Edgar Filing: W R GRACE & CO

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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) NOVEMBER 19, 2004
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W. R. GRACE & CO.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-13953 65-0773649
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

7500 GRACE DRIVE
COLUMBIA, MARYLAND 21044
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(410) 531-4000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

|_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

W. R. GRACE & CO.

FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

Item 5.02. Departure of Principal Officer; Appointment of Principal Officer.
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On November 19, 2004, Paul J. Norris, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of W. R. Grace & Co., advised the Grace Board of Directors that
he will retire as Chief Executive Officer effective May 31, 2005. Mr. Norris
will remain on the Board as non-executive Chairman, focusing on Grace's Chapter
11 reorganization.

Alfred E. Festa, 45, currently President and Chief Operating
Officer, will succeed Mr. Norris as Chief Executive Officer on June 1, 2005. Mr.
Festa joined Grace in November 2003. Previously, he was a partner with
Morgenthaler Private Equity Partners, a venture capital and buyout firm. Prior
to joining Morgenthaler, he served as president and chief executive officer of
ICG Commerce, a provider of on-line procurement services, and as vice president
and general manager of the performance fibers business of AlliedSignal
Incorporated.

A copy of the press release announcing these events is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.

W. R. GRACE & CO.
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(Registrant)

By /s/ Mark A. Shelnitz
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Mark A. Shelnitz
Secretary

Dated: November 22, 2004

W. R. GRACE & CO.

FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No. Description

99.1 Press release issued by W. R. Grace & Co. announcing
retirement of Paul J. Norris as Chief Executive
Officer