LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA) (NYSE: BFB) reported strong results for its fiscal 2012 second quarter and first half ended October 31, 2011. Net sales for the quarter on a reported basis were $1.0 billion, up 12%, and diluted earnings per share grew 4% to $1.09. For the first six months of the fiscal year, net sales increased 12% to $1.9 billion, and diluted earnings were up 5% to $1.90 per share. Excluding the net effect of the Hopland based wine business¹ , diluted earnings per share were up 8% for the quarter and 11% for the first half. Reported operating income rose 5% to $246 million for the fiscal 2012 second quarter and increased 6% to $432 million for the first six months.

First half reported net sales benefitted from underlying² growth and higher estimated net distributor inventory levels, the latter of which was attributable to several factors, including advanced buying ahead of anticipated price increases in several markets, the timing of promotional activities, and pipeline fill associated with product innovations. The company expects distributor inventories will rebalance in the second half of the fiscal year, reducing the growth rate in reported net sales. However, the company anticipates underlying net sales growth for the full fiscal year in the high single digits.

Importantly, underlying trends continued to accelerate in the quarter as shown in the table below:

Brown-Forman’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Varga stated, “We delivered an excellent quarter and strong first half as we accelerated our growth in underlying net sales and operating income versus fiscal 2011. Performance was led by the Jack Daniel’s trademark, which grew volumes globally at a double-digit rate, and drove the company’s widespread geographic growth. This performance was aided by compelling portfolio innovation, particularly in the Jack Daniel’s Family, growth in our super-premium brands, and continued international growth of the brand portfolio. Each of these is an important contributing element to our long-term growth strategy.” Varga continued, “While we expect the strengthening of the U.S. dollar to dampen our reported earnings, we anticipate the continuation of our strong underlying results for the remainder of our fiscal year.”

Brown-Forman’s growth in underlying net sales for the first half of the year was anchored by solid performance gains in the U.S. and stronger growth outside the U.S., in both developed and emerging markets, most notably Germany, Mexico, Russia, the U.K., Turkey, France, Brazil, Australia and Canada. These gains more than offset soft performance in a few markets, such as Spain and Poland. In addition, the company continued its rollout of various brand and marketing innovations, including Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper, a great tasting combination of two Louisiana icons, Southern Comfort and Tabasco® sauce, and a new Finlandia bottle design dubbed ‘melting ice’. The Jack Daniel’s Family grew net sales double-digits on a constant currency basis for the six-month period, reflecting the introduction of the innovative Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey product in the U.S., accelerating global growth for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, and the continued international expansion of Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, and Jack Daniel’s ready-to-drink brands. In addition, the company’s super-premium brands continued to grow at impressive rates, led by Woodford Reserve, Herradura, and Sonoma-Cutrer.

According to Varga, “Brand and marketing innovation and the flexibility and responsiveness of our team continued to be preeminent drivers of sustainable growth in a very competitive global marketplace.”

For the first half of the fiscal year, growth in gross profit was driven largely by volume gains. Gross margin declined modestly, reflecting increases in input costs and excise taxes. In addition, gross margin was impacted by lower margins derived from the Hopland-based wine brands that were sold last fiscal year, but remain as agency brands through December. Growth in operating expenses³ for the fiscal first half, in part, was driven by a planned increase in advertising expenses to support several brand innovation launches, and SG&A increases associated with inflation on salary and related expenses, and route-to-consumer changes made in several markets last year. Our expectations for the second half of the year are for underlying operating expenses to moderate as growth in brand innovation spending subsides. The company believes that underlying operating income will grow in line with current rates for the full fiscal year.

On November 30, 2011, the company’s share repurchase program expired. During the course of the program, the company repurchased a combined total of 3.4 million Class A and Class B shares for $234 million, at an average price of $69.39 per share. In addition to its share repurchases during the quarter, Brown-Forman declared on November 17, 2011, a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share on Class A and Class B common stock, a 9.4% increase over the prior dividend. This is the 28^th consecutive year Brown-Forman has increased its dividends per share.

Varga noted, “Brown-Forman continues to have strong cash flows and an excellent balance sheet to support long-term strategic initiatives and compelling global brand opportunities to create long-term value for our shareholders.”

Full-Year Outlook Update

Brown-Forman expects the strong underlying results achieved in the first half of the fiscal year to continue in the second half, but anticipates reported results to be adversely affected by the stronger U.S. dollar. As a result, the company has adjusted its full-year earnings outlook to a range of $3.45 to $3.70 per diluted share.

Brown-Forman will host a conference call to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. (EST) this morning. All interested parties in the U.S. are invited to join the conference call by dialing 888-624-9285 and asking for the Brown-Forman call. International callers should dial 706-679-3410 and ask for the Brown-Forman call. 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 via Brown-Forman’s Internet website, www.brown-forman.com, through a link to "Investor Relations." For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay will be available by calling 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (international).The identification code is 26091775. A digital audio recording of the conference call will also be available on the website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the conference call. The replay will be available for at least 30 days following the conference call.

For 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 3,900 employees and sold in approximately 135 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.

Important Information on Forward-Looking Statements:

This report contains statements, estimates, and projections that are "forward-looking statements" as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “aspire,” “believe,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “expectation,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “pursue,” “see,” “will,” “will continue,” and similar words identify 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 other factors include, but are not limited to:

• declining or depressed global or regional economic conditions; political, financial, or credit or capital market instability; supplier, customer or consumer credit or other financial problems; bank failures or governmental debt defaults
• failure to develop or implement effective business and brand strategies and innovations, including route-to-consumer, and marketing and promotional activity
• unfavorable trade or consumer reaction to our new products, product line extensions, or changes in formulation, packaging or pricing
• inventory fluctuations in our products by distributors, wholesalers, or retailers
• competitors’ pricing actions (including price reductions, promotions, discounting, couponing or free goods), marketing, category expansion, product introductions, entry or expansion in our geographic markets, or other competitive activities
• declines in consumer confidence or spending, whether related to the economy (such as austerity measures, tax increases, high fuel costs, or higher unemployment), wars, natural or other disasters, weather, pandemics, security concerns, terrorist attacks or other factors
• changes in tax rates (including excise, sales, VAT, tariffs, duties, corporate, individual income, dividends, capital gains) or in related reserves, changes in tax rules (e.g., LIFO, foreign income deferral, U.S. manufacturing and other deductions) or accounting standards, or other restrictions affecting beverage alcohol, and the unpredictability and suddenness with which they can occur
• governmental or other restrictions on our ability to produce, import, sell, price, or market our products, including advertising and promotion in either traditional or new media; regulatory compliance costs
• business disruption, decline or costs related to organizational changes, reductions in workforce or other cost-cutting measures
• lower returns or discount rates related to pension assets, interest rate fluctuations, inflation or deflation
• fluctuations in the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies, especially the euro, British pound, Australian dollar, or Polish zloty
• changes in consumer behavior or preferences and our ability to anticipate and respond to them, including societal attitudes or cultural trends that result in reduced consumption of our products; reduction of bar, restaurant, hotel or other on-premise business or travel
• consumer shifts away from spirits or premium-priced spirits products; shifts to discount store purchases or other price-sensitive consumer behavior
• distribution and other route-to-consumer decisions or changes that affect the timing of our sales, temporarily disrupt the marketing or sale of our products, or result in implementation-related costs
• effects of acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, business partnerships or investments, or portfolio strategies, including integration costs, disruption or other difficulties, or impairment in the recorded value of assets (e.g. receivables, inventory, fixed assets, goodwill, trademarks and other intangibles)
• lower profits, due to factors such as fewer or less profitable used barrel sales, lower production volumes, decreased demand for products we sell, sales mix shift toward lower priced or lower margin SKUs, or cost increases in energy or raw materials, such as grain, agave, wood, glass, plastic, or closures
• natural disasters, climate change, agricultural uncertainties, environmental or other catastrophes, our suppliers’ financial hardships or other factors that affect the availability, price, or quality of agave, grain, glass, energy, closures, plastic, water, wood, or finished goods
• negative publicity related to our company, brands, marketing, personnel, operations, business performance or prospects
• product counterfeiting, tampering, contamination, or recalls and resulting negative effects on our sales, brand equity, or corporate reputation
• significant costs or other adverse developments stemming from class action, intellectual property, governmental, or other major litigation; or governmental investigations of beverage alcohol industry business, trade, or marketing practices by us, our importers, distributors, or retailers

¹ The Hopland based wine business was sold in April, 2011, and remain agency brands until December 31, 2011. The net negative effect of this business on second quarter growth was $0.04 per diluted share and $0.09 for the first half.

² Underlying change represents the percentage increase or decrease in reported financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States, adjusted for certain items. A reconciliation from reported to underlying net sales, gross profit, advertising expense, SG&A, and operating income (non-GAAP measures) increases or decreases for the first six months of fiscal 2012, and the reasons why management believes these adjustments to be useful to the reader, are included in Schedule A and its notes.

³ Advertising expenses plus selling, general, and administrative expenses

Notes:

Estimated net change in distributor inventories – Refers to the estimated financial impact of changes in distributor inventories for the company’s brands. Brown-Forman computes this effect using estimated depletion trends and separately identifying trade inventory changes in the variance analysis for key measures. Based on the estimated depletions and the fluctuations in distributor inventory levels, the company then adjusts the percentage variances from prior to current periods for our key measures. Brown-Forman believes it is important to make this adjustment in order for management and investors to understand the results of the business without distortions that can arise from varying levels of distributor inventories.

Hopland-based wine business sale – Refers to the company’s April 2011 sale of its Hopland, California-based wine business to Viña Concha y Toro S.A. Included in this sale are the Fetzer winery, bottling facility, and vineyards, as well as the Fetzer brand and other Hopland, California-based wines, including Bonterra, Little Black Dress, Jekel, Five Rivers, Bel Arbor, Coldwater Creek, and Sanctuary. Also included in the sale is a facility in Paso Robles, California. We believe that excluding the gain on the sale and operating results from first half of fiscal 2012 versus the same period in fiscal 2011 provides helpful information in forecasting and planning the growth expectations of the company.

Foreign currencies – Refers to net gains and losses incurred by the company relating to sales and purchases in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. Brown-Forman uses the measure to understand the growth of the business on a constant dollar basis as fluctuations in exchange rates can distort the underlying growth of the business (both positively and negatively). To neutralize the effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, the company has translated current year results at prior year rates. While Brown-Forman recognizes that foreign exchange volatility is a reality for a global company, it routinely reviews its performance on a constant dollar basis. The company believes this allows both management and investors to understand better Brown-Forman’s growth trends.

Dispute settlement – Refers to the favorable resolution of a dispute in an international market relating to the importation of our products. Management believes that excluding this benefit provides helpful information in forecasting and planning the growth expectations of the company.

Impairment charge – Refers to a non-cash charge related to a trademark impairment of Don Eduardo in fiscal 2010, a low-volume, high-priced tequila brand. Brown-Forman believes excluding this $11.6 million pre-tax non-cash charge allows for a better understanding of profit trends.

The company cautions that non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the company’s reported GAAP results.

Schedule B Continued

Brown-Forman Corporation
Supplemental Information (Unaudited)
Six Months Ended October 31, 2011

Additional Commentary:

• Total active brands depletions were up high single-digits and reported net sales increased low double-digits during the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Constant currency net sales grew low double-digits for the company’s active brands in the quarter.
• For the Jack Daniel’s Family of Whiskey Brands, which includes Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, fiscal 2012 first six month depletion gains in the U.S., Germany, the UK, Mexico, France, Poland and Turkey outpaced declines in Australia
• International depletions for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey grew double-digit in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. U.S. depletions for the brand were up low single-digits for the quarter.
• Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel depletions and constant-currency net sales grew double-digits, with double-digit growth in both the U.S. and international markets for the six-month period
• Jack Daniel’s RTDs registered double-digit growth in net sales on both a reported and constant-currency basis for the first half of fiscal 2012, as the brands continued to benefit from strong volumetric gains in Germany, U.K., Mexico, and Italy and further geographic expansion into other markets such as Japan, South Africa, Poland and Turkey
• Finlandia’s global depletions were up low-single digits in the second quarter as Russia and Poland returned to growth
• We believe Southern Comfort liqueur in the U.S. continued to be affected by increased competition from flavored whiskeys, flavored vodkas, and spiced rums, particularly those consumed in the more traditional shot occasion. The company continued to pursue a number of initiatives to reverse Southern Comfort’s trends including a new consumer engagement plan, focus on flavored line extensions including Lime and Fiery Pepper, and RTD introductions in new overseas markets.
• el Jimador’s depletions grew low-single digits for the first half of the year, as growth in the U.S. offset flat results in Mexico
• For the super-premium brands, first half depletion growth was led by double-digit gains for Herradura, Woodford Reserve and Sonoma Cutrer
• The addition of the agency Appleton brands in Mexico accounted for the increase in the rest of the portfolio

Brown-Forman Corporation
Phil Lynch, 502-774-7928
Vice President
Director Corporate Communications and Public Relations
or
Mark Stegeman, 502-774-7325
Vice President
Assistant Treasurer, Interim Director Investor Relations

Source: Brown-Forman Corporation