SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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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): MARCH 11, 1999
SIGNATURE EYEWEAR, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
CALIFORNIA 0-23001 95-3876317
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
498 NORTH OAK STREET
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90302
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(310) 330-2700
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on March
11, 1999, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5,
and which is incorporated in this Form 8-K by this reference. A copy of the
press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
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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.
March 19, 1999 SIGNATURE EYEWEAR, INC.
By: /S/ JULIE HELDMAN
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Julie Heldman, President and
Co-Chairman of the Board
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBITS PAGE NUMBER
99.1 Press Release of Registrant, dated March 11, 1999. 5
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EXHIBIT 99.1 TO FORM 8-K
Signature Eyewear Announces Licensing Agreement With Coach
INGLEWOOD, Calif./NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 1999-- Signature
Eyewear (Nasdaq/NM:SEYE) and Coach Thursday jointly announced that they have
signed an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and market a new collection
of prescription eyewear and sunwear frames under the Coach Eyewear brand label.
Signature Eyewear is expected to introduce the first collection in early
2000.
Commenting on the partnership, Coach Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lew Frankfort said, "We chose Signature Eyewear because it is a marketing-driven
company that offers a high-quality product, outstanding design detail and
quality merchandising programs that capture the personality of the brand."
"The Coach reputation for clarity of design and its tradition of quality
and craftsmanship will allow us to produce a luxury eyewear collection for
today's discriminating customer," said Bernie Weiss, chief executive officer of
Signature Eyewear. "Coupled with our marketing capabilities, we make an
extraordinary team."
The terms of the agreement allow Signature Eyewear to distribute Coach
Eyewear in the United States and Canada. Signature Eyewear will support the
launch with a major consumer advertising campaign coupled with trade advertising
and merchandising and sales-promotion programs. Coach, a division of Sara Lee
Corp. with headquarters in New York, is the leading American marketer of quality
leather goods for men and women, including handbags, business cases, furniture,
luggage, wallets, footwear, watches and related accessories.
Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and
specialty stores, and through the Coach catalog in the United States by calling
800/262-2411. Or, for more information about Coach, visit its Web site at
www.coach.com.
Signature Eyewear is a leading designer and marketer of prescription
eyeglass frames under internationally recognized brand names such as Laura
Ashley and Eddie Bauer, among others. In addition to producing distinctive frame
designs, the company further distinguishes itself through innovative sales and
merchandising programs that are unique to the optical industry. Signature
Eyewear's products are distributed in the United States and internationally to
opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists and sold directly to major national
retail chains. For more information about Signature Eyewear, visit the company's
Web site at www.signatureeyewear.com.
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the
company's ability to maintain its current level of financial performance,
successfully develop and launch the new Coach Eyewear collection, expand its
eyewear business, and obtain new brand-name licenses. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such statements as a result of various
factors, including those discussed in the company's 1997 annual report on Form
10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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CONTACT: Signature Eyewear, Inglewood
Michael Prince, 310/330-2700
or
Coach, New York
Lori Tesoro, 212/629-2309
or
Framan Associates (for Signature Eyewear)
Judie Framan, 505/897-8505
or
Pondel Parsons & Wilkinson (for Signature Eyewear)
Robert M. Whetstone, 310/207-9300
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