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): August 27, 2003
Brown-Forman Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-123 61-0243150
(State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
850 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Kentucky 40210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (502) 585-1100
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release, dated August 27, 2003
Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Brown-Forman Corporation issued a press release today reporting results of its
operations for the quarter ended July 31, 2003. A copy of this Brown-Forman
Corporation press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
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)
Date: August 27, 2003 By: /s/ Michael B. Crutcher
Michael B. Crutcher
Vice Chairman,
General Counsel and Secretary
Exhibit Index
99.1 Press Release, dated August 27, 2003, issued by Brown-Forman Corporation
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BROWN-FORMAN REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Louisville, KY, August 27, 2003 - Brown-Forman Corporation reported earnings per
share for its first quarter ended July 31, 2003 of $0.51, down from the $0.53
earned last year. Included in first quarter earnings was a $0.02 per share
benefit from a March 2003 share repurchase. As the company announced on August
14, 2003, quarterly earnings were reduced $0.11 per share due to the settlement
of a lawsuit with Diageo Great Britain Limited involving the distribution of
Jack Daniel's in the United Kingdom. The performance of the company's core
spirits brands remained solid during the quarter, while the environment for both
wines and Consumer Durables remains challenging.
Excluding the one-time charge for the settlement with Diageo, earnings were
$0.62 per share, up $0.09 from last year. Management believes that disclosure of
this quarter's earnings per share excluding this litigation settlement is
informative because it reflects the underlying operations of the company.
Beverages
Global volume and profit trends in the quarter remained solid for both Jack
Daniel's and Southern Comfort. Results in both the United States and United
Kingdom were robust, although volumes in both Japan and much of Continental
Europe were soft. Profits for Finlandia continued to grow in Europe as
Brown-Forman added new markets to its distribution agreement, but earnings in
the U.S. were down, as the company increased its marketing investments behind
the brand. Results for the company's wine brands remained disappointing, as the
retail price environment has not improved in the United States.
Beverage revenue and gross profit increased by 18% and 16%, respectively, in the
quarter. Compared with the same quarter last year, the company benefited from
the weaker U.S. dollar and the company's new distribution arrangement in the
U.K. In the first quarter of fiscal 2003, the company had a one-time reduction
in trade inventories as it began selling its spirits brands directly to the
trade through a cost sharing arrangement with Bacardi. As a result, fiscal 2004
comparisons are benefiting from the resumption of a normal shipment pattern into
the U.K., as well as the higher profit margin earned in that market via the new
distribution agreement. Additionally, the company now records excise taxes for
its U.K. spirits sales in both sales and cost of sales. This change had the
effect of boosting segment revenue by almost 6%, while lowering the segment
gross margin by 2.6 percentage points.
Advertising expenses were down $1 million during the quarter, as increased
investments behind the company's core spirits brands were more than offset by a
reduction in advertising for its wine brands. SG&A expenses were up
approximately $15 million, as the segment incurred $3 million in Beverage
reorganization costs, added sales and marketing people in the U.K. to support
the new distribution arrangement and recognized pension costs. SG&A expenses
were also higher in Continental Europe due to the consolidation of financial
results from both Finlandia Vodka Worldwide and Distillerie Tuoni e Canepa,
following these acquisitions in the second half of last fiscal year.
Consumer Durables
Net sales for Consumer Durables were down 9% and gross profit decreased 10%.
Sales to department stores remained sluggish and revenues through the company's
retail outlets declined in the first quarter. In addition, results in the
direct-to-consumer channel have declined significantly in recent months due to
lower than expected consumer response rates. Consumer Durables is a seasonal
business that typically reports a loss in the first quarter. The segment
reported an operating loss of $12 million this quarter, including $1 million in
restructuring costs, compared to a $6 million loss during the same period last
year.
Outlook
The company's previous fiscal 2004 guidance of $4.10 to $4.30 per share did not
fully anticipate the $0.11 per share cost of the litigation settlement with
Diageo, nor the extent of the weakness in Consumer Durables. However, continued
growth for the company's core spirits brands, anticipated improved financial
performance from wines, and benefits from a weaker U.S. dollar are supporting
the company's outlook for the rest of the fiscal year. As a result, Brown-Forman
still expects to see earnings in the range of $4.10 to $4.30 per share for
fiscal 2004, consistent with previous guidance.
Conference Call
Brown-Forman will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter fiscal
2004 results today at 10:00 a.m. EST. All interested parties in the U.S. are
invited to join the conference by dialing 888-624-9285 and asking for the
Brown-Forman call. International callers should dial 706-679-3410. No password
is required. The company suggests that participants dial in approximately ten
minutes in advance of the 10:00 a.m. start of the conference call. A live audio
broadcast of the conference call will also be available by accessing
Brown-Forman's Internet Web site, www.brown-forman.com, and then clicking on the
"Investor Information" icon.
For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay will be available two
hours after completion of the conference by calling 800-642-1687 (U.S.) or
706-645-9291 (international). The identification code is 1309541. A recording of
the conference call will also be available on the Web site approximately one
hour after the conclusion of the conference call. The replays will be available
for thirty days after the conference call.
Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality
consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka,
Canadian Mist, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, Korbel California Champagnes, Lenox,
Dansk, and Gorham tableware and giftware and Hartmann Luggage.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words like "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," and "project" 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. These
statements are subject to a number of important risks and uncertainties that
could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the
anticipated results or other expectations expressed. Such risks and
uncertainties include changes in general economic conditions, political and
social trends, and the uncertainties of litigation.
Our projections for our domestic beverage business assume that U.S. economic
activity will continue at about the same pace as currently, and our earnings
will be hurt if the economy weakens. Federal or state excise tax increases on
spirits and wine would also depress our domestic beverage business. Profits from
our international beverage business may be adversely affected if the U.S. dollar
strengthens against other currencies or if economic conditions deteriorate in
our principal export markets. As a leading exporter of American spirits brands,
our foreign sales could be hurt as a result of anti-Americanism in response to
the Iraq war or other international developments.
The long-term outlook for our beverage business is based in part on favorable
demographic trends in the U.S. and many international markets for the sale of
spirits and wine. We may not meet current expectations for our global beverage
business if these demographic trends do not translate into corresponding sales
increases. Profits could also be hurt by increases in the price of grain,
grapes, or energy. Margins for our wine business are likely to stay low so long
as the current oversupply of grapes continues. Legal or regulatory measures
against beverage alcohol (including its advertising and promotion) could
adversely affect sales.
Earnings from our consumer durables segment depend heavily on the state of the
U.S. economy, as purchases of fine china and luggage are discretionary. The
performance of our fine china dinnerware business depends on the health of major
department store, the primary distribution channel for these products, as well
as further department store consolidation, a soft retail environment at outlet
malls, and consumer response to direct mail. The Hartmann luggage business
continues to be adversely affected by reduced travel in the U.S.
Brown-Forman Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
July 31,
2002 2003 Change
Net Sales $479.6 $532.6 11%
Beverages 360.2 423.7 18%
Consumer Durables 119.4 108.9 (9%)
Gross Profit $247.4 $272.3 10%
Beverages 191.5 222.3 16%
Consumer Durables 55.9 50.0 (10%)
Advertising Expenses $ 78.4 $ 77.6 (1%)
Beverages 57.7 56.7 (2%)
Consumer Durables 20.7 20.9 1%
Selling, General, and
Administrative Expenses $114.1 $128.3 12%
Beverages 75.3 90.1 20%
Consumer Durables 38.8 38.2 (2%)
Other Expense (Income), net $ (1.2) $ 14.3
Beverages (3.2) 11.5
Consumer Durables 2.0 2.8
Operating Income (Loss) $ 56.1 $ 52.1 (7%)
Beverages 61.7 64.0 4%
Consumer Durables (5.6) (11.9) N/M
Interest Expense, net 1.0 5.0
Income Before Income Taxes $ 55.1 $ 47.1 (14%)
Taxes on Income 19.0 16.0
Net Income $ 36.1 $ 31.1 (14%)
Earnings Per Share
- Basic and Diluted $0.53 $0.51 (3%)
Note: Other Expense (Income), net, includes results for joint ventures and
unconsolidated affiliates, bad debt expense, and miscellaneous income and
expense items not included in other captions. The 2003 amount includes the
impact of settling a lawsuit with Diageo.
Brown-Forman Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
April 30, July 31,
2003 2003
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 72.0 $ 71.9
Accounts receivable, net 324.6 304.6
Inventories 584.6 613.3
Other current assets 85.9 87.2
Total current assets 1,067.1 1,077.0
Property, plant, and equipment, net 506.1 509.5
Trademarks and brand names 235.0 236.2
Goodwill 311.0 313.9
Other assets 144.4 144.0
Total assets $2,263.6 $2,280.6
Liabilities:
Commercial paper $ 167.1 $ 163.2
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 297.2 297.7
Dividends payable -- 22.7
Accrued taxes on income 43.4 48.9
Current portion of long-term debt 40.1 42.0
Total current liabilities 547.8 574.5
Long-term debt 628.7 629.0
Deferred income taxes 77.8 71.8
Accrued postretirement benefits 142.7 145.4
Other liabilities 26.4 25.7
Total liabilities 1,423.4 1,446.4
Stockholders' equity 840.2 834.2
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,263.6 $2,280.6
Brown-Forman Corporation
Supplemental Information
(Dollars in millions)
Three Months Ended
July 31,
2002 2003
Depreciation and amortization $13.8 $13.1
Excise taxes $55.1 $71.8
Additions to property, plant, and equipment $15.0 $14.5
Effective tax rate 34.5% 34.0%
Shares (in thousands) used in the
calculation of earnings per share
- Basic 68,376 60,610
- Diluted 68,593 60,855
These figures have been prepared in accordance with the company's customary
accounting practices.