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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) May 13, 1999
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VISKASE COMPANIES INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-5485 95-2677354
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S.
incorporation or organization) File No.) Employer
Identification
No.)
6855 West 65th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60638
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (708) 496-4200
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Page 1 of Pages
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Item 5. - Other Events
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On May 13, 1999, Viskase Companies, Inc. announced that the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,
has granted the motion of its wholly owned subsidiary, Viskase
Corporation, to reinstate the $102.4 million damage award in the case of
Viskase Corporation vs. American National Can. A copy of a press release
relating to the damage award is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.
Item 7. - Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(c) Exhibits
EX-99 Press release dated May 13, 1999.
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SIGNATURES
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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 thereunto duly authorized.
VISKASE COMPANIES, INC.
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Registrant
By: /S/ Gordon S. Donovan
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Gordon S. Donovan
Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and
Treasurer
May 20, 1999
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Exhibit No. Description of Exhibits Page
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EX-99 Press release dated May 13, 1999.
Nasdaq SmallCap - VCIC For additional information contact:
G.S. Donovan (708) 496-4200
K. Duttlinger (708) 496-4200
S.M. Schuster (630) 575-2342
VISKASE COMPANIES, INC. ANNOUNCES
THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT REINSTATES $102.4 MILLION DAMAGE AWARD
IN PATENT INFRINGEMENT LITIGATION
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, May 13, 1999 - Viskase Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq
SmallCap: VCIC) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, has granted Viskase
Corporation's motion to reinstate the $102.4 million damage award in the
case of Viskase Corporation vs. American National Can ("ANC"). In the
Court's decision reinstating the damage award, the Court stated, "I
agree that there is no longer any necessity to retry the question of
damages."
On November 8, 1996, a jury found that ANC's use of Dow Chemical
Company's "Affinity" brand polyethylene resin infringed Viskase's
patents relating to heat shrinkable films for fresh meat, processed meat
and poultry applications. The Court earlier had found that ANC's use of
Dow Chemical Company's "Attane" brand polyethylene resin in heat
shrinkable films infringed Viskase's patents. The jury found that such
infringements were willful and awarded Viskase $102.4 million in
damages.
In September 1997, the Court set aside the jury verdict in part and
ordered a retrial on the issues of whether ANC's use of Dow Chemical
Company's "Affinity" brand polyethylene plastic resin infringed
Viskase's patents, whether such infringement was willful, and damages.
On August 19, 1998, the Court granted Viskase's motion for partial
summary judgment finding that ANC's use of Dow Chemical Company's
"Affinity" brand polyethylene plastic resin in heat shrinkable films
infringed Viskase's patents.
F. Edward Gustafson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viskase,
stated, "We are pleased with the Court's ruling. Since the jury's
original damage award in late 1996 we have remained convinced that
Viskase would prevail."
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