8-K

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)   October 17, 2017

HAEMONETICS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Massachusetts	1-14041	04-2882273
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

400 Wood Road, Braintree MA	02184
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code  781-848-7100

(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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
	Emerging growth company	o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the
Exchange Act.		o

Item 5.02 DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAI OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRETORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS

On October 17, 2017, the Board of Directors of Haemonetics Corporation (the “Company”) elected Robert E. Abernathy to serve as a Class III Director for a term expiring at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and appointed Mr. Abernathy to serve as a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Abernathy was formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Halyard Health, Inc.

As a non-employee director of the Company, Mr. Abernathy will receive compensation as described in the “Directors’ Compensation” section of the Company’s 2017 Proxy Statement. In connection with his election, Mr. Abernathy received a grant of 2,909 Restricted Stock Units representing a pro rata annual equity grant based on the number of days to be served from Mr. Abernathy’s election through the first anniversary of the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, on which date the Restricted Stock Unit award vests in full.

A copy of the Company’s press release announcing the election of Mr. Abernathy is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)Exhibits

Exhibit  Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated October 18, 2017

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.

	HAEMONETICS CORPORATION
Date:  October 18, 2017	/s/ Christopher Simon
	Christopher Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

News Release

FOR RELEASE:	CONTACT:
Date October 18, 2017	Gerry Gould, VP-Investor Relations
Time 8:00 am Eastern	(781) 356-9402
	gerry.gould@haemonetics.com

Robert E. Abernathy Joins Haemonetics Board of Directors

Braintree, MA, October 18, 2017 – Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE) announced the election of Robert E. Abernathy, a seasoned healthcare executive, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Abernathy has led major medical businesses in North America and Europe with Halyard Health, Inc.

Richard J. Meelia, Chairman of Haemonetics’ Board of Directors commented: “Robert Abernathy brings us extensive experience in the healthcare industry and in international operations, with in-depth knowledge of the needs of healthcare providers and patients. We welcome him and look forward to his contribution to our Company’s success.”

Mr. Abernathy served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Halyard Health, Inc., a Kimberly-Clark Corporation spinoff medical technology company specializing in important patient health care needs. Over 35 previous years, his positions of increasing responsibility included President of Kimberly-Clark’s Global Health Care business; Group President, Developing & Emerging Markets; Managing Director, Kimberly-Clark Australia and President, North Atlantic Consumer Products.

Mr. Abernathy previously served on the Board of Directors of The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama and a Master’s of Science degree in paper chemistry from the Institute of Paper Chemistry at Lawrence University.

ABOUT HAEMONETICS

Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE) is a global healthcare company dedicated to providing a suite of innovative hematology products and solutions for our customers, to help them improve patient care and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our technology addresses important medical markets: blood and plasma component collection, the surgical suite, and hospital transfusion services. To learn more about Haemonetics, visit our web site at http://www.haemonetics.com.     

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