GRACE W R & CO /NY/
8-K, 1995-05-01
CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS
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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 1, 1995


                               W. R. GRACE & CO.                        
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



                                    NEW YORK                            
                           (State or other jurisdiction
                                of incorporation)


               1-3720                                  13-3461988
          (Commission File No.)                       (IRS employer
                                                   identification no.)

              One Town Center Road, Boca Raton, Florida  33486-1010
         (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                  (407) 362-2000









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         Item 5.   Other Events.

                   On May 1, 1995, the Board of Directors of W. R. Grace
         & Co. ("Company") elected Mr. Albert J. Costello as the
         President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective
         immediately, and entered into a letter agreement ("Letter
         Agreement") with respect to the terms of such election.  The
         Letter Agreement provides that Mr. Costello will be elected by
         the Board as a director and Chairman of the Board promptly
         after the Company's May 10, 1995 Annual Meeting.  In connection
         therewith, the Company issued a press release ("Press
         Release"), dated May 1, 1995.

                   The foregoing is qualified in its entirety by
         reference to the Letter Agreement and the Press Release filed
         as exhibits hereto, which are incorporated herein by reference.

         Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
                   and Exhibits.

               10.1.    Letter Agreement, dated May 1, 1995, by and
                        between W. R. Grace & Co. and Mr. Albert J.
                        Costello.

               99.1.    Press Release, dated May 1, 1995.

























                                      PAGE
<PAGE>







               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.


                                       W. R. GRACE & CO.



                                       By:   /s/ Robert B. Lamm         
                                          Name:  Robert B. Lamm
                                          Title: Vice President and 
                                                 Secretary





         Date:  May 1, 1995






























                                      PAGE
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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



         Exhibit                                                        
           No.              Description                                 

         10.1     Letter Agreement, dated May 1, 1995, by
                  and between W. R. Grace & Co. and Mr.
                  Albert J. Costello.

         99.1.    Press Release, dated May 1, 1995.






































                                       -3-
                                      <PAGE>










Exhibit 10.1


                    [letterhead of W. R. Grace & Co.] 




                                            May 1, 1995



         Mr. Albert J. Costello
         417 Devonshire Drive
         Franklin Lakes, NJ  07417


         Dear Mr. Costello:

                   On behalf of the Board of Directors of W. R. Grace &
         Company (the "Board"), I am pleased to welcome you.  This let-
         ter sets forth the terms on which you have agreed to be em-
         ployed by the Company effective as of May 1, 1995.  

              Positions:     Chairman of the Board, President, Chief
                             Executive Officer and member of the Board

              Starting Date: May 1, 1995 as President and Chief
                             Executive Officer.  Election to the 
                             Board will be promptly after the Company's
                             1995 Annual Meeting.

              Term:          Through April 30, 1998; in May of 1997, the
                             Board will notify you of its intention re-
                             garding renewal or nonrenewal of your em-
                             ployment.

              Base Salary:   $900,000 per year, subject to annual review. 

              Bonus:         For the period May 1 to December 31, 1995
                             -- minimum $900,000, payable after year-
                             end.  

                             1996 and thereafter -- subject to perfor-
                             mance under the Annual Incentive Compensa-
                             tion Plan or a successor plan.





                                      PAGE
<PAGE>

         Mr. Albert J. Costello
         May 1, 1995
         Page 2



              Stock Options: Non-statutory stock options to purchase
                             300,000 shares to be granted under the 1994
                             Stock Incentive Plan, at the market price
                             on May 1, 1995, to vest as follows:

                                  100,000 shares -- May 1, 1996
                                  100,000 shares -- May 1, 1997
                                  100,000 shares -- May 1, 1998


              Long-Term In-
              centive Plans: Effective May 1, 1995 (and based on May 1,
                             1995 stock price), participation on same
                             basis as other senior executives of the
                             Company (prorated from May 1, 1995) for
                             1993-1995, 1994-1996 and 1995-1997 cycles.
                             Participation on the same basis as other
                             senior executives of the Company beginning
                             with 1996-1998 cycle.

              Insurance:     Whole life policy, premium paid by Company,
                             providing coverage of two times base salary

              Pension:       Participation in all qualified and non-
                             qualified pension, retirement and savings
                             plans on the same basis as other senior
                             executives of the Company

              Relocation:    Payment of customary relocation expenses,
                             including temporary housing, closing costs
                             and moving expenses

              Change of
              Control:       Change of control severance protection on
                             the same terms as other senior executives
                             of the Company

              Other:         Comprehensive program of executive ben-
                             efits, stock options and perquisites on the
                             same basis as other senior executives of
                             the Company

              Physical:      We understand that you had a complete 
                             physical examination in late 1994, the re-
                             sults of which were satisfactory







                                      PAGE
<PAGE>


         Mr. Albert J. Costello
         May 1, 1995
         Page 3


                   It is intended that you and the Company will enter
         into a more formal employment agreement as soon as possible,
         which will incorporate the terms of this letter and such other
         terms and provisions as are appropriate for contracts of this
         nature and are approved by the Board or its authorized desig-
         nees.  

                   If the foregoing correctly expresses our agreement,
         please so indicate by signing the enclosed copy of this letter
         in the space provided below and returning it to the Company.


                                       W. R. GRACE & CO.



                                       By:/s/ Thomas A. Holmes
                                          Thomas A. Holmes


         AGREED AND ACCEPTED:



            /s/ Albert J. Costello
            Albert J. Costello


























                                      <PAGE>




Exhibit 99.1








                                            #2597


         Contact:  Mary Lou Kromer     407-362-2600 or
                                       800-GRACE99


            W. R. GRACE & CO. NAMES ALBERT COSTELLO PRESIDENT AND CEO

                   BOCA RATON, FLA, May 1, 1995 -- W. R. Grace & Co.

         (NYSE:GRA) announced today that Albert J. Costello has been

         named president and chief executive officer effective immedi-

         ately.


                   Costello, 59, was chairman of the board and CEO of

         American Cyanamid, a global biotechnology and chemical business,

         from April 1993 until his retirement in December 1994, when that

         company was acquired by American Home Products for approximately

         $9.6 billion.


                   "Al Costello is the right person to lead the continued

         global growth of W. R. Grace," said Thomas A. Holmes, who headed

         the Board's CEO Search Committee and had served as acting CEO

         since March 2.  "He brings to Grace nearly four decades of man-

         agement and leadership experience."


                   "There is a tremendous potential for continued growth

         within the businesses of W. R. Grace," said Costello, "and I am

         excited about being a part of that."



                                      PAGE
<PAGE>





                   W. R. Grace reported its 1995 first quarter results last

         week, noting a 56 percent increase in net operating earnings over

         the prior year quarter, and a 25 percent increase in sales.  All

         of the Company's six core businesses and every geographic region

         contributed to the excellent results of the quarter.


                   "The performance improvement recorded in 1994 appears to

         be gaining momentum in 1995," said Costello.  "My focus will be on

         maintaining that momentum and enhancing value and opportunity for

         our shareholders, employees, customers and communities."


                   The Company has agreed that Costello will be elected by

         the Board as a director and Chairman of the Board promptly after

         the Company's May 10, 1995 Annual Meeting.  Under New York law,

         Costello will stand for reelection at the 1996 Annual Meeting.


                   "Once I am elected Chairman, I will move expeditiously

         to fulfill the Board's commitment to its shareholders, and oversee

         the Company's governance in the best interests of all sharehold-

         ers," said Costello.  "The Board is eager to move forward deci-

         sively, making sure that W. R. Grace's excellent current perfor-

         mance can continue uninterrupted."


                   The CEO Search Committee comprised Holmes, Harold Eck-

         mann, Edward Duffy, Dr. George Dacey and Dr. James Frick -- all

         independent directors.


                   Costello joined American Cyanamid as a chemist in 1957

         and during his career with that company held a number of marketing


                                      PAGE
<PAGE>





         and management posts, including assignments in Mexico and Spain.

         He was named president of Cyanamid in 1981 and had served as

         executive vice president and a member of the company's Executive

         Committee beginning in 1983.


                   Costello is a member of the boards of trustees of

         Fordham University and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center,

         and a member of the British North American Committee and served on

         the boards of directors of the Chemical Manufacturers Association,

         the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the American

         Enterprise Institute, and was a member of the Business Roundtable.


                   Costello was born in New York City.  In 1957 he earned a

         bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Fordham University,

         and in 1964, earned a master's degree in chemistry from New York

         University.


                   Grace is the world's largest specialty chemicals company

         and holds a leadership position in specialized health care.

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