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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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) December 9, 1997
STARMET CORPORATION
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(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
MASSACHUSETTS 0-8836 04-2506761
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation
or organization)
2229 Main Street, Concord, Massachusetts 01742
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(508) 369-5410
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On December 9, 1997, Brush Wellman, Inc. ("Brush Wellman") filed a patent
infringement suit against Starmet Corporation (the "Company") in United
States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Case No.
97-12705-RCO) alleging that the Company is infringing a patent awarded to
Brush Wellman for the investment casting of aluminum beryllium alloys. Brush
Wellman currently holds U.S. Patent No. 5,642,773 entitled " Aluminum Alloys
Containing Beryllium and Investment Casting of Such Alloys." Brush Wellman
is seeking an injunction of the Company's alleged patent infringement,
monetary damages (including treble damages) and attorney fees. The Company's
answer to Brush Wellman's complaint is due December 30, 1997. The Company,
on December 17, 1997, issued a press release concerning the litigation with
Brush Wellman, a copy of which is Exhibit 99 hereto.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Exhibit
99 Press Release dated December 17, 1997.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
STARMET CORPORATION
/s/ Robert E. Quinn
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Robert E. Quinn, President
Date: December 17, 1997
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Exhibit 99
STARMET CORPORATION
DECEMBER 17, 1997
NEWS ITEM - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STARMET RESPONDS TO BRUSH WELLMAN LITIGATION
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Starmet Corporation (NASDAQ:STMT), a Concord, Massachusetts manufacturer
of advanced technology metallurgical products, today announced that Brush
Wellman, Inc. has instituted suit against the Company in the United States
District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Case No. 97-12705-RCO)
alleging that investment casting of beryllium aluminum alloys by the Company
and its subsidiaries infringes Brush Wellman, Inc. U. S. Patent No.
5,642,773.
Starmet Comcast and Starmet Aerocast, wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Starmet Corporation, manufacture advanced metal products for government,
aerospace and commercial applications using Starmet's patented
Beralcast-Registered Trademark- alloy and related patented and proprietary
technology. Starmet's products are produced by a variety of techniques,
including investment and permanent mold casting techniques. Starmet believes
that its patented Beralcast-Registered Trademark- technology results in
products having metallurgical characteristics superior to those produced by
any competing process known to the Company. These characteristics allow
Starmet's high technology customers to enhance significantly the performance
of their products.
Patent counsel have advised management that the claims set forth in the
Brush Wellman, Inc. complaint are without merit, that the Brush Wellman
patent is invalid and, therefore, that it is not infringed by the Company.
The answer to the complaint is due December 30, 1997, twenty (20) days
after service of the complaint upon the Company. The Company intends to file
an answer challenging the validity of the Brush Wellman, Inc. patent, denying
any infringement by the activities of the Company and asserting counterclaims
against Brush Wellman, Inc. The Company does not anticipate that this
litigation will have a material impact upon the operation or financial
condition of the Company.
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NOTE:
STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN THAT ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF HISTORICAL
FACT ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS." FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY'S AND
ITS COMPETITORS' TECHNOLOGIES AND THE COMPANY'S VIEW THAT ITS RIGHT TO
USE ITS OWN PATENTED TECHNOLOGY WILL BE FULLY SUBSTANTIATED AND THAT
THE BRUSH WELLMAN SUIT WILL NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THE COMPANY.
SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON A NUMBER OF
ASSUMPTIONS AND INVOLVE A NUMBER OR RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING
UNCERTAINTIES WHICH ARE COMMONLY PRESENT IN ANY LITIGATION, SUCH AS
THE AVAILABILITY OF INJUNCTIVE AND OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE
DISCRETION OF A COURT. ACCORDINGLY, ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE
NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE FACTORS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT 99 TO THE COMPANY'S
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
1997.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
ROBERT E. QUINN, PRESIDENT
508-369-5410
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: HTTP:\\WWW.STARMET.COM
