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): March 23, 1999
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 Blvd., Suite 1000
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(310) 392-9599
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
Reference is made to Registrant's press release issued on March 23, 1999
which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5, and which is
incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of the press release is attached
to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
2
<PAGE>
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 hereunto duly authorized.
March 23, 1999 VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
By: /S/ TOMAS W. FULLER
--------------------------------
Tomas W. Fuller
Chief Financial Officer
3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBITS PAGE NUMBER
- -------- -----------
99.1 Press Release dated March 23, 1999.
EXHIBIT 99.1
COMPANY PRESS RELEASE
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA INC. ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 1999--Veterinary Centers of
America Inc. ("VCA") (Nasdaq NMS:VCAI) Tuesday announced that its board of
directors had approved a program to buy back up to $15 million of the company's
common stock.
Bob Antin, chief executive officer of VCA, said: "The board made this decision
based on the price at which the company's common stock has recently traded. The
stock repurchase program will also provide shares for use in future acquisitions
and for issuance on exercise of options outstanding under the company's employee
stock plans (thereby reducing dilution from these plans)."
The company said the buyback program will end on March 22, 2000, unless
extended.
Veterinary Centers of America owns, operates and manages the largest
network of freestanding veterinary hospitals and the largest network of
veterinary-exclusive clinical laboratories in the country.
In addition, VCA owns a partnership interest in Vet's Choice, a joint venture
with Heinz Pet Products, an affiliate of H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE:HNZ - NEWS), which
markets and distributes a complete line of specialty pet foods, as well as an
interest in Veterinary Pet Insurance Inc., the nation's largest pet health
insurance company.
CONTACT:
Veterinary Centers of America
310/392-9599
Bob Antin/Tom Fuller
1