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     <!-- Project Number: NY14166                                 -->
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     <!-- Filing Type:    8-K                                     -->
     <TITLE>8-K</TITLE>
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<TD><H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION <BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>FORM
8-K  </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD><H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>CURRENT
REPORT <BR>
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): &nbsp;<!-- DATE -->March 16, 2005 </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=5><B>General Binding Corporation</B> </FONT>
 <HR SIZE=1 NOSHADE WIDTH=60% ALIGN=CENTER></TD></TR>

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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=33%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Delaware<!-- STATE--> </FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=34%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>000-02604<!-- FILE NO.--> </FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=33%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>36-0887470<!-- IRS NO.--> </FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><HR SIZE=1 NOSHADE WIDTH=90%></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER><HR SIZE=1 NOSHADE WIDTH=90%></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(State or Other Jurisdiction<BR>of Incorporation)
</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(Commission File Number) </FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(IRS Employer Identification No.) </FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>One GBC Plaza, Northbrook, Illinois  60062</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (847) 272-3700 </FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Not Applicable.<!-- FORMER NAME OR ADDRESS --></FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 WIDTH=60%></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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:  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH=4%><font face="wingdings"> &#120; </font></TD>
<TD WIDTH=96%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=96%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=4%><font face="wingdings"> &#168; </font></TD>
<TD WIDTH=96%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=4%><font face="wingdings"> &#168; </font></TD>
<TD WIDTH=96%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></TD>
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<TD>
<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 8.01. Other Events.</FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On
March 16, 2005, Fortune Brands, Inc. (&#147;Fortune Brands&#148;) and General Binding
Corporation (&#147;GBC&#148;) issued a press release announcing an agreement for Fortune
Brands to spin-off its ACCO World Corporation office products unit (&#147;ACCO&#148;) to
Fortune Brands&#146; stockholders to be followed immediately by the merger of a subsidiary
of ACCO with and into GBC. A copy of the joint press release is included herein as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by Item 1.01 will
be filed in a separate Current Report on Form 8-K. </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This
material is not a substitute for the registration statement ACCO and GBC will file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the transaction, or the proxy
statement/prospectus-information statement to be mailed to stockholders. Investors are
urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus-information statement which will contain
important information, including detailed risk factors, when it becomes available. The
proxy statement/prospectus-information statement and other documents which will be filed
by Fortune Brands, ACCO and GBC with the Securities and Exchange Commission will be
available free of charge at the SEC&#146;s website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request
when such a filing is made to ACCO World Corporation, 300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, IL,
60069, Attention: Investor Relations; or by directing a request when such a filing is made
to General Binding Corporation, One GBC Plaza, Northbrook, IL, 60062, Attention: Investor
Relations. </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GBC,
its directors, and certain of its executive officers may be considered participants in the
solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the
participants in the solicitation will be set forth in the proxy
statement/prospectus-information statement when it becomes available. </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD>
<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item
9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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          <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <I>Exhibits</I>. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>

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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>99.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
    Joint Press Release of Fortune Brands and GBC, dated March 16, 2005. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>

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<TD><H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>SIGNATURES </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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. </FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD WIDTH="46%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;  </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="48%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><B>GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION</B><!-- COMPANY --> </FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="39%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><!-- DATE --> March 16, 2005</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">  &nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">By: </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="43%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;/s/  Steven Rubin<!-- NAME --> </FONT></TD>
  </TR>
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    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD> <HR NOSHADE SIZE="1"> </TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="57%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="43%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"> Steven Rubin<BR>
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
</FONT></TD>
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<TD><H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>EXHIBIT INDEX </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH=13%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>Exhibit<BR>
<U>Number</U> </B> </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=84%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B><U>Description</U></B> </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=13%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>99.1 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=84%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Joint
Press Release of Fortune Brands and GBC, dated March 16, 2005.  </FONT></TD>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GENERAL BINDING CORP", "cik": "0000040461", "assigned-sic": "3579", "irs-number": "360887470", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-02604", "film-number": "05686656"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE GBC PLZ", "city": "NORTHBROOK", "state": "IL", "zip": "60062", "phone": "8472723700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE GBC PLZ", "city": "NORHBROOK", "state": "IL", "zip": "60062"}}
8-K
UNITED STATES
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 16, 2005
General Binding Corporation
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
000-02604
36-0887470
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
One GBC Plaza, Northbrook, Illinois  60062
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (847) 272-3700
Not Applicable.
(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:
x
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
x
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))
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On
March 16, 2005, Fortune Brands, Inc. ("Fortune Brands") and General Binding
Corporation ("GBC") issued a press release announcing an agreement for Fortune
Brands to spin-off its ACCO World Corporation office products unit ("ACCO") to
Fortune Brands' stockholders to be followed immediately by the merger of a subsidiary
of ACCO with and into GBC. A copy of the joint press release is included herein as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by Item 1.01 will
be filed in a separate Current Report on Form 8-K.
This
material is not a substitute for the registration statement ACCO and GBC will file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the transaction, or the proxy
statement/prospectus-information statement to be mailed to stockholders. Investors are
urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus-information statement which will contain
important information, including detailed risk factors, when it becomes available. The
proxy statement/prospectus-information statement and other documents which will be filed
by Fortune Brands, ACCO and GBC with the Securities and Exchange Commission will be
available free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request
when such a filing is made to ACCO World Corporation, 300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, IL,
60069, Attention: Investor Relations; or by directing a request when such a filing is made
to General Binding Corporation, One GBC Plaza, Northbrook, IL, 60062, Attention: Investor
Relations.
GBC,
its directors, and certain of its executive officers may be considered participants in the
solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the
participants in the solicitation will be set forth in the proxy
statement/prospectus-information statement when it becomes available.
Item
9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c)
Exhibits
.
99.1           
    Joint Press Release of Fortune Brands and GBC, dated March 16, 2005.
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.
GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
March 16, 2005
By:
/s/  Steven Rubin
Steven Rubin
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
99.1
Joint
Press Release of Fortune Brands and GBC, dated March 16, 2005.