SEALY CORP
8-K, 1996-03-14
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE
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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):  March 1, 1996



                          Sealy Corporation                          
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


         Delaware                    1-8738              36-3284147        
- ----------------------------      -------------       -------------------       
(State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
     of Incorporation)             File Number)       Identification No.)



   520 Pike Street              Seattle, Washington        98101      
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)             (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (206) 625-1233
                                                   -----------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former Name or Former Address, if changed since last report)





                               Page 1 of 5 Pages
<PAGE>   2

Item 5.  Other Events.
- -------  -------------

                 Effective March 1, 1996, Sealy Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, (the "Company") appointed Ronald L. Jones as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.  A press release announcing this appointment
was issued by the Company on February 27, 1996 and is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to
this report.


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

(c)   Exhibits.
      ---------
                                                                Sequential
      Exhibit No.                                               Page Number
      -----------                                               -----------
         99.1        Press Release of the Company dated
                     February 27, 1996     . . . . . . . . . .       4





                               Page 2 of 5 Pages
<PAGE>   3
                                   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.


                                            SEALY CORPORATION



                                            By: /s/ John D. Moran
                                               --------------------------------
                                                John D. Moran, Secretary





Date:  March 13, 1996





                               Page 3 of 5 Pages

<PAGE>   1
EDWARD HOWARD & CO.                                             NEWS RELEASE
Public Relations Counsel
Founded 1925

One Erieview Plaza, 7th Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1716
(216) 781-2400 Fax: 781-8810

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT:

                                        Tom Forman
                                        Sealy Corporation
                                        216/522-1310, ext.2350
                                              or
                                        Kathleen A. Obert
                                        Edward Howard & Co.
                                        216/781-2400

RON JONES JOINS SEALY CORPORATION AS CEO

CLEVELAND, Ohio February 27, 1996 - Sealy Corporation, the largest bedding
manufacturer in North America, today named Ronald L. Jones, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.

        Mr. Jones, who is 53, joins Sealy from Masco Home Furnishings where he
served as President since October 1988. Under his leadership, the business grew
from $800 million to $2 billion, with $200 million in international sales.

        "Ron Jones has unparalleled experience in the home furnishings business,
and is joining us to help Sealy pursue its mission as the leading bedding
company both in North America and on a global scale," said Rod Dammeyer,
Managing Director of Zell/Chilmark Fund, L.P., Sealy's majority owner.

        Mr. Jones will replace Lyman M. Beggs, 57, who has left Sealy to pursue
other business opportunities.

                                    (more)

<PAGE>   2
                                                                        2

        Mr. Jones is a member of the Board of Directors of the American
Furniture Manufacturing Association, the Board of Directors of the North
Carolina Museum of Art, the Board of Trustees of High Point Regional Health
Systems, the Board of Excellence for the University of North Carolina, the
Board of Trustees of High Point University, and is Vice President of the
International Home Furnishings Marketing Association.

        Mr. Jones said of his new opportunity, "I have always admired Sealy and
look forward to working with its management and the Sealy retailer community.
Working together, we can continue the fine tradition of product and service
excellence to ensure Sealy's position as the market leader for the future,"
Jones concluded.

        Sealy is the largest manufacturer of bedding in North America, serving
over 7,000 retail outlets from its 24 manufacturing plants in 18 states, Canada
and Puerto Rico. Sealy, through its subsidiaries, produces and sells the
complete Sealy line of mattresses, including under the Sealy, Sealy
Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster brands.

                                     ###


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