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 6, 1998 ---------------------------------------- THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-8002 04-2209186 (State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification Number) incorporation or organization) 81 Wyman Street Waltham, Massachusetts 02254 Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (781) 622-1000 (Registrant's telephone number including area code) Item 5. Other Events On July 6, 1998, Thermo Electron Corporation (the "Company") issued a press release, attached hereto as Exhibit 99, regarding its anticipated total gains from the issuance of stock by the Company's subsidiaries for the quarter ended July 4, 1998. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits (a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not applicable. (b) Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable. (c) Exhibits 99 Press Release of the Company, dated July 6, 1998 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, thereunto duly authorized, on this 7th day of July, 1998. THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION By: /s/ Melissa F. Riordan Melissa F. Riordan Treasurer EXHIBIT 99 THERMO ELECTRON ANTICIPATES GAINS FROM ISSUANCE OF SUBSIDIARY STOCK TO BE BELOW EXPECTATIONS WALTHAM, Mass., July 6, 1998 - Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE-TMO) announced today that it anticipates total gains from the issuance of stock by its subsidiaries for the quarter ended July 4, 1998, to be approximately $10 to $15 million below the company's expectations of approximately $25 million. The company plans to report its results for the second quarter on August 13, 1998. Thermo Electron Corporation is a world leader in environmental-monitoring and analysis instruments, papermaking and recycling equipment, biomedical products such as heart-assist devices and mammography systems, biomass electric power generation, and other specialized products and technologies. The company also provides a range of services related to environmental quality and personal care. With annual worldwide sales of $3.6 billion, Thermo Electron has approximately 22,000 employees and operations in 23 countries. Headquarters are in Waltham, Massachusetts. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.thermo.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading "Forward-looking Statements" in Exhibit 13 to the company's annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended January 3, 1998. These include risks and uncertainties relating to the company's spinout and acquisition strategies, competition, international operations, technological change, possible changes in governmental regulations, regulatory approval requirements, capital spending and government funding policies, dependence on intellectual property rights, and the potential impact of the year 2000 on processing date-sensitive information.