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):
April 6, 2007 (April 5, 2007)
Brown-Forman Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Delaware   002-26821   61-0143150
         
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
850 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Kentucky   40210
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (502) 585-1100
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:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 


 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
     On April 5, 2007, Brown-Forman Corporation (the “Corporation”) issued a press release announcing that $203.7 million, or $1.6533 per share, will be distributed on May 10, 2007 to the holders of Class A and Class B Common Stock as of the record date of April 5, 2007. On March 22, 2007, the Corporation had issued a press release announcing the distribution and estimating the amount. A copy of the April 5, 2007 press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
     (d)      Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release, dated April 5, 2007

 


 

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.
         
  Brown-Forman Corporation
(Registrant)
 
 
April 6, 2007  /s/ Nelea A. Absher    
(Date)  Nelea A. Absher   
  Vice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary   

 


 

Exhibit Index
         
     
   
99.1
  Press Release, dated April, 5 2007, issued by Brown-Forman Corporation.

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BROWN-FORMAN TO DISTRIBUTE LENOX PROCEEDS OF $1.6533 PER SHARE
      Louisville, KY, April 5, 2007 — Brown-Forman Corporation announced today that $203.7 million, or $1.6533 per share, will be distributed on May 10, 2007 to stockholders of record on April 5, 2007. The company previously announced an estimated cash distribution (net of fees) from the sale of its Consumer Durables segment, excluding Hartmann.
     Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Tequila Herradura, el Jimador Tequila, Canadian Mist, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, Korbel California Champagnes, and Hartmann Luggage.
      Important Note on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains statements, estimates, or projections that constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “anticipate,” and “project,” and similar expressions identify a forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date the statement is made. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. We believe that the expectations and assumptions with respect to our forward-looking statements are reasonable. But by their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that in some cases are out of our control. These factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from Brown-Forman’s historical experience or our present expectations or projections. Here is a non-exclusive list of such risks and uncertainties:
  changes in general economic conditions, particularly in the United States where we earn a significant portion of our profits;
 
  lower consumer confidence or purchasing in the wake of catastrophic events;
 
  tax increases, whether at the federal or state level or in major international markets and/or tariff barriers or other restrictions affecting beverage alcohol;
 
  limitations and restrictions on distribution of products and alcohol marketing, including advertising and promotion, as a result of stricter governmental policies adopted either in the United States or globally;
 
  adverse developments in the class action lawsuits filed against Brown-Forman and other spirits, beer and wine manufacturers alleging that our industry conspired to promote the consumption of alcohol by those under the legal drinking age;
 
  a strengthening U.S. dollar against foreign currencies, especially the British Pound, Euro, Australian Dollar, and the Mexican Peso;
 
  reduced bar, restaurant, hotel and travel business, including travel retail, in the wake of terrorist attacks;
 
  lower consumer confidence or purchasing associated with high energy prices;
 
  longer-term, a change in consumer preferences, social trends or cultural trends that results in the reduced consumption of our premium spirits brands;
 
  changes in distribution arrangements in major markets that limit our ability to market or sell our products;
 
  increases in the price of energy or raw materials, including grapes, grain, wood, glass, plastic, and agave;
 
  excess wine inventories or a world-wide oversupply of grapes;
 
  termination of our rights to distribute and market agency brands included in our portfolio;
 
  counterfeit production of our products could adversely affect our intellectual property rights, brand equity and operating results; and
 
  adverse developments as a result of state investigations of beverage alcohol industry trade practices of suppliers, distributors and retailers.