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): September 15, 2020

____________________________________________________

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

23A Serangoon North Avenue 5, #01-01, K&S Corporate Headquarters, Singapore 554369

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 784-6000

N/A

(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):

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 ☐

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. ☐

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Item 5.02    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On September 15, 2020, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the planned retirement of Garrett E. Pierce from the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) and as Chairman of the Board on September 30, 2020, in accordance with the Company’s retirement policy set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. Peter T. Kong, who has served as a member of the Board since February 2014, will be appointed Chairman of the Board effective October 1, 2020.

Mr. Pierce’s retirement was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices.

A copy of the Company’s press release announcing the retirement and appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

		Exhibit

Exhibit 99.1

Kulicke & Soffa to Appoint Peter T. Kong as Chairman of the Board of Directors Upon Garrett Pierce’s Planned Retirement

SINGAPORE - September 15, 2020 - Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: KLIC) (“Kulicke & Soffa,” “K&S” or the “Company”), today announced the planned retirement of Garrett E. Pierce from the Board and as Chairman of the Board on September 30, 2020 having reached the Company’s mandatory retirement age. Peter T. Kong who has served as a Director for K&S since February 2014 will be appointed Chairman of the Board effective October 1, 2020.

Mr. Pierce has served as a Director to K&S since November 2005 and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since September 2014 and prior to that date as Chairman of the Audit Committee. “Garrett’s personal dedication combined with his deep-rooted experience has enhanced the Company’s ability to create and deliver value to shareholders. On behalf of the Board and the Company, I thank Garrett for his immense contributions over the past 15 years,” stated Mr. Kong.

Mr. Pierce stated, “During the past few years, K&S evolved into a much more diversified company with many new technologically advanced high-growth products in its pipeline. I am confident that under Peter Kong, President & CEO Fusen Chen and the management team’s leadership, K&S has an extremely bright future.”

Mr. Kong served as President of the Global Components Business of Arrow Asia Pacific from May 2009 to December 2013 as well as holding many other leadership positions within Arrow from 2006. Before Arrow, he served as the President of Asia Pacific Operations at Lear Corp from 1998 to 2006.

Mr. Kong holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Toronto, a master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington State University.

About Kulicke & Soffa

Kulicke & Soffa (NASDAQ: KLIC) is a leading provider of semiconductor and electronic assembly solutions serving the global automotive, consumer, communications, computing and industrial markets. Founded in 1951, K&S prides itself on establishing foundations for technological advancement - creating pioneering interconnect solutions that enable performance improvements, power efficiency, form-factor reductions and assembly excellence of current and next-generation semiconductor devices.

Leveraging decades of development proficiency and extensive process technology expertise, Kulicke & Soffa’s expanding portfolio provides equipment solutions, aftermarket products and services supporting a comprehensive set of interconnect technologies including wire bonding, advanced packaging, lithography, and electronics assembly. Dedicated to empowering technological discovery, always, K&S collaborates with customers and technology partners to push the boundaries of possibility, enabling a smarter future (www.kns.com).

1

2