CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 1 of 13

 

 

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

(Amendment No. 5)*

 

 

A.O. Smith Corporation

 

(Name of Issuer)

 

 

Common Stock, (par value $1.00 per share)

 

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

831865209

 

 

(CUSIP Number)

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 

 

x

Rule 13d-1(b)

 

o

Rule 13d-1(c)

 

o

Rule 13d-1(d)

 

 

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with

 

respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which

 

would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

 

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose

 

of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that

 

section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 2 of 13

 

 

1.

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

 

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

X

 

 

3.

SEC USE ONLY

 

 

4.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

 

Delaware

 

 

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

 

5.

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

6.

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

7.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

8.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

9.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

 

1,035,250

 

 

10.

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

 

CERTAIN SHARES o

 

 

11.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

 

4.1%

 

 

12.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

 

HC, CO (See Item 4)

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 3 of 13

 

 

1.

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.

 

 

Charles B. Johnson

 

 

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

X

 

 

3.

SEC USE ONLY

 

 

4.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

 

USA

 

 

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

 

5.

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

6.

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

7.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

8.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

9.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

 

 

1,035,250

 

 

10.

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

 

CERTAIN SHARES o

 

 

11.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

4.1%

 

 

 

12.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

 

HC, IN (See Item 4)

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 4 of 13

 

 

1.

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

X

 

 

3.

SEC USE ONLY

 

 

4.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

 

USA

 

 

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

 

5.

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

6.

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

7.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

8.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

9.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

 

 

1,035,250

 

 

10.

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

 

CERTAIN SHARES o

 

 

11.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

4.1%

 

 

 

12.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

 

HC, IN (See Item 4)

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 5 of 13

 

 

Item 1.

 

 

(a)

Name of Issuer

 

 

A.O. Smith Corporation

 

 

 

(b)

Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

 

 

11270 West Park Place

 

Milwaukee, WI 53224

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

 

(a)

Name of Person Filing

 

 

(i):

Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

 

(ii):

Charles B. Johnson

 

 

(iii):

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

 

(b)

Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence

 

 

(i), (ii), and (iii):

 

One Franklin Parkway

 

San Mateo, CA 94403-1906

 

 

(c)

Citizenship

 

 

(i): Delaware

 

(ii) and (iii): USA

 

 

(d)

Title of Class of Securities

 

 

Common Stock, (par value $1.00 per share)

 

 

(e)

CUSIP Number

 

 

831865209

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 6 of 13

 

 

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

 

(a)

o Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

 

(b)

o Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 

(c)

o Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 

(d)

o Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment

 

Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).

 

(e)

o An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

 

(f)

o An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with

 

§240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

 

(g)

x A parent holding company or control person in accordance with

 

§240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

 

(h)

o A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit

 

Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

 

(i)

o A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)

 

(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

 

(j)

o A non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(ii)(J);

 

(k)

oGroup, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

 

 

If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:

 

 

Item 4.

Ownership

 

 

The securities reported herein (the “Securities”) are beneficially owned by one or more open- or closed-end investment

 

companies or other managed accounts that are investment management clients of investment managers that are direct and

 

indirect subsidiaries (each, an “Investment Management Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Investment Management

 

Subsidiaries”) of Franklin Resources, Inc.(“FRI”), including the Investment Management Subsidiaries listed in Item 7.

 

Investment management contracts grant to the Investment Management Subsidiaries all investment and/or voting power

 

over the securities owned by such investment management clients, unless otherwise noted in this Item 4. Therefore, for

 

purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Act, the Investment Management Subsidiaries may be deemed to be the beneficial

 

owners of the Securities.

 

 

Beneficial ownership by investment management subsidiaries and other affiliates of FRI is being reported in conformity with

 

the guidelines articulated by the SEC staff in Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998) relating to organizations, such as

 

FRI, where related entities exercise voting and investment powers over the securities being reported independently from

 

each other. The voting and investment powers held by Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (“FMA”), an indirect wholly-owned

 

Investment Management Subsidiary, are exercised independently from FRI and from all other Investment Management

 

Subsidiaries (FRI, its affiliates and the Investment Management Subsidiaries other than FMA are collectively, “FRI

 

affiliates”). Furthermore, internal policies and procedures of FMA and FRI establish informational barriers that prevent the

 

flow between FMA and the FRI affiliates of information that relates to the voting and investment powers over the securities

 

owned by their respective investment management clients. Consequently, FMA and the FRI affiliates report the securities

 

over which they hold investment and voting power separately from each other for purposes of Section 13 of the Act.

 

 

Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (the “Principal Shareholders”) each own in excess of 10% of the

 

outstanding common stock of FRI and are the principal stockholders of FRI. FRI and the Principal Shareholders may be

 

deemed to be, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Act, the beneficial owners of securities held by persons and entities for

 

whom or for which FRI subsidiaries provide investment management services. The number of shares that may be deemed

 

to be beneficially owned and the percentage of the class of which such shares are a part are reported in Items 9 and 11 of

 

the cover pages for FRI and each of the Principal Shareholders. FRI, the Principal Shareholders and each of the

 

Investment Management Subsidiaries disclaim any pecuniary interest in any of the Securities. In addition, the filing of this

 

Schedule 13G on behalf of the Principal Shareholders, FRI and FRI affiliates, as applicable, should not be construed as an

 

admission that any of them is, and each disclaims that it is, the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3, of any of the

 

Securities.

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 7 of 13

 

 

FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and each of the Investment Management Subsidiaries believe that they are not a “group”

 

within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Act and that they are not otherwise required to attribute to each other the

 

beneficial ownership of the Securities held by any of them or by any persons or entities for whom or for which the

 

Investment Management Subsidiaries provide investment management services.

 

 

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

 

 

1,035,250

 

 

(b)

Percent of class:

 

 

4.1%

 

 

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

 

 

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.:

0

 

 

Charles B. Johnson:

0

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:

0

 

 

Franklin Advisory Services, LLC:

1,017,950

 

 

 

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

 

 

0

 

 

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.:

0

 

 

Charles B. Johnson:

0

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:

0

 

 

Franklin Advisory Services, LLC:

1,035,250

 

 

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

 

0

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 8 of 13

 

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

 

 

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has

 

ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the

 

following x.

 

 

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

 

 

The clients of the Investment Management Subsidiaries, including investment companies registered under

 

the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or power to

 

direct the receipt of dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, the Securities.

 

 

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By

 

the Parent Holding Company

 

 

See Attached Exhibit C

 

 

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

 

 

Not Applicable

 

 

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group

 

 

Not Applicable

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 9 of 13

 

 

I

em 10.

Certification

 

 

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were

 

acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose

 

of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and

 

are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

 

Exhibits

 

 

Exhibit A - Joint Filing Agreement

 

Exhibit B - Limited Powers of Attorney for Section 13 Reporting Obligations

 

Exhibit C - Item 7 Identification and Classification of Subsidiaries

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this

 

statement is true, complete and correct.

 

 

Dated:

January 19, 2010

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

 

Charles B. Johnson

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT C. ROSSELOT

 

-----------------------------

 

 

Robert C. Rosselot

 

Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

 

Schedule 13G

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

 

Schedule 13G

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 10 of 13

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

 

In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby

 

agree to the joint filing with each other of the attached statement on Schedule 13G and to all amendments to such

 

statement and that such statement and all amendments to such statement are made on behalf of each of them.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement on

 

January 19, 2010.

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

 

Charles B. Johnson

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT C. ROSSELOT

 

-----------------------------

 

 

Robert C. Rosselot

 

Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

 

Schedule 13G

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

 

Schedule 13G

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 11 of 13

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

 

LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

FOR

 

SECTION 13 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

 

 

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Robert Rosselot

 

and Maria Gray, each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority

 

as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

 

 

(1)

prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Schedules 13D and 13G (including any amendments thereto or any

 

related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchanges

 

and Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under

 

Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended

 

from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and

 

 

(2)

perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on

 

behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

 

 

The undersigned acknowledges that:

 

 

(1)

this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on

 

information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information;

 

 

(2)

any documents prepared and/or executed by either such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this

 

Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in

 

his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

 

 

(3)

neither the Reporting Entity nor either of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s

 

responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act or (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to

 

comply with such requirements; and

 

 

(4)

this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the

 

undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation the reporting requirements under Section 13

 

of the Exchange Act.

 

 

The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and

 

perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing

 

matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each

 

such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited

 

Power of Attorney.

 

 

This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing

 

delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of

 

this

30th

day of

April

, 2007

 

 

/s/Charles B. Johnson

 

Signature

 

 

Charles B. Johnson

 

Print Name

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 12 of 13

 

 

LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

FOR

 

SECTION 13 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

 

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Robert Rosselot

 

and Maria Gray, each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority

 

as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

 

 

(1)

prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Schedules 13D and 13G (including any amendments thereto or any

 

related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchanges

 

and Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under

 

Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended

 

from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and

 

 

(2)

perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on

 

behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

 

 

The undersigned acknowledges that:

 

 

(1)

this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on

 

information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information;

 

 

(2)

any documents prepared and/or executed by either such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this

 

Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in

 

his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

 

 

(3)

neither the Reporting Entity nor either of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s

 

responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act or (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to

 

comply with such requirements; and

 

 

(4)

this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the

 

undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation the reporting requirements under Section 13

 

of the Exchange Act.

 

 

The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and

 

perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing

 

matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each

 

such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited

 

Power of Attorney.

 

 

This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing

 

delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as

 

of this

25th

day of

April

, 2007

 

 

/s/ Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

Signature

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

Print Name

 

 


 

 

CUSIP NO.

831865209

13G

Page 13 of 13

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

 

Franklin Advisory Services, LLC

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)