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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): August 1, 1998
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BRADY CORPORATION
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Wisconsin 0-12730 39-0178960
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(State of other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
6555 West Good Hope Road
P.O. Box 571
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0571
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (414) 358-6600
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W.H. Brady Co.
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
Effective August 1, 1998 W.H. Brady Co. changed its corporate name to
Brady Corporation.
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SIGNATURE
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 thereunto duly authorized.
BRADY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas E. Scherer
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Thomas E. Scherer
Vice President
Date: July 31, 1998
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BRADY CORPORATION
(the "Registrant")
(Commission File No. 0-12730)
EXHIBIT INDEX
to
FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT
Dated August 1, 1998
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Incorporated Herein Filed
Number Description By Reference To Herewith
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99.1 Press Release X
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[LOGO] W.H. BRADY CO.
NEWS RELEASE
For more information contact:
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Laurie Bernardy (414) 438-6880 or
Carole Herbstreit (414) 438-6882
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
W.H. Brady Co. to change its name to Brady Corporation
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MILWAUKEE (July 28, 1998)--The Board of Directors of W.H. Brady Co. (Nasdaq:
BRCOA), an international identification, safety, graphic systems and specialty
tape manufacturer, today approved a resolution to change the company's name to
Brady Corporation. Brady USA, Inc., a subsidiary within the Brady companies,
will also change its name to Brady Worldwide, Inc. Both changes will take effect
at the start of the Company's new fiscal year on August 1, 1998.
"As a company that's operating on a global stage to provide high-
performance products and services, Brady needs a strong identity which
communicates the quality, innovation and global reach that we represent," stated
Katherine M. Hudson, president and chief executive officer. "W.H. Brady Co. was
named after the company founder, William H. Brady. While the name has served us
well through the years, the name Brady Corporation reflects our growth from a
private, small company founded in 1914 to a publicly traded, international
business."
With the changes, investors, customers and others can look forward to
finding the company in directories and indexes under the letter "B" rather than
the inconsistent "W" and "B" placements experienced in the past.
Brady USA, Inc., which will be named Brady Worldwide, Inc., includes the
company's Industrial Solutions and Specialty Tapes, Coated Products,
Signmark(R), Software Products, Graphic Solutions and Radio Frequency
Identification units in the United States.
"As we continue our growth strategies of global expansion and increased
market penetration, along with new product development and acquisitions and
joint ventures, these business units are providing more and more solutions to
customers throughout the world," stated Hudson. "Brady Worldwide more accurately
reflects the commitment of these U.S.-based operations to serve the global
marketplace."
Brady is an international manufacturer of industrial identification,
safety, graphics and precision tape products. It markets more than 30,000
products including high-performance labels, printing systems, data-collection
systems, software, signs and specialty tapes. It employs about 2,700 people in
operations in the United States, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and Canada.
Brady's sales in fiscal 1997, ending July 31, 1997, were $426 million. The
company plans to report its fiscal 1998 results September 11.
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