Every material Form 8-K Brown–Forman filed with the SEC in 2026, read and summarized by AI: what happened, the key figures, whether it reads positive or negative for shareholders, and how big a deal it is (impact 1-5). Newest first; each brief links to its own page and to the filing on SEC.gov.
Brown-Forman completed the sale of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% notes due October 15, 2031, on September 21, 2026. The company says it may use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including dividends, stock repurchases, and repaying or repurchasing existing debt such as commercial paper. The filing adds new long-term debt to the company's obligations, with semi-annual interest payments beginning April 15, 2027.
Principal amount: $500 million of 5.375% notes due October 15, 2031
Interest payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15, beginning April 15, 2027
Offered under a shelf registration on Form S-3 filed March 9, 2026, with U.S. Bank Trust Company as trustee
Underwriters include Barclays Capital, BofA Securities, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and U.S. Bancorp Investments
Brown-Forman reported first quarter fiscal 2027 results for the period ended July 31, 2026, with net sales down 1% to $911 million and operating income down 3% to $252 million. Diluted earnings per share rose 6% to $0.38, and the company reaffirmed its full fiscal 2027 outlook, which calls for approximately flat organic net sales and a 3% to 5% decline in organic operating income.
Net sales fell 1% to $911 million, with organic net sales also down 1%, driven by the end of the Korbel relationship and lower used barrel sales.
Operating income fell 3% to $252 million, and operating margin declined 50 basis points to 27.7%.
Diluted EPS rose 6% to $0.38, aided by lower non-operating postretirement expense and share repurchases made in the prior year.
Fiscal 2027 outlook reaffirmed: organic net sales approximately flat, organic operating income down 3% to 5%, and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.2310 per share payable October 1, 2026.
Brown-Forman said President and CEO Lawson Whiting will retire, effective when a successor is appointed, after nearly 30 years with the company. The board has begun a search for a new CEO, and the company reiterated its fiscal 2027 outlook, first disclosed on June 4, 2026, which means the announcement did not change financial guidance. Leadership transitions can add uncertainty, so shareholders will be watching who is chosen and how the company's strategy continues under new leadership.
Lawson Whiting will retire as President and CEO after nearly 30 years, effective upon the appointment of his successor.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, chaired by Tracy Skeans, will lead the search, which will consider internal and external candidates.
Whiting will remain available in an advisory capacity for a period after a successor is appointed.
Brown-Forman reiterated its fiscal 2027 outlook, as disclosed on June 4, 2026.
Brown-Forman reported fiscal fourth-quarter net sales up 2% to $912 million, but operating income fell 53% to $96 million and diluted EPS fell 62% to $0.12, reflecting a $132 million intangible asset impairment. For the full fiscal year, net sales fell 1% to $3.9 billion and diluted EPS fell 17% to $1.53, and the company expects organic operating income to decline 3% to 5% in fiscal 2027.
Q4 net sales rose 2% to $912 million; Q4 operating income fell 53% to $96 million
Other intangible assets impairment was $132 million in the quarter, versus $47 million a year earlier
Full-year diluted EPS fell 17% to $1.53; full-year free cash flow rose $462 million to $893 million
Fiscal 2027 outlook: organic net sales approximately flat and organic operating income down 3% to 5%
Brown-Forman said Jim Peters, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at Whirlpool, will become its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective March 31, 2026. He succeeds Leanne Cunningham, who retires effective May 1, 2026, and reports to CEO Lawson Whiting. The filing discloses no financial results, so the change is a leadership transition rather than a change in company performance.
Jim Peters becomes EVP and CFO effective March 31, 2026; Leanne Cunningham retires effective May 1, 2026
Peters' disclosed pay includes a $825,000 annual base salary and a $825,000 short-term incentive target
Peters' one-time new hire RSU award has a grant date value of $900,000, expected to be granted in July 2026
Brown-Forman reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 results for the period ended January 31, 2026. Quarterly net sales and diluted earnings per share rose, but nine-month net sales and earnings per share declined, and the company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 outlook for organic sales and operating income to decline in the low-single digits.
Third quarter: net sales rose 2% to $1.1 billion, operating income rose 21% to $340 million, and diluted EPS rose 1% to $0.58.
Nine months: net sales fell 2% to $3.0 billion, operating income was flat at $905 million, and diluted EPS fell 8% to $1.41.
Fiscal 2026 outlook reiterated for organic net sales and organic operating income declines in the low-single digit range; forecast effective tax rate updated to 19% to 21% from 21% to 23%.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.
Only material 8-Ks get a brief: results, deals, executive changes, restructuring, impairments, delisting notices, restatements, cybersecurity incidents and other disclosed events. Routine filings (vote results, exhibits only) are skipped. Every Brown–Forman filing is on SEC EDGAR ↗. 8-K briefs of other companies →