UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
(X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2000
OR
( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 1-123
A. Full Title of Plan:
Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan
B. Name of Issuer of the Securities held Pursuant to the Plan and
the Address of its Principal Executive Office:
Brown-Forman Corporation
850 Dixie Highway
Louisville, Kentucky 40210
INDEX
Pages
Report of Independent Accountants 2
Financial Statements:
Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits,
December 31, 2000 and 1999 3
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 4
Notes to Financial Statements 5-9
Supplemental Schedules:
Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year,
December 31, 2000 10
Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended
December 31, 2000 11
Signatures 12
Consent of Independent Accountants 13
Report of Independent Accountants
To the Employee Benefits Committee
Brown-Forman Corporation
Lenox, Incorporated Employee
Savings and Investment Plan
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits
present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits
of the Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan (the Plan) at
December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the changes in net assets available for benefits
for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America. 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 of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America, which 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,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets held
for investment purposes at end of year and of reportable transactions are
presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of
the basic financial statements but are 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. These supplemental
schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental
schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits
of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all
material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a
whole.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
May 3, 2001
2
Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2000 and 1999
2000 1999
---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Participant Nonparticipant Participant Nonparticipant
Directed Directed Total Directed Directed Total
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Investments, at fair value:
Mutual funds $45,007,159 -- $45,007,159 $49,975,733 -- $49,975,733
Investment contract and
money market portfolios 14,741,934 -- 14,741,934 15,978,814 -- 15,978,814
Brown-Forman Corporation
Class B common stock 554,326 $ 637,758 1,192,084 573,087 $ 643,933 1,217,020
Loans to participants 2,232,136 -- 2,232,136 2,140,290 -- 2,140,290
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
62,535,555 637,758 63,173,313 68,667,924 643,933 69,311,857
Employers' contributions receivable 876,544 -- 876,544 434,392 -- 434,392
Employees' contributions receivable 263,665 -- 263,665 269,041 -- 269,041
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Net assets available for benefits $63,675,764 $ 637,758 $64,313,522 $69,371,357 $ 643,933 $70,015,290
=========== ============== =========== =========== ============== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
3
Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
For the Years Ended December 31, 2000 and 1999
2000 1999
---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Participant Nonparticipant Participant Nonparticipant
Directed Directed Total Directed Directed Total
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Additions:
Contributions:
Employer $ 1,926,319 -- $ 1,926,319 $ 1,870,735 -- $ 1,870,735
Employee 4,152,435 -- 4,152,435 4,095,005 -- 4,095,005
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
6,078,754 -- 6,078,754 5,965,740 -- 5,965,740
Interest income 1,016,985 -- 1,016,985 1,022,714 -- 1,022,714
Dividend income 373,320 $ 12,381 385,701 381,156 $ 13,981 395,137
Net appreciation in fair value -- 77,326 77,326 10,633,087 -- 10,633,087
Net transfers from Lenox,
Incorporated Retail Savings
and Investment Plan -- -- -- 4,474 -- 4,474
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Total additions 7,469,059 89,707 7,558,766 18,007,171 13,981 18,021,152
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Deductions:
Withdrawals by particpants 8,250,153 95,882 8,346,035 4,807,474 86,223 4,893,697
Net depreciation in fair value 4,806,441 -- 4,806,441 -- 235,790 235,790
Net transfers to Brown-Forman
Corporation Savings Plan 104,677 -- 104,677 411,194 -- 411,194
Net transfers to Hartmann Employee
Savings and Investment Plan -- -- -- 38,601 -- 38,601
Net transfers to Lenox,
Incorporated Retail Savings
and Investment Plan 3,381 -- 3,381 -- -- --
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Total deductions 13,164,652 95,882 13,260,534 5,257,269 322,013 5,579,282
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Net increase (decrease) (5,695,593) (6,175) (5,701,768) 12,749,902 (308,032) 12,441,870
Net assets available for benefits:
Beginning of year 69,371,357 643,933 70,015,290 56,621,455 951,965 57,573,420
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- -------------- -----------
End of year $63,675,764 $637,758 $64,313,522 $69,371,357 $643,933 $70,015,290
=========== ============== =========== =========== ============== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
4
Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Description of Plan:
The sponsor of the Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment
Plan (the Plan), Brown-Forman Corporation (the Sponsor), is a diversified
producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products in domestic and
international markets. The Sponsor's operations include the production,
importing, and marketing of wines and distilled spirits and the
manufacture and sale of luggage and, through the Lenox, Incorporated
division, the manufacture and sale of china, crystal and silver.
The following brief description of the Plan is provided for general
information purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan
agreement for more complete information.
a. General: The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering
substantially all salaried employees of Lenox, Incorporated (the
Company) and salaried and nonunion hourly employees of the Company's
subsidiaries who are not members of a collective bargaining unit nor
eligible to participate in the Lenox, Incorporated Retail Savings and
Investment Plan. An employee becomes eligible to participate in the
Plan after completion of one year of service. The Plan is subject to
the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(ERISA).
b. Contributions: Employees may contribute to the Plan an amount of not
less than 2% nor more than 15% of their annual compensation, not to
exceed the Section 402(g) (of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)
limitation in effect for the calendar year, currently $10,500
($10,000 in 1999). New employees may transfer assets from their
former employers' qualified plans to the Plan, but cannot make any
further contributions until they meet the eligibility requirements to
participate in the Plan. The Company's matching contribution is equal
to 75% of the participant's elective deferral for the first 5% of the
participant's annual compensation.
Each participant's account is credited with the participant's
contribution and an allocation of (i) the Company's matching
contribution on a quarterly basis, and (ii) plan earnings on a daily
basis. Allocations are based on the participants' contributions and
compensation as defined in the Plan. The total annual contributions,
as defined by the Plan, credited to a participant's account in a plan
year may not exceed the lesser of (i) $30,000, or (ii) 25% of the
participant's compensation in the plan year. Additional maximum
limits exist if the employee participates in a qualified defined
benefit plan maintained by the Company. Forfeited balances of
terminated participants' nonvested accounts are used first to
reinstate previously forfeited account balances of re-employed
participants, if any, and the remaining amounts are used to reduce
future company contributions. The forfeited balances totaled $33,187
and $30,802 for 2000 and 1999, respectively.
5
Participants can allocate contributions among various investment
options in 1% increments. The Plan currently offers ten mutual funds,
one investment contract portfolio, and the Brown-Forman Corporation
Class B common stock fund as investment options to participants.
c. Paysop Fund: This nonparticipant directed fund consists of company
contributions of Class B nonvoting common stock of Brown-Forman
Corporation. Contributions for any plan year were limited to one-half
of one percent of the annual compensation of all employees covered by
the Plan; however, the Company is no longer contributing to this fund.
This fund will be eliminated when all stock allocated to participants
is withdrawn.
d. Vesting: Participants are immediately vested in their employee
contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company's
contribution is 25% per year of continuous service with the Company.
Participants will become 100% vested in their company contributions
account in case of death, normal retirement, or total and permanent
disability.
e. Withdrawals: Upon termination of service, a participant can elect to
transfer his vested interest in the participant directed portion of
the Plan to the qualified plan of his new employer, roll over his
funds into an Individual Retirement Account, or receive his vested
interest in the Plan in a lump-sum amount or in the form of
installment payments over a period of time not to exceed his life
expectancy. If the vested account balance is less than $5,000, a
lump-sum distribution will be made. In the event of death, the
participant's beneficiary will receive the vested interest in a
lump-sum payment. Upon approval of the Employee Benefits Committee,
a participant may also withdraw vested interest of the participant
directed funds in the case of financial hardship under guidelines
promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service.
The distribution to a terminated participant is based on the market
value of his vested interest in the Plan on the valuation date
available immediately preceding the date of the benefit payment.
Withdrawals of the Paysop Fund benefits can be made in cash or a
single payment of the related common stock. If payment in common stock
is elected, fractional shares are paid in cash.
In addition, a participant may request permission from the plan
administrator to borrow a portion of such participant's vested accrued
benefit under the Plan. Loans must bear a reasonable rate of
interest, be collateralized, and be repaid within five years.
Participants do not share in the earnings from the Plan's investments
to the extent of any outstanding loans, except that the interest paid
on such loans is allocated directly to the participant's account.
6
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
a. Basis of Accounting: The financial statements of the Plan are
prepared under the accrual method of accounting. Withdrawals by
participants are recorded when paid. Purchases and sales of
securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is
recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-
dividend date.
b. Valuation of Investments: Investment contract and money market
portfolios are valued at cost which approximates fair value.
Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange are
valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of
the period. Mutual funds are valued at their net asset value per
share as quoted by the National Association of Securities Dealers.
Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value.
The Brown-Forman Corporation Stock Fund is comprised of Brown-Forman
Corporation Class B shares, which are valued at the quoted closing
market price.
The Plan presents in the accompanying statements of changes in net
assets available for benefits the net appreciation or depreciation
in the fair value of its investments which consists of the realized
gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation or depreciation on
those investments.
c. Management Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of net assets available for benefits and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of additions to and deductions
from net assets during the reporting periods. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
7
3. Investments:
The Plan's investments are held by a custodian trust company. The
following table presents the fair value of investments. Investments
that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets are separately
identified.
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
---------------------------- ----------------------------
Number of Number of
Shares, Units Shares, Units
or Principal or Principal
Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value
------------- ---------- ------------- ----------
Mutual funds, investment contract
portfolio and stock fund:
Janus Worldwide Fund 104,470 $ 5,940,137 93,085 $ 7,114,484
Fidelity Magellan Fund 149,425 17,826,382 161,317 22,040,789
Fidelity Equity-Income Fund 168,072 8,980,063 189,070 10,111,480
Fidelity Growth Company 75,375 5,384,062 55,430 4,672,780
Managed Income Portfolio 12,990,349 12,990,349 13,703,805 13,703,805
Brown-Forman Corporation Class B
Common Stock Fund 50,349 554,326 60,199 573,087
Other investments 2,053,145 10,860,236 2,519,831 10,451,499
Common stock:
Brown-Forman Corporation
Class B common stock* 57,924 637,758 67,639 643,933
---------- ----------
$63,173,313 $69,311,857
========== ==========
*Nonparticipant directed
During 2000 and 1999, the Plan's investments, including investments
bought, sold, and held during the year, appreciated (depreciated) in
value as follows:
2000 1999
---------- ----------
Mutual funds $(4,937,641) $10,650,548
Brown-Forman Corporation
Class B Common Stock Fund 131,200 (17,461)
---------- ----------
(4,806,441) 10,633,087
Brown-Forman Corporation
Class B common stock 77,326 (235,790)
---------- ----------
$(4,729,115) $10,397,297
========== ==========
8
4. Tax Status:
The Internal Revenue Service has determined, and informed the Company
by a letter dated May 20, 1996, that the Plan and related trust are
designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the Internal
Revenue Code (IRC). The Plan has been amended since receiving the
determination letter. However, the Company believes that the Plan is
designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the
applicable requirements of the IRC.
5. Plan Termination:
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the
right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to
terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of
plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.
6. Related Party Transactions:
Certain administrative costs incurred by the Plan are paid by the
Company.
9
Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan
Plan #003 EIN #21-0498476
Schedule H, Line 4i --
Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year
December 31, 2000
Description of Investment Including
Identity of Issue, Borrower, Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Current
Lessor or Similar Party Collateral, Par or Maturity Value Cost Value
---------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------- -----------
PBHG Growth Fund Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- $ 1,788,827
Janus Enterprise Fund Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 1,907,614
Janus Worldwide Fund Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 5,940,137
PIMCO Total Return Fund Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 706,496
Fidelity Magellan Fund* Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 17,826,382
Fidelity Equity-Income Fund* Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 8,980,063
Fidelity Growth Company Fund* Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 5,384,062
Fidelity Asset Manager* Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 2,294,312
Fidelity Retirement Money Money market portfolio, variable rate
Market Portfolio* and maturity -- 1,751,585
Managed Income Portfolio* Investment contract portfolio, variable
rate and maturity -- 12,990,349
Spartan U.S. Equity Index
Fund* Mutual fund, variable rate and maturity -- 179,266
Brown-Forman Corporation* Class B common stock fund -- 554,326
Brown-Forman Corporation* Class B common stock $169,114 637,758
Participant loans* Loans, 8%-10% rates, variable maturity -- 2,232,136
-----------
$63,173,313
===========
*Party-in-interest to the Plan
10
Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan
Plan #003 EIN #21-0498476
Schedule H, Line 4j --
Schedule of Reportable Transactions
For the Year Ended December 31, 2000
Expense Current Value
Purchase Selling Lease Incurred with Cost of of Asset on Net Gain
Identity of Party Involved Description of Asset Price Price Rental Transaction Asset Transaction Date (Loss)
-------------------------- -------------------- -------- ------- ------ ------------- ------- ---------------- --------
No reportable transactions.
11
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Lenox,
Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan has duly caused this report to
be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
LENOX, INCORPORATED EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
BY:
/s/ Phoebe A. Wood
Phoebe A. Wood
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(On behalf of the Principal and
as Principal Financial Officer)
June 25, 2001
12
Consent of Independent Accountants
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-74567) of Brown-Forman Corporation of our report
dated May 3, 2001 relating to the financial statements and supplemental
schedules of the Lenox, Incorporated Employee Savings and Investment Plan as of
and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 which appear in this
Form 11-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Louisville, Kentucky
June 25, 2001
13