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Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial
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<p align="center"><font size="4" face="serif"><b>UNITED STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif"><b>Washington, D. C.  20549</b></font></p>
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<p align="center"><font size="4" face="serif"><b>FORM 8-K</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="4" face="serif"><b>CURRENT REPORT</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></font></p>  <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>August 18, 2005</b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><font face="serif" size="3">APPLERA CORPORATION</font></b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></td>
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<td width="30%"><font size="1" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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<td width="30%"><font size="1" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="5%">&nbsp;</td>
<td><font size="1" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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<td><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Delaware</b></font></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif"><b>1-4389</b></font></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif"><b>06-1534213</b></font></td>
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<td><font size="2" face="serif">(State or other jurisdiction<br>
of Incorporation)</font></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif">(Commission<br>
file number)</font></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif">(IRS Employer<br>
Identification No.)</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>301 Merritt 7</b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Norwalk, Connecticut  06851</b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>(203) 840-2000</b></font></td>
<td align="left" width="2%">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code)</font></td>
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  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>N/A</b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></td>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">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></p>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></td> </tr>
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  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></td>
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  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">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 align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td align="left"><img src="emptybox.gif"></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">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 width="9%"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Item 1.01.</b></font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Entry into a Material Definitive
    Agreement.</b></font></td>
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<div style="text-indent:3%">
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Most
    Applera employees not compensated on a commission basis, including the executive
    officers of Applera Corporation (&#8220;Applera&#8221;), participate in Applera&#8217;s
    Incentive Compensation Program. Award amounts vary for each executive officer
    based on: a competitive market target bonus level; overall business performance;
    and individual performance.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The Management Resources Committee
    of the Applera Board of Directors (the &#147;MRC&#148;) uses specific performance
    objectives for each Applera business as a basis on which to measure business
    performance
    under this program. For the Applied Biosystems Group, the MRC uses EBIT (earnings
    before interest and taxes), revenue, cash flow, EPS (earnings per share),
    and the achievement of specific business goals. For the Celera Genomics Group,
    the MRC uses EBIT, cash flow, and the achievement of specific business goals.
    For Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group
    and the Celera Genomics Group, the MRC uses EBIT, revenue, cash flow, and
    the achievement of specific business goals. For corporate employees (including
    Tony White, Applera&#146;s Chief Executive Officer, and certain other executive
    officers), the MRC uses a combination of the performance results for the
    Applied Biosystems Group and the Celera Genomics Group.</font></p>
</div>
<div style="text-indent:3%">
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The MRC uses survey information from comparable companies in reviewing and approving annual incentive
plan participation and bonus targets, which are measured as a percentage of base salary for each executive officer according to officer grade level. Additionally,
Mr. White, based on his review of the performance of each executive officer (other than himself) over the course of the year,
may propose modifications to reflect each officer&#146;s personal performance.
These modifications may result in an incentive compensation recommendation between
0 and 150% of target for a particular executive officer. The MRC is responsible
for final approval of all incentive compensation awards for executive officers.</font></p>
</div>
<div style="text-indent:3%">
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">At a meeting of the MRC held on August
    18, 2005, the MRC approved the specific Applied Biosystems Group business
    performance objectives applicable to the 2006 fiscal year Incentive Compensation
    Program. Payments under the Incentive Compensation Program for Applera&#146;s
    2006 fiscal
year will be determined after the conclusion of the fiscal
year.</font></p>
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<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"> </font></p>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>SIGNATURES</b></font></p>

<div style="text-indent:3%">
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">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></p>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>           APPLERA CORPORATION</b></font></td>
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<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
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<td width="50%" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="5%" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">By: </font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ William  B. Sawch</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><hr align="left" width="50%" size="1" noshade></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">William B. Sawch</font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Senior Vice President and</font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">General Counsel</font></td>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Dated: August 24, 2005</font></p>
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Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial
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
August 18, 2005
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)
APPLERA CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
1-4389
06-1534213
(State or other jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
file number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
301 Merritt 7
Norwalk, Connecticut  06851
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
(203) 840-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(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:
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))
Item 1.01.
Entry into a Material Definitive
    Agreement.
Most
    Applera employees not compensated on a commission basis, including the executive
    officers of Applera Corporation ("Applera"), participate in Applera's
    Incentive Compensation Program. Award amounts vary for each executive officer
    based on: a competitive market target bonus level; overall business performance;
    and individual performance.
The Management Resources Committee
    of the Applera Board of Directors (the "MRC") uses specific performance
    objectives for each Applera business as a basis on which to measure business
    performance
    under this program. For the Applied Biosystems Group, the MRC uses EBIT (earnings
    before interest and taxes), revenue, cash flow, EPS (earnings per share),
    and the achievement of specific business goals. For the Celera Genomics Group,
    the MRC uses EBIT, cash flow, and the achievement of specific business goals.
    For Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group
    and the Celera Genomics Group, the MRC uses EBIT, revenue, cash flow, and
    the achievement of specific business goals. For corporate employees (including
    Tony White, Applera's Chief Executive Officer, and certain other executive
    officers), the MRC uses a combination of the performance results for the
    Applied Biosystems Group and the Celera Genomics Group.
The MRC uses survey information from comparable companies in reviewing and approving annual incentive
plan participation and bonus targets, which are measured as a percentage of base salary for each executive officer according to officer grade level. Additionally,
Mr. White, based on his review of the performance of each executive officer (other than himself) over the course of the year,
may propose modifications to reflect each officer's personal performance.
These modifications may result in an incentive compensation recommendation between
0 and 150% of target for a particular executive officer. The MRC is responsible
for final approval of all incentive compensation awards for executive officers.
At a meeting of the MRC held on August
    18, 2005, the MRC approved the specific Applied Biosystems Group business
    performance objectives applicable to the 2006 fiscal year Incentive Compensation
    Program. Payments under the Incentive Compensation Program for Applera's
    2006 fiscal
year will be determined after the conclusion of the fiscal
year.
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.
APPLERA CORPORATION
By:
/s/ William  B. Sawch
William B. Sawch
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
Dated: August 24, 2005