UNITED STATES
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 ):  November 22, 2006
 
VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.
 ( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter )

 Delaware	 	0-16244	 	11-2989601	
 (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)	 	(Commission
File Number)	 	(IRS Employer
Identification No.)	
 
100 Sunnyside Boulevard, Suite B, Woodbury, New York 11797
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
(516) 677-0200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o                   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o                   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o                   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o                   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.02   Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officer.
On November 22, 2006, Veeco issued a press release announcing that Edward H. Braun, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, plans to transition from his current role to the position of Chairman during 2007.  Veeco also announced that its Board of Directors has formed a succession planning committee to conduct a search for a new CEO.  Mr. Braun will continue to serve as CEO until a successor has been appointed.  A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.
Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c)           Exhibits .

 Exhibit	 	Description	 	 	
99.1	 	Press release issued by Veeco Instruments Inc. dated November 22, 2006.	
 
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.

	VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.	

November 22, 2006	By:	/s/ Gregory A. Robbins	
 	 	Gregory A. Robbins	
 	 	Senior Vice President and General Counsel	

EXHIBIT INDEX

 Exhibit	 	Description	 	 	
99.1	 	Press release issued by Veeco Instruments Inc. dated November 22, 2006.	

2

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

   	NEWS	
 
Veeco Instruments Inc., 100 Sunnyside Boulevard, Suite B, Woodbury, New York 11797. Tel. 1 516-677-0200 Fax. 1 516-677-0380
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Financial Contact: Debra Wasser, SVP Investor Relations & Corp. Comm., 1 516-677-0200 x1472
Media Contact:  Fran Brennen, Senior Director Marcom, 1 516-677-0200 x1222
VEECO ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION PLAN
WOODBURY, NY, November 22, 2006 — Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO) today announced that its Board of Directors has formed a succession planning committee.  Veeco’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Edward H. Braun, age 67, plans to transition from his current role to the position of Chairman during 2007. Independent director Roger D. McDaniel will lead the Board’s succession planning committee to search for and select a new CEO.  Mr. Braun will continue to serve as CEO until a successor has been appointed.
Mr. Braun commented, “Veeco, at $440 million in revenue, possesses multi-market technology leadership in high-brightness-LED, data storage, semiconductor and scientific research applications. The Board and I believe it is appropriate for us to focus on CEO succession planning, and the separation of CEO and Chairman positions will help Veeco achieve its potential growth to be a $1 billion company in the years to come.”
Irwin H. Pfister, Veeco’s lead director, commented, “We will search for a CEO successor who has the qualifications, leadership and vision to guide the Company forward. Ed’s perspective and industry experience will greatly benefit Veeco as he continues in the role of Chairman.  The Board will work closely with Ed and Veeco’s senior management team to ensure a smooth transition and transfer of responsibilities at the appropriate time.”
About Veeco
Veeco Instruments Inc. provides solutions for nanoscale applications in the worldwide data storage, semiconductor, HB-LED/wireless and scientific research markets. Our Metrology products are used to measure at the nanoscale and our Process Equipment tools help create nanoscale devices. Veeco’s manufacturing and engineering facilities are located in New York, New Jersey, California, Colorado, Arizona and Minnesota. Global sales and service offices are located throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. Additional information on Veeco can be found at http://www.veeco.com/.
To the extent that this news release discusses expectations about market conditions, market acceptance and future sales of Veeco’s products, Veeco’s future financial performance, future disclosures, or otherwise makes statements about the future, such statements are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.  These factors include the challenges of volatility in end market conditions and the cyclical nature of the data storage, semiconductor, HB-LED/wireless and scientific research markets, risks associated with integrating acquired businesses and the acceptance of new products by individual customers and by the marketplace and other factors discussed in the Business Description and Management’s Discussion and Analysis sections of Veeco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Veeco does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
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