-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, ERsVqiR0Ei2Kk9TAur8kHVHJ5BKl2NY9t5okuJv+1Bol9XbV7dAwCUbFWde5TNHu iHY6AbJZNWOdqa3YT719iA== 0000033073-99-000004.txt : 19990521 0000033073-99-000004.hdr.sgml : 19990521 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000033073-99-000004 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19990513 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19990520 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VISKASE COMPANIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000033073 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PLASTICS PRODUCTS, NEC [3089] IRS NUMBER: 952677354 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-05485 FILM NUMBER: 99630904 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6855 W. 65TH ST. CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60638 BUSINESS PHONE: 7084964200 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ENVIRODYNE INDUSTRIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MGN INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19790425 8-K 1 DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT 05-13-1999 ================================================================= 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 -------------- VISKASE COMPANIES INC. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 0-5485 95-2677354 - ------------------------------- ----------- -------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. incorporation or organization) File No.) Employer Identification No.) 6855 West 65th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60638 - ----------------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (708) 496-4200 --------------- ================================================================= Page 1 of Pages Item 5. - Other Events ------------ 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 --------------------------------- (c) Exhibits EX-99 Press release dated May 13, 1999. 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 thereunto duly authorized. VISKASE COMPANIES, INC. ------------------------------ Registrant By: /S/ Gordon S. Donovan ------------------------- Gordon S. Donovan Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer May 20, 1999 Exhibit No. Description of Exhibits Page - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------ EX-99 Press release dated May 13, 1999. EX-99 2 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." ### -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----