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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
BADGER METER, INC.
4545 W. Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223
(414) 355-0400

A Wisconsin Corporation
IRS Employer Identification No. 39-0143280
Commission File No. 1-6706
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer þ   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
     As of October 14, 2008, there were 14,788,413 shares of Common Stock outstanding with a par value of $1 per share.
 
 


 

BADGER METER, INC.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Period Ended September 30, 2008
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Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
            Certain statements contained in this Form 10-Q, as well as other information provided from time to time by Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company”) or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “think,” “should” and “objective” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. All such forward looking statements are based on the Company’s then current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that include, among other things:
    the continued shift in the Company’s business from lower cost, manual read meters toward more expensive, value-added automatic meter reading (AMR) systems and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems;
 
    the success or failure of newer Company products, including the Orion® radio frequency AMR system, the Galaxy® fixed network AMI system and the low profile Recordall® Model LP disc series meter;
 
    changes in competitive pricing and bids in both the domestic and foreign marketplaces, and particularly in continued intense price competition on government bid contracts for lower cost, manual read meters;
 
    the actions (or lack thereof) of the Company’s competitors;
 
    changes in the Company’s relationships with its alliance partners, primarily its alliance partners that provide AMR/AMI connectivity solutions, and particularly those that sell products that do or may compete with the Company’s products;
 
    changes in the general health of the United States and foreign economies, including, to some extent, housing starts in the United States and overall industrial activity;
 
    changes in the cost and/or availability of needed raw materials and parts, including recent changes in the cost of brass castings as a result of fluctuations in commodity prices, particularly for copper and scrap metal, at the supplier level and plastic resin as a result of changes in petroleum and natural gas prices;
 
    the Company’s expanded role as a prime contractor for providing complete AMR/AMI systems to governmental entities, which brings with it added risks, including but not limited to, Company responsibility for subcontractor performance; additional costs and expenses if the Company and its subcontractors fail to meet the agreed-upon timetable with the governmental entity; and the Company’s expanded warranty and performance obligations;
 
    changes in foreign economic conditions, particularly currency fluctuations between the United States dollar and the euro;
 
    the loss of certain single-source suppliers; and
 
    changes in laws and regulations, particularly laws dealing with the use of lead (which can be used in the manufacture of certain meters incorporating brass housings) and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission rules affecting the use and/or licensing of radio frequencies necessary for AMR/AMI products.
            All of these factors are beyond the Company’s control to varying degrees. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements. The forward looking statements made in this document are made only as of the date of this document and the Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update any such forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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Part I — Financial Information
Item 1 Financial Statements
BADGER METER, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (Unaudited)          
    (In thousands)  
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 4,944     $ 8,670  
Receivables
    35,785       30,638  
Inventories:
               
Finished goods
    15,025       8,225  
Work in process
    12,395       10,660  
Raw materials
    17,470       15,209  
 
           
Total inventories
    44,890       34,094  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    3,838       3,450  
Deferred income taxes
    3,088       3,082  
 
           
Total current assets
    92,545       79,934  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
    134,063       125,678  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (73,779 )     (71,100 )
 
           
Net property, plant and equipment
    60,284       54,578  
 
               
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization
    25,387       477  
Other assets
    5,526       4,919  
Deferred income taxes
    3,436       3,435  
Goodwill
    6,958       6,958  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 194,136     $ 150,301  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt
  $ 15,499     $ 10,844  
Current portion of long-term debt
    9,549       2,738  
Payables
    16,741       11,363  
Accrued compensation and employee benefits
    8,099       5,988  
Warranty and after-sale costs
    1,668       1,917  
Income and other taxes
    9,982       8,359  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    61,538       41,209  
 
               
Other long-term liabilities
    561       627  
Deferred income taxes
    229       244  
Accrued non-pension postretirement benefits
    6,271       6,083  
Other accrued employee benefits
    7,103       7,040  
Long-term debt
    7,969       3,129  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common stock
    21,061       20,902  
Capital in excess of par value
    27,040       24,655  
Reinvested earnings
    103,711       89,061  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (8,512 )     (9,191 )
Less:Employee benefit stock
    (658 )     (682 )
Treasury stock, at cost
    (32,177 )     (32,776 )
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    110,465       91,969  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 194,136     $ 150,301  
 
           
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
    (In thousands except share and per share amounts)  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales
  $ 68,826     $ 62,782     $ 211,906     $ 177,618  
 
                               
Cost of sales
    45,418       40,114       137,600       116,161  
 
                       
 
                               
Gross margin
    23,408       22,668       74,306       61,457  
 
                               
Selling, engineering and administration
    14,221       12,904       43,500       38,007  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating earnings
    9,187       9,764       30,806       23,450  
 
                               
Interest expense
    379       348       966       1,015  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    8,808       9,416       29,840       22,435  
 
                               
Provision for income taxes
    2,980       3,400       10,951       8,230  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings from continuing operations
    5,828       6,016       18,889       14,205  
 
                               
Loss from discontinued operations net of income taxes
          (265 )           (414 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings
  $ 5,828     $ 5,751     $ 18,889     $ 13,791  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings (loss) per share amounts:
                               
 
                               
Basic:
                               
from continuing operations
  $ 0.40     $ 0.42     $ 1.30     $ 1.00  
from discontinued operations
          (0.02 )           (0.03 )
 
                       
Total basic
  $ 0.40     $ 0.40     $ 1.30     $ 0.97  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted:
                               
from continuing operations
  $ 0.39     $ 0.41     $ 1.27     $ 0.97  
from discontinued operations
          (0.02 )           (0.02 )
 
                       
Total diluted
  $ 0.39     $ 0.39     $ 1.27     $ 0.95  
 
                       
 
                               
Dividends declared
  $ 0.11     $ 0.09     $ 0.29     $ 0.25  
 
                               
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
                               
Basic
    14,618,072       14,288,860       14,517,580       14,166,811  
Impact of dilutive securities
    259,725       372,364       309,742       417,681  
 
                       
Diluted
    14,877,797       14,661,224       14,827,322       14,584,492  
 
                       
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In thousands)  
    2008     2007  
Operating activities:
               
Net earnings
  $ 18,889     $ 13,791  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used for) operations:
               
Depreciation
    4,757       4,874  
Amortization
    740       123  
Deferred income taxes
    (12 )     (6 )
Noncurrent employee benefits
    2,572       1,991  
Stock-based compensation expense
    839       690  
Gain on disposal of long-lived assets
          (495 )
Changes in:
               
Receivables
    (5,255 )     (4,351 )
Inventories
    (10,836 )     (1,533 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (405 )     116  
Current liabilities other than debt
    3,686       5,747  
 
           
Total adjustments
    (3,914 )     7,156  
 
           
Net cash provided by operations
    14,975       20,947  
 
           
 
               
Investing activities:
               
Property, plant and equipment additions
    (10,467 )     (12,659 )
Proceeds on disposal of long-lived assets
          3,194  
Acquisition of intangible assets
    (25,650 )      
Other — net
    (691 )     (529 )
 
           
Net cash used for investing activities
    (36,808 )     (9,994 )
 
           
 
               
Financing activities:
               
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt
    4,732       (8,374 )
Issuance of long-term debt
    15,000        
Repayments of long-term debt
    (3,349 )     (1,446 )
Dividends paid
    (4,231 )     (3,568 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    2,002       1,159  
Tax benefit on stock options
    3,971       1,467  
Issuance of treasury stock
    136       132  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    18,261       (10,630 )
 
           
 
               
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash
    (154 )     (349 )
 
           
 
               
Decrease in cash
    (3,726 )     (26 )
 
               
Cash — beginning of period from continuing operations
    8,670       3,002  
Cash — beginning of period from discontinued operations
          2,046  
 
           
Cash — beginning of period
    8,670       5,048  
 
           
 
               
Cash — end of period from continuing operations
    4,944       4,552  
Cash — end of period from discontinued operations
          470  
 
           
 
               
Cash — end of period
  $ 4,944     $ 5,022  
 
           
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Note 1 Basis of Presentation
     In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company”) contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals except as otherwise discussed) necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated condensed financial position at September 30, 2008, results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Note 2 Additional Balance Sheet Information
     The consolidated condensed balance sheet at December 31, 2007 was derived from amounts included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Refer to the footnotes to the financial statements included in that report for a description of the Company’s accounting policies and for additional details of the Company’s financial condition. The details in those notes have not changed except as discussed below and as a result of normal adjustments in the interim.
      Warranty and After-Sale Costs
     The Company estimates and records provisions for warranties and other after-sale costs in the period in which the sale is recorded, based on a lag factor and historical warranty claim experience. After-sale costs represent a variety of activities outside of the written warranty policy, such as investigation of unanticipated problems after the customer has installed the product, or analysis of water quality issues. Changes in the Company’s warranty and after-sale costs reserve for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
                                 
    Balance at     Net additions             Balance  
    beginning     charged to     Costs     at  
(In thousands)   of year     earnings     incurred     September 30  
 
2008
  $ 1,917     $ 390     $ (639 )   $ 1,668  
2007
  $ 2,954     $ 195     $ (873 )   $ 2,276  
Note 3 Employee Benefit Plans
     The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for its domestic employees and a non-contributory postretirement plan that provides medical benefits for certain domestic retirees and eligible dependents. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 based on a September 30 measurement date:
                                 
                            Other  
                            postretirement  
    Pension benefits             benefits  
(In thousands)
  2008     2007     2008     2007  
Service cost
  $ 493     $ 496     $ 37     $ 49  
Interest cost
    686       629       101       105  
Expected return on plan assets
    (864 )     (883 )            
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
    (36 )     (37 )     45        
Amortization of net loss
    290       282       8       28  
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 569     $ 487     $ 191     $ 182  
 

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     The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 based on a September 30 measurement date:
                                 
                            Other  
                            postretirement  
    Pension benefits             benefits  
(In thousands)
  2008     2007     2008     2007  
Service cost
  $ 1,479     $ 1,488     $ 111     $ 147  
Interest cost
    2,058       1,887       303       315  
Expected return on plan assets
    (2,592 )     (2,649 )            
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
    (108 )     (111 )     135        
Amortization of net loss
    870       846       24       83  
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 1,707     $ 1,461     $ 573     $ 545  
 
     The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 that it did not expect to contribute funds to its pension plan in 2008. While the Company believes that it will not be required to make any such contributions in 2008, such belief is based upon the estimated return on plan assets as of the annual measurement date.
     The Company disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 that it estimated it would pay $0.6 million in other postretirement benefits in 2008 based on actuarial estimates. As of September 30, 2008, $226,000 of such benefits were paid. The Company now believes that its estimated payments for the full year may be somewhat less than the full-year estimate. However, such estimates contain inherent uncertainties because cash payments can vary significantly depending on the timing of postretirement medical claims and the collection of the retiree’s portion of certain costs. Note that the amount of benefits paid in calendar year 2008 will not impact the expense for postretirement benefits for the current year.
     In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)” (SFAS 158). On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the required provisions of SFAS 158 by recognizing the funded status of its defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans in the statement of financial position. Additionally, employers are required to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position and provide additional disclosures. Prior to the adoption of the measurement date provisions of SFAS 158, the Company’s pension plans previously used a September 30 measurement date. As permitted by the statement, the Company will adopt the measurement provisions of SFAS 158 during the fourth quarter for the 2008 full-year statements, at which time the Company expects to recognize a reduction of $0.4 million, net of tax, to the 2008 beginning of the year reinvested earnings. There will be no effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.
Note 4 Guarantees
     The Company guarantees the outstanding debt of the Badger Meter Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (“ESSOP”) that is recorded in long-term debt, offset by a similar amount of unearned compensation that has been recorded as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. The loan amount is collateralized by shares of the Company’s Common Stock. A payment of $23,000 was made in the first quarter of 2008 that reduced the debt and the corresponding employee benefit stock balance included in shareholders’ equity.
Note 5 Comprehensive Income (Loss)
     Comprehensive income for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 was $5.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively. Comprehensive income for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 was $19.6 million and $14.3 million, respectively.
     Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
(In thousands)   2008     2007  
 
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ 1,768     $ 1,713  
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit plan liabilities
    (10,280 )     (10,904 )
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (8,512 )   $ (9,191 )
 

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Note 6 Discontinued French Operations
     During 2006, the Company carefully evaluated strategic alternatives for its subsidiaries in Nancy, France, including restructuring, sale or shutdown. In the third quarter of 2006, the Company began the process under French law to obtain the approvals to close the operations. On October 16, 2006, the decision to discontinue the Company’s French operations was finalized, and all disposal transactions were completed by December 31, 2007. Information about the Company’s discontinued French operations is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Note 3 Discontinued Operations.”
     For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, net sales from the French operations were zero and net losses were $0.3 million. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, net sales from the French operations were $1.9 million and net losses were $0.4 million.
Note 7 Acquisition of Intangible Assets
     In April 2008, the Company acquired the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology used in its Galaxy® fixed network system from Miltel Communications Ltd. for a purchase price of approximately $25.7 million. The technology agreement included the acquisition of the core technology, including the exclusive right to manufacture the Galaxy® system and distribute it in certain water and gas utility markets, as well as a non-compete clause. The purchase price was recorded in the second quarter of 2008 as intangible assets that will be amortized over estimated lives of 20 and 10 years for the core technology and non-compete arrangement, respectively. This acquisition was initially funded from commercial paper drawn on the Company’s short-term line of credit, which was amended in April 2008 to increase availability to accommodate this purchase.
Note 8 Restricted Stock
     On April 25, 2008, a restricted stock plan was approved which provides for the issuance of non-vested Common Stock to certain eligible employees. The plan authorizes the issuance of shares up to an aggregate of 100,000 shares of Common Stock (no individual participant may be granted more than 20,000 shares in the aggregate), of which 5,100 were issued in May 2008. The restricted stock issued in May is generally subject to a three-year cliff vesting period contingent on employment. Compensation expense related to the issuance of restricted stock was $208,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.
Note 9 Debt and Primary Credit Line
     In July 2008, the Company obtained a $15.0 million unsecured two-year loan that bears interest at 5.04% annually to refinance a portion of the existing short-term debt that funded the above acquisition of the Galaxy intangible assets.
     In October 2008, the Company renewed its principal line of credit ($30.0 million) for one year with its primary lender effective November 1, 2008. This line of credit supports the issuance of commercial paper. Short-term borrowings against this line, other than the issuance of commercial paper, bear interest at one-month Libor plus 125 basis points.
Note 10 Contingencies, Litigation and Commitments
     In the normal course of business, the Company is named in legal proceedings from time to time. There are currently no material legal proceedings pending with respect to the Company. The more significant legal proceedings are as discussed below.
     The Company is subject to contingencies related to environmental laws and regulations. Currently, the Company is in the process of resolving matters relating to two landfill sites where it has been named as one of many potentially responsible parties. These sites are impacted by the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and other environmental laws and regulations. At this time, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these issues will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based on the Company’s assessment of its limited past involvement with

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these sites as well as the substantial involvement of other named third parties in these matters. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of such proceedings, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters. A future change in circumstances with respect to these specific matters or with respect to sites formerly or currently owned or operated by the Company, or with respect to off-site disposal locations used by the Company, could result in future costs to the Company and such amounts could be material.
     Like other companies in recent years, the Company has been named as a defendant in numerous multi-claimant/multi-defendant lawsuits alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos, manufactured by third parties, and integrated into or sold with a very limited number of the Company’s products. The Company is vigorously defending itself against these claims. Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these issues will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based in part on the fact that no claimant has demonstrated exposure to products manufactured or sold by the Company and that a number of cases have been voluntarily dismissed.
     The Company has evaluated its worldwide operations to determine whether any risks and uncertainties exist that could severely impact its operations in the near term. Although the Company relies on single suppliers for certain castings and components in several of its product lines, alternate sources of supply exist for these items. Loss of certain suppliers could temporarily disrupt operations in the short term. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by working closely with key suppliers, purchasing minimal amounts from alternative suppliers and by purchasing business interruption insurance where appropriate.
     The Company reevaluates its risks on a periodic basis and makes adjustments to reserves as appropriate.
Item 2 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Business Description and Overview
     The Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products incorporating liquid flow measurement and control technologies, which are developed both internally and in conjunction with other technology companies. Its products are used to measure and control the flow of liquids in a wide variety of applications. The Company’s product lines fall into two general categories, utility and industrial flow measurement. The utility category is comprised of two primary product lines — residential and commercial water meters that are used by water utilities as the basis for generating water and wastewater revenues. The market for these product lines is North America, primarily the United States, because these meters are designed and manufactured to conform to standards promulgated by the American Water Works Association. The utility flow measurement products constitute a majority of the Company’s sales.
     Industrial product line sales comprise the remainder of the Company’s sales and include precision valves, electromagnetic inductive flow meters, impeller flow meters, and turbine and positive displacement industrial flow meters. Rounding out the industrial product line are automotive fluid meters for the measurement of various types of automotive fluids.
     Residential and commercial water meters generally have been classified as either manual read meters or remote read meters via radio technology. A meter that is manually read consists of the water meter and a register displaying the meter reading. Remotely read meters are equipped with radio technology and convert the mechanical measurement to a digital format which is then transmitted via radio frequency to a receiver that collects and formats the data appropriately for the utility’s billing computer. Drive-by systems are referred to as automatic meter reading (AMR) systems and have been the primary technology deployed by water utilities over the past decade, because they provide cost effective and accurate billing data. In a drive-by AMR system, a vehicle equipped for meter reading purposes collects meter reading data.
     Fixed network advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems are of growing interest to water utilities. These systems do not rely on a drive-by data collector, but rather incorporate a network of data collectors that are always active or listening to the radio transmission from the utility’s meters. Not only do fixed network systems eliminate the need for meter readers, but they have the ability to provide the utility with more frequent and diverse data at specified intervals. The Company’s response to the increased interest in AMI systems is further detailed in the Business Trends section below.

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     The Company’s net sales and corresponding net earnings depend on unit volume and mix of products, with the Company generally earning higher margins on meters equipped with AMR or AMI technology. In addition to selling its proprietary AMR/AMI products including the Orion® drive-by AMR technology and the Galaxy® fixed network AMI system, the Company also remarkets the Itron® drive-by AMR product under a license and distribution agreement. The Company’s proprietary AMR/AMI products generally result in higher margins than the non-proprietary AMR/AMI products that the Company remarkets.
     One distinctive advantage of the Orion® AMR technology over other AMR products is that while it is fundamentally a drive-by AMR system, the proprietary receiver technology of Orion® has been licensed to other technology providers, including those providing AMR/AMI products that communicate over power lines, broadband networks, municipal WiFi and proprietary radio frequency networks.
     Utility meter sales, including sales of AMR and AMI products within this category, are generally derived from the water meter replacement requirements of customers, along with their plans for adoption and deployment of new technology. To a much lesser extent, housing starts also contribute to the base of new product sales. Over the last decade there has been a growing trend in the conversion to AMR/AMI from manually read water meters. This conversion rate is accelerating and contributing to an increased base of business available to meter and AMR/AMI producers. It is currently estimated that approximately 25-30% of water meters installed in the United States have been converted to AMR/AMI systems. The Company’s strategy is to solve customers’ metering needs with its proprietary meter reading systems or other systems available through its alliance partners in the marketplace.
     The industrial products generally serve a variety of niche flow measurement applications across a broad range of industries. Some of the flow measurement technologies now used industrially, such as positive displacement and turbine flow measurement, were derived from utility meter technologies. Other technologies are very specific to industrial applications. In addition, a growing requirement for industrial meters is to be equipped with specialized communication protocols that control the entire flow measurement process. Serving both the utility and industrial flow measurement market enables the Company to use its wide variety of technology for specific flow measurement and control applications, as well as to utilize existing capacity and spread fixed costs over a larger sales base.
Business Trends
     AMI is the growing standard of technology deployment in the electric utility industry. AMI provides an electric utility with two-way communication to monitor and control electrical devices at the customer’s site. AMI deployments are always fixed network technologies. Although the Company does not participate in the electric utility market, the trend toward AMI is now affecting the water and gas utility AMR market as well. Specifically, in the water industry, fixed network AMI enables the water utility to capture interval readings from each meter on a daily basis. While two-way communication is extremely limited in water fixed network AMI, utilities are contemplating how two-way networks could benefit them. As noted above, the Company markets the Orion® drive-by AMR product line as well as the Galaxy® fixed network AMI product line. The Company believes it is well positioned to sell either product as this trend continues. Since both products have comparable margins, any acceleration or slowdown in this trend is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company.
     Although there is growing interest in fixed network communication by water utilities, the vast majority of utilities currently installing AMR/AMI are selecting drive-by AMR technologies for their applications. The Company’s Orion® technology has experienced rapid acceptance in the United States. By the end of 2007, more than 1,000 water utilities had selected Orion® as their AMR solution of choice. There are approximately 53,000 water utilities in the United States and the Company estimates that less than 30% of their services have been converted to an AMR technology. It is anticipated that even with growing interest in fixed network AMI, drive-by AMR will continue to be the primary product of choice by water utilities for a number of years. Drive-by AMR technology is simply the lowest cost form of AMR currently available to water utilities.
     Prior to the Company’s introduction of its own proprietary Orion® products, Itron® water utility-related products were a significant contributor to the Company’s results. The Company sells Itron® products under an agreement with Itron, Inc. The agreement expires in early 2009 and the Company is currently discussing an extension of the agreement with Itron. The Company’s Orion® products directly compete with Itron® water AMR products and, in recent years, many of the Company’s customers have selected Orion® products. For the full year of 2007, Orion® sales increased by 24.8% compared to 2006 while Itron® licensed product sales decreased by 21.7% compared to 2006. For the first nine months of 2008, Orion® sales were 2.4 times greater than those of the remarketed Itron® sales. The Company expects this trend to continue, although the Company also believes that Itron® licensed products will remain a significant component of utility sales. To date,

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decreases in sales of the remarketed Itron® licensed products have been offset by increases in sales of Orion® products, which produce a higher gross margin than the remarketed Itron® licensed products. As a result, the Company does not expect this trend to have a material negative impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
     Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased by $6.0 million, or 9.6%, to $68.8 million from $62.8 million in the same period in 2007. The increase was driven by higher sales of the Company’s utility products, offset somewhat by lower sales of its industrial products.
     Residential and commercial water meter and related automation sales represented 82.7% of total net sales for the quarter compared to 80.4% in the third quarter of 2007. These sales were $56.9 million, an increase of $6.4 million, or 12.7%, from $50.5 million in the same period in 2007. This increase was the net result of increased unit volumes utilizing Itron® AMR and Galaxy® technology and increased sales of commercial meters. Price increases also contributed to the higher sales amount. Sales of the Company’s proprietary AMR product, Orion®, were relatively flat over the sales amounts for the third quarter of 2007 while the remarketed Itron® product sales increased by approximately 39%. Despite the decline in its sales, the Orion® products outsold the Itron® products by a ratio of 2.1 to 1 in the three-month period ended September 30, 2008. Commercial meter revenues increased by approximately 21% due to both volume and price increases.
     Industrial sales represented 17.3% of the total net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 compared to 19.6% for the same period in 2007. Industrial sales were $11.9 million in the third quarter of 2008, a decrease of 3.3% over sales of $12.3 million in the same period in 2007. This decrease was due to lower sales in nearly all product lines of this group due to lower volumes as a result of the weaker economy, mitigated somewhat by price increases. The one exception was the valve product line where sales increased primarily due to price increases.
     The total gross margin percentage declined in the third quarter of 2008 to 34.0% from 36.1% for the same period in 2007. The decline was primarily due to product mix in the quarter, offset in part by price increases and favorable warranty experience. The Company’s gross margin is generally higher on its proprietary products than on remarketed products. The third quarter of 2008 had a higher proportion of remarketed products than in the same period in 2007. In addition, during the third quarter, the Company experienced increased costs of materials and freight-related charges compared to the same period in 2007, which were largely offset by sales price increases.
     Selling, engineering and administration costs increased by $1.3 million, or 10.3%, to $14.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $12.9 million in the same period in 2007. This increase was primarily the result of increased costs associated with higher sales volumes, consulting costs associated with sales process enhancements, increased research and development costs, and increased intangible amortization due to the acquisition of the Galaxy® technology in April 2008. In addition, the Company experienced normal inflationary increases, which were somewhat offset by continuing cost containment efforts.
     The provision for income taxes as a percentage of earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2008 was 33.8% compared to 36.1% for the same period in 2007 and was somewhat lower primarily due to certain foreign exchange tax effects on the annual tax estimate.
     As a result of the above mentioned items, earnings from continuing operations were $5.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. On a diluted basis, earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.39 for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $0.41 for the same period in 2007.
Results of Operations — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
     Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased nearly by $34.2 million, or 19.2%, to $211.9 million from $177.7 million in the same period in 2007. The increase was driven by higher sales of the Company’s products, especially AMR products, due to higher volumes and increased prices.
     Residential and commercial water meter and related automation net sales represented 82.4% of total sales for the first nine months of 2008 compared to 79.4% in the same period in 2007. These sales were $174.6 million, an increase of $33.7 million, or 23.9%, from $140.9 million in the same period in 2007. This increase

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was due to increased volumes in units utilizing AMR/AMI technology as well as increased sales of commercial meters. Price increases also contributed to the higher sales amount. Sales of the Company’s proprietary AMR product, Orion®, and the remarketed Itron® product increased by 19.6% and 29.5%, respectively, over the sales amounts for the first nine months of 2007. The ratio of Orion® to Itron® sales was 2.4 to 1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Commercial meter revenues increased by 33.5% due to both volume and price increases. The increases were also due in part to the fact that sales in the first quarter of 2007 were negatively impacted by the timing of orders.
     Industrial sales represented 17.6% of the total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to 20.6% for the same period in 2007. The decline in percentage occurred despite a very modest increase in industrial sales revenues. Industrial sales were $37.3 million for the first nine months of 2008, an increase of 1.4% over sales of $36.8 million in the same period in 2007. This increase was due to higher valve sales and price increases, mitigated somewhat by lower sales in the other product lines of this group and lower volumes as a result of the weaker economy.
     The total gross margin percentage for the first nine months of 2008 was 35.1% compared to 34.6% for the same period in 2007. The increase was the net effect of higher sales volumes that absorbed fixed manufacturing costs and price increases, offset by higher costs of raw materials.
     Selling, engineering and administration costs increased by $5.5 million, or 14.5%, to $43.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $38.0 million in the same period in 2007. This increase was primarily the result of increased selling costs related to efforts to establish a presence for Orion® in the natural gas industry, increased costs associated with higher sales volumes, consulting costs associated with sales process enhancements, increased research and development costs, the effects of foreign exchange, and increased intangible amortization related to the acquisition of the Galaxy® technology early in the second quarter of 2008. In addition, the Company experienced normal inflationary increases, which were somewhat offset by continuing cost containment efforts.
     The provision for income taxes as a percentage of earnings from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was 36.7%, which was comparable to the same period in 2007.
     As a result of the above mentioned items, earnings from continuing operations were $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $14.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. On a diluted basis, earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.27 and $0.97 for the same periods, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
     The main sources of liquidity for the Company are cash from operations and borrowing capacity. Cash provided by operations for the first nine months of 2008 was $15.0 million compared to $20.9 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease was primarily the net effect of the increase in inventories and receivables in 2008, offset somewhat by increased net earnings to date in 2008.
     The increase in the receivables balance from $30.6 million at December 31, 2007 to $35.8 million at September 30, 2008 was due primarily to the timing of sales and certain cash collections. The Company believes that recent financial concerns in the overall economy will not impact collections of these receivables.
     Inventories at September 30, 2008 increased to $44.9 million from $34.1 million at December 31, 2007 due primarily to longer lead times on certain electrical components, a build-up of inventories for an anticipated plant move, inventories sent to customers awaiting installment that have not yet been recognized as sales, and higher overall costs of material components to support increased sales levels.
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased between December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2008 primarily due to the payment of certain calendar year insurance premiums that are expensed ratably over the policy period.
     Net property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2008 increased by $5.7 million since December 31, 2007. This was the result of $10.5 million of capital expenditures, which included $5.6 million associated with the construction of the Company’s new plant in Nogales, Mexico, which is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2008, offset by depreciation expense and disposals.

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     Intangible assets increased due to the purchase of the Galaxy® proprietary fixed network AMI technology for $25.7 million early in April 2008, offset by amortization expense.
     Short-term debt at September 30, 2008 increased by $4.7 million compared to the balance at December 31, 2007. During the same period, long-term debt increased on a net basis due to the Company securing a $15 million two-year term loan in July 2008 that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.04%, offset by scheduled payments. Both increases are a result of the purchase of the Galaxy® technology discussed above. All of the Company’s debt is unsecured and does not carry any financial covenants.
     Payables increased to $16.7 million at September 30, 2008 from $11.4 million at December 31, 2007 primarily as a result of an increase in inventory and the timing of payments. Accrued compensation and employee benefits increased since December 31, 2007 from $6.0 million to $8.1 million due to costs accrued for 2008 expenses to date, offset somewhat by the first quarter 2008 payment of amounts accrued at December 31, 2007. During the same period, warranty and after-sale costs declined to $1.7 million from $1.9 million due to declining claim experience indicating fewer than expected issues for prior sales.
     Income and other taxes increased to $10.0 million at September 30, 2008 from $8.4 million at December 31, 2007 due to increased earnings and the timing of income tax payments.
     Common stock and capital in excess of par value both increased since December 31, 2007 due to new stock issued in connection with the exercise of stock options. Employee benefit stock decreased as a result of a payment made on the Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan loan during the first quarter of 2008.
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss was $8.5 million at September 30, 2008 compared to a $9.2 million loss at December 31, 2007. The decrease was due primarily to the amortization in the Statement of Operations of certain pension and postretirement amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as required under SFAS 158, as well as the effects of foreign exchange translations.
     The Company believes its financial condition remains strong. In October 2008, the Company renewed its principal line of credit ($30.0 million) for one year with its primary lender. While interest rates are expected to be higher in the short-term due to market conditions, the Company believes that its operating cash flows, available borrowing capacity, and its ability to raise capital provide adequate resources to fund ongoing operating requirements, future capital expenditures and development of new products. The Company has $35.3 million of unused credit lines available at September 30, 2008.
Other Matters
     There are currently no material legal proceedings pending with respect to the Company. The more significant legal proceedings are discussed below.
     The Company is subject to contingencies related to environmental laws and regulations. Currently, the Company is in the process of resolving matters relating to two landfill sites where it has been named as one of many potentially responsible parties. These sites are impacted by the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and other environmental laws and regulations. At this time, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these issues will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based on the Company’s assessment of its limited past involvement with these sites as well as the substantial involvement of other named third parties in these matters. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of such proceedings, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters. A future change in circumstances with respect to these specific matters or with respect to sites formerly or currently owned or operated by the Company, or with respect to off-site disposal locations used by the Company, could result in future costs to the Company and such amounts could be material.
     Like other companies in recent years, the Company has been named as a defendant in numerous multi-claimant/multi-defendant lawsuits alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos, manufactured by third parties, and integrated into or sold with a very limited number of the Company’s products. The Company is vigorously defending itself against these claims. Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these issues will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based in part on the fact that no claimant has demonstrated exposure to products manufactured or sold by the Company and that a number of cases have been voluntarily dismissed.

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     No other risks or uncertainties were identified that could have a material impact on operations and no long-lived assets have become permanently impaired in value.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
     The Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations are discussed in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the headings “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” and “Contractual Obligations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and have not materially changed since that report was filed.
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
     The Company’s quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are included in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the heading “Market Risks” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and have not materially changed since that report was filed.
Item 4 Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
     In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Senior Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Senior Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2008 to ensure that information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, was made known to management by others within those entities as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure of the information, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was being prepared.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
     There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II — Other Information
Item 6 Exhibits
     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
3.1
  Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Badger Meter, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 8, 2008 (as filed on August 14, 2008) (Commission File No. 1-6706)].
 
   
3.2
  Restated Articles of Incorporation, restated in electronic format to include all amendments through August 8, 2008.
 
   
3.3
  Amendments to Restated By-laws [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Badger Meter, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 8, 2008 (as filed on August 14, 2008) (Commission File No. 1-6706)].
 
   
3.4
  Restated By-laws, as amended and restated effective as of August 8, 2008.

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Exhibit No.   Description
 
4.1
  Loan Agreement dated November 1, 2008 between Badger Meter, Inc. and the M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank relating to Badger Meter’s revolving credit loan.
 
   
4.2
  Loan Agreement dated October 14, 2008 between Badger Meter, Inc. and the M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank relating to Badger Meter’s euro note.
 
   
31.1
  Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
31.2
  Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32
  Certification of Periodic Financial Report by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
             
    BADGER METER, INC.    
 
           
Dated: October 22, 2008
  By   /s/ Richard A. Meeusen
 
Richard A. Meeusen
   
 
      Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer    
             
 
  By   /s/ Richard E. Johnson
 
Richard E. Johnson
   
 
      Senior Vice President — Finance, Chief    
 
      Financial Officer and Treasurer    
             
 
  By   /s/ Beverly L. P. Smiley
 
Beverly L. P. Smiley
   
 
      Vice President — Controller    

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BADGER METER, INC.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Period Ended September 30, 2008
Exhibit Index
     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
3.1
  Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Badger Meter, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 8, 2008 (as filed on August 14, 2008) (Commission File No. 1-6706)].
 
   
3.2
  Restated Articles of Incorporation, restated in electronic format to include all amendments through August 8, 2008.
 
   
3.3
  Amendments to Restated By-laws [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Badger Meter, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 8, 2008 (as filed on August 14, 2008) (Commission File No. 1-6706)].
 
   
3.4
  Restated By-laws, as amended and restated effective as of August 8, 2008.
 
   
4.1
  Loan Agreement dated November 1, 2008 between Badger Meter, Inc. and the M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank relating to Badger Meter’s revolving credit loan.
 
   
4.2
  Loan Agreement dated October 14, 2008 between Badger Meter, Inc. and the M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank relating to Badger Meter’s euro note.
 
   
31.1
  Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
31.2
  Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32
  Certification of Periodic Financial Report by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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Exhibit 3.2
RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
BADGER METER, INC.
 
               The following Restated Articles of Incorporation duly adopted pursuant to the authority and provisions of Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes supersede and take the place of the existing articles of incorporation and any amendments thereto:
ARTICLE FIRST
               The name of this Corporation is “BADGER METER, INC.”
ARTICLE SECOND
               The Corporation may engage in any lawful activity within the purposes for which corporations may be organized under the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law.
ARTICLE THIRD
               (1)  Stock.
               (a) The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty (40) million shares, consisting of a single class designated “Common Stock” having a par value of one dollar ($1.00) per share.
               (b) Any and all such shares of Common Stock may be issued for such consideration, not less than the par value thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any and all such shares so issued, the full consideration for which has been paid or delivered, shall be deemed fully paid stock and shall not be liable to any further call or assessment thereon, and the holders of such shares shall not be liable for any further payments except as otherwise provided by applicable Wisconsin law.
               (2)  Voting Rights and Powers.
               With respect to all matters upon which shareholders are entitled to vote or to which shareholders are entitled to give consent, every holder of any outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to cast thereon one (1) vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock standing in his name on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.
               (3)  Dividends and Distributions.
               The holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Board of Directors out of any funds legally available for the payment of such dividends.
               (4)  No Preemptive Rights.
               No holder of shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation shall be entitled as a matter of right to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of stock of the Corporation of any class either at present authorized or of any future increase or creation, including without limitation, any securities convertible into stock of any class, except as the Corporation in the discretion of the Board of Directors may elect or contract to extend such right.

 


 

ARTICLE FOURTH
               (1)  Number and Tenure of Directors .
               There shall be a Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of Directors as shall from time to time be specified in the Bylaws but which shall not be less than three (3). The Directors shall serve for a term of one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified, or with regard to any Director until that Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. If there is a vacancy, including a vacancy because of a newly created directorship, the person elected to fill that vacancy shall serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until that person’s successor is elected and qualified.
               (2)  Removal of Directors .
               A Director may be removed only for cause and only by the shareholders by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast upon removing him at a meeting called for the purpose of removing him, and the meeting notice must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the Director and must state the reason or reasons why the Director is subject to removal.
               (3)  Amendments .
               Notwithstanding any other provision of these Restated Articles of Incorporation, the provisions of this Article Fourth shall be amended, altered, changed or repealed only by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least seventy percent (70%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of all classes of capital stock of the Company, considered for this purpose as a single class.
ARTICLE FIFTH
               The majority affirmative voting requirements of Section 180.25(2) of the Wisconsin Statutes are hereby expressly elected and deemed applicable to this Corporation as if this Corporation had been organized after January 1, 1973. These Restated Articles of Incorporation may be amended by resolution setting forth such amendment or amendments adopted at any meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation by a vote of at least a majority of the votes represented by shares of all of the Common Stock of the Corporation then outstanding, except as set forth herein or as restricted by the statutes of the State of Wisconsin.
ARTICLE SIXTH
               The address of the registered office of the corporation at the time of adoption of these Restated Articles of Incorporation is 4545 West Brown Deer Road, Brown Deer, Wisconsin (P.O. address: Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223); and the name of the registered agent at such address is William R. A. Bergum.

 

Exhibit 3.4
RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
BADGER METER, INC.
(As Amended and Restated as of August 8, 2008)
ARTICLE I
SHAREHOLDERS
                Section 1 . Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of the shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) shall be held on the second Saturday in April of each year, or at such other time and date as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. In fixing a meeting date for any Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of its business judgment. At each Annual Meeting, the shareholders shall elect that number of directors equal to the number of directors in the class whose term expires at the time of such meeting. At any such Annual Meeting, only other business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 12 of Article I of these By-laws may be transacted. If the election of directors shall not be held on the date designated herein, or fixed as herein provided, for any Annual Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of shareholders (a “Special Meeting”) as soon thereafter as is practicable.
                Section 2 . Special Meetings .
               (a) A Special Meeting may be called only by (i) the Chairman, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer or (iii) the Board of Directors and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer upon the demand, in accordance with this Section 2, of the holders of record of shares representing at least 10% of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the Special Meeting.
               (b) In order that the Corporation may determine the shareholders entitled to demand a Special Meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date to determine the shareholders entitled to make such a demand (the “Demand Record Date”). The Demand Record Date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the Demand Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors and shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the Demand Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any shareholder of record seeking to have shareholders demand a Special Meeting shall, by sending written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a Demand Record Date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten days after the date on which a valid request to fix a Demand Record Date is received, adopt a resolution fixing the Demand Record Date and shall make a public announcement of such Demand Record Date. If no Demand Record Date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within ten days after the date on which such request is received by the Secretary, the Demand Record Date shall be the 10th day after the first date on which a valid written request to set a Demand Record Date is received by the Secretary. To be valid, such written request shall set forth the purpose or purposes for which the Special Meeting is to be held, shall be signed by one or more shareholders of record (or their duly authorized proxies or other representatives), shall bear the date of signature of each such shareholder (or proxy or other representative) and shall set forth all information about each such shareholder and about the beneficial owner or owners, if any, on whose behalf the request is made that would be required to be set forth in a shareholder’s notice described in paragraph (a) (ii) of Section 12 of Article I of these By-laws.
               (c) In order for a shareholder or shareholders to demand a Special Meeting, a written demand or demands for a Special Meeting by the holders of record as of the Demand Record Date of shares representing at least 10% of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the Special Meeting must be delivered to the Corporation. To be valid, each written demand by a shareholder for a Special Meeting shall set forth the specific purpose or purposes for which the Special Meeting is to be held (which purpose or purposes shall be limited to the purpose or purposes set forth in the written request to set a Demand Record Date received by the

 


 

Corporation pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2), shall be signed by one or more persons who as of the Demand Record Date are shareholders of record (or their duly authorized proxies or other representatives), shall bear the date of signature of each such shareholder (or proxy or other representative), and shall set forth the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each shareholder signing such demand and the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by each such shareholder, shall be sent to the Secretary by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and shall be received by the Secretary within seventy days after the Demand Record Date.
        (d) The Corporation shall not be required to call a Special Meeting upon shareholder demand unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (c) of this Section 2, the Secretary receives a written agreement signed by each Soliciting Shareholder (as defined below), pursuant to which each Soliciting Shareholder, jointly and severally, agrees to pay the Corporation’s costs of holding the Special Meeting, including the costs of preparing and mailing proxy materials for the Corporation’s own solicitation, provided that if each of the resolutions introduced by any Soliciting Shareholder at such meeting is adopted, and each of the individuals nominated by or on behalf of any Soliciting Shareholder for election as a director at such meeting is elected, then the Soliciting Shareholders shall not be required to pay such costs. For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
               (i) “Affiliate” of any Person (as defined herein) shall mean any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first Person.
               (ii) “Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
               (iii) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
               (iv) “Proxy” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 14a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
               (v) “Solicitation” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
               (vi) “Soliciting Shareholder” shall mean, with respect to any Special Meeting demanded by a shareholder or shareholders, any of the following Persons:
               (A) if the number of shareholders signing the demand or demands of meeting delivered to the Corporation pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2 is ten or fewer, each shareholder signing any such demand;
               (B) if the number of shareholders signing the demand or demands of meeting delivered to the Corporation pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2 is more than ten, each Person who either (I) was a Participant in any Solicitation of such demand or demands or (II) at the time of the delivery to the Corporation of the documents described in paragraph (c) of this Section 2 had engaged or intended to engage in any Solicitation of Proxies for use at such Special Meeting (other than a Solicitation of Proxies on behalf of the Corporation); or
               (C) any Affiliate of a Soliciting Shareholder, if a majority of the directors then in office determine, reasonably and in good faith, that such Affiliate should be required to sign the written notice described in paragraph (c) of this Section 2 and/or the written agreement described in this paragraph (d) in order to prevent the purposes of this Section 2 from being evaded.
        (e) Except as provided in the following sentence, any Special Meeting shall be held at such hour and day as may be designated by whichever of the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or the Board of Directors shall have called such meeting. In the case of any Special Meeting called by the Chief Executive Officer upon the demand of shareholders (a “Demand Special Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such hour and day as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided , however , that the date of any Demand Special Meeting shall be not more than seventy days after the Meeting Record Date (as defined in Section 5 of Article I of these By-laws); and provided further that in the event that the directors then in office fail to designate an hour and date for a Demand Special Meeting within ten days after the date that valid written demands for such meeting by the holders

 


 

of record as of the Demand Record Date of shares representing at least 10% of all the votes entitled to be cast on each issue proposed to be considered at the Special Meeting are delivered to the Corporation (the “Delivery Date”), then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 P.M. local time on the 100th day after the Delivery Date or, if such 100th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day. In fixing a meeting date for any Special Meeting, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or the Board of Directors may consider such factors as he or it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of his or its business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the action proposed to be taken, the facts and circumstances surrounding any demand for such meeting, and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting for the conduct of related business.
               (f) The Corporation may engage regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as an agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported written demand or demands for a Special Meeting received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no purported demand shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Corporation until the earlier of (i) five Business Days following receipt by the Secretary of such purported demand and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid demands received by the Secretary represent at least 10% of all the votes entitled to be cast on each issue proposed to be considered at the Special Meeting. Nothing contained in this paragraph (f) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any shareholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any demand, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto).
               (g) For purposes of these By-laws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Wisconsin are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
                Section 3 . Place of Meeting . The Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or the Secretary may designate any place, either within or without the State of Wisconsin, as the place of meeting for an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting. If no designation is made, the place of meeting shall be the principal office of the Corporation. Any meeting may be adjourned to reconvene at any place designated by vote of the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary.
                Section 4 . Notice of Meeting . Written notice stating the date, time and place of any meeting of shareholders shall be delivered not less than ten days nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting (unless a different time period is provided by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the “WBCL”) or the Articles of Incorporation), either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Chairman, the President or the Secretary, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting and to such other persons as required by the WBCL. In the event of any Demand Special Meeting, such notice of meeting shall be sent not more than thirty days after the Delivery Date. If mailed, notice pursuant to this Section 4 shall be deemed to be effective when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the shareholder at his or her address as it appears on the stock record books of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. Unless otherwise required by the WBCL or the Articles of Incorporation, a notice of an Annual Meeting need not include a description of the purpose for which the meeting is called. In the case of any Special Meeting, (a) the notice of meeting shall describe any business that the Board of Directors shall have theretofore determined to bring before the meeting and (b) in the case of a Demand Special Meeting, the notice of meeting (i) shall describe any business set forth in the statement of purpose of the demands received by the Corporation in accordance with Section 2 of Article I of these By-laws and (ii) shall contain all of the information required in the notice received by the Corporation in accordance with Section 12(b) of Article I of these By-laws. If an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting is adjourned to a different date, time or place, the Corporation shall not be required to give notice of the new date, time or place if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment; provided , however , that if a new Meeting Record Date for an adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, the Corporation shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to persons who are shareholders as of the new Meeting Record Date.
                Section 5 . Fixing of Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date not less than ten days and not more than seventy days prior to the date of an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”). In the case of any Demand Special Meeting, (i) the Meeting Record Date shall be not later than the 30th day after the Delivery Date and (ii) if the Board of Directors fails to fix the Meeting Record Date within thirty days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on such 30th day shall be the Meeting Record Date. The shareholders of record on the Meeting Record Date shall be the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Except as provided by the WBCL for a court-ordered adjournment, a determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting is effective for any adjournment of such

 


 

meeting unless the Board of Directors fixes a new Meeting Record Date, which it shall do if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting. The Board of Directors may also fix in advance a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to take any other action or determining shareholders for any other purpose. Such record date shall be not more than seventy days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to a distribution (other than a distribution involving a purchase, redemption or other acquisition of the Corporation’s shares) or a share dividend is the date on which the Board of Directors authorizes the distribution or share dividend, as the case may be, unless the Board of Directors fixes a different record date.
                Section 6 . Shareholders’ List for Meetings . After a Meeting Record Date has been fixed, the Corporation shall prepare a list of the names of all of the shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting. The list shall be arranged by class or series of shares, if any, and show the address of and number of shares held by each shareholder. Such list shall be available for inspection by any shareholder, beginning two business days after notice of the meeting is given for which the list was prepared and continuing to the date of the meeting, at the Corporation’s principal office or at a place identified in the meeting notice in the city where the meeting will be held. A shareholder or his or her agent may, on written demand, inspect and, subject to the limitations imposed by the WBCL, copy the list, during regular business hours and at his or her expense, during the period that it is available for inspection pursuant to this Section 6. The Corporation shall make the shareholders’ list available at the meeting and any shareholder or his or her agent or attorney may inspect the list at any time during the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Refusal or failure to prepare or make available the shareholders’ list shall not affect the validity of any action taken at a meeting of shareholders.
                Section 7 . Quorum and Voting Requirements; Postponements; Adjournments .
               (a) Shares entitled to vote as a separate voting group may take action on a matter at any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting only if a quorum of those shares exists with respect to that matter. If the Corporation has only one class of stock outstanding, such class shall constitute a separate voting group for purposes of this Section 7. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or the WBCL, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter shall constitute a quorum of the voting group for action on that matter. Once a share is represented for any purpose at any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, other than for the purpose of objecting to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting, it is considered present for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new Meeting Record Date is or must be set for the adjourned meeting. If a quorum exists, except in the case of the election of directors, action on a matter shall be approved if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the Articles of Incorporation or the WBCL requires a greater number of affirmative votes. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, each director to be elected shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting at which a quorum is present.
               (b) The Board of Directors acting by resolution may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled Annual Meeting or Special Meeting; provided , however , that a Demand Special Meeting shall not be postponed beyond the 100th day following the Delivery Date. Any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting may be adjourned from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, (i) at any time, upon a resolution by shareholders if the votes cast in favor of such resolution by the holders of shares of each voting group entitled to vote on any matter theretofore properly brought before the meeting exceed the number of votes cast against such resolution by the holders of shares of each such voting group or (ii) at any time prior to the transaction of any business at such meeting, by the President or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors. No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given except as required by the WBCL. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
                Section 8 . Voting of Shares . Each outstanding share shall be entitled to one vote upon each matter submitted to a vote at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, except to the extent that the voting rights of the shares of any class or classes are enlarged, limited or denied by the WBCL or the Articles of Incorporation.
                Section 9 . Proxies . At any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, a shareholder may vote his or her shares in person or by proxy. A shareholder may appoint a proxy to vote or otherwise act for the shareholder by signing an appointment form, either personally or by his or her attorney-in-fact. An appointment of a proxy is effective when received by the Secretary or other officer or agent of the Corporation authorized to tabulate votes. An appointment is valid for eleven months from the date of its signing unless a different period is expressly provided in the appointment form. Unless otherwise provided, a proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted, either

 


 

by written notice filed with the Secretary or the acting secretary of the meeting or by oral notice given by the shareholder to the presiding officer during the meeting. The presence of a shareholder who has filed his or her appointment of proxy shall not itself constitute a revocation. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make rules establishing presumptions as to the validity and sufficiently of proxies.
                Section 10 . Acceptance of Instruments Showing Shareholder Action . If the name signed on a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment corresponds to the name of a shareholder, the Corporation, if acting in good faith, may accept the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment and give it effect as the act of a shareholder. If the name signed on a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment does not correspond to the name of a shareholder, the Corporation, if acting in good faith, may accept the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment and give it effect as the act of the shareholder if any of the following apply:
               (a) The shareholder is an entity and the name signed purports to be that of an officer or agent of the entity.
               (b) The name purports to be that of a personal representative, administrator, executor, guardian or conservator representing the shareholder and, if the Corporation requests, evidence of fiduciary status acceptable to the Corporation is presented with respect to the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment.
               (c) The name signed purports to be that of a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy of the shareholder and, if the Corporation requests, evidence of this status acceptable to the Corporation is presented with respect to the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment.
               (d) The name signed purports to be that of a pledgee, beneficial owner, or attorney-in-fact of the shareholder and, if the Corporation requests, evidence acceptable to the Corporation of the signatory’s authority to sign for the shareholder is presented with respect to the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment.
               (e) Two or more persons are the shareholders as co-tenants or fiduciaries and the name signed purports to be the name of at least one of the co-owners and the person signing appears to be acting on behalf of all co-owners.
The Corporation may reject a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment if the Secretary or other officer or agent of the Corporation who is authorized to tabulate votes, acting in good faith, has reasonable basis for doubt about the validity of the signature on it or about the signatory’s authority to sign for the shareholder.
                Section 11 . Waiver of Notice . A shareholder may waive any notice required by the WBCL, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-laws before or after the date and time stated in the notice. The waiver shall be in writing and signed by the shareholder entitled to the notice, contain the same information that would have been required in the notice under applicable provisions of the WBCL (except that the time and place of meeting need not be stated) and be delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the corporate records. A shareholder’s attendance at any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, in person or by proxy, waives objection to all of the following: (a) lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting, unless the shareholder at the beginning of the meeting or promptly upon arrival objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; and (b) consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose described in the meeting notice, unless the shareholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented.
                Section 12 . Notice of Shareholder Business and Nomination of Directors .
               (a)  Annual Meetings .
               (i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an Annual Meeting (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) by any shareholder of the Corporation who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this By-law and who is entitled to vote at the meeting and complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12.
               (ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 12, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal offices of the Corporation not less than sixty days nor more than ninety days prior to the second Saturday in the month of

 


 

April; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the Annual Meeting is advanced by more than thirty days or delayed by more than sixty days from the second Saturday in the month of April, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the 90th day prior to the date of such Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 60th day prior to such Annual Meeting and (y) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such shareholder’s notice shall be signed by the shareholder of record who intends to make the nomination or introduce the other business (or his duly authorized proxy or other representative), shall bear the date of signature of such shareholder (or proxy or other representative) and shall set forth: (A) the name and address, as they appear on this corporation’s books, of such shareholder and the beneficial owner or owners, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made; (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such shareholder or beneficial owner or owners; (C) a representation that such shareholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to make the nomination or introduce the other business specified in the notice; (D) in the case of any proposed nomination for election or re-election as a director, (I) the name and residence address of the person or persons to be nominated, (II) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder or beneficial owner or owners and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by such shareholder, (III) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections of directors, or would be otherwise required to be disclosed, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including any information that would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A had the nominee been nominated by the Board of Directors and (IV) the written consent of each nominee to be named in a proxy statement and to serve as a director of the Corporation if so elected; and (E) in the case of any other business that such shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (I) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and, if such business includes a proposal to amend these By-laws, the language of the proposed amendment, (II) such shareholder’s and beneficial owner’s or owners’ reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (III) any material interest in such business of such shareholder and beneficial owner or owners.
               (iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 12 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least seventy days prior to the second Saturday in the month of April, a shareholder’s notice required by this Section 12 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
               (b)  Special Meetings . Only such business shall be conducted at a Special Meeting as shall have been described in the notice of meeting sent to shareholders pursuant to Section 4 of Article I of these By-laws. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a Special Meeting at which directors are to be elected pursuant to such notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any shareholder of the Corporation who (A) is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of such notice of meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12. Any shareholder desiring to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors at such a Special Meeting shall cause a written notice to be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal offices of the Corporation not earlier than ninety days prior to such Special Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 60th day prior to such Special Meeting and (y) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of such Special Meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. Such written notice shall be signed by the shareholder of record who intends to make the nomination (or his duly authorized proxy or other representative), shall bear the date of signature of such shareholder (or proxy or other representative) and shall set forth: (A) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such shareholder and the beneficial owner or owners, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made; (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such shareholder or beneficial owner or owners; (C) a representation that such shareholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to make the nomination specified in the notice; (D) the name and residence address of the person or persons to be nominated; (E) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder or beneficial owner or owners and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by such shareholder; (F) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections

 


 

of directors, or would be otherwise required to be disclosed, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including any information that would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A had the nominee been nominated by the Board of Directors; and (G) the written consent of each nominee to be named in a proxy statement and to serve as a director of the Corporation if so elected.
               (c)  General .
               (i) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 shall be eligible to serve as directors. Only such business shall be conducted at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting as shall have been brought before such meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 12, to declare that such defective proposal shall be disregarded.
               (ii) For purposes of this Section 12, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
               (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to limit the Corporation’s obligation to include shareholder proposals in its proxy statement if such inclusion is required by Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
      Section 1 . General Powers and Number . All corporate powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation managed under, the direction of its Board of Directors, which shall consist of eight (8) directors. The Board of Directors shall elect one of its members as Chairman, who, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and Board of Directors.
      Section 2 . Tenure and Qualifications . Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders at which his term expires and until his successor shall have been elected, or until his prior death, resignation or removal. A director shall not be eligible to stand for re-election at any annual meeting of shareholders following his 72 nd birthday. A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice which complies with the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law to the Board of Directors, to the Chairman of the Board, if any, or to the Corporation. A director’s resignation is effective when such notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later date. Directors need not be residents of the State of Wisconsin or shareholders of the Corporation.
      Section 3 . Regular Meetings . A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this By-law immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of shareholders, and each adjourned session thereof. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of Wisconsin, for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
      Section 4 . Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, Secretary or any two directors. The person or persons calling any special meeting of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of Wisconsin, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them, and if no other place is fixed, the place of meeting shall be the principal business office of the Corporation in the State of Wisconsin.

 


 

      Section 5 . Notice; waiver . Notice of each meeting of the Board of Directors (unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to Section 4, Article II) shall be given by written notice delivered personally or given by telegram, teletype, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting or mailed or delivered by private carrier not less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting to each director at his business address or at such other address as such director shall have designated in writing filed with the Secretary. If mailed or delivered by a private carrier, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail or delivered to the private carrier so addressed, with postage or delivery cost thereon prepaid. If notice be given by telegram, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company. If notice be given by teletype, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when evidence of its transmittal is received. Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given to any director of the Corporation under the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or any provision of law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed at any time, whether before or after the time of meeting, by the director entitled to such notice, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting and objects thereat to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
      Section 6 . Quorum . A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; and, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or these By-laws, a majority of the votes cast at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present shall be decisive of any action. A majority of the directors present at a meeting, though less than quorum, may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.
      Section 7 . Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors, may be filled until the next succeeding annual election by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors; provided, that in case of a vacancy created by the removal of a director by vote of the shareholders, the shareholders shall have the right to fill such vacancy at the same meeting or any adjournment thereof.
      Section 8 . Compensation . The Board of Directors, by affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and irrespective of any personal interest of any of its members, may establish reasonable compensation of all directors for services to the Corporation as directors, officers or otherwise, or may delegate such authority to an appropriate committee. The Board of Directors also shall have authority to provide for or to delegate authority to an appropriate committee to provide for reasonable pensions, disability or death benefits, and other benefits or payments, to directors, officers and employees and to their estates, families, dependents or beneficiaries on account of prior services rendered by such directors, officers and employees to the Corporation.
      Section 9 . Presumption of Assent . A director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof of which he is a member at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
      Section 10 . Committees . The Board of Directors by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the number of directors set forth in Section 1 of this Article II may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of three or more directors elected by the Board of Directors, which shall have and may exercise, when the Board of Directors is not in session, the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, in the committee’s designated area of responsibility, except action in respect to dividends to shareholders, election of the principal officers or the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors or committees created pursuant to this section, with respect to the approval or proposal of actions that the law requires to be approved by the shareholders, amendment of the Articles of Incorporation, the adoption, amendment or repeal of the by-laws, the approval of a plan of merger not requiring shareholder approval, the authorization or approval of the re-acquisition of shares other than according to a method prescribed by the Board of Directors, and the authorization for approval of the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or the determination of the designation and relative rights, preferences and limitations

 


 

of a class or series of shares, unless authorized to do so by the Board of Directors within prescribed limits. The Board of Directors may elect one or more of its members as alternate members of any such committee who may take the place of any absent member or members at any meeting of such committee, upon request by the Chairman or upon request by the chairman of such meeting. Each such committee shall fix its own rules governing the conduct of its activities and shall make such reports to the Board of Directors of its activities as the Board of Directors may request.
      Section 11 . Unanimous Consent Without Meeting . Any action required or permitted by the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or any provision of law to be taken by the Board of Directors at a meeting or by resolution may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office.
      Section 12 . Telephonic Meetings . Notwithstanding any place set forth in the notice of the meeting or these By-laws, members of the Board of Directors may participate in regular or special meetings of the Board of Directors and all Committees of the Board of Directors by or through the use of any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other, such as by conference telephone; provided, however, that the Chairman of the Board or the chairman of the respective Committee and the Board or other person or persons calling a meeting may determine that the directors cannot participate by such means, in which case the notice of the meeting, or other notice to directors given prior to the meeting, shall state that each director’s physical presence shall be required. If a meeting is conducted through the use of such means of communication, then at the commencement of such meeting all participating directors shall be informed that a meeting is taking place at which official business may be transacted. A director participating in a meeting by such means shall be deemed present in person at such meeting.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
      Section 1 . General Officers . The general officers of the Corporation shall be the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Controller, and one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors and shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall exercise general supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation subject to the directives of the Board of Directors. Further, each general officer shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to his or her respective office; provided, that such powers and duties may from time to time be modified, enlarged, restricted or augmented by the Board of Directors.
      Section 2 . Additional Officers . The Board of Directors may appoint such additional corporate officers as it may deem necessary, each of whom shall have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors, and shall serve for such terms as the Board may fix.
      Section 3 . Removal of Officers . Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment, the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
      Section 4 . Vacancies . A vacancy in any principal office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term. The resignation of an officer by the delivery of written notice to the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary of the Corporation is effective upon delivery of the notice, unless the notice specifies a later date and the Corporation accepts the later date.

 


 

ARTICLE IV
SPECIAL CORPORATE ACTS
      Section 1 . Voting of Securities Owned by This Corporation . Subject always to the specific directions of the Board of Directors, (a) any shares or other securities issued by any other corporation and owned or controlled by this Corporation may be voted at any meeting of security holders of such other corporation by the Chairman of this Corporation if he be present, or in his absence by the President or any Vice President of this Corporation who may be present, and (b) whenever, in the judgment of the Chairman, or in his absence, of the President or any Vice President, it is desirable for this Corporation to execute a proxy or give a shareholder’s consent in respect to any shares or other securities issued by any other corporation and owned by this Corporation, such proxy or consent shall be executed in the name of this Corporation by the Chairman, or the President or one of the Vice Presidents of this Corporation without necessity of any authorization by the Board of Directors, affixation of corporate seal or countersignature or attestation by another officer. Any person or persons designated in the manner above stated as the proxy or proxies of this Corporation shall have full right, power and authority to vote the share or shares of stock issued by such other corporation and owned by this Corporation the same as such share or shares might be voted by this Corporation.
      Section 2 . Contracts . The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute or deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authorization may be general or confined to specific instances. In the absence of other designation, all deeds, mortgages, and instruments of assignment or pledge made by the Corporation shall be executed in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or the President or one of the Vice Presidents and by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, when necessary or required, shall affix the corporate seal thereto; and when so executed no other party to such instrument or any third party shall be required to make any inquiry into the authority of the signing officer or officers.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER
      Section 1 . Certificates for Shares; Shares Without Certificates . Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be signed by the Chairman or the President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation for transfer shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and canceled, except as provided in Section 6 of this Article V. Shares of the Corporation may also be issued, without certificates to the full extent such issuance is allowed by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (or any applicable stock exchange on which the shares are listed). To the extent required by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of shares without a certificate, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice that shall set forth (a) the name of the Corporation; (b) that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin; (c) the name of the shareholder; (d) the number and class (and the designation of the series, if any) of the shares represented; (e) if applicable, a summary of the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations applicable to each class, and, if applicable, the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series and the authority of the Board of Directors to determine variations for future series (or a conspicuous statement that upon written request the Corporation will furnish the shareholder with this information without charge); and (f) if applicable, any restrictions on the transfer or registration of such shares of stock imposed by the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, these By-laws, any agreement among shareholders or any agreement between shareholders and the Corporation.
      Section 2 . Facsimile Signatures and Seal . The seal of the corporation on any certificates for shares may be a facsimile. The signatures of the Chairman or President or Vice President and the Secretary or

 


 

Assistant Secretary upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent, or registered by a registrar, other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation.
      Section 3 . Signature by Former Officers . In case any officer, who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any certificate for shares, shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issue.
      Section 4 . Transfer of Shares . Prior to due presentment of shares for registration of transfer the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such shares as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. Where shares are presented to the Corporation with a request to register for transfer, the Corporation shall not be liable to the owner or any other person suffering loss as a result of such registration of transfer if (a) there were on or with the certificate the necessary endorsements, or with respect to uncertificated shares, proper transfer instructions are received, and (b) the Corporation had no duty to inquire into adverse claims or has discharged any such duty. The Corporation may require reasonable assurance that said endorsements or transfer instructions are genuine and effective and in compliance with such other regulations as may be prescribed under the authority of the Board of Directors.
      Section 5 . Restrictions on Transfer . The face or reverse side of each certificate representing shares shall bear a conspicuous notation of any restriction imposed by the Corporation upon the transfer of such shares.
      Section 6 . Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates . Where the owner claims that his certificate for shares has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, then the Corporation may issue, in its discretion, a new certificate or certificates of stock or uncertificated shares in place thereof, if the owner (a) so requests before the Corporation has notice that such shares have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, and (b) files with the Corporation a sufficient indemnity bond, and (c) satisfied such other reasonable requirements as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
      Section 7 . Consideration for Shares . The shares of the Corporation may be issued for such consideration as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, provided that any shares having a par value shall not be issued for a consideration less than the par value thereof. The consideration to be paid for shares may be paid in whole or in part, in money, in other property, tangible or intangible, or in labor or services actually performed for the Corporation. When payment of the consideration for which shares are to be issued shall have been received by the Corporation, such shares shall be deemed to be fully paid and nonassessable by the Corporation. No share shall be issued until such share is fully paid.
      Section 8 . Stock Regulations . The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such further rules and regulations not inconsistent with the statutes of the State of Wisconsin as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
CORPORATE SEAL
     The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal which shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the state of incorporation and the words, “Corporate Seal”.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
      Section 1 . By Shareholders . These By-laws may be altered, amended, repealed, augmented and new By-laws may be adopted by the shareholders by affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes represented by the shares present or represented at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders at which a quorum is in attendance.

 


 

      Section 2 . By Directors . These By-laws may also be altered, amended, repealed, augmented and new By-laws may be adopted by the Board of Directors by affirmative vote of a majority of the number of directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance; but no By-law adopted by the shareholders shall be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors if the By-law so adopted so provides.
      Section 3 . Implied Amendments . Any action taken or authorized by the shareholders or by the Board of Directors, which would be inconsistent with the By-laws then in effect but is taken or authorized by affirmative vote of not less than the number of shares or the number of directors required to amend the By-laws so that the By-laws would be consistent with such action, shall be given the same effect as though the By-laws had been temporarily amended or suspended so far, but only so far, as is necessary to permit the specific action so taken or authorized.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
      Section 1.01 . Certain Definitions . All capitalized terms used in this Article VIII and not otherwise hereinafter defined in this Section 1.01 shall have the meaning set forth in Section 180.0850 of the Statute (as hereinafter defined). The following capitalized terms (including any plural forms thereof) used in this Article VIII shall be defined as follows:
               (a) “Affiliate” shall include, without limitation, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation.
               (b) “Authority” shall mean the entity selected by the Director or Officer to determine his or her right to indemnification pursuant to Section 1.04 of this Article.
               (c) “Board” shall mean the entire then elected and serving board of directors of the Corporation, including all members thereof who are Parties to the subject Proceeding or any related Proceeding.
               (d) “Breach of Duty” shall mean the Director or Officer breached or failed to perform his or her duties to the Corporation and his or her breach of or failure to perform those duties is determined, in accordance with Section 1.04 of this Article, to constitute misconduct under Section 180.0851 (2) (a) 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the Statute.
               (e) “Corporation, “ as used herein and as defined in the Statute and incorporated by reference into the definitions of certain capitalized terms used herein, shall mean this Corporation, including, without limitation, any successor corporation or entity to the Corporation by way of merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of this Corporation.
               (f) “Director or Officer” shall have the meaning set forth in the Statute; provided, that, for purposes of this Article, it shall be conclusively presumed that any Director or Officer serving as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member of any governing or decision-making committee, employee or agent of an Affiliate shall be so serving at the request of the Corporation.
               (g) “Disinterested Quorum” shall mean a quorum of the Board who are not Parties to the subject Proceeding or any related Proceeding.
               (h) “Party” shall have the meaning set forth in the Statute; provided, that, for purposes of this Article, the term “Party” shall also include any Director, Officer or employee who is or was a witness in a Proceeding at a time when he or she has not otherwise been formally named a Party thereto.
               (i) “Proceeding” shall have the meaning set forth in the Statute; provided, that, for purposes of this Article, “Proceeding” shall include all Proceedings (i) brought under (in whole or in part) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, their respective state counterparts, and/or any rule or regulation promulgated under any of the foregoing; (ii) brought before an Authority or otherwise to enforce rights hereunder; (iii) any appeal from a Proceeding; and (iv) any Proceeding in which the

 


 

Director or Officer is a plaintiff or petitioner because he or she is a Director or Officer, provided, however, that such Proceeding is authorized by a majority vote of a Disinterested Quorum.
               (j) “Statute” shall mean Sections 180.0850 through 180.0859, inclusive, of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes, including any amendments thereto, but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent such amendment permits or requires the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than the Statute permitted or required the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment.
      Section 1.02 . Mandatory Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted or required by the Statute, the Corporation shall indemnify a Director or Officer against all Liabilities incurred by or on behalf of such Director or Officer in connection with a Proceeding in which the Director or Officer is a Party because he or she is a Director or Officer.
      Section 1.03 . Procedural Requirements .
     (a) A Director or Officer who seeks indemnification under Section 1.02 of this Article shall make a written request therefor to the Corporation. Subject to Section 1.03 (b) of this Article, within sixty days of the Corporation’s receipt of such request, the Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Director or Officer for the entire amount of Liabilities incurred by the Director or Officer in connection with the subject Proceeding (net of any Expenses previously advanced pursuant to Section 1.05 of this Article).
     (b) No indemnification shall be required to be paid by the Corporation pursuant to Section 1.03 (a) of this Article if, within such sixty-day period: (i) a Disinterested Quorum, by a majority vote thereof, determines that the Director or Officer requesting indemnification engaged in misconduct constituting a Breach of Duty; or (ii) a Disinterested Quorum cannot be obtained.
     (c) In either case of nonpayment pursuant to Section 1.03 (b) of this Article, the Board shall immediately authorize by resolution that an Authority, as provided in Section 1.04 of this Article, determine whether the Director’s or Officer’s conduct constituted a Breach of Duty and, therefore, whether indemnification should be denied hereunder.
     (d) (i) If the Board does not authorize an Authority to determine the Director’s or Officer’s right to indemnification hereunder within such sixty-day period and/or (ii) if indemnification of the requested amount of Liabilities is paid by the Corporation, then it shall be conclusively presumed for all purposes that a Disinterested Quorum has determined that the Director or Officer did not engage in misconduct constituting a Breach of Duty and, in the case of subsection (i) above (but not subsection (ii)), indemnification by the Corporation of the requested amount of Liabilities shall be paid to the Officer or Director immediately.
      Section 1.04 . Determination of Indemnification .
     (a) When the Board authorized an Authority to determine a Director’s or Officer’s right to indemnification pursuant to Section 1.03 of this Article, then the Director or Officer requesting indemnification shall have the absolute discretionary authority to select one of the following as such Authority:
          (i) An independent legal counsel; provided, that such counsel shall be mutually selected by such Director or Officer and by a majority vote of a Disinterested Quorum or, if a Disinterested Quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of the Board;
          (ii) A panel of three arbitrators selected from the panels of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; provided, that (A) one arbitrator shall be selected by such Director or Officer, the second arbitrator shall be selected by a majority vote of a Disinterested Quorum or, if a Disinterested Quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of the Board, and the third arbitrator shall be selected by the two previously selected arbitrators; and (B) in all other respects, such panel shall be governed by the American Arbitration Association’s then existing Commercial Arbitration Rules; or
          (iii) A court pursuant to and in accordance with Section 180.0854 of the Statute.

 


 

     (b) In any such determination by the selected Authority there shall exist a rebuttable presumption that the Director’s or Officer’s conduct did not constitute a Breach of Duty and that indemnification against the requested amount of Liabilities is required. The burden of rebutting such a presumption by clear and convincing evidence shall be on the Corporation or such other party asserting that such indemnification should not be allowed.
     (c) The Authority shall make its determination within sixty days of being selected and shall submit a written opinion of its conclusion simultaneously to both the Corporation and the Director or Officer.
     (d) If the Authority determines that indemnification is required hereunder, the Corporation shall pay the entire requested amount of Liabilities (net of any Expenses previously advanced pursuant to Section 1.05 of this Article), including interest thereon at a reasonable rate, as determined by the Authority, within ten days of receipt of the Authority’s opinion; provided, that, if it is determined by the Authority that a Director or Officer is entitled to indemnification as to some claims, issues or matters, but not as to other claims, issues or matters, involved in the subject Proceeding, the Corporation shall be required to pay (as set forth above) only the amount of such requested Liabilities as the Authority shall deem appropriate in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding.
     (e) The determination by the Authority that indemnification is required hereunder shall be binding upon the Corporation regardless of any prior determination that the Director or Officer engaged in a Breach of Duty.
     (f) All Expenses incurred in the determination process under this Section 1.04 by either the Corporation or the Director or Officer, including, without limitation, all Expenses of the selected Authority, shall be paid by the Corporation.
      Section 1.05 . Mandatory Allowance of Expenses .
     (a) The Corporation shall pay or reimburse, within ten days after the receipt of the Director’s or Officer’s written request therefor, the reasonable Expenses of the Director or Officer as such Expenses are incurred, provided the following conditions are satisfied:
          (i) The Director or Officer furnishes to the Corporation an executed written certificate affirming his or her good faith belief that he or she has not engaged in misconduct which constitutes a Breach of Duty; and
          (ii) The Director or Officer furnishes to the Corporation an unsecured executed written agreement to repay any advances made under this Section 1.05 if it is ultimately determined by an Authority that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation for such Expenses pursuant to Section 1.04 of this Article.
     (b) If the Director or Officer must repay any previously advanced Expenses pursuant to this Section 1.05, such Director or Officer shall not be required to pay interest on such amounts.
      Section 1.06 . Indemnification and Allowance of Expenses of Certain Others .
     (a) The Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer of an Affiliate (who is not otherwise serving as a Director or Officer) against all Liabilities, and shall advance the reasonable Expenses, incurred by such director or officer in a Proceeding to the same extent hereunder as if such director or officer incurred such Liabilities because he or she was a Director or Officer, if such director or officer is a Party thereto because he or she is or was a director or officer of the Affiliate.
     (b) Except as hereinafter provided, the Corporation shall indemnify each employee of the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation acting within the scope of his or her duties as such, against all Liabilities, and shall advance Reasonable Expenses, incurred by or on behalf of such employee in connection with a Proceeding in which he or she is a Party by virtue of being an employee of the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation, to the same extent and in the same manner as a Director or Officer hereunder. The foregoing provision shall not apply, and the Corporation shall not indemnify any employee, with respect to any Liability to the extent covered by insurance maintained by or on behalf of such employee (other than insurance maintained by the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation).

 


 

     (c) The Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion as it deems appropriate, pursuant to a majority vote thereof, indemnify against Liabilities incurred by, and/or provide for the allowance of reasonable Expenses of, an authorized agent of the Corporation acting within the scope of his or her duties as such and who is not otherwise a Director or Officer.
      Section 1.07 . Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a Director, Officer and/or any individual who is or was an authorized employee or agent of the Corporation against any Liability asserted against or incurred by such individual in his or her capacity as such or arising from his or her status as such, regardless of whether the Corporation is required or permitted to indemnify against any such Liability under this Article.
      Section 1.08 . Notice to the Corporation . A Director, Officer or employee shall promptly notify the Corporation in writing when he or she has actual knowledge of a Proceeding which may result in a claim or indemnification against Liabilities or allowance of Expenses hereunder, but the failure to do so shall not relieve the Corporation of any liability to the Director, Officer or employee hereunder unless the Corporation shall have been irreparably prejudiced by such failure (as determined by an Authority).
      Section 1.09 . Report to Shareholders . In the event that the Corporation indemnifies or advances expenses to a Director or Officer in connection with a proceeding brought in the right of the Corporation, the Corporation shall report the indemnification or advance in writing to shareholders with or before the notice of the next meeting of shareholders. The report shall be delivered to shareholders who are entitled to receive notice of the next meeting of shareholders.
      Section 1.10 . Severability . If any provision of this Article shall be deemed invalid or inoperative, or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any of the provisions of this Article contravene public policy, this Article shall be construed so that the remaining provisions shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and any such provisions which are invalid or inoperative or which contravene public policy shall be deemed, without further action or deed by or on behalf of the Corporation, to be modified, amended and/or limited, but only to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable.
      Section 1.11 . Nonexclusivity of this Article . The rights of a Director, Officer or employee (or any other person) granted under this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to indemnification against Liabilities or advancement of Expenses which the Director, Officer or employee (or such other person) may be entitled to under any written agreement, Board resolution, vote of shareholders of the Corporation or otherwise, including without limitation under the Statute. Nothing contained in this Article shall be deemed to limit the Corporation’s obligations to indemnify a Director, Officer or employee under the Statute.
      Section 1.12 . Contractual Nature of this Article; Repeal or Limitation of Rights . This Article shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director, Officer and employee and any repeal or other limitation of this Article or any repeal or limitation of the Statute or any other applicable law shall not limit any rights of indemnification against Liabilities or allowance of Expenses then existing or arising out of events, acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or limitation, including, without limitation, the right of indemnification against Liabilities or allowance of Expenses for Proceedings commenced after such repeal or limitation to enforce this Article with regard to acts, omissions or events arising prior to such repeal or limitation.
      Section 1.13 . Subrogation Rights . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary set forth herein, the Corporation’s obligations hereunder are not intended to constitute, and shall not constitute, a waiver of any right to subrogation which the Corporation may have against any person or entity.

 

Exhibit 4.1
Loan Agreement dated November 1, 2008 between Badger Meter, Inc. and the M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank relating to Badger Meter’s revolving credit loan.
M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK
PROMISSORY NOTE
                                                         
                    Loan   Call /            
Principal   Loan Date   Maturity   No.   Coll   Account   Officer   Initials
$30,000,000.00
  11-01-2008     10-31-2009                                          

References in the shaded area are for Lender’s use only and do not limit the applicability of this document to any particular loan or item. Any item above containing “***” has been omitted due to text length limitations.
             
Borrower:
  Badger Meter, Inc.   Lender:   M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank
 
  4545 W. Brown Deer Rd.       SE Wisconsin Region Commercial Lending
 
  Milwaukee, WI 53223-2413       770 North Water Street
 
          Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
           
 
 
           
Principal Amount: $30,000,000.00       Date of Note: November 1, 2008
PROMISE TO PAY. Badger Meter, Inc. (“Borrower”) promises to pay to M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank (“Lender”), or order, in lawful money of the United States of America, the principal amount of Thirty Million & 00/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00) or so much as may be outstanding, together with interest on the unpaid outstanding principal balance of each advance. Interest shall be calculated from the date of each advance until repayment of each advance.
PAYMENT. Borrower will pay this loan in one payment of all outstanding principal plus all accrued unpaid interest on October 31, 2009. In addition, Borrower will pay regular monthly payments of all accrued unpaid interest due as of each payment date, beginning November 30, 2008, with all subsequent interest payments to be due on the same day of each month after that. Unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law, payments will be applied to Accrued Interest, Principal, Late Charges, and Escrow. Borrower will pay Lender at Lender’s address shown above or at such other place as Lender may designate in writing.
VARIABLE INTEREST RATE. The interest rate on this Note is subject to change from time to time based on changes in an independent index which is the British Bankers Association (BBA) LIBOR and reported by a major news service selected by Lender (such as Reuters, Bloomberg or Moneyline Telerate). If BBA LIBOR for the one month period is not provided or reported on the first day of a month because, for example, it is a weekend or holiday or for another reason, the One Month Libor Rate shall be established as of the preceding day on which a BBA LIBOR rate is provided for the one month period and reported by the selected news service (the “Index”). The Index is not necessarily the lowest rate charged by Lender on its loans. If the Index becomes unavailable during the term of this loan, Lender may designate a substitute index after notice to Borrower. Lender will tell Borrower the current Index rate upon Borrower’s request. The interest rate change will not occur more often than each first day of each calendar month and will become effective without notice to the Borrower. The index currently is 4.003% per annum. The Index to be applied to the unpaid principal balance of this Note will be calculated as described in the “INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD” paragraph using a rate of 1.250 percentage points over the Index, resulting in an initial rate of 5.253% per annum based on a year of 360 days. NOTICE: Under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.
INTEREST CALCULATON METHOD. Interest on this Note is computed on a 365/360 basis; that is, by applying the ratio of the interest rate over a year of 360 days, multiplied by the outstanding principal balance, multiplied by the actual number of days the principal balance is outstanding. All interest payable under this Note is computed using this method. This calculation method results in a higher effective interest rate than the numeric interest rate stated in this Note.
PREPAYMENT. Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount owed earlier than it is due. Early payment will not, unless agreed to by Lender in writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower’s obligation to continue to make payments of accrued unpaid interest. Rather, early payments will reduce the principal balance due. Borrower agrees not to send Lender payments marked “paid in full”, “without recourse”, or similar language. If Borrower sends such a payment, Lender may accept it without losing any of Lender’s rights under this Note, and Borrower will remain obligated to pay any further amount owed to Lender. All written communications concerning disputed amounts, including any check or other payment instrument that indicates that the payment constitutes “payment in full” of the amount owed or that is tendered with other conditions or limitations or as full satisfaction of a disputed amount must be mailed or delivered to: M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank, P.O. Box 3114, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3114.
LATE CHARGE. If a payment is not made on or before the 10 th day after its due date, Borrower will be charged 5.000% of the unpaid portion of the regularly scheduled payment.
INTEREST AFTER DEFAULT. Upon default, including failure to pay upon final maturity, the interest rate on this Note shall be increased by adding a 3.000 percentage point margin (“Default Rate Margin”). The Default Rate Margin shall also apply to each succeeding interest rate

 


 

change that would have applied had there been no default. However, in no event will the interest rate exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.
DEFAULT. Each of the following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”) under this Note:
     Payment Default. Borrower fails to make any payment when due under this Note.
     Other Defaults. Borrower fails to comply with or to perform any other term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in this Note or in any of the related documents or to comply with or to perform any term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in any other agreement between Lender and Borrower.
     Default in Favor of Third Parties. Borrower or any Grantor defaults under any loan, extension of credit, security agreement, purchase or sales agreement, or any other agreement, in favor of any other creditor or person that may materially affect any of Borrower’s property or Borrower’s ability to repay this Note or perform Borrower’s obligations under this Note or any of the related documents.
PROMISSORY NOTE
(Continued)
Loan No:                     Page 2
     False Statements. Any warranty, representation or statement made or furnished to Lender by Borrower or on Borrower’s behalf under this Note or the related documents is false or misleading in any material respect, either now or at the time made or furnished or becomes false or misleading at any time thereafter.
     Insolvency. The dissolution or termination of Borrower’s existence as a going business, the insolvency of Borrower, the appointment of a receiver for any part of Borrower’s property, any assignment for the benefit of creditors, any type of creditor workout, or the commencement of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws by or against Borrower.
     Creditor or Forfeiture Proceedings. Commencement of foreclosure or forfeiture proceedings, whether by judicial proceeding, self-help, repossession or any other method, by any creditor of Borrower or by any government agency against any collateral securing the loan. This includes a garnishment of any of Borrower’s accounts, including deposit accounts, with Lender. However, this Event of Default shall not apply if there is a good faith dispute by Borrower as to the validity or reasonableness of the claim which is the basis of the creditor or forfeiture proceeding and if Borrower gives Lender written notice of the creditor or forfeiture proceeding and deposits with Lender monies or a surety bond for the creditor or forfeiture proceeding, in an amount determined by Lender, in its sole discretion, as being an adequate reserve or bond for the dispute.
     Events Affecting Guarantor. Any of the preceding events occurs with respect to any guarantor, endorser, surety, or accommodation party of any of the indebtedness or any guarantor, endorser, surety, or accommodation party dies or becomes incompetent, or revokes or disputes the validity of, or liability under, any guaranty of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note.
     Change in Ownership. Any change in ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the common stock of Borrower.
Adverse Change. A material adverse change occurs in Borrower’s financial condition, or Lender believes the prospect of payment or performance of this Note is impaired.
     Insecurity. Lender in good faith believes itself insecure.
LENDER’S RIGHTS. Upon default, Lender may declare the entire unpaid principal balance on this Note and all accrued unpaid interest immediately due, and then Borrower will pay that amount.
ATTORNEY’S FEES; EXPENSES. Lender may hire or pay someone else to help collect this Note if Borrower does not pay. Borrower will pay Lender that amount. This includes, subject to any limits under applicable law, Lender’s attorney’s fees and Lender’s legal expenses, whether or not there is a lawsuit, including attorney’s fees, expenses for bankruptcy proceedings (including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay or injunction), and appeals. If not prohibited by applicable law, Borrower also will pay any court costs, in addition to all other sums provided by law.
JURY WAIVER. Lender and Borrower hereby waive the right to any jury trial in any action, proceeding, or counterclaim brought by either Lender or Borrower against the other.
GOVERNING LAW. This Note will be governed by federal law applicable to Lender and, to the extent not preempted by federal law, the laws of the State of Wisconsin without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. This Note has been accepted by Lender in the State of Wisconsin.
CHOICE OF VENUE. If there is a lawsuit, Borrower agrees upon Lender’s request to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of Milwaukee County, State of Wisconsin.
DISHONORED ITEM FEE. Borrower will pay a fee to Lender of $15.00 if Borrower makes a payment on Borrower’s loan and the check or preauthorized charge with which Borrower pays is later dishonored.
RIGHT OF SETOFF. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Lender reserves a right of setoff in all Borrower’s accounts with Lender (whether checking, savings, or some other account). This includes all accounts Borrower holds jointly with someone else and all accounts Borrower may open in the future. However, this does not include any IRA or Keogh accounts, or any trust accounts for which setoff would be prohibited by law. Borrower authorizes Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to charge or setoff all sums owing on the debt against any and all such accounts, and, at Lender’s option, to administratively freeze all such accounts to allow Lender to protect Lender’s charge and setoff rights provided in this paragraph.
LINE OF CREDIT. This Note evidences a revolving line of credit. Advances under this Note, as well as directions for payment from Borrower’s accounts, may be requested orally or in writing by Borrower or by an authorized person. Lender may, but need not, require that all oral requests be confirmed in writing. Borrower agrees to be liable for all sums either: (A) advanced in accordance with the instructions of an authorized person, or (B) credited to any of Borrower’s accounts with Lender. The unpaid principal balance owing on this Note at any time

 


 

may be evidenced by endorsements on this Note or by Lender’s internal records, including daily computer print-outs. Lender will have no obligation to advance funds under this Note if: (A) Borrower or any guarantor is in default under the terms of this Note or any agreement that Borrower or any guarantor has with Lender, including any agreement made in connection with the signing of this Note; (B) Borrower or any guarantor ceases doing business or is insolvent; (C) any guarantor seeks, claims or otherwise attempts to limit, modify or revoke such guarantor’s guarantee of this Note or any other loan with Lender; (D) Borrower has applied funds provided pursuant to this Note for purposes other than those authorized by Lender; or (E) Lender in good faith believes itself insecure.
SUCCESSOR INTERESTS. The terms of this Note shall be binding upon Borrower, and upon Borrower’s heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.
GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Note benefits Lender and its successors and assigns, and binds Borrower and Borrower’s heirs, successors, assigns, and representatives. If any part of this Note cannot be enforced, this fact will not affect the rest of the Note. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights or remedies under this Note without losing them. Borrower and any other person who signs, guarantees or endorses this Note, to the extent allowed by law, waive presentment, demand for payment, and notice of dishonor. Upon any change in the terms of this Note, and unless otherwise expressly stated in writing, no party who signs this Note, whether as maker, guarantor, accommodation maker or endorser, shall be released from liability. All such parties agree that Lender may renew or extend (repeatedly and for any length of time) this loan or release any party or guarantor or collateral; or impair, fail to realize upon or perfect Lender’s security interest in the collateral; and take any other action deemed necessary by Lender without the consent of or notice to anyone. All such parties also agree that Lender may modify this loan without the consent of or notice to anyone other than the party with whom the modification is made. The obligations under this Note are joint and several.
PROMISSORY NOTE
(Continued)
Loan No:                     Page 3
PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS NOTE, BORROWER READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING THE VARIABLE INTEREST RATE PROVISIONS. BORROWER AGREES TO THE TERMS OF THE NOTE.
BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED COPY OF THIS PROMISSORY NOTE.
BORROWER:
BADGER METER, INC.
             
By:
  /s/ Richard E. Johnson
 
        
    Senior Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  
 
           
By:
  /s/ Ronald H. Dix
 
       
    Senior Vice President — Administration    

 

Exhibit 4.2
Loan Agreement dated October 14, 2008 between Badger Meter, Inc. and the M&I Marshall & Ilsley
Bank relating to Badger Meter’s euro note.
BADGER METER, INC.
EURO NOTE
     
Euro 3,663,003
  Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 
  October 14, 2008
     1.  FOR VALUE RECEIVED , the undersigned, Badger Meter. Inc ., (hereinafter “Maker”), promises to pay to the order of M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank (hereinafter “Holder”) at 770 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, the principal sum of THREE MILLION, SIX HUNDRED-SIXTY-THREE THOUSAND, THREE EURO DOLLARS (Euro 3,663,003) on October 31, 2009 .
     Both principal and interest are to be made in Euro Dollars at the offices of M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank, Attention: Loan and Discount Department, 770 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, or at such other place as the holder shall designate in writing to the maker.
          Maker also agree(s) to pay interest from the date hereof on the unpaid principal balance from time to time outstanding at a rate per annum as follows: Interest shall be due and payable on the outstanding balance due or advanced hereunder at a per annum rate equal to the LIBOR INDEX RATE (EURO) plus the MARGIN. In the event and during such time as the BANK shall determine that a CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE has occurred, the interest rate on the borrowings evidenced by this Note shall adjust automatically without notice to a per annum rate equal to the BANK’s PRIME RATE. Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the maturity hereof, whether by acceleration, demand, default or otherwise interest shall accrue at a rate per annum, payable on demand, equal to the BANK’s PRIME RATE plus five percentage points until paid in full. CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE shall mean anyone or more of the following: (a) The British Bankers Association shall cease publishing “London Interbank Offered Rates (EUROS)” for a 30 day deposit period; (b) Any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for the BANK to make or offer loans based upon the LIBOR INDEX RATES (EUROS); or (c) The BANK shall determine any applicable law, rule, regulation, interpretation or directive applicable to the BANK has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return to the BANK on the loan evidenced by this Note to a level below that which the BANK would have achieved but for the loan utilizing the LIBOR INDEX RATES (EUROS). LIBOR INDEX RATE (EURO) shall mean for any applicable funding period the rate of interest (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) published by The British Bankers Association two business days prior to funding as the “London Interbank Offered Rate (EURO)” for Euro deposits of the applicable advance period. MARGIN shall mean 100 .basis points. Interest shall be payable at the end of each applicable advance period as billed to the Maker by the Holder hereof and shall be computed on the actual number of days on the basis of a year of 360 days. Each advance under this Note can be in 30-day increments for up to 360 days. Advances under this Note must be greater than or equal to $100,000.00 and cannot be prepaid. Should maker choose an advance period greater than 90 days, holder may increase the margin to adjust the interest rate to equate to the annual compounded rate if monthly interest payments were made.
     2. As used herein, the term “prime rate” shall mean the rate of interest announced from time to time by the Holder as its “prime rate,” such term being used only as a reference rate and not necessarily representing the lowest rate charged to any customer of Holder. In the event Holder ceases to use the term “prime rate” in setting a base rate of interest for commercial loans, the term “prime rate” as used herein shall be determined by reference to the rate used by Holder as its base rate of interest for commercial loans.
     3. It is agreed that time is of the essence in the performance of all obligations hereunder and under the Loan Documents. If Maker shall fail to make any payment hereunder when due, or upon the occurrence of an event of default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, agreements, covenants or conditions contained in the Loan Documents, then, or at any time thereafter, the entire principal balance of this Note, irrespective of the maturity date specified herein, together with the then accrued interest thereon, shall, at the election of the Holder hereof, and without notice of such election, become immediately due and payable.
     4. All Makers, endorsers, guarantors and sureties hereof jointly and severally waive presentment, protest, notice of dishonor, and notice of intent to accelerate; and they also jointly and severally hereby consent to any and all renewals, extensions or modifications of the terms hereof, including the terms or time for payment; and further agree that any such renewal, extension or modification of the terms hereof or time for payment or of the terms of any of the Loan Documents or the release or substitution of any security for the indebtedness evidenced hereby or any other indulgences shall not otherwise affect the liability of any of said parties for the indebtedness evidenced by this Note. Any such renewals, extensions or modifications may be made without notice to any of said parties.
     5. This Note shall be the joint and several obligation of all Makers, endorsers, guarantors, and sureties, and shall be binding upon them and their successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of Holder. All Makers, endorsers, guarantors, and sureties hereof agree jointly and severally to pay all costs of collection (including those incurred in any bankruptcy proceedings and regardless of whether suit is filed) and foreclosure, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
     6. Any forbearance of Holder in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or under the Loan Documents, or otherwise afforded by applicable law, shall not be a waiver of or preclude the exercise of any right or remedy. The acceptance by Holder of payment of any sum payable hereunder after the due date of such payment shall not be a waiver of Holder’s right to either require prompt payment when due of all other sums payable hereunder or to declare a default for failure to make prompt payment.
     7. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
     8. If any payment of principal or interest due on this Note is payable on a day which is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday in the State of Wisconsin, then such payment shall be due on the next business day, the amount of such payment, in such case, to include all interest accrued to the date of actual payment.

 


 

     9. No setoff or counterclaim of any kind claimed by any Maker, endorser, guarantor or surety liable under this Note shall stand as a defense to the enforcement of this Note against any Maker, endorser, guarantor or surety, it being agreed that any such setoff or counterclaim must be maintained by separate suit.
     10. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT, OR TO FOREBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND OR RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE. TO PROTECT YOU (MAKER(S) AND US (HOLDER) FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS WE REACH COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT.
     11. THE MAKER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY (WHICH THE HOLDER ALSO WAIVES) IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE, THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE MAKER HEREUNDER OR THE HOLDER’S CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF. Maker has executed this Note as of the date first above written.
                     
BADGER METER, INC.       M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK    
 
                   
By:
  /s/ Richard E. Johnson
 
      Title:   /s/ David C. Doran
 
   
Title:
  Senior VP — Finance, CFO & Treasurer       Title:   Vice President    
 
                   
By:
  /s/ Ronald H. Dix
 
      By:   /s/ Pat O’Connor
 
   
Title:
  Senior VP — Administration       Title   Senior Vice President    

 

Exhibit 31.1
Certification of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Rule 13a-14(a)
or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
I, Richard A. Meeusen, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Badger Meter, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  a.   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b.   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c.   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d.   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  a.   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b.   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
     
Dated: October 22, 2008  By   /s/ Richard A. Meeusen    
    Richard A. Meeusen   
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer   

 

         
Exhibit 31.2
Certification of Senior Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Rule 13a-14(a)
or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
I, Richard E. Johnson, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Badger Meter, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  a.   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b.   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c.   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d.   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  a.   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b.   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
     
Dated: October 22, 2008  By   /s/ Richard E. Johnson    
    Richard E. Johnson   
    Senior Vice President - Finance, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer 
 

 

         
Exhibit 32
Written Statement of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350
     Solely for the purpose of complying with 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Badger Meter, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”), hereby certify, based on our knowledge, that the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
         
     
Dated: October 22, 2008  By   /s/ Richard A. Meeusen    
    Richard A. Meeusen   
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer   
 
     
  By   /s/ Richard E. Johnson    
    Richard E. Johnson   
    Senior Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer