UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 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 24, 2005 POLO RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) DELAWARE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 001-13057 13-2622036 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 650 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (212) 318-7000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) 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 (SEE General Instruction A.2. below): [_] 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 8.01. OTHER EVENTS On March 24, 2005, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's March 2004 orders denying the Company's motion to dismiss Jones Apparel Group, Inc.'s (together with Jones Investment Co., Inc., "Jones") claims against the Company for breach of contract in connection with the termination of the "Lauren" trademark license agreements and granting Jones' motion for summary judgment in the Company's action for declaratory judgment that the Lauren license agreements terminated on December 31, 2003. Jones is seeking $550 million in damages against Polo for Polo's alleged breach of the Lauren license agreements and for allegedly interfering with former Jones employee and current Polo employee Jackwyn Nemerov's employment contract with Jones. The Appellate Division's ruling only related to the Lauren license claim. The issue of damages on the breach of contract claim has not yet been litigated. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. POLO RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION Date: March 28, 2005 By: /s/ Tracey T. Travis ----------------------------------- Name: Tracey T. Travis Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer