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) June 16, 1998
BACOU USA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-28040 05-0470688
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
10 Thurber Boulevard, Smithfield, RI 02917
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 401-233-0333
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Item 5. Other Events
Exhibit 99 Press Release of Bacou USA, Inc. dated June 16, 1998
<PAGE>
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.
BACOU USA, INC.
By: /s/ Philip B. Barr, Jr.
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Philip B. Barr, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: June 17, 1998
Contact:
At the Company: At the Financial Relations Board:
Philip B. Barr, Jr. 212-661-8030
Chief Financial Officer Analyst Information: John McNamara
Investor Relations Media Information: Alicia Nieva-Woodgate
401-233-0333 General Information: Jeff Bogart
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Executive Changes Announced by Bacou USA
SMITHFIELD, R.I., June 16, 1998--Bacou USA Inc. (Nasdaq: BACU), a leading
manufacturer of personal protective equipment, announced today the resignation
of John Dean, the president and chief operating officer of its Bacou USA Safety
Inc. subsidiary, the company established in January to manage its uvex, Howard
Leight, Survivair and Biosystems product lines. Dean also resigned as president
of the Howard Leight hearing-protection equipment division to pursue other
opportunities; he will, however, remain as a consultant to Bacou for the
remainder of 1998.
"We regret John Dean's resignation and wish him well in his future
endeavors," Walter Stepan, Bacou USA and Bacou USA Safety, Inc. chief executive
officer, said in making the announcement. "We will begin a search for John's
successor as president of the Howard Leight Division to help us continue that
division's growth. Until the search is completed, I will assume the duties of
running Howard Leight. The company has no immediate plans to fill the position
of chief operating officer and president of Bacou USA Safety."
Bacou USA also announced today the appointment of Thomas W. Klein as
president of the Uvex Safety Division of Bacou USA Safety. Mr. Klein comes to
Bacou after a career of more than 20 years at 3M, where his most recent position
was Tape Group Director for Latin America and Africa, a $300 million,
multi-division regional business. During his tenure as head of 3M's Tape Group,
its sales doubled from $96 million to $200 million in three years and its
profitability improved. A resident of Eagan, Minnesota, Mr. Klein holds B.S.
degrees in physics and chemical engineering and an MBA degree, all from the
University of Minnesota.
"We welcome Tom Klein to our family of industrial safety companies," Stepan
said. "His extensive experience in marketing, operations and international
management will help us aggressively expand Uvex's position as America's leading
producer of non-prescription safety eyewear. His arrival enables me to devote my
attention to integrating all four Bacou USA Safety divisions into a cohesive
unit, focused on the needs of our customers."
Bacou USA further announced that the Howard Leight and uvex product lines
in the U.S. and Canada are being consolidated under Harry D. Neff, senior vice
president of sales at Bacou USA Safety, Inc.
Bacou USA, Inc. designs, manufactures and sells personal protective
equipment, including non-prescription safety eyewear, frames for prescription
safety eyewear, disposable and reusable earplugs and ear muffs, supplied air and
air purifying respirators, gas monitors, equipment for testing self-contained
breathing apparatus, vision screening equipment and laser protective eyewear.
The company's products, marketed under Uvex(R), Titmus(R), Howard Leight(R),
Survivair(R), Pro-Tech(R), Biosystems(TM), LaserVision(R) and Lase-R Shield(TM)
brand names, are sold principally to industrial safety distributors, fire
fighting equipment distributors and optical laboratories.
To receive additional information on Bacou USA, Inc.,
via fax, at no charge, dial
1-800-PRO-INFO and enter code BACU.
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