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):  June 8, 2004

 

 

SEALED AIR CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware

 

1-12139

 

65-0654331

(State or Other
Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Park 80 East

 

 

Saddle Brook, New Jersey

 

07663-5291

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

201-791-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)

 

 



 

Item 5.                    Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

                On June 8, 2004, Sealed Air Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it filed a motion with the District Court of Delaware requesting that the court vacate the July 29, 2002 opinion on the legal standard to be applied relating to the fraudulent transfer claims against the Company in connection with the W. R. Grace bankruptcy and also issued a press release announcing its intention to hold an investor conference call to discuss its decision to file the above-mentioned motion.

 

Item 7.                    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

                                (c)           Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Press Release of the Company, dated June 8, 2004, announcing that it filed a motion with the District Court of Delaware requesting that the court vacate the July 29, 2002 opinion on the legal standard to be applied relating to the fraudulent transfer claims against the Company in connection with the W. R. Grace bankruptcy.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Press Release of the Company, dated June 8, 2004, announcing its intention to hold an investor conference call to discuss its decision to file the above-mentioned motion.

 

.

 

 

2



 

SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEALED AIR CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ H. Katherine White

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

H. Katherine White

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

Dated:  June 10, 2004

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release of the Company, dated June 8, 2004, announcing that it filed a motion with the District Court of Delaware requesting that the court vacate the July 29, 2002 opinion on the legal standard to be applied relating to the fraudulent transfer claims against the Company in connection with the W. R. Grace bankruptcy.

 

 

 

 

 

99.2

 

Press Release of the Company, dated June 8, 2004, announcing its intention to hold an investor conference call to discuss its decision to file the above-mentioned motion.

 

 

 

4


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Sealed Air Corporation

 

 

Park 80 East

 

 

Saddle Brook, NJ 07663-5291

 

 

 

for release:  June 8, 2004

 

Contact:

Eric D. Burrell

 

 

 

201-791-7600

 


SEALED AIR FILES MOTION TO VACATE COURT OPINION

 

Settlement Agreement Stands Unchanged

 

SADDLE BROOK, N.J., Tuesday, June 8, 2004 — Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE) announced today that it filed a motion with the District Court of Delaware requesting that the court vacate the July 29, 2002 opinion on the legal standard to be applied relating to the fraudulent transfer claims against the Company.  Sealed Air is not challenging the settlement agreement signed and presented to the court for approval in November 2003.  The Company still expects that the settlement agreement will become effective upon the court’s approval and W. R. Grace’s emergence from bankruptcy with a plan of reorganization that is consistent with the terms of the settlement.

 

The Company filed the motion to vacate the opinion based on its belief that the opinion is contrary to established law set forth in other court rulings, both before and after the opinion was issued, holding that transactions should not be challenged after the fact on the basis of hindsight.  The motion was filed as a protective measure in the event the settlement agreement is ultimately not approved or implemented.

 

On November 10, 2003, Sealed Air reached a definitive settlement agreement with the Committees appointed to represent asbestos claimants in the bankruptcy case of W. R. Grace to resolve all current and future asbestos-related claims and the pending fraudulent transfer claims made against the Company and its affiliates in connection with the 1998 transaction in which Sealed Air acquired the Cryovac packaging business.

 

Business

 

Sealed Air is a leading global manufacturer of a wide range of food and protective packaging materials and systems including such widely recognized brands as Bubble Wrap® cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers and Cryovac® food packaging products.  For more information about Sealed Air Corporation, please visit the Company’s web site at www.sealedair.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Some of the statements made by the Company in this press release are forward-looking.  These statements include comments as to future events and trends affecting the Company’s business, which are based upon management’s current expectations and are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company.  Forward-looking

 



 

statements can be identified by such words as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will” and similar expressions.  Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to a number of factors, such as changes in economic, political, business and market conditions, factors affecting customers, the effects of animal and food-related health issues, interest and exchange rates, the success of new products, raw material and energy costs, and legal proceedings.  A more extensive list and description of these factors can be found under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition, which appears in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the Company’s other publicly-available filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


Exhibit 99.2

 

Sealed Air Corporation

 

 

Park 80 East

 

 

Saddle Brook, NJ 07663-5291

 

 

 

for release:  June 8, 2004

 

Contact:

Eric D. Burrell

 

 

 

201-791-7600

 


 

SEALED AIR TO DISCUSS MOTION TO VACATE COURT OPINION

 

SADDLE BROOK, N.J., Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE) announced today that it will hold a conference call on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss its recent decision to file a motion with the District Court of Delaware requesting that the court vacate the July 29, 2002 opinion on the legal standard to be applied relating to the fraudulent transfer claims against the Company.

 

You may ask questions on the call by dialing (800) 810-0924 (domestic) or (913) 981-4900 (international).  Please call 15 minutes before the teleconference is due to begin.

 

The conference call will be webcast live on Sealed Air’s web site at www.sealedair.com under the Presentations & Events button in the Investor Information section.  Listeners should go to the web site prior to the call to register, and to download and install any necessary audio software.  Replay information will be made available on the Company’s web site.

 

Business

 

Sealed Air is a leading global manufacturer of a wide range of food and protective packaging materials and systems including such widely recognized brands as Bubble Wrap® cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers and Cryovac® food packaging products.  For more information about Sealed Air Corporation, please visit the Company’s web site at www.sealedair.com.