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): February 17, 2017

Ultratech, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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):

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On February 21, 2017, Ultratech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Veeco Instruments Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Veeco”), issued a joint press release announcing that the Company received notice from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on February 17, 2017 that it had granted early termination, effective immediately, of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), for the pending acquisition of the Company by Veeco (the “Merger”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 2, 2017, among the Company, Veeco, and Ulysses Acquisition Subsidiary Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Veeco (the “Merger Agreement”). A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the Merger, which remains subject to other closing conditions, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by requisite vote of the Company’s stockholders. The Merger is expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2017.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Veeco pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Veeco will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) that will contain a proxy statement of the Company and a prospectus of Veeco, which proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed or otherwise disseminated to the Company’s stockholders when it becomes available. Investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus (including all amendments and supplements) because they will contain important information. Investors may obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available, as well as other filings containing information about Veeco and the Company, without charge, at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of these documents may also be obtained for free from the companies’ web sites at www.Veeco.com or www.Ultratech.com.

Participants in Solicitation

Veeco, the Company and their respective officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of the Company in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the Company’s executive officers and directors is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016, Amendment No. 1 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on April 22, 2016, and the proxy statements for its 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, which were filed with the SEC on June 10, 2016 and June 13, 2016. Investors may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Veeco, the Company and their respective executive officers and directors in the acquisition by reading the preliminary and definitive proxy statement/prospectus regarding the transaction, which will be filed with the SEC.

Forward Looking Statements

This written communication contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Veeco’s proposed acquisition of the Company, the Company’s expected financial performance, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this written communication due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that the Company may be unable to obtain required stockholder approval or that other

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conditions to closing the transaction may not be satisfied, such that the transaction will not close or that the closing may be delayed; the reaction of customers to the transaction; general economic conditions; the transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; risks that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations of the parties to the transaction; the ability to recognize the benefits of the transaction; the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the transaction and the actual terms of any financings that will be obtained for the transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreement. In addition, please refer to the documents that the Company files with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The filings by the Company identify and address other important factors that could cause its financial and operational results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements set forth in this written communication. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this written communication nor, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document. The Company is under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this written communication to conform to actual results.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: February 21, 2017

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EXHIBIT INDEX

(d) Exhibits