CROWN CORK & SEAL CO INC
11-K, 1997-06-25
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 11-K

[ X ]    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



         For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

         Commission File Number 1-2227

         G.       Full title of the plan:

                  Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
                  401(K) Retirement Savings Plan

         H.       Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and
                  the address of its principal executive office:


                         CROWN CORK & SEAL COMPANY, INC.
                                  ONE CROWN WAY
                           PHILADELPHIA, PA 19154-4599





<PAGE>






                                      INDEX


                                                                    Pages


Signatures......................................................      3

Report of Independent Accountants...............................      6

Audited Plan Financial Statements and Schedules in
accordance with the Financial Reporting Requirements of ERISA...   7 to 14

Exhibit 23 - Consent of Independent Accountants................      15


<PAGE>





                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Committee  has duly caused this annual  report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.






                                               Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
                                               401 (K) Retirement Savings Plan
                                               


                                       By:     /s/ James T. Malec
                                               James T. Malec
                                               Member, Benefit Plan Committee

Date: June 25, 1997








<PAGE>



Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Financial Statements
and Supplemental Information
December 31, 1996




























<PAGE>




Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Financial Statements and Supplemental Information
December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Index

                                                                        Page

Report of Independent Accountants                                        1

Statement of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits                      2
December 31, 1996 and 1995

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits, 
with Fund Information   For the Year Ended December 31, 1996             3


Notes to Financial Statements                                          4 - 7

Schedule I   - Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for 
               Investment Purposes at December 31, 1996                  8

Schedule II  - Item 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions            9
               For the Year Ended December 31, 1996



Note:     Other schedules required by ERISA are not applicable.

<PAGE>











                        Report of Independent Accountants


June 18, 1997

To the Benefit Plans Committee and Participants
of the Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

In our opinion,  the  accompanying  statement of net assets  available  for plan
benefits and the related  statement of changes in net assets  available for plan
benefits present fairly, in all material respects,  the net assets available for
plan benefits of the Crown Cork & Seal Company,  Inc. 401(k) Retirement  Savings
Plan (the "Plan") at December  31, 1996 and 1995,  and the changes in net assets
available for plan benefits for the year ended  December 31, 1996, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting  principles.  These financial  statements are
the responsibility of the Plan's administrator; our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial  statements based on our audits.  We conducted our
audits of these  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain  reasonable
assurance   about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of  material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements,   assessing  the
accounting  principles  used and significant  estimates made by management,  and
evaluating the overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial  statements taken as a whole. The additional  information  included in
Schedules I and II is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a
required part of the basic  financial  statements but is additional  information
required  by ERISA.  The fund  information  in the  statement  of changes in net
assets  available  for plan  benefits is presented  for  purposes of  additional
analysis  rather than to present the  changes in net assets  available  for plan
benefits  of each fund.  Schedules I and II and the fund  information  have been
subjected  to the  auditing  procedures  applied  in  the  audits  of the  basic
financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  are fairly  stated in all material
respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP



                                       



<PAGE>


Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Statement of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
December 31, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                        1996           1995*
                                                        ----           -----
Investments:
  Fixed Income Fund                                $ 62,722,492    $ 65,401,645
  Crown Stock Fund                                   42,880,689      35,706,664
  Vanguard Index Trust Fund                          18,524,077      13,297,699
  Vanguard International Growth Portfolio Fund        4,153,092       2,689,236
  Vanguard Explorer Fund                              3,014,648       2,040,725
  Vanguard Balanced Index Fund                        2,374,046       2,118,224
  Vanguard Bond Index Fund                              548,538         529,861
  Participant loans                                     545,888         485,060
                                                   ------------    ------------
          Total investments                         134,763,470     122,269,114
Employer contributions receivable                        82,454          83,216
Employee contributions receivable                       321,778         327,749
Other receivables                                         9,112           9,219
                                                   ------------    ------------
Net assets available for plan benefits             $135,176,814    $122,689,298
                                                   ============    ============





* Certain  prior year amounts have been  reclassified  to conform to the current
  year presentation.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.















                                       -2-

<PAGE>






Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits, 
with Fund Information
For the Year Ended December 31, 1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

                                                         Vanguard                  
                                              Vanguard   International          Vanguard Vanguard
                     Fixed          Crown     Index      Growth        Vanguard Balanced Bond 
                     Income         Stock     Trust      Portfolio     Explorer Index    Index   Participant Accrued
                     Fund           Fund      Fund       Fund          Fund     Fund     Fund    Loans       Receivable   Total
                     ---------      --------  ---------  ----------    ---------------- -------  -----------  ----------  ------    
<S>                  <C>            <C>       <C>        <C>          <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>


Additions:
Contributions:
    Employer                       $961,928                                                                    $82,454   $1,044,382
    Participants    $1,012,541    1,464,309   $772,079    $237,484   $227,091  $134,566  $79,874               321,778    4,249,722
Participant loan 
  repayments            35,857       35,650     20,748       3,410      3,757       665      149  ($109,348)     9,112
Investment income    3,372,396      767,104    396,087     175,680    168,075   101,623   32,844     45,057               5,058,866
Net realized 
 gains (losses)
    on investments                  892,208    241,639      26,528     31,822    38,825   (2,626)                         1,228,396
Net unrealized 
 gains (losses)
    on investments                9,353,706  2,662,142     285,721     94,076   163,306   (9,100)                        12,549,851
Other receipts          14,975       21,005     22,181       9,135     40,397     4,069                                     111,762
                    ----------   ----------  ---------    --------   --------   -------  -------   ----------  -------   ----------
    Total Additions  4,435,769   13,495,910  4,114,876     737,958    565,218   443,054  101,141    (64,291)   413,344   24,242,979
                    ----------   ----------  ---------    --------   --------   -------  -------   ----------  -------   ----------
Deductions:
Distributions 
  to participants   (7,344,657)  (2,282,728)(1,464,469)   (191,396)  (172,569) (228,043)  (6,847)   (64,754)            (11,755,463)
Participant loans      (61,686)     (70,980)   (45,104)     (1,826)    (8,532)   (1,557)    (188)   189,873
                   ------------   ---------- ----------  ---------  ---------  --------  --------  ---------   -------  -----------
 Total Deductions   (7,406,343)  (2,353,708)(1,509,573)   (193,222)  (181,101) (229,600)  (7,035)   125,119             (11,755,463)
                   ------------   ---------- ----------  ---------  ---------  --------  -------- ---------    -------  -----------

Increase(decrease)
 in net assets prior
  to interfund 
    transfers       (2,970,574)  11,142,202  2,605,303     544,736    384,117   213,454   94,106     60,828    413,344   12,487,516
Interfund 
  transfers            291,421   (3,968,177) 2,621,075     919,120    589,806    42,368  (75,429)             (420,184)  
                    -----------  ----------  ---------    --------   --------   --------  -------    ------    --------- -----------
Net increase 
 (decrease)in 
  net assets 
  available for 
     benefits       (2,679,153)   7,174,025  5,226,378   1,463,856    973,923   255,822   18,677     60,828     (6,840)  12,487,516
Net assets at  
  beginning 
     of year*       65,401,645   35,706,664 13,297,699   2,689,236  2,040,725 2,118,224  529,861    485,060    420,184  122,689,298
                   -----------   ---------- ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------    -------   -------- ------------ 

Net assets 
at end of year     $62,722,492  $42,880,689 $18,524,077 $4,153,092 $3,014,648 $2,374,046 $548,538  $545,888   $413,344 $135,176,814

                   ===========  =========== =========== ========== ========== ========== ========  ========   ======== ============

</TABLE>

* Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year
presentation.  See Note 3.

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       -3-


<PAGE>






Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.   Description of Plan

               The following  description of the Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
          (the "Company") 401(k)  Retirement  Savings Plan (the "Plan") provides
          only  general  information.  Participants  should  refer  to the  Plan
          Agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.

               General.  The Plan is a defined contribution plan. The purpose of
          the Plan is to provide a convenient method by which eligible employees
          may save  regularly  through  salary  elections  and  through  Company
          matching contributions.  Generally, salaried employees are eligible to
          participate  in the Plan  after  completing  one year of  service  and
          attaining  age  21.  The  Plan is  subject  to the  provisions  of the
          Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

               The Plan is administered  by the Crown Cork & Seal Company,  Inc.
          Benefit Plans Committee (the "Committee"). The Committee appointed The
          Vanguard  Fiduciary Trust Company  ("Vanguard") to assume both trustee
          and recordkeeping responsibilities.

               Contributions.  The Plan has two components: a participant salary
          deferral  401(k)  component  and  a  Company   matching   contribution
          component.  The salary  deferral  401(k)  component of the Plan allows
          before-tax employee  contributions of 2 to 12% of annual compensation.
          The Plan also allows  after-tax  employee  contributions of 1 to 8% of
          annual  compensation.   Contribution  rates  are  subject  to  certain
          limitations,   as  prescribed  by  law.  The  Company  makes  matching
          contributions  equal to 50% of the  employee's  contribution,  up to a
          maximum of 3% of compensation.  Company  contributions are made in the
          form of Company common stock.

               Vesting.   All  employee   contributions  are  100%  vested  when
          contributed to the Plan.  Company matching  contributions vest 25% for
          each year of service. Upon the completion of four years of service all
          Company  matching  contributions  vest  immediately.  Any  forfeitures
          arising   under   the  Plan  are  used  to   reduce   future   Company
          contributions.  

               Investment  Options.  Participants may direct employee
          contributions in 10% increments in any of the following seven
          investment options:

           (1)  Fixed Income Fund - A fixed income fund which invests primarily
                in investment  contracts  issued by insurance  companies and 
                commercial banks .

           (2)  Crown Stock Fund - A fund which invests in shares of Company 
                common stock.

           (3)  Vanguard Index Trust Fund - A growth and income stock fund which
                invests in all stocks included in the Standard & Poor's 500
                Index in approximately the same proportions as they are
                represented in the S&P index.
 


                                       -4-


<PAGE>


Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.   Description of Plan (continued)

         (4)  Vanguard International Growth Portfolio Fund - An international 
              stock fund which invests in the common stocks of foreign 
              corporations located outside the  United States.

         (5)  Vanguard Explorer Fund - An aggressive growth stock fund which 
              invests in the common stocks of small companies.

         (6)  Vanguard  Balanced  Index Fund - A balanced fund which invests 60%
              of its assets in a portfolio  of stocks  expected to parallel  the
              returns  of  the  Wilshire 5000 Index  and 40% of its assets in a 
              fixed income  portfolio  that is  structured  to track the
              Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index.

         (7)  Vanguard  Bond Index Fund - An  intermediate-term  bond fund which
              invests  in  a  combination  of  securities  expected  to  perform
              similarly to the Total Bond Market  Portfolio  of Lehman  Brothers
              Aggregate Bond Index.

               Payment  of  Benefits.   Participants  are  eligible  to  receive
          distributions  of the vested  portions of their account  balances upon
          meeting  certain  criteria  as  specified  in the Plan  document.  All
          distributions  are paid in a lump  sum or  periodic  annuity  payments
          (either cash or Company stock).

               Participant Loans.  The Plan  allows  for  loans to participant's
          in  excess  of $1,000  and  not  to  exceed  50% of the participant's
          vested account  balance  up  to  $50,000  (subject  to  restrictions
          further described in the Plan document).  Loan  terms  range from one
          to five years or up to 10 years for the purchase of primary residence.
          The loans bear interest at a fixed rate (Prime Rate plus 1%)prevailing
          on  the  date  the loan is granted.   Principal  and  interest is paid
          ratably through payroll deductions.


               Plan  Termination.  In  the  event  of  Plan  termination,   each
          participant will become fully vested and will be entitled to receive a
          benefit  equaling the  participant's  interest in the Plan,  including
          that portion attributable to Company contributions.

               Related  Party  Transactions.  Certain Plan  investments  include
          shares of mutual  funds  managed by the  Trustee.  These  transactions
          qualify  as  party-in-interest  transactions  which  are  exempt  from
          prohibited transaction rules.

                                       -5-


<PAGE>



Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Basis of  Presentation.  The  Plan  maintains  its  financial  records  and
     prepares its financial  statements  using the accrual basis of  accounting.
     Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on the trade date. Dividend
     income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.  Investment income earned,  but
     not received, is accrued. Distributions to participants are recorded in the
     period when remitted to participants.

     Investments in securities  listed on a national  exchange are valued on the
     basis of year-end closing prices. Guaranteed investment contracts are fully
     benefit  responsive and stated at contract value,  which  approximates fair
     value.  Interest rates on guaranteed  investment  contracts  ranged between
     4.9% and 7.0% at December  31, 1996 and 4.9% and 8.3% at December 31, 1995.
     Average  yields on guaranteed  investment  contracts  were 6.0% in 1996 and
     6.2% in 1995. Shares of registered investment companies are valued at quote
     market  prices,  which  represent the net asset value of shares held by the
     Plan at year end.  Participant  loans  receivable are valued at cost, which
     approximates fair value.

     Realized gains or losses on the sale of investments are determined based on
     average  cost.  Such gains and losses are computed on a current value basis
     for Form  5500.  A  difference  may  result in the  classification  between
     realized and unrealized, but the total gain or loss will be unaffected.

     Plan Expenses.  All recordkeeping expenses for the administration of the 
     Plan, with the exception of certain  miscellaneous fees, are paid by the 
     Company.

3.   Reclassification of Prior Year Balances

     The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits has been
     modified  from  the  prior  presentation  to  separately  disclose  accrued
     receivables.  Accordingly,  net assets at the  beginning  of 1996 have been
     reclassified as follows:

                                As Previously   Reclassified to    Revised
                                 Reported At      Accrued         Balance at
                              December 31, 1995  Receivables   December 31, 1995
                              ------------------ ------------ ------------------
      Fixed Income Fund       $ 65,503,082      ($ 101,437)    $ 65,401,645
      Crown Stock Fund          35,913,867        (207,203)      35,706,664
      Index Trust Fund          13,356,752         (59,053)      13,297,699
      International Growth -
         Portfolio Fund          2,707,262         (18,026)       2,689,236
      Explorer Fund              2,057,869         (17,144)       2,040,725
      Balanced Index Fund        2,129,361         (11,137)       2,118,224
      Bond Index Fund              536,045          (6,184)         529,861
      Participant loans            485,060                          485,060
      Accrued receivables                          420,184          420,184
                              ------------     --------------  ------------
                              $122,689,298        $      0     $122,689,298
                             ==============    ==============  ============



                                       -6-

<PAGE>




Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.   Investments

     At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the Plan held the following investments 
     which represent 5% or more of the total fair value of Plan assets:

                                                         1996             1995
     Fixed Income Fund (contract value):
      Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
       Guaranteed Investment Contract #GAC-12704      $6,991,832     $6,585,176
      The Prudential Asset Management Group
       Guaranteed Investment Contract                      -          7,270,783
      Caisse Des Depots et Consignations 
       Guaranteed Investment Contract                  9,539,777      9,682,762
     Crown Cork & Seal Common Stock                   42,880,689     35,706,664
     Vanguard Index Trust Fund                        18,524,077     13,297,699

5.   Tax Status of the Plan

     The Plan was amended and restated, effective January 1, 1994 to comply with
     all provisions of the Internal  Revenue Code (IRC) and ERISA. The Committee
     has received a favorable  determination  letter from the  Internal  Revenue
     Service (IRS) dated  February 22, 1996, and  accordingly,  the Trust is not
     subject to federal or local income taxes.

6.   Insurance Company Seizure

     On August 11, 1994, regulators in both the United States and Canada  seized
     control of Confederation Life Insurance  Company.  These actions were taken
     to prevent the  possibility of massive  demands for cash following a failed
     business  combination.  At the time of the seizure, the Plan's Fixed Income
     Fund included an investment  contract  with a value of  approximately  $4.8
     million.  The recognition of interest income was suspended  coincident with
     the  seizure on August 11,  1994.  The  portion  of  participants'  account
     balances related to this investment are not currently subject to withdrawal
     except in very limited circumstances (e.g., hardships and death).

     On October 23, 1996,  regulators  approved a plan of  rehabilitation  and a
     liquidation  order  for  the  Confederation  Life  Insurance  Company.   In
     accordance  with the provisions of this plan, the assets subject to seizure
     will be distributed to contract holders (i.e., the Plan) under a variety of
     payment  options.   Based  on  information  currently  available  from  the
     goverment regulators, it appears the liquidation payment option selected by
     the Company  will result in a  recoupment  of 100% of the  original  frozen
     assets plus an established rate of return.  The frozen assets are scheduled
     for recoupment in 1997,  however,  no interest has been accrued by the Plan
     at December 31, 1996.









                                       -7-



<PAGE>

                                                                   Schedule I


Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      Units/Shares
        Description                    Outstanding      Cost       Current Value

Fixed Income Fund
 Guaranteed Investment Contracts:
  Caisse Des Depots et Consignations               $   9,539,777 $   9,539,777
  Confederation Life Insurance 
      Company #62469(1)                                4,760,482     4,760,482
  Metropolitan Life Insurance 
      Company #GAC-12704                               6,991,832     6,991,832
  Massachusetts Mutual PGIC #10490                     1,725,772     1,725,772
  New York Life #GAC-6495                              5,328,033     5,328,033
  New York Life #GAC-30025                             5,853,080     5,853,080
  Peoples Insurance Security 
     Company #BDA00036TR-1                             2,223,368     2,223,368
  Peoples Insurance Security 
     Company #BDA00036TR-2                             2,015,834     2,015,834
  Peoples Insurance Security 
     Company #BDA00036TR-3                             1,502,103     1,502,103
  Peoples Insurance Security 
     Company #BDA00036TR-4                             2,508,566     2,508,566
  The Prudential Asset 
    Management Group #7871                             4,125,675     4,125,675
  Union Bank of Switzerland #2126                      5,354,887     5,354,887
  John Hancock #GAC-8605                               5,111,218     5,111,218
 Vanguard Money Market Prime                           5,681,865     5,681,865  
                                                    ------------   ----------- 
Total Fixed Income Fund                               62,722,492    62,722,492

                                 
Crown Stock Fund
   Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 
       common stock(2)                     788,610    23,610,402    42,880,689
Vanguard Index Trust Fund (3)              267,844    13,496,511    18,524,077
Vanguard International Growth 
  Portfolio Fund (3)                       252,314     3,654,423     4,153,092
Vanguard Explorer Fund (3)                  56,003     2,790,896     3,014,648
Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (3)           170,549     2,050,940     2,374,046
Vanguard Bond Index Fund (3)                55,746       541,152       548,538
Participant loans receivable 
 (at 9.5% - 9.75% interest rates 
   and maturity dates between 
     1997 and 2006)                                      545,888       545,888
                                                     -----------  ------------

     Total assets held for investment 
      purposes at December 31, 1996                 $109,412,704  $134,763,470
                                                    ============  ============



(1)   See Note 6 to the accompanying financial statements.
(2)   The Trustee  accounts  for the Plan's  investment  in the Crown Stock Fund
      based on units. At December 31, 1996 the total units owned by the Plan and
      net asset value per unit were 3,326,663 and $12.89, respectively.
(3)   Party-in-interest.

                                       -8-

<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                     Schedule II

Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Item 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions*
For the Year Ended December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Identity of                                           Number of    Number    Cost of   Proceeds    Historical    Net gain
    Party Involved               Description  of Assets     Purchases   of Sales Purchases  from Sales      Cost        on Sale
    --------------               --------------------       ---------   --------  --------- ----------      ----        -------
<S>                                <C>                       <C>         <C>  <C>         <C>            <C>           <C>

Various Financial Institutions      Fixed Income Fund          159        159  $11,631,447  $14,208,193   $14,208,193       

Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.     Crown Stock Fund            80        155    7,201,036   10,275,176     8,368,888   $1,906,288

The Vanguard Group                  Vanguard Index
                                      Trust Fund               110        100    6,041,495    3,818,899     3,227,760      591,139












*  Transaction or a series of  transactions in excess of 5% of the current value
   of the  Plan's  assets as of the  beginning  of the plan year as  defined  in
   Section  2520.103-6  of the  Department  of Labor Rules and  Regulations  for
   Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA.



                                       -9-



</TABLE>

                                                              Exhibit 23
                       Consent of Independent Accountants




     We hereby  consent  to the  incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No.  33-39529) of Crown Cork & Seal Company,  Inc. of our
report dated June 18, 1997 appearing on Page 6 of this Form 11-K.



PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 24, 1997




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