Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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):

October 2, 2023

Brown-Forman Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware

001-00123

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:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock (voting), $0.15 par value	BFA	New York Stock Exchange
Class B Common Stock (nonvoting), $0.15 par value	BFB	New York Stock Exchange
1.200% Notes due 2026	BF26	New York Stock Exchange
2.600% Notes due 2028	BF28	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

In connection with the approval of the Repurchase Program (as described below), Brown-Forman Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release on October 2, 2023, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01 (and the related information in Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On October 2, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company approved a share repurchase program for up to $400 million of the Company’s outstanding Class A and Class B common stock (the “Stock”) commencing on October 2, 2023, through October 1, 2024 (the “Repurchase Program”), subject to market and other conditions. Under the Repurchase Program, the Company can repurchase shares of Stock for cash in open market purchases, block transactions, purchases made in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, and privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Repurchase Program does not obligate the Company to repurchase a minimum number of shares of Stock, and the Repurchase Program may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time without prior notice.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits


Exhibit No.						Description
99.1						Brown-Forman Corporation Press Release dated October 2, 2023.
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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: October 2, 2023			/s/ Jaileah X. Huddleston
			Jaileah X. Huddleston
			Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Regional, Securities and Governance, Corporate Secretary

BROWN-FORMAN BOARD APPROVES SHARE REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION OF $400 MILLION

OCTOBER 2, 2023, LOUISVILLE, KY — Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a $400 million share repurchase authorization, commencing October 2, 2023, through October 1, 2024, subject to market and other conditions. Under the repurchase program, the company can repurchase Class A and Class B common shares for cash in open market purchases, block transactions, purchases made in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This share repurchase program does not obligate the company to repurchase a minimum number of shares of Class A or Class B common stock, and this share repurchase program may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the company at any time without prior notice.

Lawson Whiting, Brown-Forman’s President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Brown-Forman is appropriately attentive to today's uncertain market conditions while also confident in the long-term potential for our portfolio of brands. We always strive to deliver leading shareholder returns and believe this buyback authorization provides us the necessary flexibility to repurchase our shares when the market presents the right opportunity."

For more than 150 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Ready-to-Drinks, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Coopers’ Craft, The GlenDronach, Benriach, Glenglassaugh, Slane, Herradura, el Jimador, New Mix, Korbel, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Fords Gin, Gin Mare, and Diplomático Rum. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by approximately 5,600 employees globally and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit brown-forman.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

# # #

Important Information on Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains statements, estimates, and projections that are “forward-looking statements” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws, including statements regarding the company’s planned share repurchase program. Words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “aspire,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “expectation,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “pursue,” “see,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar words indicate forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date we make them. 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. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors (many beyond our control) that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or from our current expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

•Our substantial dependence upon the continued growth of the Jack Daniel's family of brands

•Substantial competition from new entrants, consolidations by competitors and retailers, and other competitive activities, such as pricing actions (including price reductions, promotions, discounting, couponing, or free goods), marketing, category expansion, product introductions, or entry or expansion in our geographic markets or distribution networks

•Route-to-consumer changes that affect the timing of our sales, temporarily disrupt the marketing or sale of our products, or result in higher fixed costs

•Disruption of our distribution network or inventory fluctuations in our products by distributors, wholesalers, or retailers

•Changes in consumer preferences, consumption, or purchase patterns – particularly away from larger producers in favor of small distilleries or local producers, or away from brown spirits, our premium products, or spirits generally, and our ability to anticipate or react to them; further legalization of marijuana; bar, restaurant, travel, or other on-premise declines; shifts in demographic or health and wellness trends; or unfavorable consumer reaction to new products, line extensions, package changes, product reformulations, or other product innovation

•Production facility, aging warehouse, or supply chain disruption

•Imprecision in supply/demand forecasting

•Higher costs, lower quality, or unavailability of energy, water, raw materials, product ingredients, or labor

•Risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions, business partnerships, or investments – such as acquisition integration, termination difficulties or costs, or impairment in recorded value

•Impact of health epidemics and pandemics, and the risk of the resulting negative economic impacts and related governmental actions

•Unfavorable global or regional economic conditions and related economic slowdowns or recessions, low consumer confidence, high unemployment, weak credit or capital markets, budget deficits, burdensome government debt, austerity measures, higher interest rates, higher taxes, political instability, higher inflation, deflation, lower returns on pension assets, or lower discount rates for pension obligations

•Product recalls or other product liability claims, product tampering, contamination, or quality issues

•Negative publicity related to our company, products, brands, marketing, executive leadership, employees, Board of Directors, family stockholders, operations, business performance, or prospects

•Failure to attract or retain key executive or employee talent

•Risks associated with being a U.S.-based company with a global business, including commercial, political, and financial risks; local labor policies and conditions; protectionist trade policies, or economic or trade sanctions, including additional retaliatory tariffs on American whiskeys and the effectiveness of our actions to mitigate the negative impact on our margins, sales, and distributors; compliance with local trade practices and other regulations; terrorism, kidnapping, extortion, or other types of violence; and health pandemics

•Failure to comply with anti-corruption laws, trade sanctions and restrictions, or similar laws or regulations

•Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly a stronger U.S. dollar

•Changes in laws, regulatory measures, or governmental policies, especially those affecting production, importation, marketing, labeling, pricing, distribution, sale, or consumption of our beverage alcohol products

•Tax rate changes (including excise, corporate, sales or value-added taxes, property taxes, payroll taxes, import and export duties, and tariffs) or changes in related reserves, changes in tax rules or accounting standards, and the unpredictability and suddenness with which they can occur

•Decline in the social acceptability of beverage alcohol in significant markets

•Significant additional labeling or warning requirements or limitations on availability of our beverage alcohol products

•Counterfeiting and inadequate protection of our intellectual property rights

•Significant legal disputes and proceedings, or government investigations

•Cyber breach or failure or corruption of our key information technology systems or those of our suppliers, customers, or direct and indirect business partners, or failure to comply with personal data protection laws

•Our status as a family “controlled company” under New York Stock Exchange rules, and our dual-class share structure

•For further information on these and other risks, please refer to our public filings, including the “Risk Factors” section of our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Document and Entity Information	Oct. 02, 2023
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Oct. 02, 2023
Entity Registrant Name	Brown-Forman Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000014693
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-00123
Entity Tax Identification Number	61-0143150
Entity Address, Address Line One	850 Dixie Highway,
Entity Address, City or Town	Louisville,
Entity Address, State or Province	KY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	40210
City Area Code	(502)
Local Phone Number	585-1100
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock (voting), $0.15 par value
Trading Symbol	BFA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class B Common Stock (nonvoting), $0.15 par value
Trading Symbol	BFB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
One Point Two Percent Notes Due in Fiscal Two Thousand Twenty Seven [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	1.200% Notes due 2026
Trading Symbol	BF26
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Two Point Six Percent Notes Due in Fiscal Two Thousand Twenty Nine [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	2.600% Notes due 2028
Trading Symbol	BF28
Security Exchange Name	NYSE