Brown-Forman Increases Cash Dividend for 38th Consecutive Year and Declares Special Cash Dividend

Rhea-AI Summary

Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BF.A, BF.B) announced its Board of Directors approved a 5% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.1885 per share, raising the annual dividend to $0.7540. This marks the 38th consecutive year of dividend increases. Additionally, a special dividend of $480 million was declared, to be distributed on December 29, 2021. This shows strong financial health, as the company continues to pay dividends for 78 years, reinforcing its position in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index.

Positive

• 5% increase in quarterly cash dividend to $0.1885 per share.
• Annual dividend rises to $0.7540 per share.
• Declared special dividend of $480 million.
• 38th consecutive year of dividend increases.
• 78 years of paying quarterly dividends.

Negative

• Dependence on Jack Daniel's brand growth.
• Competition from new entrants and market consolidations.
• Potential disruptions in distribution and supply chain.
• Risks from economic conditions related to COVID-19.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA) (NYSE: BFB) announced today that its Board of Directors approved an increase to its quarterly cash dividend and declared a special one-time dividend.

The company increased its quarterly cash dividend on its Class A and Class B Common Stock by 5% to $0.1885 per share from the prior quarter’s $0.1795. As a result, the indicated annual cash dividend will rise from $0.7180 per share to $0.7540 per share. Stockholders of record on December 3, 2021, will receive the cash dividend on December 28, 2021. This marks the 38^th consecutive year of dividend increases at Brown-Forman and the 78^th year of paying quarterly dividends at the company. Brown-Forman is a member of the prestigious S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which is composed of companies that have increased their cash dividend every year for at least 25 years.

Additionally, Brown-Forman’s Board of Directors declared a special dividend of $480 million on its Class A and Class B stock that will be paid on December 29, 2021 to stockholders of record on December 9, 2021.

Brown-Forman’s President and Chief Executive Officer Lawson Whiting said, “We are emerging from an unprecedented time in history. As it has throughout many generations, Brown-Forman’s business has remained strong and resilient, driven by the strength of our portfolio, the health of our balance sheet, and the agility of our people.”

For over 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 Tennessee RTDs, 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, GlenDronach, Benriach, Glenglassaugh, Slane, Herradura, el Jimador, New Mix, Korbel, Sonoma-Cutrer, Finlandia, Chambord, and Fords Gin. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by approximately 4,700 employees and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.

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. 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; shifts in consumer purchase practices; 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
• Impact of health epidemics and pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the risk of the resulting negative economic impact and related governmental actions
• Unfavorable global or regional economic conditions, particularly related to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 acquisitions, dispositions, business partnerships, or investments – such as acquisition integration, termination difficulties or costs, or impairment in recorded value
• 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; 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 that affect the 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006341/en/

ROB FREDERICK

VICE PRESIDENT

BROWN-FORMAN BRAND & COMMUNICATIONS

502-774-7707

SUE PERRAM

DIRECTOR

INVESTOR RELATIONS

502-774-6862

Source: Brown-Forman Corporation

FAQ

What is the new dividend amount for Brown-Forman Corporation?

The new quarterly cash dividend is $0.1885 per share.

When will the special dividend be paid to shareholders?

The special dividend of $480 million will be paid on December 29, 2021.

How long has Brown-Forman been increasing its dividends?

Brown-Forman has increased its dividends for 38 consecutive years.

What is the total annual dividend for Brown-Forman after the increase?

The total annual dividend will be $0.7540 per share.

Is Brown-Forman part of any notable dividend indexes?

Yes, Brown-Forman is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index.