8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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): August 7, 2008

DATASCOPE CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 0-6516
(Commission
File Number) 13-2529596
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

14 Philips Parkway
Montvale, New Jersey
(Address of principal executive offices) 07645-9998
(Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (201) 391-8100

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 Instructions 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 8.01. Other Events

On August 7, 2008, Datascope Corp. issued a press release announcing that it has completed the sale of assets of its vascular closure business, including all assets related to its VasoSeal^®, On-Site™ and X-Site^® devices and its collagen operation, to St. Jude Medical, Inc. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information, including Exhibit 99.1, furnished in this Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall otherwise be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits:

Exhibit 99.1 Press release announcing that Datascope Corp. has completed the sale of assets of its vascular closure business to St. Jude Medical, Inc.

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.

DATASCOPE CORP.

Registrant
 

/s/ Henry M. Scaramelli  

     Vice President, Finance and 

     Chief Financial Officer 

     Dated: August 7, 2008

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release announcing that Datascope Corp. has completed the sale of assets of its vascular closure business to St. Jude Medical, Inc.

EX-99.1

Exhibit No. 99.1

PRESS RELEASE
For Information Contact:
Henry Scaramelli
Chief Financial Officer
Datascope Corp.
(201) 307-5435
www.datascope.com

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Datascope Sells Vascular Closure Assets of its Interventional Products Business

     MONTVALE, NJ, August 7, 2008 . . . Datascope Corp. (NASDAQ: DSCP) today announced that it has completed the sale of assets of its vascular closure business, including all assets related to its VasoSeal^®, On-Site™, and X-Site^® devices and its collagen operation, to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ). Datascope will receive $21.0 million in cash at closing, and $3.0 million upon the expiration of an 18 month indemnification period. The carrying value of the assets and other direct expenses related to the sale was approximately $23.7 million.

     This transaction completes Datascope’s previously announced plan to exit the vascular closure market and phase out its Interventional Products business. In February 2007, Datascope sold its ProGuide chronic dialysis catheter product line to Merit Medical Systems, Inc., for $3 million plus a royalty on future ProGuide sales.

     The assets sold have been classified as “held-for-sale” in the Balance Sheet, and the results of operations of the Interventional Products business are shown in net earnings from discontinued operations in Datascope’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings. The sale of vascular closure assets to St. Jude Medical was separate from the exploration of strategic alternatives, announced on June 4^th, which is being conducted by the Company’s financial advisor, Lehman Brothers.

     Datascope’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Antonino Laudani, commented, “We are pleased to complete this transaction, which enhances our focus on Datascope’s continuing businesses; Cardiac Assist and InterVascular. As we move forward, we will continue our efforts to optimize Datascope’s asset portfolio and drive value for our shareholders.”

     About Datascope Corp.

     Datascope Corp. is the global leader of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and a diversified cardiovascular device company that develops, manufactures and markets proprietary products for clinical health care markets in interventional cardiology, cardiovascular and vascular surgery, and critical care. The Company’s products are sold throughout the world through direct sales representatives and independent distributors. Founded in 1964, Datascope is headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. For news releases, webcasts and other Company information please visit Datascope’s website, www.datascope.com.

     Safe Harbor Statement

     The statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors provided therein. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks cannot be predicted or quantified and are at least partly outside our control, including the risk that that the Company will be able to optimize its asset portfolio, as well as other risks detailed in documents filed by Datascope with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.