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): May 25, 2011

 

THORATEC CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California

 

000-49798

 

94-2340464

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

6035 Stoneridge Drive

Pleasanton, California  94588

(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

 

(925) 847-8600

(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))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.07.              Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

At the Thoratec Corporation (the “Company”) Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 25, 2011 (the “Annual Meeting”), the shareholders of the Company voted on the following four proposals, each of which are described in detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2011.

 

Proposal No. 1: To elect eight directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are elected and qualified:

 

 

 

Number of Votes

 

 

 

For

 

Withheld

 

Non Votes

 

Gerhard F. Burbach

 

46,672,109

 

749,205

 

4,351,536

 

J. Daniel Cole

 

46,504,614

 

916,700

 

4,351,536

 

Steven H. Collis

 

46,742,985

 

678,329

 

4,351,536

 

Neil F. Dimick

 

39,439,869

 

7,981,445

 

4,351,536

 

Elisha W. Finney

 

46,771,791

 

649,523

 

4,351,536

 

D. Keith Grossman

 

46,509,259

 

912,055

 

4,351,536

 

Paul A. LaViolette

 

46,726,648

 

694,666

 

4,351,536

 

Daniel M. Mulvena

 

46,505,263

 

916,051

 

4,351,536

 

 

Proposal No. 2:  To conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers:

 

 

 

Number of Votes

 

For

 

41,606,442

 

Against

 

4,086,765

 

Abstain

 

1,728,107

 

Non Votes

 

4,351,536

 

 

Proposal No. 3: To conduct an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers:

 

 

 

Number of Votes

 

Three Years

 

15,656,679

 

Two Years

 

157,211

 

One Year

 

29,881,889

 

Abstain

 

1,725,440

 

Non Votes

 

4,351,536

 

 

Proposal No. 4:  Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Number of Votes

 

For

 

51,312,654

 

Against

 

442,385

 

Abstain

 

17,811

 

 

In accordance with the shareholders vote in favor of an advisory vote to occur every year, the Company has decided to hold an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers every year, until the next required vote on the frequency of the shareholder vote on the compensation of named executive officers.

 

2



 

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.

 

 

Dated as of May 26, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

THORATEC CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach

 

 

 

 

 

Gerhard F. Burbach

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

3