Brown-Forman Corporation

Infobox_Company
company_name = Brown-Forman Corporation
company_
company_type = Public (NYSE|BFA, NYSE|BFB)
company_slogan =
foundation = 1870
location = Louisville, Kentucky, USA
key_people = Paul C. Varga, Chairman & CEO
num_employees = 3,350
industry = Distilled beverage
Wines
revenue = loss$2.444 billion USD (2006)
net income = gain$0.320 million USD (2006)
homepage = [http://www.brown-forman.com/ www.brown-forman.com] The Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business, and is a diversified producer and marketer of various consumer products. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Brown-Forman employs 3,350 people. Some well-known of the corporation include Jack Daniel's, Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort, Early Times Kentucky Whisky, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Old Forester Bourbon whiskey, Korbel champagne, [http://www.fetzer.com/fetzer/index.aspx Fetzer] wine, Finlandia vodka, and Bolla wine.

The company bought Tequila Herradura, a well-known Mexican company that produces tequila, in January of 2007. [ [http://www.just-drinks.com/article.aspx?ID=92353&lk=fs US: Casa Herradura helps offset costs for Brown-Forman Q2: Beverage News & Comment ] ]

The company was founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, a young pharmaceuticals salesman in Louisville, who had the then-novel idea of selling top-grade whiskey in sealed glass bottles. Since then, it has grown into a company that in fiscal 2006 had sales of $2.4 billion. The Brown family controls more than 70% of the voting shares [ [http://www.hoovers.com/brown-forman/--ID__11781--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml Brown-Forman - Company Overview - Hoover's ] ] .

tock information

Brown Forman has two classes of common stock. The Class A voting shares are traded under ticker symbol: NYSE|BFA on the NYSE. Because of the control by the Brown family, the Class A shares are thinly traded.

The Class B non-voting shares are traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol: NYSE|BFB.

Recent events

Brown-Forman recently sold its Lenox division as part of a plan to refocus the company on its wine and spirits production. The income generated by the sale has been distributed to the shareholders in the form of a one time special dividend. Fact|date=July 2008

Also as a part of this minor restructure, Brown Forman sold its Hartmann Luggage division to Clarion Capitol Partners. Fact|date=July 2008

Brown-Forman recently agreed on an $800 million loan from Bank of America. This loan was taken at a relatively attractive rate. The money will probably be used in part to finance the recent Casa Herradura acquisition. Fact|date=July 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.brown-forman.com/ Brown-Forman Official Website]