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: June 27, 1997 Date of earliest event reported: June 28, 1997 ATLAS CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 1-2714 13-5503312 (State of (Commission (IRS Employer Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 370 SEVENTEENTH STREET, SUITE 3050 DENVER, COLORADO 80202 (Address of principal executive offices) (303) 629-2440 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Page 1 of 5 ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS The news release dated June 27, 1997 a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto, is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. Page 2 of 5 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. ATLAS CORPORATION Date: June 27, 1997 By: /s/ Gregg B. Shafter -------------------- Gregg B. Shafter Vice President Page 3 of 5 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description Page No. - ----------- ----------- -------- 99. News Release dated June 27, 1997 5 Page 4 of 5 ATLAS CORPORATION NEWS RELEASE 370 SEVENTEENTH STREET, SUITE 3050 NYSE: AZ DENVER, CO 80202 USA ATLAS REPURCHASES 7% EXCHANGEABLE DEBENTURES _____________________________ DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 27, 1997 ATLAS CORPORATION ("Atlas") said today the Company closed the repurchase of its 7% Exchangeable Debentures due October 25, 2000 (the "Debentures") on June 25, 1997. The Exchange Agreements with the Debentures holders provided for the remaining outstanding principal amount of $9,810,000 together with accrued interest to be repurchased for a combination of 1,500,928 new issue Atlas common shares and 8,313,065 Vista Gold Corp. common shares owned by Atlas which secured the Debentures. Mr. Douglas R. Cook, Chairman of the Board of Atlas Corporation, stated, "We achieved the repurchase of our 7% Enchangeable Debentures thereby eliminating $700,000 in annual interest charges and removing a substantial liability from our balance sheet. We will continue to direct our Management efforts and available cash to expansion of our Bolivian operations, development of Cornerstone's Tucker Hill perlite production and evaluation of additional opportunities which will allow us to contribute directly to returning value to our shareholders." FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Leslie Young Director, Investor Relations Phone: 303-629-2435 Page 5 of 5