RATIORATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

     The table below shows the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for our company, which includes our subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

     For purposes of calculating the ratios,

	(1) earnings include:

	•	income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and change in accounting principle,plus
	•	equity in the net income (losses) of less-than-50% owned entities.

	(2) fixed charges include:

	•	interest expense incurred;
	•	amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs; and
	•	the interest component of rent.

     The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated as follows:

(Earnings) + (Fixed Charges)

The following table sets forth our ratioratios of earnings to fixed charges and to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the periods indicated:

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESindicated.

 The debt securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as

For purposes of November 28, 2003 between uscalculating these ratios, earnings is the amount resulting from adding (a) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and SunTrust Bank, as trustee. We have summarized selected provisions of the Indenture below. The summary is not complete. The Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the Indenture(b) fixed charges. Fixed charges for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the Indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meaning specified in the Indenture. You can obtain copies of the Indenture by following the directions described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

     The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amountpurposes include (a) interest expense, (b) amortization of debt securities that we may issueissuance costs, and provides that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. We may issue additional debt securities(c) one-third of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the Indenture. The Indenture also does not limit our ability to incur other debt and does not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants.

     A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

	•	the title of the debt securities;
	•	any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities;
	•	the maturity date or dates of the debt securities;
	•	the rate or rates of interest, which may be fixed or variable, per annum at which the debt securities will bear interest (including any contingent or similar interest), or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;
	•	the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue;
	•	the dates on which interest will be payable and the related record dates;
	•	the basis on which any interest will be calculated, if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
	•	whether payments of principal, premium or interest will be determined by any index, formula or other method and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;
	•	the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be payable if other than the location specified in this prospectus;
	•	any redemption dates, prices, rights (of holders or us), obligations and restrictions on the debt securities;
	•	any mandatory or optional sinking fund, purchase fund or analogous provisions;
	•	the security, if any, which may secure any debt securities;
	•	the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof;
	•	the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities payable upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities if other than the principal amount;
	•	the currency or currency unit in which principal, premium, if any, and interest will be paid if other than U.S. dollars;

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	•	whether we will issue the debt securities in permanent global form and the circumstances under which such permanent global debt security may be exchanged;
	•	any subordination provisions that will apply to the debt securities;
	•	any special tax, accounting or other special considerations, limitations or implications of the debt securities;
	•	any deletions from, changes in, modifications of or additions to the definitions, modification and waiver provisions, the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions, events of default, merger and consolidation provisions or the covenants specified in the Indenture, including additions of any restrictive covenants;
	•	the terms of any conversion rights attaching to the debt securities; and
	•	any other terms of the debt securities not specified in this prospectus, whether or not consistent with the terms of the Indenture (Section 3.01).

     Our debt securities may be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables and capital lease obligations) of our subsidiaries. This may affect your ability to receive payments on our debt securities.

     In addition, we may issue debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. We refer to these securities as Original Issue Discount Securities, which means any security that provides for an amount less than its principal amount to be due and payable upon the acceleration of its maturity. We will describe the federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any Original Issue Discount Securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof. Holders of debt securities will not pay any service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such registration or transfer.

Payment; Transfer

     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be transferable, at the corporate trust office of the trustee. However, interest may be paid at our option by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as it appears on the security register. We will have the right to require a holder of any debt security, in connection with any payment on the debt security, to certify information to us or, in the absence of such certification, we may rely on any legal presumption to enable us to determine our obligation, if any, to deduct or withhold taxes, assessments or governmental charges from such payment.

Events Of Default

Definition. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series is defined as any one of the following events:

	(a) failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due and payable, continued for 30 days;
	(b) failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;
	(c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any debt security of that series;

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	(d) failure to perform any other covenant in the Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), continued for 90 days after written notice as provided in the Indenture;
	(e) the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of our company by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case under federal or state bankruptcy laws and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;
	(f) the commencement by us of a voluntary case under federal or state bankruptcy laws or the consent by us to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law; and
	(g) any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series (Section 5.01).

     An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. Each series will have separate rights upon an event of default.

Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may by notice in writing to us declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, if an Event of Default described in clauses (e) or (f) above with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then all of the debt securities of that series shall become immediately due and payable without any further act by us, any holder or the trustee. At any time after a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration (Section 5.02).

     In the event of a payment or covenant default with respect to debt securities, the trustee, subject to certain limitations and conditions, may institute judicial proceedings to enforce the payment of any amount due or the performance of such covenant or any other proper remedy (Section 5.03). Under certain circumstances, the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of a default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the best interest of such holders, and the trustee shall withhold such notice for certain defaults for a period of 30 days (Section 6.02).

Obligations of Trustee. The Indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders shall have offered to such trustee reasonable security or indemnity (Section 6.03). Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee and to certain other conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on such trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series. However, the trustee may decline to act if the holders’ direction violates any law or the Indenture, would unduly prejudice the right of other holders or would involve such trustee in personal liability (Section 5.12).

     No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any remedy, unless:

	•	the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series;

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	•	the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee;
	•	the trustee has not received an inconsistent direction from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during the 60 day period set forth below; and
	•	the trustee has failed to institute the requested proceeding within 60 days (Section 5.07).

     However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such debt security on the due dates expressed in such debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment (Section 5.08).

     Under the Indenture we must furnish to the trustee annually a statement regarding our performance of certain of our obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in such performance (Section 10.05).

Satisfaction And Discharge

     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the Indenture will cease to be of further effect, and we will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, when the following conditions have been satisfied:

	��	all debt securities of that series not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity or on a redemption date within one year;
	•	we deposit with the trustee, in trust, funds sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series that had not been previously delivered for cancellation, for the principal and interest to the date of the deposit (for debt securities that have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be (for debt securities that have not become due and payable);
	•	we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture in respect of that series; and
	•	we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel, each stating that all these conditions have been complied with.

Defeasance And Covenant Defeasance

     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the Indenture provides that we may choose to deposit in trust with the trustee cash and/or government securities in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay all sums due on any series of debt securities. If we make this deposit, then, at our option, we:

	(1) will be deemed to have satisfied and paid all of our obligations in respect of the debt securities of a particular series; or
	(2) will not need to comply with certain restrictive covenants contained in the Indenture and the occurrence of a covenant default will no longer be an Event of Default with respect to such series of debt securities, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

     Such a trust may only be established if, among other things,

	•	no Event of Default exists or occurs as a result of such deposit; and
	•	we deliver an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit.

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     If we exercise our covenant defeasance option with respect to any series of debt securities and the maturity of that series is accelerated upon an Event of Default, the amount of cash and government securities on deposit with the trustee may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of the acceleration. However, we will remain liable with respect to such payments (Article 13).

Modification And Waiver

     We and the trustee may modify and amend the Indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, however, we may not, without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected:

	•	change the maturity date of the principal of, or interest on, any debt security;
	•	reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or rate of interest on, any debt security;
	•	reduce the amount of principal of any debt securities, including an Original Issue Discount Security, payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
	•	change the place or currency of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any debt security;
	•	in the case of subordinated debt securities, modify the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of any debt security;
	•	in the case of senior debt securities, subordinate the securities to any other indebtedness;
	•	impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any debt security; or
	•	reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series required to modify or amend either Indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of, or defaults under, the Indenture (Section 9.02).

     The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture (Section 10.06).

     The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the Indenture, except:

	•	a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any debt security of that series; or
	•	a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under such Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each debt security of the series affected (Section 5.13).

     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the Indenture will also describe certain actions that we may take to amend or supplement the Indenture without the consent of holders of debt securities of any series.

Consolidation, Merger And Transfer Of Assets

     We may consolidate with or merge into, or transfer our assets substantially as an entirety to, any corporation organized under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia, provided that:

	•	either we are the surviving corporation, or the successor corporation expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the Indenture;

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	•	after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
	•	certain other conditions are met (Section 8.01).

Trustee

     The trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series (Section 6.10). In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each such trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the Indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other such trustee, and any action described herein to be taken by the “trustee” may then be taken by each such trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee (Section 6.11).

     The Indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act incorporated by reference in the Indenture contain limitations on the rights of the trustee under the Indenture, should it become a creditor of our company, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claims, as security or otherwise. The trustee under the Indenture is permitted to engage in other transactions. However, if the trustee under the Indenture acquires any prohibited conflicting interest, it must eliminate the conflict or resign.

     The trustee makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or the sufficiency of any of the information contained in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, except that which specifically relates to the trustee itself, or of any information incorporated herein by reference.

Book-Entry Securities

     The debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more book-entry securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (Section 3.01). In such a case, one or more book-entry securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the series to be represented by such book-entry security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a book-entry security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such book-entry security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any such nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of such successor (Section 3.05).

     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a book-entry security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

     Upon the issuance of a book-entry security, the depositary for such book-entry security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such book-entry security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such depositary, or participants. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters or agents with respect to such debt securities or by us if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the depositary’s system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly,rental expense, which we refer to as indirect participants. Persons who are not participants may beneficially own book-entry securities held by the depositary only through participants or indirect participants.

     Ownership of beneficial interests in any book-entry security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee with respect to interests of participants for such book-entry security and on the records of participants with respect to

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     So long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a book-entry security, such depositary or such nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such book-entry security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in debt securities represented by book-entry securities will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by such book-entry security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such debt securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.

     Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on debt securities registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the book-entry security representing such debt securities. We expect that the depositary for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the book-entry security for such debt securities, as shown on the records of such depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants and indirect participants to owners of beneficial interests in such book-entry security held through such persons will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities registered in “street name”, and will be the responsibility of such participants and indirect participants. Neither us, the trustee, any authenticating agent, any paying agent, nor the security registrar for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the book-entry security for such debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests (Section 3.11).

     If the depositary for debt securities of a series notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if at any time the depositary ceasesconsider to be a clearing agency registered underreasonable approximation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,interest factor included in rental expense. Currently, we have agreed to appoint a successor depositary. If such a successor isno shares of preferred stock outstanding and we have not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue debt securities of such series in definitive registered form in exchange for the book-entry security representing such series of debt securities. In addition, we may atpaid any time and in our sole discretion determine that the debt securities of any series issueddividends on preferred stock in the formperiods presented. Therefore, the ratios of one or more book-entry securities shall no longer be represented by such book-entry security or debt securitiesearnings to combined fixed charges and in such event, will issue debt securitiespreferred stock dividends are not different from the ratios of such series in definitive registered form in exchange for such book-entry security or securities representing such series of debt securities. Further, if we so specify with respectearnings to the debt securities of a series, or if an Event of Default, or an event which with notice, lapse of time or both would be an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of such series has occurred and is continuing, an owner of a beneficial interest in a book-entry security representing debt securities of such series may receive debt securities of such series in definitive registered form. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a book-entry security will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive registered form of debt securities of the series represented by such book-entry security equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such debt securities registered in its name (Section 3.05).

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMONCAPITAL STOCK

     We have summarized certain terms and provisionsOur authorized capital stock consists of our common stock in this section. The summary is not complete. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the common stock offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to that common stock. We have filed our restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement and you should read our restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws for information that may be important to you. You can obtain copies of our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws by following the directions described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Authorized and Issued Shares. Under our restated certificate of incorporation, we can issue an aggregate of 80,000,000350,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

The following descriptions are summaries of the material terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws. Reference is made to the more detailed provisions of, and the descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, copies of which are filed with the SEC.

Common Stock

As of SeptemberOctober 30, 20042015, there were 37,115,212100,805,189 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and nooutstanding.

Voting. Each holder of shares of preferredour common stock outstanding.is entitled to one vote on each matter properly submitted to a vote of our stockholders.

Dividends.Dividend Rights. Holders of common stock may receive dividends when declared by our board of directors out of our funds that we can legally use to pay dividends. We may pay dividends in cash, stock or other property. In certain cases, holders of common stock may not receive dividends until we have satisfied our obligations to holders of any outstanding preferred stock.

Voting Rights. Each outstanding share of common stock will entitle the holder to five votes on each matter properly submitted to a vote of our stockholders; provided that any share of common stock which has been the subject of a change in beneficial ownership (as defined in our restated certificate of incorporation) during the four years preceding the record date for the stockholder vote in question will only be entitled to one vote. The occurrence of a change in beneficial ownership will be determined in accordance with parameters set out in our restated certificate of incorporation and with procedures that we may prescribe from time to time. Prior to a meeting of stockholders, we require that stockholders who believe they are entitled to exercise five votes on any shares of common stock held in “street name” provide us with written confirmation that they acquired those shares on or before the date four years prior to the record date for that meeting, and that no change of beneficial ownership has occurred since that date. In the absence of such a confirmation, the relevant shares will be entitled to one vote per share.

Other Rights.Rights. If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, holders of common stock will receive any remaining assets on a pro rata basis after we have provided for any liquidation preference for any outstanding shares of preferred stock. When we issue securities in the future, holders of common stock will not have preemptive rights to buy any portion of those issued securities.

Listing.Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ROP.” The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is WachoviaWells Fargo Bank, N.A., Charlotte, North Carolina.Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Fully Paid.Paid. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, which means that the full purchase price for the outstanding shares of common stock has been paid and the holders of such shares will not be assessed any additional monies for such shares. Any additional common stock that we may issue in the future pursuant to an offering under this prospectus will also be fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, without further stockholder action, our board of directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by the law of the State of Delaware, to provide for the issuance of the shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding).

Certain Anti-Takeover ProvisionsEffects of Delaware Law

General.General. Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylawsby-laws and applicable law may make it less likely that our management would be changed or someone would acquire our company without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions may delay, deter or prevent tender offers or takeover attempts that stockholders may believe are in their best interests, including tender offers or takeover attempts that might allow stockholders to receive a premium over the market price of their common stock.

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Time-Phased Voting. Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that each share of common stock that is beneficially owned by the same person for at least four years entitles the holder to five votes, and that each share beneficially owned for less than four years entitles the holder to one vote. The occurrence of a change in beneficial ownership will be determined in accordance with parameters set out in our restated certificate of incorporation and with procedures that we may prescribe from time to time.

Preferred Stock.Stock. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors can at any time, and without stockholder approval, issue one or more new series of preferred stock. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval could discourage or make more difficult attempts to take control of our company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. Preferred stock with special voting rights or other features issued to persons favoring our management could stop a takeover by preventing the person trying to take control of our company from acquiring enough voting shares necessary to take control.

     We have a shareholder rights plan whereby one preferred stock purchase right (a “right”) accompanies each outstanding share of common stock. Such rights only become exercisable, or transferable apart from the common stock, 10 business days after a person or group acquires various specified levels of beneficial ownership, with or without our board’s consent. Each right may be exercised to acquire one one-thousandth of a newly issued share of our series A preferred stock, at an exercise price of $170, subject to adjustment. Alternatively, upon the occurrence of certain specified events, the rights allow holders to purchase our common stock having a market value at such time of twice the right’s exercise price. We may redeem the rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per right at any time until the tenth business day following public announcement that a 20% position has been acquired or 10 business days after commencement of a tender or exchange offer. The rights expire on January 8, 2006.

Proposal and Nomination Procedures.Nominating Procedures. Stockholders can propose that business be considered at an annual meeting of stockholders, and, in addition to our board of directors, can nominate candidates for our board of directors. However, a stockholder must follow the advance notice procedures described in Section 81.08 of our amended and restated bylaws.by-laws. In general, a stockholder must submit a written notice of the proposal and the stockholder’s interest in the proposal, or of the nomination, to our corporate secretary at least 90 days and at most 120 days before the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year.

Removal of Directors.Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, until our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and only by an affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote for the election of directors. From and after the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, any director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors.

Amendment of Bylaws.By-laws. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws,by-laws, our board of directors can adopt, amend or repeal the bylawsby-laws by a majority vote of the directors then in office. Our stockholders also have the power to amend or repeal our bylawsamended and restated by-laws at any meeting at which a quorum is present by a vote of two-thirds of the number of shares of stock present and entitled to vote.vote present in person or by proxy at such meeting.

Business Combination Statute.Statute. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-heldpublicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in avarious “business combination” transactions with an “interested stockholder”any interested stockholder for a period of three years afterfollowing the date of the transactiontransactions in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless unless:

A “business combination” includesis defined to include mergers, asset sales, and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a merger, asset sale or other transaction involving the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions,In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or(or within three years, prior to the proposed business combination has owneddid own) 15% or more of thea corporation’s voting stock.

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND EQUITY UNITSDEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The applicabledebt securities will be issued under the indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of August 4, 2008, between Roper Technologies, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), in one or more series established from time to time in or pursuant to a board resolution and set forth in an officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms for the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. It does not include all of the provisions of the Indenture. We urge you to read the Indenture because it defines your rights. The terms of the debt securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). A copy of the Indenture may be obtained from us. You can find definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this description under “—Certain Definitions.”

General

The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities which we may issue. We have the right to “reopen” a previous issue of a series of debt securities by issuing additional debt securities of such series; provided, however, that if any additional debt securities are not fungible with the debt securities previously issued for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional debt securities will have a separate CUSIP or other identifying number. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time. The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other

unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding. Our secured debt, if any, will be effectively senior to the debt securities to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The debt securities will be exclusively our obligations and not of our subsidiaries and therefore the debt securities will be structurally subordinate to the debt and liabilities of any of our subsidiaries. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including:

Certain Covenants

The Indenture contains, among others, the following covenants:

Limitations on Liens

With respect to you. You can obtain copieseach series of debt securities, we will not issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a Lien upon any Principal Property or upon any of the Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any form of stock purchase contractour Significant Subsidiaries (whether such Principal Property, or Capital Stock or Indebtedness is now existing or owed or is hereafter created or acquired) without in any such case effectively providing, concurrently with the issuance, incurrence, creation, assumption or guaranty of any such secured Indebtedness, or the grant of such Lien, that the debt securities of the applicable series (together, if we shall so determine, with any other Indebtedness of or guarantee by us ranking equally with the debt securities) shall be secured equally and equity unitratably with (or, at our option, prior to) such secured Indebtedness. The foregoing restriction, however, will not apply to any of the following:

Notwithstanding the restrictions in the preceding paragraph, we will be permitted to incur Indebtedness, secured by Liens otherwise prohibited by this covenant, which, together with the value of Attributable Debt outstanding pursuant to the second paragraph of the “—Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” covenant below, do not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets measured at the date of incurrence of the Lien.

Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

We will not enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property, other than any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involving a lease for a term of not more than three years or any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction between us and one of our Subsidiaries or between our Subsidiaries, unless: we or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Principal Property involved in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, pursuant to the covenant described above under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.“—Limitation on Liens;” or (b) the proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value of the affected Principal Property (as determined in good faith by our board of directors) and we apply an amount equal to the net proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction within 365 days of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction to any (or a combination) of (i) the prepayment or retirement of the debt securities, (ii) the prepayment or retirement (other than any mandatory retirement, mandatory prepayment or sinking fund payment or by payment at maturity) of other Indebtedness of us or of one of our Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness that is subordinated to the debt securities or Indebtedness owed to us or one of our Subsidiaries) that matures more than 12 months after its creation or (iii) the purchase, construction, development, expansion or improvement of other comparable property.

Notwithstanding the restrictions in the preceding paragraph, we will be permitted to enter into Sale and Lease-Back Transactions otherwise prohibited by this covenant, which, together with all Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to the second paragraph of the “—Limitation on Liens” covenant above, do not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets measured at the closing date of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Limitation on Mergers and Other Transactions

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holdersnot merge or consolidate with any other person or persons (whether or not affiliated with us), and we may not sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our property or assets to purchase from us,any other person or persons (whether or not affiliated with us), unless the following conditions are satisfied:

The restrictions in the second and third bullets above shall not be applicable to:

In the case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other conveyance, but not a lease, in a transaction in which there is a successor entity, the successor entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, us under the Indenture and, subject to the terms of the Indenture, we will be released from the obligation to pay principal and interest on the debt securities and all obligations under the Indenture.

For purposes of the foregoing, if we consummate a Holding Company Reorganization, the newly formed holding company (New HoldCo, as defined below) shall be treated as the “successor person” and the Holding Company Reorganization shall constitute the transfer to New HoldCo of substantially all of our assets.

The Indenture provides that upon completion of the Holding Company Reorganization, Roper will be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the indenture and the Notes and New HoldCo will be the sole obligor on the debt securities.

“Holding Company Reorganization” shall mean a merger with and into a newly formed wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary (“MergerCo”), all of the equity interests of which shall be held by a newly formed wholly-owned, direct subsidiary (“New HoldCo”) of Roper, all of the equity interests of which shall be initially be held by Roper. Such merger shall be pursuant to Section 251(g) (or any successor provision) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and shall not require the vote of our stockholders. Each of our shares of common stock shall be converted into a right to receive one share of New HoldCo common stock, with identical terms and rights as our common stock immediately prior to such conversion.

Reports to Holders

The Indenture provides that any document or report that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act will be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after such document or report is filed with the SEC.

Events of Default

The following events are defined in the Indenture as “Events of Default” with respect to debt securities:

(1) the failure to pay interest on any debt securities when the same becomes due and payable and the Default continues for a period of 30 days;

(2) the failure to pay the principal (or premium, if any) of any debt securities, when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption or otherwise;

(3) a Default in the performance, or breach, of our obligations under the “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Mergers and Other Transactions” covenant described above;

(4) a Default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture which Default continues for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice specifying the Default (and demanding that such Default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of each series of debt securities affected, voting together as a single class;

(5) (a) a failure to make any payment at maturity on any of our Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to any of our Subsidiaries) outstanding in an amount in excess of $50 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time and continuance of this failure to pay after any applicable grace period or (b) a default on any of our Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to any of our Subsidiaries), which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness in an amount in excess of $50 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time without such Indebtedness having been discharged or the acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, in the case of clause (a) or (b) above; provided, however, that if any failure, default or acceleration referred to in clauses 5(a) or (b) ceases or is cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then the Event of Default under the Indenture will be deemed cured; or

(6) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency affecting us or any of our Significant Subsidiaries.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) above), shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of each series of debt securities affected, voting together as a single class, may declare the principal of and accrued interest on all such debt securities to be due and payable by notice in writing to us and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a “notice of acceleration”, and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (6) above occurs and is continuing, then all unpaid principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all debt securities shall automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

The Indenture provides that, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to one or more series of debt securities as described in the preceding paragraph, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of debt securities affected, voting together as a single class, (including additional debt securities of each such series, if any) may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;

(2) all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration;

(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;

(4) we have paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances; and

(5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (6) of the description above of Events of Default, the Trustee shall have received an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected, voting together as a single class, (including additional debt securities of each such series, if any) may waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the Indenture, and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any debt securities of a series.

The Holders may not enforce the Indenture except as provided in the Indenture and under the TIA. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders,

unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to all provisions of the Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a future datemajority in aggregate principal amount of each series of debt securities affected that is then outstanding, voting together as a single class, will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or dates. exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. Nothing herein shall impair the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the debt securities.

We will be required to provide an officer’s certificate to the Trustee promptly upon any such officer obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (provided that such officers shall provide such certification at least annually whether or not they know of any Default or Event of Default) that has occurred and, if applicable, describe such Default or Event of Default and the status thereof.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporator and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, agent, stockholder or affiliate of us or any of our Subsidiaries, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of us or any of our Subsidiaries under the debt securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the securities by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the debt securities.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may, fixat our option and at any time, elect to have our obligations discharged with respect to the priceoutstanding debt securities of a series (“Legal Defeasance”). Such Legal Defeasance means that we shall be deemed to have paid and numberdischarged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding debt securities of a series, except for:

(1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities when such payments are due;

(2) our obligations with respect to the debt securities concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments;

(3) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and our obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.

In addition, we may, at our option and at any time, elect to have our obligations released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the applicable series of debt securities. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization and insolvency events) described under “—Events of Default” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the debt securities of a series:

(1) we must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be;

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

(a) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

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

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

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

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings);

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under the Indenture (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings) or any other material agreement or instrument to which we or any of our Subsidiaries is a party or by which we or any our Subsidiaries is bound;

(6) we must deliver to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with;

(7) we must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that assuming no intervening bankruptcy of us between the date of deposit and the 91st day following the date of deposit and that no Holder is an insider of us, after the 91st day following the date of deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the stock purchase contractseffect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; and

(8) certain other customary conditions precedent are satisfied.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the applicable series of the debt securities, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding debt securities of a series, when:

(1) either:

(A) all of the applicable series of the debt securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed notes which have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by us and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all of the applicable series of debt securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (l) have become due and payable or (2) will become due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of

redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of us, and we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the applicable series of debt securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the applicable series of debt securities to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from us directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) we have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by us; and

(3) we have delivered to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.

Modification of the Indenture

From time to time, we issueand the stock purchase contractsTrustee, without the consent of the Holders, may amend the Indenture and the applicable series of debt securities for certain specified purposes, including:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or we mayinconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;

(3) to comply with the provisions described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Mergers and Other Transactions”;

(4) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(5) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee;

(6) to conform the text of the Indenture or the debt securities to any provision of this “Description of Debt Securities” or other description of the debt securities contained in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer and sale of such debt securities;

(7) to establish the form or terms of the debt securities of any series as permitted by the terms of the Indenture;

(8) to provide for the assumption by a successor corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company of our obligations under the Indenture, in each case in compliance with the provisions thereof; or

(9) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the price and numberHolders of the debt securities (including to secure the debt securities, add guarantees with respect thereto, to add to our covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us) or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder of the debt securities in any material respect.

In formulating its opinion on such matters, the Trustee will be determined pursuantentitled to rely on such evidence as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, solely on an opinion of counsel. Other modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made with the consent of the Holders of a formulamajority in principal amount of all then outstanding debt securities affected by such modification or amendment (including additional debt securities of each series affected, if any), except that, without the consent of each Holder affected thereby, no amendment may:

(1) reduce the principal amount of debt securities at maturity whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

(2) reduce the rate of, change or have the effect of changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any debt securities;

(3) reduce the principal of, change or have the effect of changing the fixed maturity of any debt securities, or change the date on which any debt securities may be subject to redemption or repurchase or reduce the redemption price or repurchase price therefor;

(4) make any debt securities payable in currency other than that stated in the debt securities or change the place of payment of the debt securities from that stated in the debt securities or in the Indenture;

(5) make any change in provisions of the Indenture protecting the right of each Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on such debt securities on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, or permitting Holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of debt securities affected (including additional debt securities of each such series, if any) to waive Defaults or Events of Default;

(6) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions; or

(7) make any change to or modify the ranking of the debt securities that would adversely affect the Holders.

The Trustee

The Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of its own affairs.

The Indenture and the provisions of the TIA contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of us, to obtain payments of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. Subject to the TIA, the Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; provided that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the TIA, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for the definition of all terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

“Attributable Debt” with regard to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property means, at the time of determination, the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid under such lease during the remaining term thereof (including any period for which such lease has been extended), discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of such lease (or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the weighted average interest rate per annum borne by the securities then outstanding under the Indenture) compounded semi-annually. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of (x) the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty, but shall not include any rent that would be required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or (y) the net amount determined assuming no such termination.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1) with respect to any person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase contracts. or acquire any of the foregoing; and

(2) with respect to any person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date on which we effect a transaction requiring such Consolidated Net Tangible Assets to be measured hereunder, the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves) after deducting therefrom: (a) all current liabilities, except for current maturities of long-term debt and obligations under capital leases; and (b) intangible assets (including goodwill), to the extent included in said aggregate amount of assets, all as set forth on our most recent consolidated balance sheet and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America applied on a consistent basis.

“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Hedging Obligations” means:

(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk;

(3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices; and

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in equity prices.

“Indebtedness” means with respect to any person, without duplication:

(1) all obligations of such person for borrowed money; and

(2) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments.

“Issue Date” means the date of original issuance of a series of debt securities but not any additional debt securities.

“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, hypothecation, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind.

“Principal Property” means the land, improvements, buildings, fixtures and equipment (including any leasehold interest therein) constituting our principal corporate office, any manufacturing plant, or any manufacturing, distribution or research facility (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) which is owned or leased by us, unless our board of directors has determined in good faith that such office, plant or facility is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Subsidiaries taken as a whole. With respect to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or series of related Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, the determination of whether any property is a Principal Property shall be determined by reference to all properties affected by such transaction or series of transactions.

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us of any Principal Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us to such person.

“Significant Subsidiary”, with respect to any person, means, any Subsidiary of such person that satisfies the criteria for a “significant subsidiary” as set forth in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar type of business entity in which we and/or one or more of our Subsidiaries together own more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the board of directors or similar governing body of such corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar type of business entity, directly or indirectly.

Unclaimed Funds

All funds deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent for the payment of principal, interest, premium or additional amounts in respect of the debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years after the maturity date of such debt securities will be repaid to us upon our request. Thereafter, any right of any noteholder to such funds shall be enforceable only against us, and the Trustee and paying agents will have no liability therefor.

Governing Law

The stockIndenture and the debt securities for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Concerning Our Relationship with the Trustee

We maintain ordinary banking relationships and credit facilities with affiliates of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

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

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

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

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash

value of the units to purchaseproperty otherwise deliverable or, in the securities under the stock purchase contracts. We refer to these units as equity units. The stockcase of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will requirealso specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to secure their obligations under the stocksettlement of a purchase contracts. contract.

The stock purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the equity unitsthereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or refundedprefunded on some basis.

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PLANDESCRIPTION OF DISTRIBUTIONUNITS

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more warrants, debt securities, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock, purchase contracts or any combination of such securities.

FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each debt security, warrant and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Global Securities

We may sellissue the registered debt securities, warrants and units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any securities:successors of the depositary or those nominees.

	•	through underwriters or dealers;
	•	through agents;
	•	in block trades;
	•	directly to one or more purchasers; or
	•	through a combination of any such methods of sale.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

     TheOwnership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon

the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, effected from timewill be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to timehave the securities represented by the registered global security registered in onetheir names, will not receive or more transactions atbe entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a fixed pricebeneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or prices, whichunit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants or units, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, changedas the registered owner of the registered global security. None of Roper, the trustee, any warrant agent, unit agent or any other agent of Roper, agent of the trustee or agent of such warrant agent or unit agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

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

If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent

or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. In addition, we may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for such Global Security pursuant to time,the procedure described above.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or at negotiated prices.selling security holders may sell the securities being offered hereby in the following manner or any manner specified in a prospectus supplement:

 For each series

The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering, including:

	•	the initial public offering price;
	•	the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
	•	the purchase price of the securities;
	•	our proceeds from the sale of the securities;
	•	any underwriting discounts, agency fees, or other compensation payable to underwriters or agents;
	•	any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or repaid to dealers; and
	•	the securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed, if any.

If any securities are sold pursuant to this prospectus by any persons other than us, we will, in a prospectus supplement, name the selling security holders, indicate the nature of any relationship such holders have had to us or any of our affiliates during the three years preceding such offering, state the amount of securities of the class owned by such security holder prior to the offering and the amount to be offered for the security holder’s account, and state the amount and (if one percent or more) the percentage of the class to be owned by such security holder after completion of the offering.

We or any selling security holder may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. We will, in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and describe any commissions that we or any selling security holder must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

If we useany underwriters or agents are utilized in the sale they will buyof the securities for their own account.in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we and, if applicable, any selling security holder will enter into an underwriting agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The underwritersdealer may then resell the securities in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at or after the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if they purchase any securities. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

     If we use dealers in the sale, we will sell securities to those dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell thesuch securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealerssuch dealer at the time of resale. If we use

Remarketing firms, agents, in the sale, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. If we sell directly, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We are not making an offer of securities in any state that does not permit an offer of these securities.

     Underwriters,and dealers and agents that participate in the securities distribution may be deemedentitled under agreements which they may enter into with us to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933. Any discounts, commissions, or profit they receive when they resell the securities may be treated as underwriting discountsindemnification by us and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify themby any selling security holder against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, of 1933, or to contribute with respect to payments that theyand may be required to make.

     We may authorize underwriters, dealerscustomers of, engage in transactions with or agents to solicit offers from certain institutions where the institution contractually agrees to purchase the securities fromperform services for us on a future date at a specific price. This type of contract may be made only with institutions that we specifically approve. These institutions could include banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The underwriters, dealers or agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.

     The securities, other than any common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market and unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not list anyordinary course of business.

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     To facilitate the offering of the securities, certain persons participating in the offeringany underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. TheseSpecifically, any underwriters may include over-allotment, stabilization, syndicate,overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short covering transactions and penalty bids. Over-allotment involves sales in excessposition for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions involve bids tosecurities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate short covering transactions involve purchases ofsecurities or any such other securities in the open market aftermarket. Finally, in any offering of the distribution has been completed in order to covertsecurities through a syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permitof underwriters, the underwriters tounderwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions from dealers whenallowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities originally sold byin the dealers are purchasedoffering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions. Thesepositions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may causestabilize or maintain the market price of the securities soldabove independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in an offering to be higher than it would otherwise be. These transactions, if commenced,these activities and may be discontinued by the underwritersend any of these activities at any time.

The amount of expenses expected to be incurred by us in connection with any issuance of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Certain of the underwriters, dealers or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with, and perform services for, us and certain of our affiliates in the ordinary course of our business.

LEGAL MATTERSVALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of any common stock, debtthe securities stock purchase contracts and/or equity unitsin respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be passed uponon for us by KingDavis Polk & Spalding LLP.