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                       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): May 27, 1998

                           THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                        1-8597                  94-2657368
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)
     

       6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590, Pleasanton, California 94588
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (925) 460-3600

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 5.        OTHER EVENTS.

On May 27, 1998, The Cooper Companies, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release announcing its second quarter fiscal year 1998 financial results. This
release is filed as an exhibit hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 7.        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

               (c) Exhibits.

Exhibit
  No.          Description
- --------       -----------
99.1           Press Release dated May 27, 1998 of The Cooper Companies, Inc.










                                    SIGNATURE

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.


                                             By   /s/ Stephen C. Whiteford
                                                  ---------------------------
                                                  Stephen C. Whiteford
                                                  Vice President and
                                                  Corporate Controller
                                                  (Principal Accounting Officer)

Dated:  June 8, 1998









                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit                                                           Sequentially
  No.          Description                                        Numbered Page
- -------        -----------                                        -------------
99.1           Press Release dated May 27, 1998 of The Cooper
               Companies, Inc.














CONTACT:

Norris Battin
E-mail: nbattin@usa.net
Telephone:  800-341-2030

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                COOPER COMPANIES ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

                       Pretax EPS 52 Cents Versus 40 Cents
                     Revenue Up 54% As All Units Set Records

                        Medical Device Revenue Climbs 82%

        IRVINE, Calif., May 27, 1998 -- The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE/PCX:
COO) today reported results for its second fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1998.

        Revenue of $51.8 million was 54% above the second quarter of 1997.
Income from operations was $9.6 million, up 53%. Diluted earnings per share of
55 cents compared favorably with the 44 cents reported in the second quarter of
1997. Before net tax benefits of 3 cents per share, diluted earnings per share
was 52 cents compared with 40 cents before 4 cents per share in net tax benefits
in 1997's second quarter.

        Commenting on operating results, A. Thomas Bender, president and chief
executive officer, said, "With record revenue in each business unit, we exceeded
consensus earnings expectations in the second quarter. Pretax earnings for
1998's second quarter alone exceeded those for the first six months of 1997.

        "Our medical device businesses -- CooperVision (CVI) in contact lenses
and CooperSurgical (CSI) in women's healthcare -- continued to generate strong
results. While HGA's top line growth was on target, the TEFRA caps for Medicare
initiated in November continued to pressure its operating income. This was more
than offset by the 70% operating income growth in medical devices, and the
Company's total operating income grew 53%.

        "During the past ninety days, we completed a number of key activities
that are important to Cooper's future," Bender added. "CVI and CSI each launched
three new products, positioning their businesses for continued rapid growth in
their respective markets. In addition, I'm optimistic about the significant
progress we made toward developing a plan to exit our psychiatric business in a
way that will maximize value for our shareholders."









        Business Unit Results

                    P&L OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS BY BUSINESS UNIT
                                ($'s in millions)
                             Quarter Ended April 30,

Revenue Operating Income - ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- %Revenue %Revenue 1998 1997 % Inc. 1998 1997 % Inc. 1998 1997 ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- CVI $30.4 $14.9 105% $ 9.5 $ 5.6 70% 31% 37% CSI 7.1 5.8 22% 0.8 0.5 72% 12% 8% ------ ------ ------ ----- Medical Devices 37.5 20.7 82% 10.3 6.1 71% 28% 29% HGA 14.3 13.0 10% 1.2 1.6 (29)% 8% 12% ----- ----- ------ ----- Business Units 51.8 33.7 54% 11.5 7.7 49% 22% 23% HQ Expense n/a n/a (1.9) (1.4) 35% n/a n/a ------ ------ ------ ----- TOTAL $51.8 $33.7 54% $ 9.6 $ 6.3 53% 19% 19% ===== ===== ===== ===== Six Months Ended April 30, Revenue Operating Income - ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- %Revenue %Revenue 1998 1997 % Inc. 1998 1997 % Inc. 1998 1997 ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- CVI $53.3 $27.1 97% $15.5 $10.0 55% 29% 37% CSI 13.5 10.5 28% 1.6 0.9 78% 12% 9% ------ ------ ------ ------ Medical Devices 66.8 37.6 77% 17.1 10.9 57% 26% 29% HGA 27.8 24.4 14% 1.8 2.2 (18)% 7% 9% ------ ------ ------ ------ Business Units 94.6 62.0 52% 18.9 13.1 44% 20% 21% HQ Expense n/a n/a (3.4) (2.7) 24% n/a n/a ------ ------ ------ ------ TOTAL $94.6 $62.0 52% $15.5 $10.4 49% 16% 17% ===== ===== ===== =====
CooperVision During the second quarter, CVI posted record sales that more than doubled sales in the comparable period in 1997. Year to date, CVI revenue has grown 97%. Excluding Aspect Vision Care, the British contact lens company acquired in December 1997, CVI revenue grew 46% in the second quarter and 42% year to date. "Aspect's revenue is meeting our expectations, growing more than 30% since Cooper acquired it," said Bender. "In the second quarter, Aspect's contribution to earnings more than offset the dilution in the first quarter and is expected to be accretive from here on out." Because of the addition of Aspect's lower margin spherical products, CooperVision's gross margin declined to 67% from 77% in last year's second quarter and to 66% from 77% for the year to date. "Aspect," Bender explained," gives CooperVision the ability to compete effectively in the large and growing worldwide disposable-planned replacement segment of the market where margins have traditionally been lower. With the Aspect Vision acquisition, we have achieved greatly accelerated operating income growth -- 70% in the second quarter -- albeit with lower operating margins. "Investors should also understand that in our core toric lens business, gross margins are not currently under pressure and remain high, about 80%, and that by combining CooperVision North America and Aspect Vision, we expect operating margins to improve as our disposable lens product unit volume increases." Sales of toric lenses to correct astigmatism now account for nearly 40% of CVI's worldwide business and more than 50% of its North American business. During the second quarter, toric sales in North America grew 49% over the comparable 1997 quarter and have increased 43% year to date: twice the rate of growth of the toric lens segment itself as measured by independent market research. The toric market, according to this same data, is the fastest growing segment of the North American market, growing over twice as fast as the spherical lens segment, and now accounts for about 20% of the total. Preference Toric continues to exceed expectations, with second quarter and year-to-date revenue growing 98% and 90% respectively over the 1997 periods. The Company believes that Preference Toric is the fastest growing brand in the worldwide contact lens market and expects that calendar 1998 sales will approach $30 million. In May, CVI introduced two new toric products: Hydrasoft Toric Options, a custom planned replacement toric lens for astigmatic patients who have complex correction requirements, and Frequency 55 Toric, a planned replacement lens designed for replacement at two-week or monthly intervals. Frequency 55 Toric is positioned to compete directly with the leading product in the lower priced segment of the toric market. In Europe, Aspect plans to begin marketing CVI's current line of toric products during the third quarter, and before the end of the calendar year will introduce a molded, disposable toric lens designed for two-week replacement. This lens will be manufactured using Aspect's patented UltraSync system, a technique that yields superior lens edges for maximum patient comfort and improved reproducibility. In North America, sales of CVI's brands of disposable-planned replacement spherical lenses grew 117% in the second quarter and 88% year to date, and now account for about 20% of its business there. Worldwide, including Aspect's brands, sales of CVI disposable-planned replacement spheres now account for more than one-third of CVI's business. In February, CVI introduced its Frequency 55 disposable-planned replacement sphere in the United States. In North America, disposable-planned replacement spherical lenses make up the largest contact lens market segment commanding, according to Company estimates, more than half of the $1.2 billion total. Together, sales of toric and planned replacement spherical lenses in North America grew 63% in the second quarter and 52% year to date. These sales comprise about 70% of CVI's North American revenue. Worldwide, CVI's Toric and disposable-planned replacement sphere lines now comprise more than three-fourths of its business. Commenting on the recent evolution of CVI's product mix Bender said, "I'm convinced that the future growth in the worldwide contact lens market will come from the toric and disposable-planned replacement sphere segments. We continue to gain share rapidly in both these market segments. Through new product and business development activities over the past two years, CooperVision is now the fastest growing major contact lens company in the world." CooperSurgical CSI's sales grew 22% over last year's second quarter to a record level as sales from internally developed new products and from the acquisitions of Unimar and Marlow Surgical Technologies continued strong. Revenue in women's healthcare products grew 27%. At this month's meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, CSI continued to execute its strategy to consolidate, integrate and build critical mass in the women's healthcare market by introducing two significant new product lines: * The Cerveillance Scope, the first in a planned series of products using digital imaging and proprietary software to provide enhanced visualization and documentation in examinations of the cervix. The Cerveillance Scope is a fully integrated compact colposcope, an optical device used to examine the vagina and the cervix. It improves image capture, enhancement and analysis allowing measurement of lesion size and documentation of cervical changes over time. * The FemExam pH and Amines TestCard, the first of four novel, patented diagnostic tests comprising the FemExam Vaginal Fluid TestCard System that CSI recently licensed. These tests, designed for use primarily in the physician's office, rapidly and economically screen and diagnose common vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast and trichomonasis. They are designed to replace current testing practices that are difficult, costly and inconvenient to perform. The potential U. S. market for vaginitis tests is estimated by industry sources at 125 million tests annually. CSI anticipates that over the next three to five years, these tests will add between $30 million and $50 million in revenue. CSI is currently in discussion with pharmaceutical companies who market products to treat vaginosis and expects to select a co-marketing partner shortly. "These are the first of many new products expected from our FemExam and Cerveillance programs," said Bender. "Marketing these products successfully will help CooperSurgical double its sales over the next two years and then grow in excess of 20% per year." Hospital Group of America
HOSPITAL GROUP OF AMERICA SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION Three months ended April 30(1) Six months ended April 30(1) ------------------------------ ---------------------------- 1998 1998 1997 % Change 1998 1997 %Change - ---- ---- ---- -------- ---- ---- ------- Licensed inpatient beds 319 319 - 319 319 - Inpatient admissions 1,861 1,641 13% 3,594 3,095 16% Total inpatient days 22,711 18,832 21% 44,230 35,277 25% Average length of stay (days) 11.5 11.3 2% 11.6 11.3 3% Total outpatient visits 16,879 13,458 25% 31,405 25,567 23% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Data is for HGA owned hospitals only
HGA revenue also reached a record, growing 10% over last year's second quarter with a 13% increase in inpatient admissions and a 25% rise in outpatient visits compared with last year's second quarter. Year to date, revenue has grown 14% with admissions up 16%, outpatient visits up 23% and length of stay moderately above the six-month period last year. Operating Income, however, declined 29% compared with last year's second quarter and 18% year to date as increased Medicare inpatient volume met with reduced reimbursement under the Tax Equity and Financial Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), which lowered the cap on the TEFRA target amount for a Medicare discharge. Management believes that in the next six months, HGA's margins will return to double-digit levels as its business mix shifts toward its higher margin product lines of residential care and psychiatric program management. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this release that are not based on historical fact may be "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include words like "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue" or similar terms and reflect the Company's current analysis of existing trends. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated due to: major changes in business conditions and the economy, loss of key senior management, major disruptions in the operations of the Company's manufacturing facilities or hospitals, new competitors or technologies, significant disruptions caused by the failure of third parties to address the Year 2000 issue, acquisition integration costs, foreign currency exchange exposure, investments in research and development and other start-up projects, dilution to earnings per share from stock issuance or acquisitions, regulatory issues, changes in reimbursement rates and payor mix, environmental clean-up costs more than those already accrued, litigation costs, costs of business divestitures, and items listed in the Company's SEC reports, including the section entitled "Business" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997. The Cooper Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market specialty healthcare products and services. Corporate offices are located in Irvine and Pleasanton, Calif. CooperVision, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with manufacturing facilities in Huntington Beach, Calif., Rochester, N.Y., Toronto, Canada, and Southampton, England, markets a broad range of contact lenses for the vision care market. CooperSurgical, Inc., headquartered in Shelton, Conn., markets diagnostic and surgical instruments, equipment and accessories for the gynecological market. Hospital Group of America, Inc. provides psychiatric services through facilities in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey and satellite locations. NOTE: A toll free interactive telephone system at 1-800-334-1986 provides stock quotes, recent press releases and financial data. The Company's Internet address is www.coopercos.com. Trademarks Cerveillance System, Cerveillance Scope, FemExam pH and Amines TestCard, FemExam Vaginal Fluid TestCard, Hydrasoft Toric Options, Preference, Preference Toric, Frequency 55, Frequency 55 Toric and UltraSync are trademarks of The Cooper Companies, Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates. [FINANCIALS FOLLOW] THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share figures) (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended April 30, April 30, ------------------- ------------------- 1998 1997 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- Net sales of products $ 37,450 $ 20,630 $ 66,834 $ 37,657 Net service revenue 14,314 13,033 27,768 24,382 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net operating revenue 51,764 33,663 94,602 62,039 -------- -------- -------- -------- Cost of products sold 13,027 6,104 24,304 11,135 Cost of services provided 13,127 11,373 25,844 22,055 Selling, general and administrative expense 14,544 9,094 26,258 17,040 Research and development expense 543 414 999 738 Amortization of intangibles 939 404 1,702 692 -------- -------- -------- -------- Income from operations 9,584 6,274 15,495 10,379 -------- -------- -------- -------- Interest expense 1,858 1,255 3,008 2,484 Other income (expense), net 277 (77) 1,072 (57) Income before income taxes 8,003 4,942 13,559 7,838 (Benefit of) income taxes (480) (431) (917) (845) -------- -------- -------- -------- Net income $ 8,483 $ 5,373 $ 14,476 $ 8,683 ======== ======== ======== ======== Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.57 $ 0.45* $ 0.98 $ 0.74* ======== ======== ======== ======== Diluted 0.55 0.44* 0.94 0.72* ======== ======== ======== ======== Number of shares used to compute earnings per share: Basic 14,872 11,924* 14,840 11,798* ======== ======== ======== ======== Diluted 15,443 12,243* 15,398 12,082* ======== ======== ======== ======== Memo diluted earnings per share data: Income before income taxes $ 0.52 $ 0.40 $ 0.88 $ 0.65 ======== ======== ======== ========
* Restated to reflect per share amounts in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share," adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 1998. THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (In thousands) (Unaudited)
April 30, October 31, 1998 1997 ---- ---- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 1,456 Trade receivables, net 40,807 27,469 Inventories 28,212 15,096 Other current assets 12,620 7,755 -------- -------- Total current assets 83,095 68,569 -------- -------- Property, plant and equipment, net 57,703 39,523 Intangibles, net 90,276 36,698 Other assets 35,967 30,508 -------- -------- $267,041 $175,298 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term debt $ 6,296 $ 447 Other current liabilities 39,220 33,170 -------- -------- Total current liabilities 45,516 33,617 -------- -------- Long-term debt 68,428 9,125 Other liabilities 25,415 21,023 -------- -------- Total liabilities 139,359 63,765 -------- -------- Stockholders' equity 127,682 111,533 -------- -------- $267,041 $175,298 ======== ========
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