Form 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): July 9, 2008

 

 

MANNATECH, INCORPORATED

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Texas   000-24657   75-2508900

(State or other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

600 S. Royal Lane, Suite 200

Coppell, Texas 75019

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (972) 471-7400

 

(Former name or former address, if change since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of Mannatech under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 8.01 Other Events.

On July 11, 2008, Mannatech, Incorporated announced that on July 9, 2008, Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, issued a Memorandum Opinion finding that Glycoproducts International Inc., (Glycobiotics) infringed both Mannatech patents at issue in the case (U.S. Patent No.6,929,807 and U.S. Patent No.7,157,431). This ruling resolves all issues in this case with Mannatech winning on all patent and trademark infringement claims brought against Glycobiotics.

The judge’s opinion states that Mannatech “is entitled to judgment as a matter of law that defendant (Glycobiotics) infringed and induced others to infringe claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9 of the ‘807 Patent.” This is in addition to the jury’s earlier finding of willful infringement by Glycobiotics of Mannatech’s ‘431 patent.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit

99.1*

   Press release, dated July 11, 2008, entitled “Judge Validates Both Mannatech Ambrotose® Patents in Case Against Glycoproducts International.”

 

* Filed herewith.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Mannatech has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

    MANNATECH, INCORPORATED
Dated: July 14, 2008     By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Fenstermacher

        Stephen D. Fenstermacher
       

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit

99.1*

   Press release, dated July 11, 2008, entitled “Judge Validates Both Mannatech Ambrotose® Patents in Case Against Glycoproducts International.”

 

* Filed herewith.
Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

Judge Validates Both Mannatech Ambrotose® Patents in Case

Against Glycoproducts International

Ruling provides a broad permanent injunction prohibiting the sale and creation of the defendant’s

products; Glycoproducts must deliver all products to Mannatech for destruction

Coppell, TX, July 11, 2008 – Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ—MTEX), a leading developer and provider of dietary supplements and skin care solutions, today announced that on July 9, 2008, Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, issued a Memorandum Opinion finding that Glycoproducts International Inc., (Glycobiotics) infringed both Mannatech patents at issue in the case (U.S. Patent No.6,929,807 and U.S. Patent No. 7,157,431). This ruling resolves all issues in this case with Mannatech winning on all patent and trademark infringement claims brought against Glycobiotics.

The judge’s opinion states that Mannatech “is entitled to judgment as a matter of law that defendant (Glycobiotics) infringed and induced others to infringe claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9 of the ‘807 Patent.” This is in addition to the jury’s earlier finding of willful infringement by Glycobiotics of Mannatech’s ‘431 patent.

“We have always firmly believed that this was an unlawful infringement of our patents and we were committed to pursuing this case as far as was necessary to stop this injustice,” said Keith Clark, Mannatech’s senior vice president and general counsel. “This is a great win for our independent sales Associates who have worked so hard to defend Mannatech’s products and their effectiveness against imitators in the marketplace. These affirmations by the judge and the jury should send a message to anyone else infringing our patents that we will do what is necessary to protect our intellectual property and our Associates.”

Judge Kaplan also entered a broad permanent injunction against Glycobiotics and related parties enjoining them from “making, using, offering to sell, selling, or otherwise distributing within the United States, or importing into the United States, defendant’s product, Glycomannan, as well as colorable imitations thereof, including, without limitation, products that are substantially equivalent in composition to Glycomannan, and any other products that infringe the ‘807 Patent and/or the ‘431 Patent.” The injunction goes on to prohibit Glycobiotics from inducing others to infringe or assisting others in the infringement of these patents. Glycobiotics must also take all Glycomannan in its control, and make every reasonable effort to re-acquire all such product from any third-party, and deliver such product to Mannatech for destruction. Finally, Glycobiotics is prohibited from falsely advertising the nature, characteristics or qualities of Mannatech’s glyconutritional products.

Clark added, “We are now vigorously pursuing all damages that can be awarded by the court by virtue of these infringements on our patents. We did not compromise to this point and we intend to fully recover everything to which we are entitled.”


The case stems from a suit filed by Mannatech in March 2006 against Glycoproducts International, formerly Glycobiotics International Inc., asserting that the company infringed on certain Mannatech Ambrotose patents originally issued in 2005 and 2007.

Mannatech was represented by Lynn Tillotson Pinker & Cox, LLP attorneys Eric W. Pinker, P.C., Mark E. Turk and Britta Erin Stanton as well as Chalker Flores, LLP attorney Edwin Flores.

About Mannatech

Mannatech, Incorporated, is a global wellness solutions provider of innovative, high quality, proprietary nutritional supplements, topical and skin care products, and weight management products sold through independent associates and members located in the United States and the international markets of Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Denmark, Germany, and South Africa.

Please Note: This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as “intend” or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Mannatech’s objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered forward-looking statements. Mannatech believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Mannatech’s inability to attract and retain associates and members, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes, and its planned growth into new international markets. Although Mannatech believes that the expectations, statements, and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release.

Contact Information:

Gary Spinell

Vice President

Corporate Communications

972-471-6512

ir@mannatech.com

www.mannatech.com

www.exploremannatech.com

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