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): July 7, 1998
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 1-10787 95-4097995
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
3420 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 1000
Santa Monica, California 90405
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(310) 392-9599
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
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Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on July 7,
1998, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5, and
which is incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of this 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.
July 8, 1998 VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
By: /S/TOMAS FULLER
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Tomas W. Fuller
Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President and
Assistant Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBITS PAGE NUMBER
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99.1 Press Release dated July 7, 1998.
Exhibit 99.1
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bob Antin, CEO
Tom Fuller, CFO
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION SECURITIES LITIGATION
SUBJECT TO COURT APPROVAL
SANTA MONICA, CA, JULY 7, 1998 -- VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. (NASDAQ NM
SYMBOL: NMS: VCAI) today announced that a settlement has been reached in the
securities class action and derivative action lawsuits that had been pending
against the Company and certain of its present and former officers and
directors. Under the settlement, which is subject to court approval and certain
other ordinary contingencies, the claims against the Company and all other
defendants will be dismissed without presumption or admission of any liability
or wrongdoing. The full amount of the settlement and associated legal costs have
either been previously reserved for or covered by the Company's insurance
carriers. The settlement will not have any affect on the Company's current
results of operations.
Commenting on the announcement, VCA chief executive officer, Bob Antin, stated,
"While we continue to deny liability, the settlement of these lawsuits is in our
stockholders' best interest. Continuing the litigation would have been very
expensive and distracting to management, and the settlement will resolve any
uncertainty about the lawsuits among the Company's stockholders, customers,
suppliers and other business partners."
Veterinary Centers of America owns and operates the largest network of
free-standing veterinary hospitals and one of the largest networks of
veterinary-exclusive clinical laboratories in the country.
