UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 -------------------------- FORM 8-K Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report: April 21, 2004 BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY Butler Manufacturing Company 1540 Genessee Street P.O. Box 419917 Kansas City, Missouri 64102 Phone (816) 968-3000 Incorporated in the State of Delaware Commission File No. 001-12335 I.R.S. Employer Identification Number: 44-0188420 ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On April 21, 2004, Butler Manufacturing Company, a Delaware corporation ("Butler"), mailed a letter to its stockholders with respect to the merger with BSL Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueScope Steel Limited. Butler's letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. ITEM 7. EXHIBITS 99.1 Butler Manufacturing Company's letter to stockholders dated April 21, 2004. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY April 21, 2004 /s/ Larry C. Miller ------------------------ ----------------------------- Date Larry C. Miller Vice President - Finance, and Chief Financial Officer April 21, 2004 /s/ John W. Huey ------------------------ ------------------------------- Date John W. Huey Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary EXHIBIT INDEX 99.1 Butler Manufacturing Company's letter to stockholders dated April 21, 2004.