“Beneficial Ownership” and “Beneficially Own” and similar terms have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. For the avoidance of doubt, the Investor and its Permitted Transferees will be deemed to Beneficially Own all of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock held by the Investor and its Permitted Transferees at the time of determination.

“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

“Indebtedness” means the principal of, accrued but unpaid interest on, and premium (if any, to the extent such premium is determinable) in respect of, indebtedness of such person for borrowed money, but excluding any indebtedness among the Corporation and its subsidiaries.

“Investor” means BDT CF Acquisition Vehicle, LLC.

“Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation, other than Parity Stock and Senior Stock, not expressly ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions.

“Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Corporation that may be authorized that expressly ranks equal to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions.

“Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

“Permitted Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under the Corporation’s revolving line of credit as in existence on the Closing Date, leases and letters of credit, performance guarantees, bid bonds, surety bonds and similar instruments.

“Purchased Preferred Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

“Refinance” or “Refinancing” means to refund, refinance, replace, renew, repay, or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism).

“Securities Purchase Agreement” means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2011, by and between the Corporation and the Investor.

“Senior Net Indebtedness” means, as of any date, all Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation outstanding on such date minus all cash and cash equivalents of the Corporation as of such date.

“Senior Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is not Subordinated Indebtedness.

“Senior Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Corporation that may be authorized that expressly ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness pursuant to a written agreement.

“Total Net Indebtedness” means, as of any date, all Indebtedness of the Corporation and its subsidiaries minus all cash and cash equivalents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of such date.

“Unexercised Options and RSUs” means (i) any convertible securities outstanding as of the Closing Date (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), or (ii) any options, restricted stock units or similar awards issued to officers, employees, consultants or directors of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, in each case, in the form of Common Stock or entitling the holder thereof to receive shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or conversion thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation on this _______ day of _______, 20__.

	COLFAX CORPORATION

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

Exhibit B

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF

SERIES A PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

(PAR VALUE $0.001)

COLFAX CORPORATION

Pursuant to Section 151 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

Colfax Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), the Board on September 10, 2011 adopted the following resolution, creating a series of 13,877,552 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation designated as Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, which is subject to shareholder approval of certain amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation including amendments that will increase the authorized number of shares of preferred stock:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board by Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation and out of the Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, authorized therein, the Board hereby authorizes, designates and creates a series of Preferred Stock, and states that the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof be, and hereby are, as follows:

Section 1.

Number of Shares and Designation.

The designation of the series of Preferred Stock created by this resolution shall be “Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series”), and the number of shares constituting the Series shall be Thirteen Million Eight Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Two (13,877,552) (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall have a liquidation preference of $24.50 (the “Liquidation Preference”).

Section 2.

Dividends.

(1) Holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Series A Preferred Stock, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends under Delaware law, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a per annum rate of 6% (as such may be adjusted pursuant to this Section 2(1), the “Dividend Rate”) on (i) the Liquidation Preference per share and (ii) to the extent unpaid on the Dividend Payment Date (as defined below), the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such share of Series A Preferred Stock; provided that if, on any Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation shall not have paid in cash the full amount of any dividend required to be paid on such share (such amount being “Unpaid Dividends”) on such Dividend Payment Date pursuant to this Section 2(1), then from such Dividend Payment Date, the Dividend Rate shall automatically be at a per annum rate of 8% for such share until the date on which all Unpaid Dividends have been declared and paid in full in cash. Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Issue Date (whether or not declared), shall compound on each Dividend Payment Date, and shall be payable in arrears (as provided below in this Section 2(1)), but only when, as and if declared by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, and each Mandatory Conversion Date, Redemption Date and Liquidation Date (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”); provided that if any such Dividend Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, such Dividend Payment Date shall instead be (and any dividend payable on Series A Preferred Stock on such Dividend Payment Date shall instead be payable on) the immediately succeeding Business Day with no additional dividends payable as a result of such payment being made on such succeeding Business Day. Dividends that are payable on Series A Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Series A Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Corporation on the applicable record date, which shall be the fifteenth (15th) calendar day before such Dividend Payment Date (as originally scheduled) or such other record date fixed by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day. Each dividend period (a “Dividend Period”) shall commence on and include the calendar day immediately following a Dividend Payment Date (other than the initial Dividend Period, which shall commence on and include the Issue Date) and shall end on and include the next Dividend Payment Date. Dividends payable in respect of a Dividend Period shall be payable in arrears on the first Dividend Payment Date after such Dividend Period.

(2) The Corporation (including its subsidiaries) shall not declare, pay or set apart funds for any dividends or other distributions with respect to any Junior Stock of the Corporation or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or set apart funds for repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of, any Junior Stock, or make any guarantee payment with respect thereto, unless all accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods through and including the date of such declaration, payment, repurchase, redemption or acquisition (including, if applicable as provided in Section 2(1) above, dividends on such amount) have been declared and paid in full in cash (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment). Without limitation of the foregoing, any such dividend or other distributions on the Junior Stock shall be subject to Section 2(3).

(3) In the event that any dividend is declared and paid on, or any distribution is made with respect to, any Junior Stock (including, without limitation, in connection with a recapitalization of the Corporation), the Series A Preferred Stock shall share proportionately with such Junior Stock in any such dividend or distribution, (a) if such Junior Stock is Common Stock or is convertible into Common Stock, in accordance with the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock calculated as of the record date for such dividend or distribution, or (b) if such Junior Stock is not Common Stock or convertible into Common Stock, in such manner and at such time as the Board may determine in good faith to be equitable in the circumstances.

(4) Any reference to “dividends” or “distributions” in this Section 2 shall not be deemed to include any distribution made in connection with any voluntary of involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 3.

Mandatory Conversion; Optional Conversion; Redemption.

(1) Mandatory Conversion at the Option of the Corporation.

(a) Mandatory Conversion. On or after the third anniversary of the Issue Date, the Corporation shall have the right, at its option, at any time or from time to time, to cause some or all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be mandatorily converted (a “Mandatory Conversion”) into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Rate in effect as of the applicable Mandatory Conversion Date (as defined below) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(1), subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(i) the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted for trading) shall exceed one-hundred and thirty-three percent (133%) of the Conversion Price for a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date that the Corporation delivers a Mandatory Conversion Notice (as defined below); and

(ii) the Corporation shall have declared and paid in full in cash, or shall have declared and set apart for payment in cash, all accrued but unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 2(1) above, dividends on such amount) on the Series A Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods through and including the effective date of such Mandatory Conversion (the “Mandatory Conversion Date”).

(b) Mechanics of Mandatory Conversion. In order to effect a Mandatory Conversion, the Corporation shall provide written notice (a “Mandatory Conversion Notice”) to each holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such holder at such holder’s address as it shall appear in the records of the Corporation or such other address as such holder shall specify to the Corporation in writing from time to time. The Mandatory Conversion Notice shall specify (i) the applicable Mandatory Conversion Date, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock that each holder shall be entitled to receive in connection with such Mandatory Conversion. Upon receipt of the Mandatory Conversion Notice, each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall surrender his, her, or its certificate of certificates for all such shares (or, if applicable, a pro rata portion thereof determined in accordance with the penultimate sentence of this Section 3(1)(b)) (or, if such certificate or certificates have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and indemnity in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) to the Corporation at its principal office or at the office of the agency which may be maintained for the purpose of administering conversions and redemptions of the shares of Common Stock (the “Conversion Agent”), in each case, as specified in the applicable Mandatory Conversion Notice. All rights with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are converted pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion shall terminate on the Mandatory Conversion Date, subject to the rights of the holders thereof to receive the items provided for in the following sentence. As soon as practicable after the Mandatory Conversion Date, but in no event later than ten (10) days after the Mandatory Conversion Date, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder that has surrendered shares of Series A Preferred Stock in connection therewith, (i) a certificate or certificates (or if the holder shall so elect, and if permitted by applicable law, including without limitation the Securities Act of 1933, uncertificated book-entry shares) representing the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof, free of all taxes with respect to the issuance thereof, liens, charges and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights, into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted in connection with such Mandatory Conversion, and (ii) any cash payable in respect of fractional shares as provided in Section 3(4). The converted shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be retired and cancelled and may not be reissued. In the case of Mandatory Conversion of fewer than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected, and allocated among the holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then held by each such holder. In the event that fewer than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock represented by a certificate are converted in connection with a Mandatory Conversion, then a new certificate representing the unconverted shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issued to the holder of such certificate.

(2) Redemption at the Option of the Corporation.

(a) Redemption. On or after the fifth anniversary of the Issue Date, the Corporation shall have the right, at its option, at any time to redeem (a “Redemption”) all (but not less than all) of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in return for a payment in cash (the “Call Payment”) equal, on a per share basis, to the greater of (i) the Conversion Price, and (ii) the Liquidation Preference, in each case, as of the applicable Redemption Date (as defined below) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(2), subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(i) on the trading date preceding the date of the Redemption Notice (as defined below) the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted for trading) shall be less than the Conversion Price; and

(b) Mechanics of Redemption. In order to effect a Redemption, the Corporation shall provide written notice (a “Redemption Notice”) of such Redemption to each holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such holder at such holder’s address as it shall appear in the records of the Corporation or such other address as such holder shall specify to the Corporation in writing from time to time. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3(2)(a)(i) and Section 3(2)(a)(ii), the Redemption shall become effective on the ninetieth (90th) day after delivery of the Redemption Notice, or if such date is not a Business Day, then on the next Business Day (such date, the “Redemption Date”). The Redemption Notice shall specify (i) the applicable Redemption Date (determined in accordance with the preceding sentence), and (ii) the Call Payment to which each holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled in connection with such Redemption. On or before the applicable Redemption Date, each holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the certificate or certificates representing such shares (or, if such certificate or certificates have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and indemnity in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Conversion Agent, in each case, as may be specified in the Redemption Notice, and upon receipt thereof by the Corporation or the Conversion Agent, as the case may be, the Call Payment for such redeemed shares shall be immediately due and payable in cash to the order of the record holder of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock being redeemed. From and after the Redemption Date, all dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are redeemed on such Redemption Date shall cease to accumulate and all rights of the holders thereof as holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall cease and terminate, so long as the Call Payment is received on the Redemption Date and the conditions to the effectiveness of such redemption set forth in Section 3(2)(a) are satisfied.

(3) Right of Holders to Optionally Convert.

(a) Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof (an “Optional Conversion”), at any time after the Issue Date, and from time to time, and without payment of any additional consideration by the holder of such share, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Rate in effect as of the applicable Optional Conversion Date (as defined below) in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3(3).

(b) In order to effect an Optional Conversion, the holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted shall (i) deliver a properly completed and duly executed written notice of election to convert (an “Optional Conversion Notice”) to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Conversion Agent, and (ii) surrender the certificate or certificates for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are to be converted, accompanied, if so required by the Corporation or the Conversion Agent, by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation or the Conversion Agent, duly executed by the holder or its attorney duly authorized in writing. The Optional Conversion Notice shall specify: (i) the number (in whole shares) of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, and (ii) the name or names in which the converting holder wishes the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock in connection with such conversion to be issued.

(c) The Optional Conversion shall become effective at the close of business on the date (such date, the “Optional Conversion Date”) of receipt by the Corporation or the Conversion Agent of the Optional Conversion Notice and the other items referred to in Section 3(3)(b). Promptly following the Optional Conversion Date (and in no event more than ten (10) days after the Optional Conversion Date), the Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered at the office or agency of the Conversion Agent, to or upon the written order of the holders of the surrendered shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (i) a certificate or certificates (or if the converting holder shall so elect, and if permitted by applicable law, including without limitation the Securities Act of 1933, uncertificated book-entry shares) representing the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof, free of all taxes with respect to the issuance thereof, liens, charges and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights, into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted in connection with such Optional Conversion, (ii) a cash payment equal to the amount of all accrued but unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 2(1) above, dividends on such amount) for all Dividend Periods through and including the most recent Dividend Payment Date (the “Cash Payment”), provided, that, if on such Optional Conversion Date, the Corporation has not declared all or any portion of the accrued but unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 2(1) above, dividends on such amount) for all Dividend Periods through and including the most recent Dividend Payment Date, the converting holder shall receive (instead of and in full satisfaction of the Corporation’s obligation to make the Cash Payment) such number of shares of Common Stock equal to the amount of accrued but unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 2(1) above, dividends on such amount), divided by the ”current market price” per share of Common Stock, and (iii) any cash payable in respect of fractional shares as provided in Section 3(4). Except as described above, upon any Optional Conversion, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are converted in connection with such Optional Conversion. In the case of an Optional Conversion Date that occurs after a Dividend Record Date and before a Dividend Payment Date, the Cash Payment shall be reduced in an amount equal to any dividends declared with respect to such Dividend Record Date on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are converted on such Optional Conversion Date, provided that such dividends are actually received by the record holder of such shares on such Dividend Payment Date; or, to the extent that such reduction in the Cash Payment is less than the amount of such dividends to be received with respect to such Dividend Record Date, the excess amount thereof will be repaid to the Corporation.

(d) Upon the surrender of a certificate representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock that is converted in part, the Corporation shall issue or cause to be issued to the surrendering holder a new certificate representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock equal in number to the unconverted portion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock represented by the certificate so surrendered.

(e) On the Optional Conversion Date, upon the delivery to the converting holder of the shares Common Stock issuable in connection with such conversion and the payments referred to in Section 3(3)(c)(ii) and (iii), the rights of the holders of the shares of converted Series A Preferred Stock and the person entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as having become the Beneficial Owner of such shares of Common Stock.

(4) Fractional Shares.

(a) No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a Mandatory Conversion or Optional Conversion. Instead of any fractional interest in a share of Common Stock which would otherwise be deliverable upon the conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a Mandatory Conversion or Optional Conversion, the Corporation shall pay to the holder of such share of Series A Preferred Stock an amount in cash (computed to the nearest cent) equal to the product of (A) such fraction and (B) the current market price (as defined below) of a share of Common Stock on the Business Day next preceding the day of conversion. If more than one share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so surrendered.

(b) For the purposes of this Section 3, the “current market price” per share of Common Stock at any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices on the New York Stock Exchange (or if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted for trading) for the ten consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date in question or in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Common Stock, the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.

(5) Reservation of Shares. The Corporation shall at all times when the Series A Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3(1) and Section 3(3), such number of its duly authorized shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 4.

Voting Rights.

(1) Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to vote on all matters voted on by holders of the Common Stock, voting together as a single class with the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, at all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation and in connection with any actions of the stockholders of the Corporation taken by written consent. With respect to any such vote, the holder of each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of votes which could be cast in such vote by a holder of the shares of Common Stock of the Corporation into which such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock are convertible as of the record date for such vote.

(2) The affirmative vote or consent of more than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, shall be necessary for authorizing, approving, effecting or validating:

(a) the amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or any document amendatory or supplemental thereto (including this Certificate of Designations), whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, that would adversely affect or cause to be terminated the powers, designations, preferences and other rights of the Series; or

(b) any other action for which a vote of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, is required by law.

Other than as specifically set forth in this Section 4 or to the extent of applicable law, the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to a separate vote on any matter.

Section 5.

Liquidation Rights.

(1) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, each holder of shares of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to payment out of the assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution of an amount per share of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Liquidation Amount”) held by such holder equal to the greater of (i) the Liquidation Preference per share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 2(1) above, dividends on such amount) in respect of such shares, whether or not declared paid in cash, calculated to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding-up (the “Liquidation Date”), and (ii) the amount that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have received in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up had each share of Series A Preferred Stock been converted into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(3) immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, before any distribution is made on any Junior Stock of the Corporation. After payment in full of the Liquidation Amount to which holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled, such holders shall not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets of the Corporation in respect of their shares of Series A Preferred Stock. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, the amounts payable with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock are not paid in full, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will share in any distribution of assets of the Corporation on a pro rata basis in proportion to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by each such holder.

(2) Neither the voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Corporation nor the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into one or more Persons will be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation for purposes of this Section 5.

Section 6.

Pre-emptive Rights

(1) Except for (i) (A) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan, program or practice of or assumed by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or (B) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security outstanding as of the Issue Date, (ii) a subdivision (including by way of a stock dividend) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares of Common Stock, and (iii) the issuance of capital stock as full or partial consideration for a merger, acquisition, joint venture, strategic alliance, or other similar non-financing transaction, if, from the Issue Date until the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the Issue Date, the Corporation wishes to issue any shares of capital stock or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of the Corporation (collectively, “New Securities”) at a price per share less than the Liquidation Preference (a “Dilutive Issuance”) to any person (the “Proposed Purchaser”), then the Corporation shall send written notice (the “New Issuance Notice”) to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, which New Issuance Notice shall state (x) the number of New Securities proposed to be issued and (y) the proposed purchase price per share of the New Securities (the “Proposed Price”).

(2) For a period of fifteen (15) Business Days after the giving of the New Issuance Notice, each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right to purchase (a) if the Dilutive Issuance occurs during the period from the Issue Date until the date that is two hundred seventy (270) days after the Issue Date, up to its Proportionate Share (as defined below) of the New Securities, or (b) if the Dilutive Issuance occurs after such two-hundred-seventy-(270)-day period, up to its Double Proportionate Share (as defined below) of the New Securities, in each case at a purchase price per share equal to the Proposed Price and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the New Issuance Notice. As used herein, the term “Proportionate Share” means, as to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock as of a given date, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing (i) a number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such holder and (without duplication) its Permitted Transferees (other than any other holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock) plus the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock then Beneficially Owned by such holder are convertible as of such date, by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding as of such date, calculated on a fully-diluted basis, assuming conversion of all outstanding convertible securities (including the Series A Preferred Stock) and the exercise in full of all existing warrants at the then-existing conversion or exercise price, but excluding any Unexercised Options and RSUs. As used herein, the term “Double Proportionate Share” means, as to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock as of a given date, such holder’s Proportionate Share as of such date multiplied by two (2).

(3) The right of each holder of Series A Preferred Stock to purchase the New Securities shall be exercisable by delivering written notice of its exercise, prior to the expiration of the fifteen (15) Business Day period referred to in Section 6(2) above, to the Corporation, which notice shall state the amount of New Securities that the holder elects to purchase. The failure of such holder to respond within the fifteen (15) Business Day period or to pay for such New Securities when such payment is due shall be deemed to be a waiver of such holder’s rights under this Section 6 only with respect to the Dilutive Issuance described in the applicable New Issuance Notice.

(4) Except for the foregoing and to the extent arising under applicable law, there are no pre-emptive rights associated with the Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 7.

Ranking and Issuance of Parity Stock or Senior Stock Prior to Conversion

The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank senior to any series of Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. Prior to the conversion or redemption or retirement and cancellation of all shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with this Certificate of Designations, the Corporation shall not issue an Parity Stock or Senior Stock, or authorize any additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 8.

Retirement.

If any share of the Series A Preferred Stock is purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever, then such share shall be retired and promptly cancelled. Upon the retirement or cancellation of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, such share shall not for any reason be reissued as shares of the Series.

Section 9.

Definitions.

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Certificate of Designations shall have the following meanings:

“Beneficial Ownership” and “Beneficially Own” and similar terms shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

“Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in any of London, UK, St. Helier, Jersey and New York, New York, USA are authorized or obligated to close.

“Bylaws” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“Call Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(2).

“Call Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(2).

“Certificate of Incorporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

“Conversion Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(1)(b).

“Conversion Price” means, for each share of Series A Preferred Stock, the U.S. dollar amount equal to the Liquidation Preference divided by the then-applicable Conversion Rate.

“Conversion Rate” means the Liquidation Preference divided by 114% of the Liquidation Preference, subject to the following adjustments:

(i) If the Corporation shall (1) declare or pay a dividend on its outstanding Common Stock in shares of Common Stock or make a distribution to holders of its Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, (2) subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, (3) combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock or (4) issue by reclassification of its shares of Common Stock other securities of the Corporation, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that a holder of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock thereafter converted shall be entitled to receive the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities that such holder of Series A Preferred Stock would have owned or been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described above had such shares of Series A Preferred Stock been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. An adjustment so made shall become effective on the date of the dividend payment, subdivision, combination or issuance retroactive to the record date with respect thereto, if any, for such event. Such adjustment shall be made successively.

(ii) If the Corporation shall be a party to any transaction, including without limitation a merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, reorganization, liquidation or recapitalization of the Common Stock (each of the foregoing being referred to as a “Transaction”), in each case as a result of which shares of Common Stock shall be converted into the right to receive stock, securities or other property (including cash or any combination thereof), each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall, upon consummation of the Transaction, be convertible into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable (including cash) upon the consummation of such Transaction by a holder of that number of shares of Common Stock into which one share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible immediately prior to such Transaction.

“Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“Dilutive Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“Dividend Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(1).

“Dividend Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(1).

“Dividend Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(1).

“Dividend Records Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(1).

“Double Proportionate Percentage” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“Issue Date” means the date on which any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are first issued by the Corporation.

“Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation, other than Series A Preferred Stock and Senior Stock not expressly ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions.

“Liquidation Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

“Liquidation Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

“Liquidation Preference” shall have the meaning set forth Section 1, subject to the adjustments set forth in the definition of “Conversion Rate”.

“Mandatory Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(1).

“Mandatory Conversion Date” means the effective date of a mandatory conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3(1).

“Mandatory Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(1).

“New Issuance Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“New Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“Optional Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(3).

“Optional Conversion Date” means the effective date of an optional conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3(3).

“Optional Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(3).

“Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Corporation that would expressly rank equal to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions.

“Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.

“Preferred Stock” means the Corporation’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

“Proportionate Percentage” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“Proposed Purchase” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(2).

“Redemption Date” means the effective date of a redemption of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3(2).

“Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(2).

“Senior Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Corporation that would expressly rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions and/or rights upon liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

“Series” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“Series A Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“Unexercised Options and RSUs” means (i) any convertible securities outstanding as of the Issue Date, or (ii) any options, restricted stock units or similar awards issued to officers, employees, consultants or directors of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, in each case, in the form of Common Stock or entitling the holder thereof to receive shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or conversion thereof.

“Unpaid Dividends” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(1).

Section 10.

Descriptive Headings and Governing Law.

The descriptive headings of the several Sections and paragraphs of this Certificate of Designations are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Certificate of Designations. The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues concerning this Certificate of Designations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Colfax Corporation has caused this Certificate to be duly executed in its corporate name this ____ day of ___________, 20_______.

	COLFAX CORPORATION

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

Exhibit C

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

12 September 2011

RECOMMENDED CASH AND SHARE OFFER

for

CHARTER INTERNATIONAL PLC

COLFAX UK HOLDINGS LTD

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

COLFAX CORPORATION

The Board of Charter and the Board of Colfax are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash and share offer to be made by Bidco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Colfax, for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Charter.

Highlights

·	Under the terms of the Acquisition, Charter Shareholders will be entitled to receive:

	for each Charter Share:
	730 pence in cash; and
	0.1241 New Colfax Shares

·	The Acquisition values Charter’s fully diluted share capital at approximately £1,528 million, being 910 pence per Charter Share on a fully diluted basis (based on the Closing Price of US$23.04 per Colfax Share on 9 September 2011, being the last Business Day before this announcement).

·	The Offer Consideration, with Charter Shareholders having already received the interim dividend of 8 pence per Charter Share, represents a premium of:

approximately 48.0 per cent. to the Closing Price of 615 pence per Charter Share on 28 June 2011 (being the last Business Day before Charter announced it had received a preliminary approach from Melrose regarding a possible offer);

approximately 16.7 per cent. to Melrose's initial offer of 780 pence per Charter Share made by Melrose on 28 June 2011; and

a premium of approximately 13.2 per cent. to the Closing Price of 804 pence per Charter Share on 9 September 2011 (being the last Business Day before this announcement).

·	A Mix and Match Facility will be provided, which will allow Charter Shareholders to elect to vary the proportions in which they receive New Colfax Shares and cash.

·	A Loan Note Alternative will also be available to Charter Shareholders.

·	The Acquisition will be funded from a combination of proceeds of an equity issue by Colfax, new debt facilities and Colfax’s existing cash resources.

It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by way of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Article 125 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, or if Bidco elects, a takeover offer (as that term is defined under Article 116(1) of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991) to Charter Shareholders. The purpose of the Scheme is to enable Bidco to acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Charter. The Scheme, which will be subject to the Conditions set out in this announcement, will require the sanction of the Court.

On 29 July 2011, concurrently with the release of its interim results for the second quarter of 2011, Colfax provided earnings guidance to the market which the Panel has determined amounted to profit forecasts for the purpose of Rule 28 of the City Code. Colfax will therefore prepare a report on such forecasts pursuant to Rule 28.3 of the City Code as soon as practicable. When the report has been completed, a public announcement will be released and the report will be made available on Colfax's website at www.colfaxcorp.com.

The Board of Charter, which has been so advised by Goldman Sachs International, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and RBS, considers the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing financial advice to the Board of Charter, Goldman Sachs International, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and RBS have taken into account the Board's commercial assessments. Goldman Sachs International is providing the independent financial advice for the purposes of Rule 3 of the City Code and J.P. Morgan Cazenove and RBS are also acting as financial advisers to the Board of Charter. Accordingly, the Board of Charter intends unanimously to recommend that Charter Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the Acquisition at the Meetings (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of such Offer).

Colfax has received irrevocable undertakings from those members of the Board of Charter who hold beneficial interests in the Charter Shares to vote in favour of the Scheme (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a takeover offer, to accept the Offer) in respect of their entire beneficial holdings which total 176,977 Charter Shares in aggregate representing approximately 0.1 per cent. of Charter’s issued share capital as at the date of this announcement. Further details of these irrevocable undertakings are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.

·	Further details of the Acquisition and the Scheme will be contained in the Scheme Document that will be posted to Charter Shareholders and, for information purposes only, to participants in the Charter Executive Share Schemes and the Phantom Restricted Scheme Plans as soon as practicable.

·	Commenting on the Acquisition, Mitchell P. Rales, the Chairman of Colfax and Clay H. Kiefaber, Colfax President and Chief Executive Officer of Colfax said:

“This is a transformational acquisition for Colfax that accelerates our growth strategy, enhances our business profile and continues our journey to becoming a premier global enterprise. We are very pleased that Charter's Board has recommended our offer, which we believe will bring significant benefits for both companies’ shareholders. Charter shareholders will receive an immediate premium and share in the upside of the combined company through the stock component of our offer, while Colfax shareholders will benefit from the significant earnings accretion and value creation opportunities that this combination will create."

"Charter International, with its global brands, is an excellent strategic fit that will significantly enhance our position in emerging markets, create an even balance of short- and long-cycle businesses and grow our aftermarket revenues,” said Clay H. Kiefaber, Colfax President and Chief Executive Officer. “Howden will be a great complement to our existing specialty fluid handling business and ESAB will be the nucleus of a new growth platform. In addition, we believe the application of the Colfax Business System will drive meaningful operational improvements."

·	Commenting on the decision by the Board of Charter to recommend the Acquisition, Lars Emilson, the Chairman of Charter said:

"The Board believes this is an attractive offer for Charter shareholders, reflecting the strengths of both ESAB and Howden's market leading positions, and their growth prospects. The proposed acquisition represents a premium of approximately 48.0 per cent. to Charter's share price before we entered into an offer period and before the recent decline in global financial markets. Colfax is a global engineering company which is complementary to Charter, with a strong reputation for its quality brands, leading positions, and a long term vision for growth and returns. Colfax has committed to providing continued stability for our employees and continued development of the ESAB and Howden offering for our customers. The Board of Charter intends to recommend the proposed acquisition to shareholders."

This summary should be read in conjunction with the following full announcement and the Appendices.

The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and other terms set out in Appendix 1 to the announcement and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix 2 contains bases and sources of certain information contained in this announcement. Details of irrevocable undertakings received by Colfax are set out in Appendix 3 to the announcement. Certain terms used in this summary and the full announcement are defined in Appendix 4 to the announcement.

A copy of this announcement will be available, subject to certain restrictions in relation to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, at Charter’s website at www.charter.ie and at Colfax’s website at www.colfaxcorp.com. Neither the contents of Charter’s website, the contents of Colfax's website, nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on either Charter's or Colfax's website, is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement.

Enquiries:

Colfax and Bidco Scott Brannan, Colfax (SVP and Chief Financial Officer)	+1 (301) 323 9000
Citigate Dewe Rogerson (Public relations adviser to Colfax and Bidco) Patrick Donovan Ginny Pulbrook	+44 (0)20 7282 2915 +44 (0)20 7282 2945
Deutsche Bank (Financial adviser and corporate broker to Colfax and Bidco) Richard Sheppard James Cass Charles Wilkinson (corporate broking)	+44 (0)20 7545 8000
Charter Gareth Rhys Williams, Chief Executive Aidan Wallis, Corporate Development Director	+44 (0)20 3206 0843
Brunswick Group LLP (Public relations adviser to Charter) Jonathan Glass Nina Coad	+44 (0)20 7404 5959
Goldman Sachs International (Financial adviser to Charter) Dominic Lee Philip Shelley Adrian Beidas	+44 (0)20 7774 1000
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Financial adviser and corporate broker to Charter) Edmund Byers Robert Constant Dwayne Lysaght	+44 (0)20 7588 2828
RBS Corporate Finance Limited (Financial adviser and corporate broker to Charter) John MacGowan Simon Hardy David Smith	+44 (0)20 7678 8000

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition will be made solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, if applicable, the Offer Document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition or to elect to sell shares in connection with the acquisition, as the case may be. Any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom, Jersey and the United States may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, Jersey and the United States should inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, Jersey or the United States to vote their Charter Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver forms of proxy appointing another to vote at the Meetings on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with Jersey law and the City Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or Jersey.

Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.

Notice to US investors in Charter: The Acquisition relates to the shares of a Jersey company that is a “foreign private issuer” (as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the US Exchange Act) and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under Jersey company law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in Jersey to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. Financial information included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom that may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. If, in the future, Bidco exercises the right to implement the Acquisition by way of a takeover offer, such offer will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations.

The securities of Colfax referred to in this announcement have not been registered under the Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The issuance of New Colfax Shares pursuant to the Scheme will not be registered under the Securities Act, and will be issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the Securities Act. In the event that Colfax determines to conduct the Acquisition pursuant to a takeover offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Act, it will file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that will contain a prospectus. In this event, Charter Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information, and such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission, nor any US state securities commission, has approved or disapproved of the Loan Notes or the New Colfax Shares to be issued in connection with the Acquisition, or determined if this announcement is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the US.

Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin - Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Services Authority. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG's authorisation and regulation by the Financial Services Authority are available on request. Deutsche Bank AG is acting as financial adviser to Colfax and Bidco and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than Colfax and Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank AG, nor for providing advice in relation to any matters referred to in this announcement.

Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Charter and for no-one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than Charter for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs International, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement.

J.P. Morgan Limited, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove and is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser and corporate broker to Charter and for no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Charter for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement.

RBS Corporate Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting as financial adviser and corporate broker to Charter and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Charter for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain statements about Colfax and Charter that are or may be “forward-looking statements” — that is, statements related to future, not past, events, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Colfax and Charter (as the case may be) and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements about the expected effects on Charter and Colfax of the Acquisition, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition, strategic options and all other statements in this document other than historical facts. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “will”, “may”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects”, “seeks”, “sees”, “should,” “would,” “expect,” “positioned,” “strategy,” or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Colfax's or Charter’s operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; (iii) the effects of government regulation on Colfax’s or Charter’s business, and (iv) Colfax’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions generally.

There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the satisfaction of the conditions to the Acquisition and other risks related to the Acquisition and actions related thereto. Additional particular uncertainties that could cause Colfax’s actual results to be materially different than those expressed in its forward-looking statements include: risks associated with Colfax’s international operations; significant movements in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in the general economy, as well as the cyclical nature of Colfax’s markets; Colfax’s ability to accurately estimate the cost of or realize savings from Colfax’s restructuring programs; availability and cost of raw materials, parts and components used in Colfax products; the competitive environment in Colfax’s industry; Colfax’s ability to identify, finance, acquire and successfully integrate attractive acquisition targets, including Charter should the Acquisition be successful; Colfax’s ability to complete the Acquisition as planned and achieve expected synergies in connection with the Acquisition, and risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Charter; Colfax’s ability to achieve or maintain credit ratings (in light of the Acquisition and financing of the Acquisition or otherwise) and the impact on its funding costs and competitive position if Colfax does not do so; and others risks and factors as disclosed in Colfax’s Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors". Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement.

Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. None of Colfax or Charter undertakes any obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.

Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure Requirements

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the City Code, any person who is interested in one per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any paper offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified.

An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a paper offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure. Under Rule 8.3(b) of the City Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4). Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure, you should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

12 September 2011

RECOMMENDED CASH AND SHARE OFFER

for

CHARTER INTERNATIONAL PLC

COLFAX UK HOLDINGS LTD

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

COLFAX CORPORATION

Introduction

The Board of Charter and the Board of Colfax are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash and share offer by Bidco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Colfax, for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Charter.

The Acquisition

Under the terms of the Scheme, which will be subject to the Conditions and other terms set out in this announcement and to further terms to be set out in the Scheme Document, Charter Shareholders will receive:

for each Charter Share: 730 pence in cash; and

0.1241 New Colfax Shares

The Acquisition values Charter’s fully diluted share capital at approximately £1,528 million, being 910 pence per Charter Share on a fully diluted basis (based on the Closing Price of US$23.04 per Colfax Share on 9 September 2011, being the last Business Day before this announcement).

The parties agree that an appropriate adjustment will be made to the Exchange Ratio in the event of (a) the payment of any dividend or other distribution by Colfax to its shareholders; (b) the reclassification, subdivision, consolidation or reorganisation of Colfax's share capital; (c) any issuance of equity securities pursuant to a pre-emptive invitation to the existing shareholders as a class subject only to regulatory exclusions; or (d) any transaction similar to the foregoing to the extent it would have a material disproportionate impact on those Charter Shareholders who receive New Colfax Shares pursuant to the Acquisition as compared to the existing Colfax shareholders (taken as a class).

Colfax has agreed to investigate providing a low cost dealing facility to assist those Charter Shareholders who wish to do so to dispose of the New Colfax Shares they receive under the terms of the Acquisition. The availability of such a facility will be subject to consideration of the results of the Mix and Match Facility, regulatory considerations, the requirements of the City Code and other practicalities.

The Offer Consideration, with Charter Shareholders having already received the interim dividend of 8 pence per Charter Share, represents a premium of:

approximately 16.7 per cent. to Melrose's initial offer of 780 pence per Charter Share made by Melrose on 28 June 2011; and

a premium of approximately 13.2 per cent. to the Closing Price of 804 pence per Charter Share on 9 September 2011 (being the last Business Day before this announcement).

It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by way of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Article 125 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 or, if Bidco elects, a takeover offer (as that term is defined under Article 116(1) of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991). The purpose of the Scheme is to enable Bidco to acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Charter. The Scheme, which will be subject to the Conditions set out in this announcement, will require the sanction of the Court.

In the event that the Acquisition is to be implemented by way of an Offer, the Charter Shares will be acquired pursuant to the Offer fully paid and free from all liens, charges, equitable interests, encumbrances and rights of pre-emption and any other interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights attaching thereto. Any New Charter Shares issued to Bidco pursuant to the Scheme will be issued on the same basis.

Recommendation

Accordingly, the Board of Charter intends unanimously to recommend that Charter Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the Acquisition at the Meetings (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of such Offer) as those members of the Board of Charter who hold beneficial interests in Charter Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings which totals 176,977 Charter Shares in aggregate representing approximately 0.1 per cent. of Charter’s issued share capital.

Further details of these irrevocable undertakings are set out in Appendix 3.

Information relating to Colfax and Bidco

Colfax

Colfax, headquartered in Fulton, Maryland, U.S.A., was founded in 1995 by Mitchell P. Rales and Steven M. Rales. Colfax is a global supplier of a broad range of fluid handling products, including pumps, fluid handling and lubrication systems and controls, and specialty valves. It is a leading manufacturer of rotary positive displacement pumps, which include screw pumps, gear pumps and progressive cavity pumps, as well as certain centrifugal pumps. Colfax designs and engineers products to high quality and reliability standards for use in critical fluid handling applications where performance is paramount. Colfax also offers customized fluid handling solutions to meet individual customer needs based on in-depth technical knowledge of the applications in which the products are used.

Over the last few years, Colfax has successfully grown its systems business, providing its customers with complete fluid handling systems and solutions. In the 2010 financial year, approximately 15 per cent. of total revenues (approximately US$79 million) were derived from systems (up from approximately 4 per cent. in the 2006 financial year). Pumps, including aftermarket parts and services, contributed 82 per cent. of total revenues (approximately US$445 million) in the 2010 financial year (more than 90 per cent. in the 2006 financial year). Valves and other products accounted for approximately 3 per cent. of total revenues (approximately US$18 million in the 2010 financial year).

Colfax products are marketed principally under the Allweiler, Baric, Fairmount, Houttuin, Imo, LSC, Portland Valve, Tushaco, Warren and Zenith industrial brand names.

Bidco

Bidco is a newly incorporated English company which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Colfax established to effect the Acquisition. Bidco has not traded prior to the date of this announcement (except for entering into transactions relating to the Acquisition).

Further details of Bidco will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Information relating to Charter

Charter International plc is the holding company of a global group of engineering companies. Charter’s businesses are focussed on welding, cutting and automation (“ESAB”) and on air and gas handling (“Howden”).

Summarised financial information

In its most recent financial year, ended 31 December 2010, Charter achieved revenue of £1,719.6 million (2009: £1,659.2 million), adjusted profit before tax of £148.2 million (2009: £126.0 million) and adjusted earnings per share of 66.1 pence (2009: 55.0 pence). Total dividends were paid of 23.0 pence per share (2009: 21.5 pence).

For the six months ended 30 June 2011, Charter achieved revenue of £946.5 million (2010: £840.4 million), adjusted profit before tax of £75.6 million (2010: £73.3 million) and adjusted earnings per share of 33.6 pence (2009: 32.8 pence). An interim dividend of 8.0 pence per share (2010: 7.5 pence) was declared and was paid to Charter Shareholders on 2 September 2011.

Additional information on ESAB

ESAB is a leading international welding and cutting company. With a heritage dating back to the evolution of the welding process, ESAB formulates, develops, manufactures and supplies consumable products and equipment for use in the cutting and joining of steels and other metals.

ESAB’s comprehensive range of welding consumables includes electrodes, cored and solid wires, and fluxes. ESAB’s welding and cutting equipment ranges from standard equipment to large bespoke plants used in industrial applications.

The principal end-user segments that it supplies are energy, transport, infrastructure and general industrial.

From its origins in Sweden at the start of the twentieth century, ESAB has developed into a highly international business; at present, its sales are split broadly evenly between the developed economies of Europe and North America, and emerging markets. ESAB is a leading participant in the welding industry in Europe, North America, South America and India and is developing its operations in Africa, the Middle East, China and elsewhere in Asia.

In July 2011, ESAB announced its strategic objectives for the further development of its business. By building on its established strengths and pursuing identified opportunities, ESAB aims to achieve 10 per cent. organic revenue CAGR, a “through cycle” operating margin of 10 per cent., and (by the end of 2013) to reduce working capital to 19 per cent. of revenue.

Additional information on Howden

Howden is a leading international applications engineer. Headquartered in Renfrew, Scotland, Howden designs, manufactures, installs and maintains various types of air and gas handling equipment for use in the power, oil and gas, petrochemical and other industries.

Howden’s principal products are fans, heat exchangers and compressors. The fans and heat exchangers are used mainly in the generation of electricity by coal-fired power stations, both in combustion and the control of emissions, and other large scale industrial plant. Howden’s compressors are mainly used in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

New equipment sales generally account for around two-thirds of Howden’s revenues. Howden has successfully grown its aftermarket business which accounts for around one-third of Howden’s revenue.

The coal-fired power industry currently accounts for around one-third of Howden’s sales of new equipment as the share of revenue from other industries, especially oil and gas, has increased. Overall, the energy sector is estimated to account for some two-thirds of Howden’s revenues in new equipment. These figures are based on the pro forma figures for new product sales in 2010 (inclusive of Thomassen Compression Systems which was not acquired until March 2011).

Howden has significant market positions in Europe, North America, China, South Africa and Australia. Howden has recently increased its presence in India, through a joint venture agreement with Larsen & Toubro, a major engineering and construction company, and in Brazil, where it has opened a much enhanced factory. Overall, around one-half of Howden’s sales are made in emerging markets and this proportion is expected to increase progressively over time.

In July 2011, Howden announced its strategic objectives of achieving revenue CAGR of over 10 per cent. and, over the medium to long-term, of achieving an adjusted operating margin of 14 per cent.

Background to and reasons for the Acquisition

Colfax believes the acquisition of Charter would complement its stated strategy which, in addition to driving organic growth, includes pursuing value-creating acquisitions within its served markets, and adding complementary growth platforms to provide scale and revenue diversity. Colfax considers Charter to be a leading player in key markets with an attractive business mix and strong technological capabilities that fits well with Colfax's acquisition criteria.

Earlier this year Colfax identified Charter as a business that would complement its Fluid Handling platform as well as add a new welding and cutting platform. In July 2011, following the unsolicited offer for Charter by Melrose, Colfax approached Charter to express its interest in a possible acquisition.

Colfax believes that completion of the Acquisition would accelerate Colfax’s growth strategy and enable Colfax to become a multi-platform business with a strong global footprint. Charter’s air & gas handling business (Howden) would extend Colfax’s existing Fluid Handling platform, and Charter’s welding, cutting and automation (ESAB) business would establish a new growth platform.

Colfax believes that the Acquisition will improve Colfax’s business profile by providing a meaningful recurring revenue stream. It would also provide considerable exposure to emerging markets, allow the combined company to benefit from strong secular growth drivers and provide a balance of short and long cycle businesses.

Following the Acquisition, Colfax believes there are significant upside opportunities from applying its established management techniques to improve both margin and return on invested capital.

The Acquisition is also expected to provide a platform for additional acquisitions in the fragmented welding and air handling markets.

The Acquisition is expected to be significantly accretive to earnings1 and to provide double digit returns on invested capital within three to five years.

Colfax takes a disciplined approach to acquisitions with clearly defined strategic and financial criteria, and is committed to maintaining a prudent capital structure. Colfax believes the resulting capital structure will allow it to meet its goal of achieving and maintaining a credit rating of BB-/Ba3 or better and ensure that it retains sufficient flexibility to continue existing and new initiatives without undue balance sheet risk.

Colfax’s management are established industrialists who buy businesses with the objective of developing them so that they may achieve their full potential.

Background to and reasons for the recommendation

On 20 June 2011, Charter issued a trading update that warned of the expected outcome for 2011 as a whole being below expectations at the time of the interim management statement in April 2011. This announcement was followed by the resignation of the then Charter Chief Executive, Michael Foster, on 27 June 2011.

On 29 June 2011, Charter announced it had received an indicative offer from Melrose that may or may not lead to an offer for the entire issued share capital of Charter. This initial offer from Melrose of 780 pence per Charter Share (inclusive of Charter’s interim dividend), was rejected by Charter’s Board on 30 June 2011.

On 11 July 2011, the Board of Charter received a revised increased proposal from Melrose of 840 pence per Charter Share (again inclusive of Charter’s interim dividend). The Board of Charter reviewed this proposal and rejected it on 15 July 2011, as undervaluing Charter and its prospects. At that time, the Board of Charter confirmed that it remained committed to maximising value for its shareholders and was exploring a full range of strategic alternatives.

On 1 September 2011, the Board of Charter announced that it had received a revised indicative proposal from Melrose, indicating that Melrose was prepared, subject to certain pre-conditions, to increase the value of its possible offer for Charter by 18 pence per Charter Share. Melrose’s revised proposal represented an 850 pence per Charter Share offer for the Company, on the basis set out in the announcement, and also allowed Charter Shareholders to retain the interim dividend of 8 pence per Charter Share declared on 26 July 2011 and paid to Charter Shareholders on 2 September 2011. The revised proposal comprised 553 pence in Melrose shares and 297 pence in cash for each Charter Share. The announcement also stated that, on the basis of the increased proposal, and in light of the recent heightened economic uncertainty and financial market volatility, Charter had agreed to commence discussions with Melrose about its revised indicative proposal and to allow Melrose to complete its confirmatory due diligence.

Melrose continues to conduct due diligence on Charter. There can be no certainty that a formal offer will ultimately be forthcoming from Melrose.

1 This should not be taken as a statement regarding Colfax's expectation for earnings per share during the remainder of 2011, for 2012 or for subsequent periods.

Since the initial approach by Melrose, Charter, through its financial advisers, Goldman Sachs International, J.P. Morgan Cazenove, and RBS Corporate Finance Limited, has spoken to certain parties, including Colfax, regarding their possible interest in the Company. On 1 August 2011, Colfax provided formal written confirmation of its interest in Charter. On 23 August 2011, Charter announced that it was in discussions with a potential offeror other than Melrose regarding a possible offer for Charter. Colfax announced on 4 September 2011 that it was in preliminary discussions regarding a possible all-cash offer to acquire Charter.

The Offer Consideration, with Charter Shareholders having already received the interim dividend of 8 pence per Charter Share, represents a premium of:

approximately 16.7 per cent. to Melrose's initial offer of 780 pence per Charter Share made by Melrose on 28 June 2011; and

a premium of approximately 13.2 per cent. to the Closing Price of 804 pence per Charter Share on 9 September 2011 (being the last Business Day before this announcement).

The Directors of Charter have also noted the general downward movement in global financial markets which has taken place in recent weeks, in particular since the start of August, and which has impacted shares in many industrial and engineering companies in particular. Since Melrose’s initial offer on 28 June 2011 to 9 September 2011 (being the last Business Day before this announcement), the FTSE 350 Industrial Engineering Index has declined by approximately 8.8 per cent. and FTSE 250 Share Index has declined by approximately 12.5 per cent.

Against this background, the Directors of Charter have therefore concluded that the price of 910 pence for each Charter Share is fair and reasonable and intend to recommend the Acquisition to Charter Shareholders. The terms of the Acquisition allow Charter Shareholders to realise a significant proportion of their investment in Charter for cash whilst also providing the opportunity to retain an on-going interest in Charter’s businesses through a shareholding in the enlarged Colfax group.

Implementation Agreement

Charter, Bidco and Colfax have entered into the Implementation Agreement in relation to the implementation of the Acquisition and related matters in accordance with an agreed indicative timetable which will be set out in the Scheme Document. The Implementation Agreement contains certain assurances and confirmations between the parties, including provisions reflecting the rules of the Panel which are due to come into force on 19 September 2011, to implement the Scheme on a timely basis.

Inducement Fee Arrangements

Charter has agreed to pay an inducement fee of £15,275,000 to Bidco, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Implementation Agreement, in circumstances where a competing offer (or similar proposal) is announced before the Acquisition lapses or is withdrawn and such competing offer (or similar proposal) or another third party offer (or similar proposal) becomes wholly unconditional or effective or is otherwise consummated.

In addition, Charter has agreed to pay an inducement fee of £7,638,000 to Bidco in certain other circumstances, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Implementation Agreement. These circumstances include where: (a) the Board of Charter recommends a competing offer (or similar proposal); (b) the Board of Charter withdraws, qualifies or adversely modifies its recommendation of the Acquisition or such recommendation ceases to be unanimous; and (c) where Charter takes any steps to implement a competing offer (or similar proposal) or if Charter makes certain changes to the timetable for the Acquisition or postpones or adjourns the Meetings and as a result the Scheme is reasonably expected not to become effective before the Long Stop Date.

The payments referred to above are not, however, payable by Charter where, following the announcement of a competing offer (or similar proposal) the Acquisition lapses or is withdrawn (save in circumstances where the Panel has agreed that Bidco may invoke a condition to the Acquisition or may lapse or withdraw the Acquisition other than in reliance on a regulatory condition or any condition reflecting material adverse change not occasioned by any action of Charter). The amount payable as an inducement fee cannot exceed (in aggregate) £15,275,000.

Further details of the above arrangements are set out in the Implementation Agreement and will be summarised in the Scheme Document.

Financing of the Acquisition

The Acquisition will be funded from a combination of proceeds of the Equity Capital Raising, new debt facilities and Colfax’s existing cash resources.

Debt financing

The debt financing available to Bidco under loan facilities has been arranged by Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and further details of the debt financing of the Acquisition will be included in the Scheme Document.

Equity Capital Raising

BDT CF Acquisition Vehicle, LLC, an entity controlled by BDT Capital Partners Fund I, L.P. has agreed to purchase, six Business Days following the Effective Date, up to 13,877,551 shares of preferred stock and up to 14,756,944 shares of common stock of Colfax for US$680 million in the aggregate. In addition, Mitchell P. Rales, Steven M. Rales and Markel Corporation (an entity in which one of the Colfax directors is an officer) have agreed to subscribe, six business days following the Effective Date, for common stock in the capital of Colfax for US$125 million in the aggregate. The net proceeds of these issuances of preferred stock and common stock will be used by Colfax to fund a portion of the Offer Consideration. All these subscriptions for shares of common stock are being made at US$23.04 which is the closing price of a Colfax Share on 9 September 2011, being the last Business Day before this announcement. The Exchange Ratio has also been determined on this basis and so the 0.1241 New Colfax Shares which Charter Shareholders will receive for each Charter Share held are valued at 180 pence accordingly.

The Equity Capital Raising requires the approval of Colfax shareholders and accordingly Colfax intends to convene a meeting of its shareholders in order to approve the Equity Capital Raising. The resolutions to be proposed at the meeting will require the approval of Colfax shareholders holding more than 50 per cent. of the outstanding common stock. Colfax has undertaken to Charter that it will use reasonable endeavours to finalise the documentation required in connection with the shareholder meeting in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements and, thereafter, to hold the shareholder meeting, in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case by this date. The Board of Colfax intends to recommend Colfax shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the shareholder meeting.

Mitchell P. Rales and Steven M. Rales who together hold or control 18,291,220 Colfax Shares, representing approximately 42 per cent. of Colfax's issued share capital, have agreed with Charter that (save in certain limited specified circumstance) they will vote in favour of the resolutions regarding the Equity Capital Raising at the shareholder meeting. The other directors of Colfax intend to vote in favour of the resolutions in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of 360,296 Colfax Shares in aggregate, representing approximately 0.8265 per cent. of Colfax's issued share capital.

Deutsche Bank has confirmed that they are satisfied that sufficient financial resources are available to Bidco to satisfy, in full, the cash consideration payable to the Charter Shareholders pursuant to the Acquisition.

Further information on the financing of the Acquisition will be set out in the Scheme Document.

Management, employees and intentions regarding the Charter Group

Colfax has given assurances to the Board of Charter that, upon and following completion of the Acquisition, the Charter Group employers will continue to comply with the contractual and other entitlements in relation to pension and employment rights of existing employees.

It is intended that, upon the Scheme becoming effective, each of the non-executive members of the Board of Charter will resign from his office as a director of Charter.

Terms of Mix and Match Facility

Charter Shareholders (other than certain Overseas Shareholders) will be entitled to elect, subject to availability, to vary the proportions in which they receive New Colfax Shares and cash in respect of their holdings of Charter Shares. However, the total number of New Colfax Shares to be issued and the maximum aggregate amount of cash to be paid under the Scheme will not be varied as a result of elections under the Mix and Match Facility.

Accordingly, elections made by Charter Shareholders under the Mix and Match Facility will only be satisfied to the extent that other Charter Shareholders make off-setting elections. To the extent that elections cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled down on a pro rata basis. As a result, Charter Shareholders who make an election under the Mix and Match Facility will not know the exact number of New Colfax Shares or the amount of cash they will receive until settlement of the consideration due to them in respect of the Acquisition.

The Mix and Match Facility is conditional upon the Scheme becoming effective and further details of the Mix and Match Facility will be included in the Scheme Document.

Loan Note Alternative

Charter Shareholders (other than certain Overseas Shareholders) will be entitled to elect to receive Loan Notes instead of all or part of the cash consideration to which they would otherwise be entitled under the terms of the Acquisition.

The Loan Note Alternative will be made available on the following basis:

for every whole £1 in cash consideration £1 nominal value of Loan Notes

The Loan Notes will be governed by English law and will be issued, credited as fully paid, in integral multiples of £1 nominal value. The Loan Notes will have the benefit of an unsecured guarantee from Colfax in respect of all obligations for the life of the Loan Notes. All fractional entitlements to the Loan Notes will be disregarded and will not be issued. The Loan Notes will be non-transferable other than to privileged relations and family trusts and no application will be made for them to be listed or dealt in on any stock exchange. The Loan Notes will not be qualifying corporate bonds.

The Loan Notes will bear interest from the date of issue to the relevant holder of the Loan Notes at a rate per annum of 0.50 per cent. below LIBOR. Interest will be payable semi-annually on 30 June and 31 December each year, or if that day is not a Business Day, on the immediately following Business Day, with the first interest payment date being 30 June 2012 or, if later, at least six months from the date of issue. The Loan Notes will be redeemable at par (together with accrued interest less any tax required by law to be withheld or deducted therefrom) in whole or in part, for cash at the option of the noteholders on 30 June 2012 and subsequently semi-annually on 30 June and 31 December each year (or, if that day is not a Business Day, on the immediately following Business Day). In certain circumstances, Bidco will have the right to redeem all of the Loan Notes. If not previously redeemed, the final redemption date will be the date falling five (5) years after the Effective Date.

No Loan Notes will be issued unless, on or before the Effective Date, valid elections have been received in respect of at least £2 million in nominal value of Loan Notes. If insufficient elections are received, Charter Shareholders electing for the Loan Note Alternative will instead receive cash in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition. If at any time after 30 June 2012 (or, if later, six months from the date of issue), the outstanding nominal amount of Loan Notes is equal to or less than £2 million, Bidco will be entitled to redeem all of the then outstanding Loan Notes.

The Loan Note Alternative will be conditional upon the Acquisition becoming effective. Full details of the Loan Note Alternative will be contained in the Scheme Document or, as the case may be, the Offer Document and the Loan Note Form of Election. The Loan Notes are not being offered to Overseas Shareholders.

Charter Shareholders should consider carefully, in light of their own investment objectives and tax position, whether they wish to elect for Loan Notes under the Loan Note Alternative and are strongly advised to seek their own independent financial advice before making any such election.

Charter Executive Share Schemes and Phantom Restricted Scheme Plan

In due course, Charter and Bidco will write to participants in the Charter Executive Share Schemes to inform them of the effect of the Scheme on their rights under the Charter Executive Share Schemes and the actions they may take to enable them to participate in the Scheme.

Charter and Bidco will also write in due course to participants in the Charter Executive Share Schemes and the Phantom Restricted Scheme Plan to inform them of the effect of the Scheme on their rights under that plan.

It is proposed to amend the articles of association of Charter at the Charter General Meeting to provide that, if the Scheme becomes effective, any Charter Shares issued (other than to Bidco or subsidiaries or nominees of Colfax) between approval of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Scheme Record Time will be subject to the Scheme and that any Charter Shares issued after the Scheme Record Time will automatically be acquired by Bidco in exchange for cash and New Colfax Shares as described in paragraph 0 above on the same basis as under the Scheme. Consequently, participants in the Charter Executive Share Schemes whose rights to receive Charter Shares under awards vest after the Scheme Record Time will receive cash and New Colfax Shares as described in paragraph 2 above.

Expected timetable

It is expected that the Scheme Document containing further details of the Scheme (including an expected timetable) will be dispatched to Charter Shareholders as soon as practicable (and, in any event, not later than 28 days after the date of this announcement).

Disclosure of interests in Charter Shares

As at the close of business on 9 September 2011 (the last Business Day prior to this announcement) and save as discussed above and for the irrevocable undertakings referred to in Appendix 3, neither Bidco, nor any Bidco Directors nor, so far as Bidco is aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning of the City Code) with Bidco has any interest in, owns or has owned or controls or has controlled any Charter Shares (including pursuant to any short or long exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the prices of securities) or any rights to subscribe for or purchase the same, or holds or has held options (including traded options) in respect of, or has or has had any option to acquire, any Charter Shares or has entered into any derivatives referenced to Charter Shares ("Relevant Shares") which remain outstanding, nor does any person have or has any such person had any arrangement in relation to Relevant Shares. An "arrangement" for these purposes also includes any indemnity or option arrangement, or any arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature, relating to Relevant Shares which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing in such securities, or any borrowing or lending of Relevant Shares that have not been on-lent or sold.

On 4 September 2011, Colfax made an announcement falling under Rule 2.4 of the City Code that it was in preliminary discussions regarding a possible all-cash offer to acquire Charter ("Possible Offer Announcement") that would generally require it to make an Opening Position Disclosure by no later than 12 noon on the day falling 10 Business Days after the Possible Offer Announcement. Bidco will not be releasing an Opening Position Disclosure today disclosing interests in the relevant securities of each of Colfax and Melrose as this Opening Position Disclosure would not disclose any interests. With the Panel’s consent, Bidco will make an Opening Position Disclosure as soon as possible, and in any event before 12 noon on the day 10 Business Days after the date of this announcement disclosing interests in the relevant securities of Colfax.

Scheme of Arrangement

It is intended that the Acquisition will be effected by a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Charter and the Scheme Shareholders under Article 125 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Bidco to become owner of the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Charter.

Under the Scheme, the Acquisition is to be principally achieved by:

the cancellation of the Scheme Shares held by Scheme Shareholders in consideration for which Scheme Shareholders will receive consideration on the basis set out in paragraph 2 of this announcement (including, the issue of New Colfax Shares to Scheme Shareholders);

amendments to Charter's articles of association to ensure that any Charter Shares issued (other than to Bidco or any subsidiaries or nominees of Colfax) between approval of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Scheme Record Time will be subject to the Scheme and that any Charter Shares issued after the Scheme Record Time will automatically be acquired by Bidco; and

the issue of New Charter Shares to Bidco provided for in the Scheme that will result in Charter becoming an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Colfax.

The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and further terms and conditions referred to in Appendix 1 to this announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document.

To become effective, the Scheme requires the approval of the Charter Shareholders by the passing of a resolution at the Court Meeting. The resolution must be approved by a majority in number representing not less than three-fourths of the voting rights of the holders of the Charter Shares (or the relevant class or classes thereof, if applicable) present and voting, either in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting. To become effective, the Scheme also requires the passing of a special resolution at the Charter General Meeting, requiring the approval of Charter Shareholders representing at least two thirds of the votes cast at the Charter General Meeting (either in person or by proxy). The Charter General Meeting will be held immediately after the Court Meeting.

Following the Meetings, the Scheme must be sanctioned by the Court and the associated Capital Reduction must be confirmed by the Court. The Scheme will become effective in accordance with its terms on delivery of the Scheme Court Order, the Reduction Court Order and the minute of the Capital Reduction attached thereto to the Registrar of Companies, and, in relation to the Capital Reduction, the Reduction Court Order and attached minute being filed with and registered by the Registrar of Companies.

Upon the Scheme becoming effective, it will be binding on all Charter Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted at the Meetings and the consideration due under the Acquisition will be despatched by Bidco to Scheme Shareholders no later than 14 days after the Effective Date.

The Scheme will contain a provision for Bidco and Charter to jointly consent, on behalf of all persons concerned, to any modification of or addition to the Scheme or to any condition that the Court may approve or impose. Charter has been advised that the Court would be unlikely to approve any modification of, or addition to, or impose a condition to the Scheme which might be material to the interests of Scheme Shareholders unless Scheme Shareholders were informed of such modification, addition or condition. It would be a matter for the Court to decide, in its discretion, whether or not a further meeting of the Scheme Shareholders should be held in these circumstances.

The Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme, together with notices of the Court Meeting and the Charter General Meeting and the expected timetable, and will specify the action to be taken by Scheme Shareholders.

The Scheme will be governed by Jersey law. The Scheme will be subject to the applicable requirements of the City Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority. The bases and sources of certain information contained in this announcement are set out in Appendix 2. Certain terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix 4.

Irrevocable Undertakings

Those members of the Board of Charter who hold beneficial interests in Charter Shares have irrevocably undertaken to vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the Acquisition at the Meetings (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a takeover offer, to accept the Offer) in respect of their own beneficial holdings which total 176,977 Charter Shares representing in aggregate approximately 0.1 per cent. of Charter’s issued share capital at the date of this announcement. These irrevocable undertakings will continue to be binding even if a competing offer is made for Charter which exceeds the value of the Acquisition and even if such higher offer is recommended for acceptance by the Board of Charter.

Further details of these irrevocable undertakings are set out in Appendix 3.

Delisting and re-registration

Prior to the Scheme becoming effective, a request will be made to the London Stock Exchange to cancel trading in Charter Shares on its market for listed securities on the first Business Day following the Effective Date and the UK Listing Authority will be requested to cancel the listing of the Charter Shares from the Official List on the first Business Day following the Effective Date.

Share certificates in respect of the Charter Shares will cease to be valid and should be destroyed on the first Business Day following the Effective Date.

In addition, entitlements held within the CREST system to the Charter Shares will be cancelled on the first Business Day following the Effective Date.

As soon as practicable after the Effective Date, it is intended that Charter will be re-registered as a private limited company.

Overseas Charter Shareholders

The distribution of this announcement to, and the availability of the Acquisition to, persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, Jersey or the United States may be affected by the laws of their relevant jurisdiction. Such persons should inform themselves of and observe any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction. Further details in relation to overseas Charter Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Scheme Shareholders in the US

The Scheme relates to the shares of a Jersey company that is a “foreign private issuer” as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act and will be governed by Jersey law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Scheme is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in Jersey and under the Code to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer rules. Financial information included in this announcement has been prepared, unless specifically stated otherwise, in accordance with accounting standards applicable in Jersey and thus may not be comparable to the financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the US. If Bidco exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a takeover offer, such offer will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations.

The issuance of New Colfax shares pursuant to the Scheme will not be registered under the Securities Act, and will be issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the Securities Act. In the event that Colfax determines to conduct the Acquisition pursuant to a takeover offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Act, it will file a registration statement with the SEC that will contain a prospectus. In this event, Charter Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information, and such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Rule 2.10 disclosure

In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code, Colfax confirms that as at the close of business on 9 September 2011, being the last Business Day before this announcement, it had 43,590,915 shares of Colfax's common stock in issue and admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ISIN US1940141062.

General

Colfax reserves the right to elect to implement the Acquisition by way of an Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Charter not already held by Bidco or any subsidiary or nominees of Colfax as an alternative to the Scheme. In such an event, an Offer will be implemented on the same terms (subject to appropriate amendments), so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme but with an acceptance condition which will be set at 75 per cent. (or such lower percentage as Colfax may decide or the Panel may require) as referred to in Part A of Appendix 1 to this announcement. Colfax has agreed that any such Offer would remain open for acceptance for at least 60 days after the Offer Document is published.

If the Acquisition is effected by way of an Offer and such Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects and acceptances of more than 75 per cent. of the voting rights attaching to Charter Shares are received Bidco intends to: (i) request the London Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority to cancel trading in Charter Shares on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities and the listing of the Charter Shares from the Official List; and (ii) exercise its rights, to the extent applicable, to apply the provisions of Articles 116 to 118 and Article 121 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 to acquire compulsorily the remaining Charter Shares in respect of which the Offer has not been accepted.

The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and other terms set out in this announcement and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix 2 contains bases and sources of certain information contained in this announcement. Details of irrevocable undertakings received by Bidco are set out in Appendix 3. Certain terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix 4.

A copy of this announcement will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions at Charter’s website at www.charter.ie and at Colfax’s website at www.colfaxcorp.com/. Neither the contents of Charter’s website, the contents of Colfax's website, nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on either Charter's or Colfax's website, is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement.

Enquiries:

Colfax and BidCo Scott Brannan, Colfax (SVP and Chief Financial Officer)	+1 (301) 323 9000
Citigate Dewe Rogerson (Public relations adviser to Colfax and Bidco) Patrick Donovan Ginny Pulbrook	+44 (0)20 7282 2945 +44 (0)20 7282 2915

Deutsche Bank (Financial adviser and corporate broker to Colfax and Bidco) Richard Sheppard James Cass Charles Wilkinson (corporate broking)	+44(0) 20 7545 8000
Charter Gareth Rhys Williams, Chief Executive Aidan Wallis, Corporate Development Director	+44 (0)20 3206 0843
Brunswick Group LLP (Public relations adviser to Charter) Jonathan Glass Nina Coad	+44 (0)20 7404 5959
Goldman Sachs International (Financial adviser to Charter) Dominic Lee Philip Shelley Adrian Beidas	+44 (0)20 7774 1000
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Financial adviser and corporate broker to Charter) Edmund Byers Robert Constant Dwayne Lysaght	+44 (0)20 7588 2828
RBS Corporate Finance Limited (Financial adviser and corporate broker to Charter) John MacGowan Simon Hardy David Smith	+44 (0)20 7678 8000

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition will be made solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, if applicable, the Offer Document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition or to elect to sell shares in connection with the acquisition, as the case may be), including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom, Jersey and the United States may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, Jersey or the United States should inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, Jersey or the United States to vote their Charter Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver forms of proxy appointing another to vote at the Meetings on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with Jersey law and the City Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or Jersey.

Notice to US investors in Charter: The Acquisition relates to the shares of a Jersey company that is a “foreign private issuer” (as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the US Exchange Act) and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under Jersey company law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in Jersey to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. Financial information included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom that may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. If, in the future, Bidco exercises the right to implement the Acquisition by way of a takeover offer and determines to extend the offer into the United States, the Acquisition will be made in compliance with applicable United States laws and regulations.

The issuance of New Colfax Shares pursuant to the Scheme will not be registered under the Securities Act, and will be issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the Act. In the event that Colfax determines to conduct the Acquisition pursuant to a takeover offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, it will file a registration statement with the SEC that will contain a prospectus. In this event, Charter Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information, and such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

It may be difficult for US holders of Charter Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws, since Bidco and Charter are located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Charter Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors or enforce a judgment rendered by a US court in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court’s judgment.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure Requirements

COMPANY

COLFAX CORPORATION

By:	/s/ A. Lynne Puckett
	Name: A. Lynne Puckett
	Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

DESIGNATED STOCKHOLDERS
(Joining solely for purposes of Section 5.12)

Mitchell P. Rales

INVESTOR

BDT CF ACQUISITION VEHICLE, LLC

By:	/s/ William R. Bush
	Name: William R. Bush
	Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

BDT FUND
(Joining solely for purposes of Section 5.11)

BDT CAPITAL PARTNERS FUND I, L.P.

By: BDT CP GP I, LLC, its general partner
By: BDT Capital Partners, LLC, its managing Member
By:	/s/ William R. Bush
Name: William R. Bush
Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

BDT CAPITAL PARTNERS FUND I-A, L.P.

By: BDT CP GP I, LLC, its general partner
By: BDT Capital Partners, LLC, its managing member

By:	/s/ William R. Bush
	Name: William R. Bush
	Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Name of Charter Director	Number of Charter Shares		Approximate % of Charter issued share capital
John Biles		8,461		0.0051
James Deeley		12,441		0.0074
Robert Careless		56,797		0.034
Lars Emilson		10,000		0.006
John Neill		87,278		0.052
Andrew Osborne		1,000		0.0006
Grey Denham		1,000		0.0006

“Acquisition”		the proposed acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Charter by Colfax (other than the Excluded Shares), to be effected by the Scheme (or by the Offer under certain circumstances described in this announcement)

“Bidco”		Colfax UK Holdings Ltd (or, if Colfax elects, a nominee or wholly-owned subsidiary of Colfax notified in writing to Charter prior to posting of the Scheme Document (or, if applicable, the Offer Document)

“Board”		the board of directors of the relevant company

“Business Day”		a day, (other than a Saturday, Sunday, public or bank holiday) on which banks are generally open for business in London and Jersey

“CAGR”		the compound annual growth rate

“Capital Reduction”		the proposed reduction of share capital of Charter pursuant to the Scheme

“Charter”		Charter International plc, incorporated in Jersey with registered number 100249

“Charter General Meeting”		the general meeting of Charter Shareholders to be convened to consider and if thought fit pass, inter alia, a special resolution in relation to the Acquisition

“Charter Group”		Charter and its Subsidiary and associated undertakings

“Charter Shareholders”		the holders of Charter Shares

“Charter Executive Share Schemes”		the Charter International plc Long Term Incentive Plan first approved by the shareholders of Charter on 27 August 2008 and first adopted by Charter on 22 October 2008 (including subsequent amendments approved by shareholders on 29 April 2010 and adopted by Charter on 16 February 2011); and the Deferred Bonus Plan approved by the shareholders of Charter on 27 August 2008 and adopted by Charter on 22 October 2008

“Charter Shares”		the ordinary shares of 2 pence each in the capital of Charter

“City Code”		the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

“Closing Price”		the closing middle market quotation of a share derived from (in respect of Charter Shares) the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange or (in respect of Colfax Shares) the New York Stock Exchange

“Colfax”		Colfax Corporation, a Delaware corporation having its registered office at 8170 Maple Lawn Blvd., Suite 180 Fulton, MD 20759

“Conditions”		the conditions of the Acquisition set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement

“Court”		the Royal Court of Jersey

“Court Meeting”		the meeting of the Charter Shareholders convened by order of the Court pursuant to Article 125 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the Scheme (with or without amendment) and any adjournment thereof

“CREST”		the relevant system (as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755) in respect of which Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited is the Operator (as defined in the Regulations)

“Deutsche Bank”		Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch

“Disclosed Information”		any information which has been (i) fairly disclosed by or on behalf of Charter or its or any of its advisers to Colfax or its advisors in connection with or in contemplation of the Acquisition prior to the date of this announcement, whether by electronic means, physical form or orally; (ii) disclosed in Charter’s report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010 or its interim accounts for the 6 month period ended 30 June 2011; or (iii) disclosed in this announcement

“ESAB”		the ESAB business focused on welding, cutting and automation

“Effective Date”		the date on which the Scheme becomes effective in accordance with its terms

“Equity Capital Raising”		the capital raising described in paragraph 10 (Financing of the Acquisition)

“Exchange Act”		the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder

“Exchange Ratio”		means 0.1241 Colfax Shares for every 1 Charter Share

“Excluded Shares”		any Charter Shares legally or beneficially held by Colfax or any of its Subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings

“Forms of Proxy”		the forms of proxy for use at the Court Meeting and the Charter General Meeting which will accompany the Scheme Document

“FSA”		the Financial Services Authority

“Howden”		the Howden business focused on air and gas handling

“Implementation Agreement”		the agreement dated on or about the date of this announcement and entered into by Colfax, Bidco and Charter with respect to the implementation of the Acquisition

“Jersey”		the Bailiwick of Jersey, Channel Islands

“J.P. Morgan Cazenove”		J.P. Morgan Limited which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P Morgan Cazenove

“LIBOR”		London Inter Bank Offer Rate

“Listing Rules”		the rules and regulations made by the FSA in its capacity as the UK Listing Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and contained in the UK Listing Authority’s publication of the same name

“Loan Note Alternative”		the option whereby Charter Shareholders (other than certain Overseas Shareholders) may elect to receive Loan Notes instead of some or all of the cash consideration to which they would otherwise be entitled under the Acquisition

“Loan Note Form of Election”		the form of election in relation to the Loan Notes which will accompany the Scheme Document

“Loan Notes”		the unsecured floating rate loan notes of Bidco issued pursuant to the Loan Note Alternative

“London Stock Exchange”		London Stock Exchange plc

“Long Stop Date”		30 March 2012, or such later date as Bidco and Charter may agree and the Court (if required) may allow

“Meetings”		the Court Meeting and the Charter General Meeting

“Melrose”		Melrose PLC

“Mix and Match Facility”		the mix and match facility under which Charter Shareholders (other than certain Overseas Shareholders) may elect, subject to equal and opposite elections made by other Charter Shareholders, to vary the proportions in which they receive cash and New Colfax Shares under the Acquisition

“New Charter Shares”		the new ordinary shares of 2 pence each in the capital of Charter to be issued credited as fully paid up to Bidco pursuant to the Scheme

“New Colfax Shares”		the new ordinary shares in the capital of Colfax to be issued credited as fully paid up to Scheme Shareholders (other than certain Overseas Shareholders) pursuant to the Scheme

“Offer”		should the Acquisition be implemented by way of a takeover offer, the takeover offer to be made by or on behalf of Bidco to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Charter and, where the context admits, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such offer

“Offer Consideration”		the consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition

“Offer Document”		should the Acquisition be implemented by means of the Offer, the document to be sent to Charter Shareholders which will contain, inter alia, the terms and conditions of the Offer

“Official List”		the official list maintained by the UK Listing Authority

“Opening Position Disclosure”		an announcement containing details of interests or short positions in, or rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of a party to the offer if the person concerned has such a position

“Overseas Shareholders”		Scheme Shareholders who are resident in, ordinarily resident in, or citizens of, jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom, Jersey or the United States

“Panel”		the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

“Phantom Restricted Scheme Plan”		the Phantom Restricted Scheme Plan last approved and adopted by Charter Limited (registered number: 2794949)on 17 May 2011 (including all prior versions thereof)

“Publicly Announced”		announced publicly and delivered by or on behalf of Charter through a Regulatory Information Service prior to the date of this announcement

“RBS”		RBS Corporate Finance Limited

“Reduction Court Order”		the act of Court confirming the Capital Reduction

“Registrar of Companies”		the Registrar of Companies for Jersey

“Regulatory Information Service”		any of the services set out in Appendix II to the Listing Rules

“Restricted Jurisdiction”		any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning the Acquisition is sent or made available to Charter Shareholders in that jurisdiction

“Scheme”		the proposed scheme of arrangement under Article 125 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 between Charter and Charter Shareholders to implement the Acquisition

“Scheme Court Order”		the act of Court sanctioning the Scheme

“Scheme Document”		the document to be dispatched to Charter Shareholders in respect of the Scheme

“Scheme Record Time”		6.00 p.m. on the Business Day before the date of the Court hearing to confirm the Capital Reduction

“Scheme Shareholder”		holders of Scheme Shares

“Scheme Shares”		1. the Charter Shares in issue at the date of the Scheme Document; 2. any Charter Shares issued after the date of the Scheme Document and prior to the Voting Record Time; and 3. any Charter Shares issued at or after the Voting Record Time and prior to the Scheme Record Time in respect of which the original or any subsequent holder thereof is bound by the Scheme, or shall by such time have agreed in writing to be bound by the Scheme, other than the Excluded Shares

“Securities Act”		the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder

“Subsidiary”		has the meaning given in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006

“UK” or “United Kingdom”		the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

“UK Listing Authority”		the FSA as the competent authority for listing in the United Kingdom

“US” or “United States”		the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia

“Voting Record Time”		6.00 p.m. on the Business Day prior to the day immediately before the Court Meeting or any adjournment thereof (as the case may be)

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS		1
Section 1.1	Certain Defined Terms.	1
Section 1.2	Terms Generally.	4
ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS		5
Section 2.1	Shelf Registration.	5
Section 2.2	Demand Registrations.	6
Section 2.3	Piggyback Registrations	8
Section 2.4	Shelf Take-Downs.	9
Section 2.5	Lock-Up Agreements.	10
Section 2.6	Registration Procedures.	10
Section 2.7	Indemnification.	14
Section 2.8	Rule 144; Rule 144A.	17
Section 2.9	Underwritten Registrations.	17
Section 2.10	Registration Expenses.	17
ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS		18
Section 3.1	Termination	18
Section 3.2	Amendment and Waiver.	18
Section 3.3	Severability.	18
Section 3.4	Entire Agreement.	18
Section 3.5	Successors and Assigns.	18
Section 3.6	Counterparts;	19
Section 3.7	Remedies.	19
Section 3.8	Notices.	19
Section 3.9	Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.	20

ANNEX A: JOINDER AGREEMENT

“Action”		means any legal, administrative, regulatory or other suit, action, claim, audit, assessment, arbitration or other proceeding, investigation or inquiry.

“Agreement”		means this Registration Rights Agreement as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time

“Beneficial Ownership”		by a Person of any securities includes ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; and shall otherwise be interpreted in accordance with the term “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 adopted by the SEC under the Exchange Act; provided, that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, in no event will any Person be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities which it has the right to acquire (pursuant to options, warrants, the conversion provisions of other securities or otherwise) unless, and then only to the extent that, such Person shall have actually exercised, or committed to exercise, such right. The term “Beneficially Own” shall have a correlative meaning.

“Business Day”		means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to close.

“Capital Stock”		means, with respect to any Person at any time, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of capital stock, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or equivalent ownership interests in or issued by such Person.

“Certificate of Designations”		shall mean the Certificate of Designations relating to the Preferred Securities.

“Closing Date”		has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

“Conversion Shares”		means the shares of Common Stock that are issuable from time to time upon conversion of the Preferred Securities in accordance with the Certificate of Designations.

“Covered Securities”		means any shares of Common Stock, and any Conversion Shares.

“Exchange Act”		means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time thereunder.

“Governmental Entity”		shall mean any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, whether federal, state, local or foreign and any applicable industry self-regulatory organization.

“Holders”		means Purchaser and any Transferee of Registrable Securities.

“Holders’ Representative”		means Purchaser or any or any other Holder designated by Purchaser as a Holders’ Representative.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”		means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of the Registrable Securities.

“Law”		means any statute, law, code, ordinance, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity.

“Other Securities”		means Covered Securities or shares of other Capital Stock which are contractually entitled to registration rights or which the Company is registering pursuant to a registration statement covered by this Agreement.

“Person”		means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivisions thereof or any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) comprised of two or more of the foregoing.

“Prospectus”		means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto, and all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

“Registrable Securities”		means the Covered Securities, provided, however, that the Covered Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale by the Holder thereof shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) they shall have been distributed to the public in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or are able to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) without volume, manner of sale or notice limitations or requirements or (iii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.

“Registration Statement”		means any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act which permits the public offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

“Rule 144”		means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

“SEC”		means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act”		means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time thereunder.

“Selling Holder”		means each Holder of Registrable Securities included in a registration pursuant to Article II.

“Shelf Registration Statement”		means a Registration Statement of the Company filed with the SEC on either (a) Form S-3 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act) or (b) if the Company is not permitted to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, an evergreen Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act), in each case for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act covering Registrable Securities. To the extent the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), a “Shelf Registration Statement” shall be deemed to refer to an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “automatic shelf registration statement”) on Form S-3.

“Stockholders”		means Mr. Steven M. Rales, Mr. Mitchell P. Rales and Markel Corporation and any transferee of Other Securities entitled to benefits as a transferee under the registration rights agreements entered into by Mr. Steven M. Rales, Mr. Mitchell P. Rales or Markel Corporation, respectively, and the Company on _______, 20__.

“Subsidiary”		shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which 50% or more of the shares of the voting securities or other voting interests are owned or controlled, or the ability to select or elect 50% or more of the directors or similar managers is held, directly or indirectly, by such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries.

“Transfer”		means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition.

“Transferee”		means any of (i) the transferee of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by Purchaser or (ii) the subsequent transferee of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by any Transferee; provided, that no Transferee shall be entitled to any benefits of a Transferee hereunder unless such Transferee executes and delivers to the Company an instrument substantially in the form provided as Exhibit A attached hereto.