FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------------------------------------
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report May 11, 2005
(Date of earliest event reported)
DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC
(Exact name of Company as specified in charter)
Delaware 0-16211 39-1434669
(State of Incorporation) (Commission (IRS Employer
File Number) Identification No.)
221 West Philadelphia Street, York, Pennsylvania 17405
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(717) 845-7511
(Company's telephone number including area code)
Item 5.02. - Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 5.02(c) related
to the appointment of a new officer.
On May 11, 2005, the Company appointed Mr. Gerald (Gary) K. Kunkle, Jr.
to the position of Chairman of the Board. The announcement related to this
appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by
reference. The terms of Mr. Kunkle's employment agreement with the Company
are hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company's 1996
Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997.
Item 9.01. - Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements - Not applicable.
(b) Exhibits:
99.1 The announcement related to the appointment of Mr. Gerald (Gary) K.
Kunkle, Jr. to Chairman of the Board released on May 11, 2005 as
referenced in Item 5.02.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC
(Company)
/s/William R. Jellison
William R. Jellison
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 16, 2005
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
George Rhodes
Vice President
Corporate Communications
(717) 849-4273
Gary K. Kunkle, Jr., now Chairman of DENTSPLY Board
York, PA - May 11, 2005 - DENTSPLY International Inc. (NASDAQ:XRAY) today
announced that Mr. Gary K. Kunkle, Jr., Vice Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, was appointed Chairman of the Board during the Board of Directors
Meeting held today. In this position, he succeeds Mr. John C. Miles II who
has served as Chairman of the DENTSPLY Board since mid - 1998 and who will
continue to serve as a Director of the Company.
Mr. Kunkle joined DENTSPLY in January 1997 as President and Chief Operating
Officer and was appointed to the Board of Directors in March 2002. He was
elected Chief Executive Officer of the Company in late December 2003. Prior
to this, he had a most successful career spanning more than 20 years with
Johnson & Johnson, a premier global healthcare company. His most recent
position was as President of J&J's Jacksonville, FL - based Vistakon
Division.
Mr. Kunkle received his Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University
of South Carolina, The Moore School of Business, which recognized him in
2001 as a distinguished alumnus. He is a member of the Board of Directors of
the Perigo Company (NASDAQ:PRGO) and is an active member of the Dental Trade
Alliance.
DENTSPLY designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of
products for the dental market. The Company believes that it is the world's
leading manufacturer and distributor of dental prosthetics, precious metal
dental alloys, dental ceramics, endodontic instruments and materials,
prophylaxis paste, dental sealants, ultrasonic scalers, and crown and bridge
materials; the leading United States manufacturer and distributor of dental
handpieces, dental x-ray film holders, film mounts and bone
substitute/grafting materials; and a leading worldwide manufacturer or
distributor of dental injectible anesthetics, impression materials,
orthodontic appliances, dental cutting instruments and dental implants. The
Company distributes its dental products in over 120 countries under some of
the most well established brand names in the industry.
DENTSPLY is committed to the development of innovative, high quality,
cost-effective new products for the dental market.
###