================================================================================ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K (Mark One) [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 ----------------- OR [_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to ------------- ----------- Commission file number 333-35048 --------- A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: Greif Bros. Corporation 425 Winter Road Delaware, Ohio 43015 Exhibit Index on Page 13. ================================================================================

REQUIRED INFORMATION The following financial statements and supplemental schedules for the Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust are being filed herewith: Description Page No. - ----------- -------- Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule: - ---------------------------------------------- December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the year ended December 31, 2001 - --------------------------------------------------------------- Report of Independent Auditors Page 3 Financial Statements: Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits Page 4 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Page 5 Notes to Financial Statements Pages 6 through 10 Supplemental Schedule: Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes Page 11 The following exhibit is being filed herewith: Exhibit No. Description Page No. - ----------- ----------- -------- 1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP Page 14 2

Report of Independent Auditors To the Participants and Administrator of the Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets held for investment purposes as of December 31, 2001 is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP May 20, 2002 3

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31 2001 2000 ------------------------------- Investments, at fair value: Common/collective funds $ 10,030,532 $ 9,272,881 Mutual funds 26,028,592 28,214,093 Common stock 2,238,425 1,725,846 Participant notes receivable 943,081 964,209 ------------------------------- Total investments 39,240,630 40,177,029 Receivables: Employer's contributions 29,995 54,906 Participants' contributions 110,455 317,615 ------------------------------- 140,450 372,521 Other 41,134 7,726 ------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $ 39,422,214 $ 40,557,276 =============================== See accompanying notes. 4

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Year ended December 31, 2001 Additions: Contributions from participants $ 3,572,023 Contributions from employer 751,058 Rollover contributions 260,932 Transfers from other plans 516,395 Investment income (loss): Net depreciation in fair value of investments (4,679,459) Interest and dividend income 1,464,198 -------------- (3,215,261) Deductions: Benefits paid to participants (3,020,209) -------------- Net decrease in net assets (1,135,062) Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year 40,557,276 -------------- Net assets available for benefits, end of year $ 39,422,214 ============== See accompanying notes. 5

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying financial statements of the Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust (the "Plan") are prepared using the accrual basis of accounting. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Investment Valuation The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Investments are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset values of units held by the Plan at year end. Participant notes receivable are valued at their outstanding balance, which approximates fair value. Payment of Benefits Benefit payments are recorded upon distribution. Administrative Expenses All administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by Greif Bros. Corporation (the "Sponsor"). 2. Description of the Plan The following brief description of the Plan is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for more complete information. 6

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 2. Description of the Plan (continued) General The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all full-time employees of the Sponsor classified as office or salaried and is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). The Plan was adopted effective January 1, 1995 by the Sponsor to provide eligible employees with special incentives for retirement savings. Employees classified as office or salaried are eligible for participation on the first of the month following their date of hire and upon attaining the age of twenty-one. The Plan provides that the Sponsor will appoint a committee (the "Administrator") that is responsible for keeping accurate and complete records with regard to the Plan, informing participants of changes or amendments to the Plan, and ensuring that the Plan conforms to applicable laws and regulations. The Plan assets are maintained by Key Trust Company of Ohio, NA. (the "Trustee"). Participant Contributions Participants may contribute from 1% to 20% of their annual compensation into a choice of investment options. In no event shall the amount contributed for any plan year exceed the amount allowable in computing the participant's federal income tax exclusion for that plan year. Employer Contributions At its discretion, the Sponsor may make matching and/or profit sharing contributions. Participant contributions are matched by the Sponsor based on a percentage determined annually by the Board of Directors. Employer contributions are limited to 6% of the participant's annual compensation. Additional profit sharing amounts may be contributed at the option of the Sponsor and are allocated to participants based on their compensation. There were no profit sharing contributions during the year ended December 31, 2001. 7

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 2. Description of the Plan (continued) Participant Notes Receivable Subject to the Administrator's approval, the Trustee is empowered to lend to participants a portion of their account balances. Interest rates and terms are established by the Trustee. Vesting Participants have full and immediate vesting in all participant contributions and related income credited to their accounts. Participants hired prior to July 1, 2000 also have full and immediate vesting in all employer contributions and related income credited to their accounts. Participants hired on or after July 1, 2000 vest in employer contributions ratably over a 5 year period. Investment Options Participants may designate how Plan contributions are to be invested. Plan contributions were invested in any combination of the following collective/common and mutual funds held by Key Trust Company of Ohio, NA: EB Money Market Fund, Victory Money Market Fund, Victory MaGic Fund, AIM Value Fund, Franklin Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund, Janus Twenty Fund, Janus Overseas Fund, Victory Life Choice Growth Investors Fund, Victory Life Choice Moderate Investor Fund, Victory Life Choice Conservative Investor Fund, Victory Stock Index Fund, and the PIMCO Total Return Fund. Additionally, participants may invest in a fund which invests primarily in common shares of Greif Bros. Corporation. 8

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 2. Description of the Plan (continued) Payment of Benefits Withdrawals under the Plan are allowed for termination of employment, hardship (as defined by the Plan), or the attainment of age 59 1/2. Distributions may also be made to the participant in the event of physical or mental disability or to a named beneficiary in the event of the participant's death. Distributions are made in a lump sum payment or by installment payments. Plan Termination Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Sponsor has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. The final amounts accumulated in the participant's accounts will be distributed in accordance with Section 401(k)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code. 3. Investments During 2001, the Plan's investments (including investments bought, sold, exchanged, as well as held during the year) appreciated/(depreciated) in fair value as follows: Net Realized and Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) in Fair Value of Investments ----------------- Common Stock $ 313,250 Mutual and Collective Funds (4,992,709) ----------- $(4,679,459) =========== 9

Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 3. Investments (continued) Investments that represent 5% or more of fair value of the Plan's net assets are as follows: December 31, 2001 2000 ------------------------------- Franklin Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund $ 3,697,534 $ 4,394,020 Victory Life Choice Moderate Investor Fund 4,890,877 5,529,850 Victory Stock Index Fund 9,316,660 10,189,139 Victory MaGic Fund 8,001,627 7,364,278 Victory Money Market Fund 1,973,568 * Janus Twenty Fund * 2,343,962 Janus Overseas Fund 2,240,287 2,764,222 PIMCO Total Return Fund 2,105,109 * Greif Bros. Corporation Common Stock 2,238,425 * * Amount does not exceed 5% of the Plan's net assets at the specified date. 4. Transactions with Parties in Interest As of December 31, 2001, the Plan owned 67,934 shares of the Sponsor's common stock. Cash dividends received from the Company were $38,264 for the year ended December 31, 2001. 5. Income Tax Status The Plan has applied for but has not received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). However, the Plan Administrator represents that the Plan is qualified and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. The Plan Administrator has also indicated that it will take the necessary steps, if any, to maintain the Plan's qualified status. 10

Greif Bros. Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust EIN 31-4388903 Plan 004 Schedule H, Line 4i- Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year December 31, 2001 Share Fair Shares Investment Description Price Value - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity Mutual Funds ------------------- 130,969 AIM Value Fund 10.87 $ 1,423,637 118,625 Franklin Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund 31.17 3,697,534 45,705 Janus Twenty Fund 38.46 1,757,825 110,359 Janus Overseas Fund 20.30 2,240,287 46,215 Victory Life Choice Growth Investor Fund 9.32 430,727 491,052 Victory Life Choice Moderate Investor Fund 9.96 4,890,877 16,544 Victory Life Choice Conservative Investor Fund 10.03 165,936 547,717 Victory Stock Index Fund 17.01 9,316,660 Fixed Income Mutual Funds ------------------------- 201,253 PIMCO Total Return Fund 10.46 2,105,109 ------------- Total mutual funds 26,028,592 Common/Collective Fixed Income Funds ------------------------------------ 142,597 Victory Money Market Fund 13.84 1,973,568 524,642 Victory MaGic Fund 15.25 8,001,627 55,337 EB Money Market Fund 1.00 55,337 ------------- Total common/collective funds 10,030,532 Common Stock ------------ 67,934 Greif Bros. Corporation Common Stock* 32.95 2,238,425 Loans to Participants --------------------- Participant notes receivable, with interest rates of 5.75% to 10.5% and various due dates 1.00 943,081 ------------- Total investments $ 39,240,630 ============= * Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan. 11

SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. GREIF BROS. 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN AND TRUST Date: June 25, 2002 By: /s/ Michael L. Roane --------------------- ------------------------------------ Printed Name: Michael L. Roane -------------------------- Title: Plan Administrator --------------------------------- 12

GREIF BROS. 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN AND TRUST ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 11-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit No. Description Page No. 1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP Page 14 13

EXHIBIT 1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-35048) pertaining to the Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust of our report dated May 20, 2002, with respect to the financial statements and schedule of the Greif Bros. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended December 31, 2001. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Columbus, Ohio June 21, 2002 14