============================================================================== 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) May 17, 2004 ------------------------------------- CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 1-5823 36-6169860 (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) CNA PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60685 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (312) 822-5000 Not Applicable (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) ============================================================================== Page 1 of 2 Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits: Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 99.1 CNA Financial Corporation press release, issued May 17, 2004. Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure On May 17, 2004 Registrant issued a press release announcing that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the assets of CNA Trust to Union Bank of California. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K. The information in this Current Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 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. CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION Dated: May 17, 2004 /s/ Robert V. Deutsch -------------------------------- By: Robert V. Deutsch Its: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Page 2 of 2