<PAGE>
U.S. 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) October 30, 2000
(October 27, 2000)
GREIF BROS. CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-566 31-4388903
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
425 Winter Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 740-549-6000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Page 1 of 9 Pages
Index to Exhibits at Page 4
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events
On October 27, 2000, Greif Bros. Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, (the "Company") signed a definitive agreement to
purchase all of the outstanding shares of the Industrial
Packaging Division of Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer N.V., a
Netherlands limited liability company, ("Van Leer Industrial")
from Huhtamaki Van Leer Oyj, a Finish corporation, ("Huhtamaki")
for $620 million, which includes the assumption of Van Leer
Industrial's debt and other obligations as of the closing date.
Van Leer Industrial is a leading worldwide provider of industrial
packaging and components, including steel, fibre and plastic
drums, as well as intermediate bulk containers and closure
systems with operations in over 40 countries. Van Leer
Industrial reported EUR 921 million in net sales for its fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999.
The transaction will be accounted for as a purchase and is
expected to be completed by December 31, 2000, subject to
regulatory and other approvals and the 30-day right of first
refusal by the Van Leer Group Foundation as provided for in the
original transaction between Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer
N.V. and Huhtamaki Oyj.
The transaction is more fully described in a press release issued
by the Company dated October 30, 2000, which is included herewith
as Exhibit 99.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits:
Exhibit Number Description
99 Press Release dated
October 30, 2000 issued
by the Company.
Page 2 of 9 Pages
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
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.
DATE: October 30, 2000 Greif Bros. Corporation
BY /s/ Joseph W. Reed
Joseph W. Reed, Chief
Financial Officer and
Secretary
Page 3 of 9 Pages
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description Pages
99 Press Release dated 5 - 9
October 30, 2000 issued
by the Company.
Page 4 of 9 Pages
