Executive Change

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): March 2, 2020   VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)   Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 0-16244 (Commission File Number) 11-2989601 (IRS Employer Identification No.)   Terminal Drive , Plainview , New York 11803 (Address of principal executive offices)   ( 516 ) 677-0200  (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)   Not applicable  (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):   ¨    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 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))   Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share VECO The NASDAQ Global Select Market    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. ¨             Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.   On March 2, 2020, the Board of Directors of Veeco Instruments Inc. and John R. Peeler, Chairman of the Board, mutually agreed that Mr. Peeler will resign his position as Chairman and Director of the Board, effective as of the conclusion of Veeco’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 7, 2020. Mr. Peeler’s resignation was not the result of any dispute or disagreement with Veeco or the Board of Directors on any matter relating to the operations, policies or practices of Veeco. In addition, effective as of the conclusion of Veeco’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 7, 2020, (i) the size of the Board of Directors shall be reduced from nine directors to eight directors, and (ii) Richard A. D’Amore, a current Board member, will assume the position of Chairman of the Board and relinquish his position as Lead Director of the Board (which role will be consolidated into the role of Chairman of the Board).   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.   March 4, 2020 VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.       By: /s/ Kirk Mackey   Name:  Kirk Mackey   Title:   Vice President, Head of Legal and Secretary   2