UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
THORATEC LABORATORIES CORPORATION
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, No Par Value
(Title of Class of Securities)
885175307
(CUSIP Number)
David S. Wise, Esq.
Sulzer Medica USA Inc.
4000 Technology Drive
Angleton, TX 77515
Telephone: (409) 848-4000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of
Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
Communications)
November 16, 1998
(Date of Event Which Required Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which
this Schedule is filed:
|_| Rule 13d-1(b)
|X| Rule 13d-1(c)
|_| Rule 13d-1(d)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 885175307
(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Sulzer AG
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of Group (See Instructions)
|_| (a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC Use Only
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Switzerland
--------------------------------
Number of (5) Sole Voting Power
Shares ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially (6) Shared Voting Power 1,074,074
Owned by ------------------------------------------------------------
Each (7) Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting ------------------------------------------------------------
Person (8) Shared Dispositive Power 1,074,074
With -------------------------------------------------------------
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,074,074
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
(See Instructions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
5.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 885175307
(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Sulzer Medica Ltd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of Group (See Instructions)
|_| (a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC Use Only
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Switzerland
--------------------------------
Number of (5) Sole Voting Power
Shares ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially (6) Shared Voting Power 1,074,074
Owned by ------------------------------------------------------------
Each (7) Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting ------------------------------------------------------------
Person (8) Shared Dispositive Power 1,074,074
With -------------------------------------------------------------
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,074,074
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
(See Instructions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
5.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 885175307
(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Sulzer Medica USA Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of Group (See Instructions)
|_| (a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC Use Only
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware
--------------------------------
Number of (5) Sole Voting Power
Shares ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially (6) Shared Voting Power 1,074,074
Owned by ------------------------------------------------------------
Each (7) Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting ------------------------------------------------------------
Person (8) Shared Dispositive Power 1,074,074
With -------------------------------------------------------------
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,074,074
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
(See Instructions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
5.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
<PAGE>
Item 1. Issuer
(a) Thoratec Laboratories Corporation
(b) 6035 Stoneridge Drive
Pleasanton, California 94588
Item 2. Person Filing
(a) Name of Person Filing: Sulzer AG, Sulzer Medica Ltd. and
Sulzer Medica USA Inc.
(b) Address of Principal Office: The principal offices
of Sulzer AG and Sulzer Medica Ltd. are located at
Zurcherstrasse 12, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland. The
principal offices of Sulzer Medica USA Inc. are
located at 4000 Technology Drive, Angleton, TX
77515.
(c) Citizenship: Sulzer AG and Sulzer Medica Ltd. are Swiss
corporations.
Sulzer Medica USA Inc. is a Delaware corporation.
(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, no par value.
(e) CUSIP Number: 885175307
Item 3. This statement is filed pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(c).
Item 4. Ownership
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 1,074,074
(b) Percent of Class: 5.3%
(c) Number of shares as to which each person has:
(i) Sole Voting Power: -0-
(ii) Shared Voting Power: 1,074,074
(iii) Sole Dispositive Power: -0-
(iv) Shared Dispositive Power: 1,074,074
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
Not applicable.
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person
Not applicable.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company
Not applicable.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
Not applicable.
<PAGE>
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group
Not applicable.
Item 10. Certification if Statement Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c)
(a) Not applicable.
(b) By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to
above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of the
securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any
transaction having that purpose or effect.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: November 23, 1998
SULZER AG
By: /s/ Roman Beran
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Roman Beran
Title: Deputy Vice President and General Counsel,
Head of Legal Department
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: November 23, 1998
SULZER MEDICA LTD.
By: /s/ Andre Buchel
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Andre Buchel
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: November 23, 1998
SULZER MEDICA USA INC.
By: /s/ David S. Wise
----------------------------------------------
Name: David S. Wise
Title: Group Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
The undersigned hereby agree that the Statement on Schedule
13G, dated November 23, 1998, (the "Schedule 13G"), with respect to the Common
Stock, no par value, of Thoratec Laboratories Corporation is, and any amendments
thereto executed by each of us shall be, filed on behalf of each of us pursuant
to and in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that this Agreement shall
be included as an Exhibit to the Schedule 13G. Each of the undersigned agrees to
be responsible for the timely filing of the Schedule 13G and any amendments
thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning
itself contained therein. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
Agreement as of the 23rd day of November, 1998.
SULZER AG
By: /s/ Roman Beran
---------------------------------------------------
Name: Roman Beran
Title: Deputy Vice President and General Counsel,
Head of Legal Department
SULZER MEDICA LTD.
By: /s/ Andre Buchel
---------------------------------------------------
Name: Andre Buchel
Title: President and Chief Executive Office
SULZER MEDICA USA INC.
By: /s/ David S. Wise
---------------------------------------------------
Name: David S. Wise
Title: Group Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
