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): January 17, 2002 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 333-92383 CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) DELAWARE 06-1397316 (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 251 BALLARDVALE STREET, WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01887 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) 978-658-6000 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On January 17, 2002, the Registrant issued a press release announcing the private placement of $175 million of Senior Convertible Debentures. A copy of the press release is filed with this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1. EXHIBIT 99.1 Press Release dated January 17, 2002 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. Dated: January 22, 2002 By: /s/ Dennis R. Shaughnessy -------------------------------------- Dennis R. Shaughnessy, Sr. Vice President, Corporate Development, General Counsel and Secretary

CORPORATE PRESS RELEASE [CHARLES RIVER LOGO] CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES PRICES $175 MILLION OFFERING OF SENIOR CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES WILMINGTON, MASS.; JANUARY 17, 2002: Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) today announced the private placement of $175 million of Senior Convertible Debentures. The Debentures will accrue interest at an annual rate of 3.50% that will be payable semiannually. The Debentures, due in 2022, will be convertible into shares of Charles River's common stock at a conversion price of $38.87, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Charles River has granted the initial purchasers of the Debentures an option to purchase up to an additional $25 million principal amount of Debentures. Charles River intends to use the net proceeds from the Debenture offering to retire its wholly-owned subsidiary's (Charles River Laboratories, Inc.) $79.7 million aggregate principal amount of 13.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, through a tender offer and consent solicitation commenced on January 16, 2002, and for general corporate purposes. The offering, which was made only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, is expected to close on January 24, 2002. Neither the Debentures nor the common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or any state securities laws. Unless so registered, the Debentures and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities. Contact: Charles River Laboratories Christopher DiFrancesco Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations 978.658.6000 ext. 1508 ir@criver.com