SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported) November 18,1998
PENTAIR, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in Its Charter)
MINNESOTA 001-11625 41-0907434
(State of Incorporation (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
or Organization) Number) Identification No.)
1500 County Road B2 West, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113-3105
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
651.636.7920
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Matters
Pentair, Inc. (NYSE: PNR) today promoted Joseph R. Collins to the
newly created position of vice chairman and elected him to the
Company's board of directors. Collins, 57, previously executive
vice president of Pentair and president of the Professional Tools
and Equipment Group, will assume leadership roles in effecting
company-wide cost savings, improving operating efficiency, more
rapidly integrating acquired businesses, and developing new
business systems to support growth. James A. White, 53, succeeds
Collins as executive vice president of Pentair and president of
the Professional Tools and Equipment Group.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
a. Not applicable
b. Not applicable
c. Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated November 18, 1998
<PAGE>
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.
PENTAIR, INC.
By: Richard W. Ingman
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: November 19, 1998
EXHIBIT 99.1
Date: November 18, 1998
For release: 7:30 a.m. CST
Contact: Mark Cain (651) 639-5278
Pentair Promotes Joseph R. Collins to
Vice Chairman of the Board;
James A. White Named President of
Professional Tools and Equipment Group
St. Paul, Minn. -- Pentair, Inc. (NYSE:
PNR) today promoted Joseph R. Collins to
the newly created position of vice
chairman and elected him to the
Company's board of directors. Collins,
57, previously executive vice president
of Pentair and president of the
Professional Tools and Equipment Group,
will assume leadership roles in
effecting company-wide cost savings,
improving operating efficiency, more
rapidly integrating acquired businesses,
and developing new business systems to
support growth.
"Pentair is undergoing considerable
change, particularly as we move toward
greater centralization in certain
business functions," said Winslow H.
Buxton, Pentair chairman, president, and
chief executive officer. "As a result,
we have a need for Joe's skills and
experience in helping guide the company
as we step up our acquisition
activities, build our visibility, and
adopt a new, more competitive business
model for Pentair.
"With Joe's help, we can more easily
accomplish the many objectives we have
set for Pentair, including the challenge
of leveraging Pentair's size and
resources to save some $60 million in
operating costs," Buxton said. "Joe is
an extremely strong operating executive
with broad experience that, in this new
role, can be more broadly applied within
our company. The board of directors and
I feel that all of Pentair's businesses
will benefit from Joe's guidance and
insight in the years ahead."
Collins has led Pentair's Tools and
Equipment businesses since 1991 and at
times has held operating responsibility
for many other Pentair subsidiaries,
including the Myers pump business, now
part of the Pentair Pump Group, and
Federal Cartridge, which was divested in
1997. Prior to joining Pentair's
corporate office, he served seven years
as president of Delta International
Machinery Corp., acquired by Pentair in
1984. Included in his 27-year career is
12 years experience with Rockwell
International. Collins serves on the
board of Remmele Engineering Corp.
James A. White, 53, succeeds Collins
as executive vice president of Pentair
and president of the Professional Tools
and Equipment Group. With sales
approaching $1 billion in 1999, the
Group comprises Delta International
Machinery Corp., Porter-Cable Corp.,
Century Manufacturing, and Lincoln
Automotive. Formerly president of
Pentair's tools businesses, White joined
Pentair's corporate office in July 1997
after serving six years as president of
Pentair's Porter-Cable Corp. White, who
joined Porter-Cable in 1985, has 26
years experience in the power tool
industry, including experience with
McCulloch and Black & Decker.
With approximately 10,000 employees
worldwide, Pentair
(http://www.pentair.com) is a
diversified manufacturing company
operating in three principal markets:
professional tools and equipment; water
and fluid technologies; and electrical
and electronic enclosures. Pentair
brands include Delta woodworking
machinery; Porter-Cable power tools;
Myers, Fairbanks Morse, Aurora, and
Hydromatic pumps; Fleck water
conditioning control valves; Century,
Solar, and Lincoln service equipment;
Lincoln Industrial automated lubrication
systems; and Hoffman and Schroff
enclosures. Headquartered in St. Paul,
Minnesota, Pentair operates from 54
manufacturing and distribution locations
in North America, Europe, and Asia.
