melodie Rose
General Counsel   Amanda Lorentz
MTS Systems Corporation   Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
14000 Technology Drive   200 South Sixth Street, Suite 4000
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2290   Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-3901
   

Fax: (612) 492-7000

 

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 Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [X]

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer [X] Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [  ]

Smaller reporting company [  ]

Emerging growth company [  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [  ]

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each Class of Securities to

be Registered (1)

  Amount to be
Registered (2)(3)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit (2)(3)
 

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering

Price (2)(3)

  Amount of Registration
Fee (4)
 
Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share                  
                 
Debt Securities                  
                   
Warrants                
                   
Purchase Contracts                  
                   
Units                  

 

  (1) Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together as units with other securities registered hereunder.
     
  (2) Omitted pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.E. An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered, which may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of securities as may be issuable with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
     
  (3) Includes rights to acquire common stock of the registrant under any shareholder rights plan then in effect, if applicable under the terms of any such plan.
     
  (4) In reliance upon Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. Registration fees will be paid subsequently on a pay-as-you-go basis.

 

 

 

   
 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

MTS Systems Corporation
14000 Technology Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2290
(952) 937-4000

 

Common Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units

 

We may, from time to time, offer to sell the securities identified above in one or more offerings. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide the specific terms of these securities in a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any of our securities.

 

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the applicable purchase price, fee, commissions or discounts between or among them. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities will be the public offering price of those securities less the applicable discount, in the case of an offering made through an underwriter, or the purchase price of those securities less the applicable commission, in the case of an offering through an agent, and, in each case, less other expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of those securities. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

 

Shares of our common stock, par value $0.25 per share, trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MTSC.”

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should consider the information referred to under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus and any risk factors described in the accompanying prospectus supplement or any documents we incorporate by reference.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

This prospectus is dated May 6, 2019

 

   
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page  
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS   i  
       
THE COMPANY   1  
       
RISK FACTORS   1  
       
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS   1  
       
USE OF PROCEEDS   1  
       
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK   2  
       
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES   4  
       
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS   4  
       
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS   5  
     
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS   5  
       
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION   6  
       
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION   7  
       
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   7  
       
LEGAL MATTERS   8  
       
EXPERTS   8  

 

   
 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell in one or more offerings any combination of the common stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units described in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units that we may issue. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Such prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” We may also prepare free writing prospectuses that describe particular securities. Any free writing prospectus should also be read in connection with this prospectus and with any prospectus supplement referred to therein. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to an applicable prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

When we refer to “MTS,” the “company,” “we,” “our” and “us” in this prospectus, we mean MTS Systems Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. When we refer to “you,” we mean the holders of the applicable series of securities.

 

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The distribution of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Persons into whose possession this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

  i  
 

 

THE COMPANY

 

MTS Systems Corporation is a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems, motion simulators and sensors. Our testing and simulation hardware, software and service solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products and structures. Our high-performance sensors provide measurements of vibration, pressure, position, force and sound in a variety of applications.

 

We organized as a Minnesota corporation in 1966. Our principal executive offices are located at 14000 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2290, and our main telephone number is (952) 937-4000. We maintain a website at www.mts.com. Please note, however, that we have not incorporated any other information by reference herein from our website, other than the documents listed below under the heading “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Potential investors are urged to read and consider the risk factors and other disclosures relating to an investment in securities issued by us described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider those risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. If any of the events or developments described actually occurred, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also affect our business operations. To the extent a particular offering implicates additional risks, we will include a discussion of those risks in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements (as the term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Forward-looking statements typically use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may” and other similar words, phrases and expressions. These are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018, and those risks described in any prospectus supplement and elsewhere in documents filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as other factors that our management has not yet identified. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements and such events could materially and adversely affect our business. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities will be added to our general funds and will be available for general corporate purposes, including:

 

  investments in or advances to our existing or future subsidiaries;
     
  additions to working capital;
     
  acquisitions;
     
  capital expenditures;

 

  repayment of obligations that have matured; and
     
  reduction of our outstanding debt.

 

We will have significant discretion in the use of the net proceeds. Until the net proceeds have been used, they may be temporarily invested in short-term or other securities.

 

1

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

 

This section describes our common stock. Our common stock may be offered directly or in connection with the conversion, exchange or exercise of debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts or units. We have filed our amended and restated articles of incorporation (our “Articles of Incorporation”) and our amended and restated bylaws (our “Bylaws”) as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws for additional information before you buy any common stock, or any securities which may be exercised or exchangeable for or converted into common stock, offered hereunder.

 

General

 

Shares Authorized and Outstanding. As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized common stock consists of 64,000,000 shares. Of these authorized shares, 17,903,000 were issued and outstanding as of May 6, 2019. We do not have any preferred stock authorized under our Articles of Incorporation.

 

Dividends. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. We have historically paid dividends to holders of our common stock on a quarterly basis. The declaration and payment of future dividends will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, our earnings, financial condition, business development needs and regulatory considerations and are at the discretion of our board of directors.

 

Voting Rights. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by our shareholders. All shares of common stock rank equally as to voting and all other matters. Holders of common stock are also entitled to cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Upon proper written notice, holders of common stock may cumulate their votes for the election of directors by multiplying the number of votes to which the shareholder is entitled by the number of directors to be elected and casting all such votes for one nominee or distributing them among any two or more nominees.

 

Other Rights. If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, holders of common stock will receive pro rata, according to shares held by them, any remaining assets able to be distributed to our common shareholders. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights. This means that the holders of common stock have no right to buy any portion of securities we may issue in the future.

 

Listing. Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MTSC.” EQ Shareowner Services serves as the transfer agent and registrar for the common stock.

 

Fully Paid. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. This means the full purchase price for the outstanding shares of common stock has been paid and the holders of such shares will not be assessed any additional amounts for such shares. Any additional common stock that we may issue in the future pursuant to this prospectus or upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities offered under this prospectus will also be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions Contained in the Minnesota Business Corporation Act

 

Certain provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, as described below, could have an anti-takeover effect. These provisions are intended to provide management flexibility to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by our board and to discourage an unsolicited takeover of our company if our board determines that such a takeover is not in the best interests of our company and our shareholders. However, these provisions could have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire us which could deprive our shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

 

2

 

 

Section 302A.671 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act applies, with certain exceptions, to any acquisitions of our voting stock from a person other than us, and other than in connection with certain mergers and exchanges to which we are a party and certain tender offers or exchange offers approved in advance by a disinterested board committee, resulting in the beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the voting power of our then outstanding stock.

 

Section 302A.671 requires approval of the granting of voting rights for the shares received pursuant to any such acquisitions by a vote of our shareholders holding a majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares and a majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares that are not held by the acquiring person, our officers or those non-officer employees, if any, who are also our directors. Similar voting requirements are imposed for acquisitions resulting in beneficial ownership of 33-1/3% or more or a majority of the voting power of our then outstanding stock. In general, shares acquired without this approval are denied voting rights in excess of the 20%, 33-1/3% or 50% thresholds and, to that extent, can be called for redemption at their then fair market value by us within 30 days after the acquiring person has failed to deliver a timely information statement to us or the date our shareholders voted not to grant voting rights to the acquiring person’s shares.

 

Section 302A.673 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act generally prohibits any business combination by us, or any subsidiary of ours, with any shareholder that beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding shares (an “interested shareholder”) within four years following the time the interested shareholder crosses the 10% stock ownership threshold, unless the business combination is approved by a committee of disinterested members of our board of directors before the time the interested shareholder crosses the 10% stock ownership threshold.

 

Section 302A.675 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act generally prohibits an offeror from acquiring our shares within two years following the offeror’s last purchase of our shares pursuant to a takeover offer with respect to that class, unless our shareholders are able to sell their shares to the offeror upon substantially equivalent terms as those provided in the earlier takeover offer. This statute will not apply if the acquisition of shares is approved by a committee of disinterested members of our board of directors before the purchase of any shares by the offeror pursuant to the earlier takeover offer.

 

Authorized but Unissued Common Stock

 

Minnesota law does not require shareholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares of common stock. However, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which would apply so long as the common stock remains listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, require shareholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock.

 

One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive the shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

 

Advance Notice Requirements for Director Nominations and Shareholder Proposals

 

Our Bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to our corporate secretary.

 

Generally, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting. Our Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder’s notice.

 

These provisions may impede shareholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders and may delay, deter or prevent tender offers or takeover attempts that shareholders may believe are in their best interests, including tender offers or attempts that might allow shareholders to receive premiums over the market price of their common stock.

 

3

 

 

Amendment of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

The holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of our common stock have the power to amend our Articles of Incorporation. Our board of directors may alter or amend, make or adopt, or repeal our Bylaws, subject to the limitations see forth in our Bylaws and the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Our shareholders also have the power to alter or amend, make or adopt, or repeal our Bylaws.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time under this prospectus. We will set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement a description of the debt securities that may be offered under this prospectus. The debt securities will be our direct secured or unsecured general obligations. The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Each of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture is referred to as an indenture. The material terms of any indenture will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe, among other things, the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

  the title of such warrants;
     
  the aggregate number of such warrants;
     
  the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
     
  the currency or currencies in which the price of such warrants will be payable;
     
  the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
     
  the price at which and the currency or currencies in which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;
     
  the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
     
  if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
     
  if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;
     
  if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
     
  information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
     
  if applicable, a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations; and
     
  any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

 

Until any warrants are exercised, the holder of such warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities that can be purchased upon exercise.

 

4

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

 

We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

 

  debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices or such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;
     
  currencies; or
     
  commodities.

 

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

 

The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under the applicable indenture.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe, among other things, the following terms of any units in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

  the title and series of the units;
     
  the price or prices at which the units will be issued;
     
  the terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;
     
  if applicable, a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations;
     
  a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and
     
  a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

 

5

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered under this prospectus through agents, underwriters, dealers or directly to one or more purchasers.

 

If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation, including any underwriting discount or commission, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe other terms of the offering, including the initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be listed. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

 

The distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may occur 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 the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

 

We may determine the price or other terms of the securities offered under this prospectus by use of an electronic auction. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement how any auction will be conducted to determine the price or any other terms of the securities, how potential investors may participate in the auction and, where applicable, the nature of the underwriters’ obligations with respect to the auction.

 

If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we will authorize dealers or our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase offered securities from us under contracts that provide for payment and delivery on a future date. We must approve all institutions, but they may include, among others:

 

  commercial and savings banks;
     
  insurance companies;
     
  pension funds;
     
  investment companies; and
     
  educational and charitable institutions.

 

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The institutional purchaser’s obligations under the contract are only subject to the condition that the purchase of the offered securities at the time of delivery is allowed by the laws that govern the purchaser. The dealers and our agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of the contracts.

 

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make as a result of those certain civil liabilities.

 

Any common stock will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

 

6

 

 

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, 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 so 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 party 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 party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

 

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

 

Some or all of the securities may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. We cannot and will not give any assurances as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional information about us, including certain SEC filings, is also available at our website at investor.mts.com. Please note, however, that the information on our website is not a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, other than the documents listed below under the heading “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us. Forms of the indentures and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference, and information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this prospectus. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the time that we sell all the securities offered by this prospectus (other than any portions of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules).

 

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into such Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on February 13, 2019 );
     
  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended December 29, 2018 and March 30, 2019 ;
     
  Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 13, 2019 and March 27, 2019 ; and
     
  the description of our common stock under the heading “Comparison of Rights of Holders of MTS Common Stock and Holders of DSPT Common Stock—Description of MTS Capital Stock” contained in our Registration Statement filed on Form S-4 (File No. 333-77277), filed with the SEC on April 28, 1999 , including any amendment or report filed to update such description.

 

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You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

 

MTS Systems Corporation
Attn: Corporate Secretary
14000 Technology Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2290
Phone: (952) 937-4000

 

Copies of these filings are also available without charge on our website at www.mts.com. The contents of our website have not been incorporated into and do not form a part of this prospectus.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota, will issue an opinion about the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus. Any agents, underwriters or dealers will be represented by their own legal counsel.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of MTS Systems Corporation as of September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017, and for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended September 29, 2018, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2018, have been incorporated in this prospectus by reference to MTS’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018, 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 an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

 

Registration Fee   $ (*)  
Legal Fees and Expenses     (**)  
Trustee Fees and Expenses     (**)  
Accounting Fees and Expenses     (**)  
Blue Sky and Legal Investment Fees and Expenses     (**)  
Printing and Engraving Fees     (**)  
Rating Agency Fees     (**)  
Miscellaneous     (**)  
Total   $ (**)  

 

(*) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. Such registration fee shall be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.
   
(**) The calculation of these fees and expenses is dependent on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and, therefore, cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

The registrant is subject to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A, the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the “Corporation Act”). Section 302A.521 of the Corporation Act provides in substance that, unless prohibited by its articles of incorporation or bylaws, a corporation must indemnify a person, including an officer or director, who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity of the person against judgments, penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding, if certain criteria are met. These criteria, all of which must be met by the person seeking indemnification, are (a) that such person has not been indemnified by another organization or employee benefit plan for the same judgments, penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding with respect to the same acts or omissions; (b) that such person must have acted in good faith; (c) that no improper personal benefit was obtained by such person and such person satisfied certain statutory conflicts of interest provisions, if applicable; (d) that in the case of a criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful; and (e) that, in the case of acts or omissions occurring in such person’s performance in an official capacity, such person must have acted in a manner such person reasonably believed was in the best interests of the corporation or, in certain limited circumstances, not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. In addition, Section 302A.521, Subdivision 3 requires payment by the registrant, upon written request, of reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition in certain instances. A decision as to required indemnification is made by a majority of the disinterested board of directors present at a meeting at which a disinterested quorum is present, or by a designated committee of disinterested directors, by special legal counsel, by the disinterested shareholders, or by a court.

 

Pursuant to the terms of underwriting agreements executed in connection with offerings of securities pursuant to this registration statement, the directors and officers of the registrant will be indemnified against certain civil liabilities that they may incur under the Securities Act in connection with this registration statement and the related prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The registrant also maintains a director and officer insurance policy to cover the registrant, its directors and its officers against certain liabilities.

 

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ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit   Description
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
     
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 5, 2016, by and among the Company, Nickel Merger Sub Inc., PCB Group, Inc., and David T. Hore, John A. Lally and David M. Lally as the Shareholder Representative Group thereto (excluding schedules and exhibits, which the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 6, 2016.
     
4.1   Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.a of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012.
     
4.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.b of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 28, 2011.
     
4.3   Form of Senior Indenture.
     
4.4   Form of Subordinated Indenture.
     
4.5   Form of Note.*
     
4.6   Form of Warrant.*
     
4.7   Form of Warrant Agreement.*
     
4.8   Form of Purchase Contract.*
     
4.9   Form of Unit Agreement.*
     
4.10   Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2016, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 15, 2016.
     
4.11   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2016, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 15, 2016.
     
4.12   Purchase Contract Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2016, by and among the Company, U.S. Bank National Association, as purchase contract agent and as attorney-in-fact for the holders of the purchase contracts from time to time, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 15, 2016.
     
4.13   Form of Tangible Equity Unit (included in Exhibit 4.12 above).
     
4.14   Form of Purchase Contract (included in Exhibit 4.12 above).
     
4.15   Form of Amortizing Note (included in Exhibit 4.11 above).
     
5.1   Opinion of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
     

 

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23.1   Consent of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
     
23.2   Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
     
24.1   Powers of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement).
     
25.1   Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as trustee under the Subordinated Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.3 above.**

 

* To be filed by a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated herein by reference in connection with an offering of securities.
   
** To be filed on Form T-1 pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(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 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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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 (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

 

(2) 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.

 

(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.

 

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(4) 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 the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) 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.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes 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.

 

(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report, to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

 

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

 

(j) 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 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, as amended, 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 on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Eden Prairie, State of Minnesota, on May 6, 2019.

 

  MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ JEFFREY A. GRAVES
    Jeffrey A. Graves
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jeffrey A. Graves and Brian T. Ross, or any one or more of them, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, with exhibits thereto and any and all other documents filed in connection with such filings, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent 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 such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute therefor, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Minnesota and applicable federal securities laws.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed on May 6, 2019 by the following persons in the capacities indicated:

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ JEFFREY A. GRAVES   President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
Jeffrey A. Graves   (Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/ Brian T. Ross   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Brian T. Ross   (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
     
/s/ NANCY ALTOBELLO  
Nancy Altobello   Director
     
/s/ DAVID J. ANDERSON  
David J. Anderson   Director
     
/s/ DAVID D. JOHNSON  
David D. Johnson   Director
     
/s/ RANDY J. MARTINEZ  
Randy J. Martinez   Director
     
/s/ MICHAEL V. SCHROCK  
Michael V. Schrock   Director
     
 
Gail P. Steinel   Director
     
/s/ CHUN HUNG (KENNETH) YU  
Chun Hung (Kenneth) Yu   Director
     
/s/ LINDA ZUKAUCKAS  
Linda Zukauckas   Director

 

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