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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950135-08-007797.txt : 20081205
<SEC-HEADER>0000950135-08-007797.hdr.sgml : 20081205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081205163527
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950135-08-007797
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081204
ITEM INFORMATION:		Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
ITEM INFORMATION:		Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders
ITEM INFORMATION:		Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081205

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COGNEX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000851205
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				042713778
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34218
		FILM NUMBER:		081233314

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE VISION DR
		CITY:			NATICK
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01760
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5086503000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE VISION DRIVE
		CITY:			NATICK
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01760
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b73142cce8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>COGNEX CORPORATION
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>e8vk</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Current Report<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the<BR>
Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):<BR>
December&nbsp;4, 2008</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>COGNEX CORPORATION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Massachusetts
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">0-17869
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">04-2713778</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="5" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or Other Jurisdiction <BR>
of Incorporation)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">One Vision Drive, Natick, Massachusetts
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">01760-2059</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="5" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Zip Code)</I></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">(508)&nbsp;650-3000<BR>
<DIV style="margin-top: 1px"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><I>(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code)</I></FONT></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><I>(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</I></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">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 (<I>see </I>General Instruction
A.2. below):
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">Item&nbsp;1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;3.03. Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003">Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#004">SIGNATURE</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#005">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="b73142ccexv99w1.htm">Ex-99.1 Press Release issued by Cognex Corporation, dated December 5, 2008</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<!-- /TOC -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>




<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On December&nbsp;4, 2008, the Board of Directors of Cognex Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) adopted a
shareholder rights plan, as set forth in the Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated December&nbsp;4, 2008,
between the Company and National City Bank, as Rights Agent (the &#147;Rights Agreement&#148;). The
following description of the terms of the Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as an
exhibit and is incorporated herein by reference.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors declared a dividend
distribution of one Preferred Stock Purchase Right (a &#147;Right&#148;) for each outstanding share of common
stock, par value $0.002 per share, of the Company (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;) to shareholders of record as
of the close of business on December&nbsp;5, 2008 (the &#147;Record Date&#148;). In addition, one Right will
automatically attach to each share of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the
Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined). Each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to
purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one ten-thousandth of a share (a &#147;Unit&#148;) of Series&nbsp;E
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the
&#147;Preferred Stock&#148;) at a cash exercise price of $75.00 per Unit (the &#147;Exercise Price&#148;), subject to
adjustment, under certain conditions specified in the Rights Agreement and summarized below.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Initially, the Rights are not exercisable and are attached to and trade with all shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of, and issued subsequent to, the Record Date. The Rights will
separate from the Common Stock and will become exercisable upon the earlier of (i)&nbsp;the close of
business on the tenth calendar day following the first public announcement that a person or group
of affiliated or associated persons (an &#147;Acquiring Person&#148;) has acquired beneficial ownership of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (which includes for this purpose stock
subject to a derivative transaction or an acquired derivative security), other than as a result of
repurchases of stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by a shareholder (the date of
said announcement being referred to as the &#147;Stock Acquisition Date&#148;), or (ii)&nbsp;the close of business
on the tenth business day (or such later day as the Board of Directors may determine) following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that could result upon its consummation in a
person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the &#147;Distribution Date&#148;).
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the event that a Stock Acquisition Date occurs, proper provision will be made so that each
holder of a Right (other than an Acquiring Person or its associates or affiliates, whose Rights
shall become null and void) will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise, in lieu of a
number of Units of Preferred Stock, that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (or, in
certain circumstances, including if there are insufficient shares of Common Stock to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights, Units of Preferred Stock, other securities, cash or property, or
any combination of the foregoing) having a market value of two times the Exercise Price of the
Right (such right being referred to as the &#147;Subscription Right&#148;). In the event that, at any time
following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)&nbsp;the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into,
any other person, and the Company is not the continuing or surviving
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">corporation, (ii)&nbsp;any person consolidates with the Company, or merges with and into the
Company and the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in
connection with such merger, all or part of the shares of Common Stock are changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property, or (iii)
50% or more of the Company&#146;s assets or earning power is sold, mortgaged or otherwise transferred,
each holder of a Right (other than an Acquiring Person or its associates or affiliates, whose
Rights shall become null and void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common
stock of the acquiring company having a market value equal to two times the Exercise Price of the
Right (such right being referred to as the &#147;Merger Right&#148;). The holder of a Right will continue to
have the Merger Right whether or not such holder has exercised the Subscription Right. Rights that
are or were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person may (under certain circumstances specified in
the Rights Agreement) become null and void.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Rights may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (payable
in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors) by the
Board of Directors only until the earlier of (i)&nbsp;the time at which any person becomes an Acquiring
Person or (ii)&nbsp;the expiration date of the Rights Agreement. Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and thereafter the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Rights Agreement contains a so-called &#147;TIDE&#148; provision, which requires that a shareholder
rights plan committee of the Board of Directors of the Company reviews (not less than once every
three years) whether maintaining the Rights Agreement continues to be in the best interest of the
shareholders.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion until the
time at which any person becomes an Acquiring Person. After such time the Board of Directors may,
subject to certain limitations set forth in the Rights Agreement, amend the Rights Agreement only
to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to shorten or lengthen any time period, or to make
changes that do not adversely affect the interests of Rights holders (excluding the interests of an
Acquiring Person or its associates or affiliates). In addition, the Board of Directors may at any
time prior to the time at which any person becomes an Acquiring Person, amend the Rights Agreement
to lower the threshold at which a person becomes an Acquiring Person to not less than the greater
of (i)&nbsp;the sum of 0.001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Stock then owned by
any person and (ii)&nbsp;10%.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Until a Right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company
(beyond those as an existing shareholder), including the right to vote or to receive dividends.
While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to shareholders or to the Company,
shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable for Units, other securities of the Company, other consideration or for
common stock of an acquiring company.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of
business on December&nbsp;5, 2018, unless previously redeemed or exchanged by the Company.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;3.03. Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3.03. Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Please see the disclosure set forth under Item&nbsp;1.01, which is incorporated by reference into
this Item&nbsp;3.03.
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement referenced in Item&nbsp;1.01 above, the
Board of Directors of the Company approved Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Organization
classifying and designating the Preferred Stock, which Articles of Amendment were filed with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and became effective, on December&nbsp;5, 2008.
The description of the Articles of Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy
of the amendment filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to this Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Exhibits.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">3.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Organization of Cognex
Corporation Establishing Series&nbsp;E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock,
filed as an exhibit to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A on December&nbsp;5,
2008 and incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">4.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of December&nbsp;4, 2008, between Cognex
Corporation and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, filed as an exhibit to the
Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A on December&nbsp;5, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">99.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Press Release issued by Cognex Corporation, dated December&nbsp;5, 2008.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "SIGNATURE" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">SIGNATURE
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">COGNEX CORPORATION<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">Date:      December 5, 2008&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Richard A. Morin
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">Richard A. Morin&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">Senior Vice President of Finance<BR>
and Administration, Chief<BR>
Financial Officer, and Treasurer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->5<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
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<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">3.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Organization of Cognex Corporation
Establishing Series&nbsp;E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, filed as an
exhibit to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A on December&nbsp;5, 2008 and
incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
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    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of December&nbsp;4, 2008, between Cognex
Corporation and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, filed as an exhibit to the Company&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A on December&nbsp;5, 2008 and incorporated herein by
reference.</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press Release issued by Cognex Corporation, dated December&nbsp;5, 2008.</TD>
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
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<FILENAME>b73142ccexv99w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY COGNEX CORPORATION, DATED DECEMBER 5, 2008
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<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">Cognex Corporation Adopts Shareholder Rights Plan
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Friday,
December&nbsp;5, 2008
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">NATICK, Mass.&#151;(BUSINESS WIRE)&#151;Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today announced that its Board of
Directors has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan. Dr.&nbsp;Robert J. Shillman, the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Cognex, stated, &#147;The Board believes that a Shareholder Rights Plan enhances
its ability to protect shareholder interests and ensures that shareholders receive fair treatment
in the event of any coercive takeover attempt. The Plan is intended to provide the Board with
sufficient time to consider any and all alternatives to such an action. The Board believes it is
protecting the interests of all of its shareholders.&#148;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">In connection with the adoption of the Shareholder Rights Plan, the Board of Directors declared a
dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of Cognex&#146;s
common stock to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December&nbsp;5, 2008. Initially,
these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the shares of Cognex&#146;s common stock. Under
the Shareholder Rights Plan, the rights generally will become exercisable if a person becomes an
&#147;acquiring person&#148; by acquiring 15% or more of the common stock of Cognex or if a person commences
a tender offer that could result in that person owning 15% or more of the common stock of Cognex.
If a person becomes an &#147;acquiring person,&#148; each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person)
would be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, such number of shares of
preferred stock which are equivalent to shares of Cognex&#146;s common stock having a value of twice the
exercise price of the right. If Cognex is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction after any such event, each holder of a right would then be entitled to purchase, at the
then-current exercise price, shares of the acquiring company&#146;s common stock having a value of twice
the exercise price of the right.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">About Cognex Corporation
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets machine vision sensors and systems,
or devices that can &#147;see.&#148; Cognex vision sensors are used in factories around the world to automate
the manufacture of a wide range of items and to assure their quality. Cognex is the world&#146;s leader
in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 450,000 machine vision systems,
representing over $2.5&nbsp;billion in cumulative revenue, since the company&#146;s founding in 1981. In
addition to its corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex also has regional offices
and distributors located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Visit
Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com/.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Contact:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Cognex Corporation<BR>
Susan Conway, 508-650-3353<BR>
Director of Investor Relations

</DIV>


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