UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 21, 2007
THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 1-8597 | 94-2657368 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590, Pleasanton, California 94588
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (925) 460-3600
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
(b) (c) On August 21, 2007, the Board of Directors of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) elected Robert S. Weiss as its chief executive officer, effective November 1, 2007, succeeding A. Thomas Bender. A copy of the press release announcing such election is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Mr. Weiss joined the Company in 1977. He has been the Company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer since January 2005. He has served as executive vice president since October 1995 and chief financial officer from September 1989 to January 2005. In April 2007, he became president of CooperVision, the Company’s contact lens unit. He is also a director and chair of the audit committee of Accuray Incorporated, a company that develops and markets a robotic radiosurgery system.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| 99.1 | Press release dated August 23, 2007. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC. | ||||||
| Date: August 23, 2007 | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Rodney E. Folden | |||||
| Rodney E. Folden | ||||||
| Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Press release dated August 23, 2007. |
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Exhibit 99.1
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| NEWS RELEASE | 6140 Stoneridge Mall Road Suite 590 Pleasanton, CA 94588 888-822-2660 Fax: 949-597-0662 | |
| CONTACT: | ||
|
Norris Battin |
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| The Cooper Companies, Inc. |
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| ir@coopercompanies.com |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | ||
Robert S. Weiss Appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Cooper Companies, Inc.
Succeeding A. Thomas Bender
PLEASANTON, Calif., August 23, 2007 — The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE: COO) today announced that its board of directors has elected Robert S. Weiss as its chief executive officer succeeding A. Thomas Bender effective November 1, 2007, the beginning of Cooper’s 2008 fiscal year.
Weiss has been a member of Cooper’s board of directors and has also held a number of senior management roles in the Company including most recently executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Bender said, “Bob and I have been working together at Cooper since 1992 and over the past two years we have collaborated closely while he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. As Bob assumes his new duties, we will continue to work together for the successful development of the Company’s vision and women’s healthcare businesses.”
Weiss commented, “I am very pleased to take on this new assignment. I look forward to realizing the benefits of our three year program integrating the Ocular Sciences acquisition, moving forward with new contact lens products and continuing the development of our women’s healthcare business. We are in two exciting businesses that I have been privileged to be closely involved with for the past 17 years and I look forward to building them in the future.”
Weiss joined the Company in 1977. He has been Cooper’s executive vice president and chief operating officer since January 2005. He has served as executive vice president since October 1995 and chief financial officer from September 1989 to January 2005. In April 2007, he became president of CooperVision, the Company’s contact lens unit. He is also a director and chair of the audit committee of Accuray Incorporated, a company that develops and markets a robotic radiosurgery system.
The Company announced in April 2007 that by the end of 2007 Bender planned to step down as chief executive officer but intended to maintain a continuing role in the Company.
Allan E. Rubenstein, M.D. Cooper’s vice chairman and lead director noted, “The Board conducted an extensive search for a new chief executive officer and considered a number of internal and external candidates. Bob’s selection is a particular credit to him and reflects the Board’s confidence in his ability.”
Corporate Information
The Cooper Companies, Inc. manufactures and markets specialty healthcare products through its CooperVision and CooperSurgical units. Corporate offices are in Pleasanton and Lake Forest, Calif. The World Wide Web address is www.coopercos.com. A toll free interactive telephone system at 1-800-334-1986 provides stock quotes, recent press releases and financial data.
CooperVision manufactures and markets contact lenses. Headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., it manufactures in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, Norfolk, Va., Rochester, N.Y., Adelaide, Australia, Hamble and Hampshire England, and Madrid, Spain. Its Web address is www.coopervision.com.
CooperSurgical manufactures and markets diagnostic products, surgical instruments and accessories to the women’s healthcare market. With headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Trumbull and Orange, Conn., and in Pasadena, Calif., Houston, Texas, North Normandy, Ill., Williston, Vt., Fort Atkinson, Wis., Montreal and Berlin. Its Web address is www.coopersurgical.com
The information provided on Cooper’s Web sites and its interactive telephone system is not part of this announcement.
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