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): January 11, 1999
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BACOU USA, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-28040 05-0470688
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(Commission file number) (IRS Employer Identification Number)
10 Thurber Boulevard, Smithfield, RI 02917
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 401-233-0333
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<PAGE>
Item 5. OTHER EVENTS
(a) On January 11, 1999, Bacou USA, Inc. (the "Company") issued a Press
Release announcing the appointment of Alan H. Bennett as President of
its Uvex Safety division. In his new position, Mr. Bennett will be
responsible for the entire Uvex Safety business, and he will be based
at the company's Smithfield, Rhode Island headquarters.
(b) Exhibits
Item 601
Exhibit Exhibit Title
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Exhibit 99 Press Release
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
BACOU USA, INC.
Registrant
By:/s/Philip B. Barr
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Philip B. Barr
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: January 15, 1999
Contact:
At the Company: At the Financial Relations Board:
Philip B. Barr 212-661-8030
Chief Financial Officer Analyst Information: John McNamara
Investor Relations General Information: Jeff Bogart
401-233-0333
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALAN H. BENNETT NAMED PRESIDENT OF UVEX SAFETY DIVISION
SMITHFIELD, R.I., January 11, 1999--Bacou USA, Inc. (NYSE: BAU) today announced
the appointment of Alan H. Bennett as President of its Uvex Safety division. In
his new position, Mr. Bennett will be responsible for the entire Uvex Safety
business, and he will be based at the company's Smithfield, Rhode Island
headquarters.
Mr. Bennett founded Allied Industrial Distributors in 1969, developed it
through internal growth, selling the business to Figgie International in 1988 to
form its Safety Supply America unit. As president of Safety Supply America,
Bennett helped develop that business into a national safety distributor through
eleven acquisitions from 1988 to 1994 when it was divested by Figgie. Most
recently, Bennett has been a business consultant focusing on industrial
distribution clients.
"Alan is a great addition to our team, and his background in distribution
should be a real competitive advantage for us," said Walter Stepan, Vice
Chairman, President and CEO of Bacou USA. "He has first-hand experience with the
consolidation that is reshaping our industry, and he knows what is important to
our customers. Uvex already has the leading market share in the U.S. industrial
market, and with Alan's help we hope to expand our lead."
Mr. Bennett served from 1992-1998 as a member of the board of directors of
the National Safety Council and is a past president of the Safety Equipment
Distributors Association and the National Industrial Glove Distributors
Association. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Verdugo
Banking Company, a Glendale, California, financial institution. Mr. Bennett has
a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Uvex Safety designs, manufactures and sells non-prescription protective
eyewear under the Uvex(R) brand, as well as laser protective eyewear under the
Uvex(R), Lase-R Shield and LaserVision brands. According to a 1998 market survey
conducted by Frost & Sullivan, Uvex Safety has the leading market share in the
U.S. industrial market for non-prescription protective eyewear, with an
estimated 38% share in 1997.
Bacou USA, Inc. makes and sells leading brands of products that protect the
sight, hearing and respiratory systems of workers against occupational hazards,
as well as related instrumentation including vision screeners, gas monitors and
computerized test benches for respirators. The company's products, marketed
under Uvex(R), Howard Leight(R), Survivair(R), Pro-Tech(R), Biosystems,
Titmus(R), LaserVision and Lase-R Shield brand names, are sold principally to
industrial safety distributors, fire fighting equipment distributors and optical
laboratories. News and information are available at the company's Website at
http://www.bacouusa.com.
To receive additional information on Bacou USA, Inc., via fax,
at no charge, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter code BAU. For
international access, dial 732-544-2850.
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Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities and Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the
timely development and acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive
products and pricing, changing market conditions, and the other risks detailed
in the company's prospectus filed March 27, 1996 and from time to time in other
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking
statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release, and
actual results may differ materially from them. The company disclaims, however,
any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
