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) October 23, 2001 ------------------------------- Cooper Industries, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Ohio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 1-1175 31-4156620 ------------------------------- ----------------------------------- (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 600 Travis, Suite 5800, Houston, Texas 77002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) 713/209-8400 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) Item 5. Other Events. Press Release for Third Quarter Earnings On October 23, 2001, Cooper Industries, Inc. (the "Company") issued the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 setting forth the Company's results of operations for the third quarter of 2001. Business Outlook for the Fourth Quarter 2001 Based on current expectations, the Company estimates its fully diluted earnings per share to be approximately $.65 for the fourth quarter of 2001 and approximately $2.74 for the 2001 fiscal year. The Company's earnings estimates are forward-looking under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and actual results may differ materially. The principal economic assumptions underlying the Company's earnings estimates are the continued impact of the economic slowdown on the Company's revenues and a reduction of the Company's inventory levels. These estimates are also subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company, including but not limited to: 1) the pace of recovery of the domestic economy; 2) the level of market demand for the Company's products; 3) the rate at which benefits are realized from cost-reduction programs recently completed, currently under way or to be initiated in the near future; 4) competitive pressures and future global economic conditions; 5) uncertainty in the United States and foreign countries as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and 6) any actions resulting from the Company's review of strategic alternatives. The estimates also assume, without limitation, no significant change in competitive conditions and other risk factors as set forth in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. Exhibits 99.1 Company press release dated October 23, 2001 titled "Cooper Industries Announces Third-Quarter Earnings of 78 Cents Per Share" 99.2 Company "Sales Trends" to be posted on the Company's website. Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure Posting of Quarterly Sales Trends On October 23, 2001, the Company will post on its website the "Sales Trends" information attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2. 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. COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC. (Registrant) Date: October 23, 2001 /s/ D. Bradley McWilliams -------------------------------- D. Bradley McWilliams Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. ----------- 99.1 Company press release dated October 23, 2001 titled "Cooper Industries Announces Third-Quarter Earnings of 78 Cents Per Share" 99.2 Company "Sales Trends" to be posted on the Company's website.