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):
October 20, 2003 (October 20, 2003)
___________________
TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
000-32855
(Commission File Number)
Delaware 74-2982117
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
401 Whitney Avenue, Suite 400
Gretna, Louisiana 70056-2596
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
(504) 367-7030
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On October 20, 2003, Torch Offshore, Inc. (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing the appointment of Richard
J. (Jere) Shopf to the Company's Board of Directors. In
addition, Mr. Shopf will serve as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee.
A copy of the Company's press release announcing the above
is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated
herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PROFORMA FINANCIAL
INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
99.1 Torch Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
October 20, 2003.
SIGNATURE
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.
TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
By: /s/ ROBERT E. FULTON
Date: October 20, 2003 ------------------------
Robert E. Fulton
Chief Financial Officer
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
99.1 Torch Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
October 20, 2003.
EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release Contact: Bob Fulton (1)504-367-7030
to: Analysts, Financial b.fulton@torchinc.com
Community, Media Bradley Lowe (1)504-367-7030
b.lowe@torchinc.com
Torch Offshore Appoints Richard J. Shopf as Director
New Orleans, Louisiana USA, October 20, 2003
Torch Offshore, Inc. (NASDAQ: TORC) (the "Company")
announced today that Richard J. (Jere) Shopf has been
appointed to serve as a member of the Company's Board of
Directors effective immediately. In addition, Mr. Shopf will
serve as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member
of the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Shopf currently serves as the Chairman, Senior Vice
President and Chief Restructuring Officer of Babcock &
Wilcox, a McDermott Company, and has been in that position
since 1999. In addition, Mr. Shopf serves as the Chairman of
RPM Management Company. Prior to these roles, Mr. Shopf had
executive positions with Pioneer Americas, Inc., Southwest
Business Associates, Inc., Rice Capital Corporation/First
Texas Merchant Banking Group, Halter Marine, Inc., Republic
Drilling and Service, Inc., and Newpark Resources, Inc. Mr.
Shopf also serves as a member of the board of directors of
other companies, including Evans Industries and C.F. Bean
Companies. Mr. Shopf has an MBA from Harvard University and
a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Lyle G. Stockstill, Torch Offshore, Inc. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, commented, "We are quite pleased to bring
Jere on as a member of the Board of Directors. Jere has an
extensive business background with a great deal of
experience in serving on the board of directors of other
companies. We welcome Jere aboard and look forward to his
contributions assisting in the growth and strategic
development of Torch Offshore, Inc."
Established in 1978, Torch Offshore, Inc. is involved in
offshore pipeline installation and subsea construction for
the oil and natural gas industry. Torch Offshore, Inc. is
expanding beyond its established shallow water niche market
in order to serve the industry's worldwide growing needs in
the deep waters.
Any statements made in this news release, other than those
of historical fact, about an action, event or development,
which the Company hopes, expects, believes or anticipates
may or will occur in the future, are forward-looking
statements under the Private Securities Litigation Act of
1995. Such statements are subject to various assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, which are specifically described in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, as well as other factors that may not
be within the Company's control, including, specifically,
oil and natural gas commodity prices, weather conditions and
offshore construction activity levels. Although the Company
believes its expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions, it gives no assurance that the Company's
assumptions and projections will prove to be correct. Actual
results may differ materially from those projected.
PR 03-017
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