form11-k.htm
UNITED STATES
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
 

 
FORM 11-K
 

 
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
 
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
(Mark One)
 
(X)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
OR
 
(  )
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 

 
Commission File Number 002-26821
 

 
A.  Full Title of Plan:  Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings     Plan
 
B.  Name of Issuer of the Securities held Pursuant to the Plan and the Address
 
      of its Principal Executive Office:
 
Brown-Forman Corporation
 
850 Dixie Highway
 
Louisville, Kentucky  40210
 

 
 

 

Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan
 
Plan #020 EIN #61-0143150
 
Financial Statements
 
December 31, 2012 and 2011
 

 

 
 

 
Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan
Index
December 31, 2012 and 2011



 
 
Page(s)
   
Report of Independent Auditor
2
   
   
Financial Statements
 
   
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits,
 
December 31, 2012 and 2011
3
   
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
4
   
Notes to Financial Statements
5-12
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
Note:  Schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor's
 
          Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA have
 
          been omitted because they are not applicable.
 

 
 

 


Report of Independent Auditor


To the Participants and Administrator of the
Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan


In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan (the “Plan”) at December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.  We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
As discussed in Note 1, effective December 31, 2012, the Plan assets were merged into the Brown-Forman Corporation Savings Plan.
 

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Louisville, Kentucky
June 25, 2013
 

 
 
 

 
Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2012 and 2011


 
2012
 
2011
Investments, at fair value
$                      -
 
$         5,590,948
       
Employer contributions receivable
-
 
41,645
       
Participant contributions receivable
-
 
4,918
       
Notes receivable from participants
-
 
176,502
       
Net assets available for benefits at fair value
-
 
5,814,013
 
     
       
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for
     
interest in collective trust relating to fully
     
benefit-responsive investment contracts
-
 
(13,988)
       
Net assets available for benefits
$                      -
 
$         5,800,025
       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

3
 
 

 
Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan
Statement of Changes In Net Assets Available for Benefits
Year Ended December 31, 2012



 
Additions
 
Contributions
 
Employer
$               93,157
Participants
168,948
               Total contributions
262,105
Interest income
 
Interest income
12,506
Dividend income
97,552
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
521,508
Interest income on notes receivable from participants
7,629
Other
1,551
Total additions
902,851
   
Deductions
 
Benefit payments
(657,231)
Administrative expenses
(280)
Total deductions
(657,511)
   
Net increase before transfers (to) from other Plans
245,340
   Transfer to Savings Plan (See Note 1)
(5,490,199)
   Transfer to Company Sponsored Plans (See Note 1)
(580,706)
   Transfer from Company Sponsored Plans (See Note 1)
25,540
Net decrease
(5,800,025)
 
 
Beginning of year
5,800,025
 
 
End of year
$                       -
   


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
4
 
 

 
Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2012 and 2011


 1.
Description of Plan

The sponsor of the Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan (the Plan), Brown-Forman Corporation (the Company or the Sponsor), is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products in domestic and international markets. The Sponsor's operations include the production, importing, and marketing of wines and distilled spirits.

The following brief description of the Plan is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan agreement for more complete information.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all eligible employees of Sonoma Cutrer Vineyards who are not members of a collective bargaining unit. An employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan on their employment commencement date. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Effective December 31, 2012, the Plan’s net assets totaling $5,490,199 (including notes receivable of $136,549) were merged into the Brown-Forman Corporation Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”) and the Plan was effectively terminated.  This is reflected on the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits in “transfers to Company Sponsored Plans.” The participants maintained their vesting service as the Savings Plan has the same provisions.

Contributions

Non-highly compensated employees may contribute to the Plan an amount of not less than 1% nor more than 50% of their annual compensation.  For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, highly compensated employees could contribute between 1% and 16% of their annual compensation.    Employee contributions are not to exceed the Section 402(g) Internal Revenue Code (the IRC) limitation for the calendar year of $17,000 for 2012 and $16,500 for 2011.  Newly hired employees and employees who have not completed a salary reduction form were automatically enrolled in the plan at a 3% effective deferral of their compensation unless they indicate a desire not to make contributions or elect to enroll at a different percentage.  New employees may transfer assets from their former employers' qualified plans to the Plan.  Eligible participants who have attained age 50 before the close of the plan year may make catch-up contributions in an amount from 1% to 50% of the employee’s compensation, subject to the limitations of the IRC.

Participants are eligible to receive the Company’s matching contributions on the employee's employment commencement date.  The Company’s matching contribution is equal to 100% of the participant's elective contribution up to 5% of the participant's annual compensation.

Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution on a semi-monthly basis and an allocation of (i) the Company’s matching contribution on a monthly basis, and (ii) plan earnings on a daily basis.  Participants that are paid bi-weekly shall have their accounts credited with the participants’ contributions on a bi-weekly basis.  The total annual contributions, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service and the Plan, credited to a participant’s account in a plan year may not exceed the lesser of (i) $50,000, or (ii) 100% of the participant’s compensation in the plan year.  Effective July 1, 2011, the Plan was amended to provide for the payment of the Employer Contribution (Company Match) on a Plan Year quarter instead of the prior monthly basis.  Additionally, the match is adjusted for a ‘true-up’ on a cumulative basis as of the close of each Plan Year quarter.  A participant must be an active participant making an elective deferral on the last day of the calendar quarter to which the match applies to be entitled to the match and/or the true-up.
 
5
 
 
 

 
 
 
Participants can allocate contributions among various investment options in 1% increments. The Plan offered participants several different investment choices, including mutual funds, a common collective trust fund and Brown-Forman Corporation Class B common stock in the ESOP component of the Plan.

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their employee contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company’s contributions and earnings thereon is 25% per year of continuous service with the Company. Participants will become 100% vested in their Company contributions account in case of death, normal retirement, or total and permanent disability.

Withdrawals

Upon termination of service, a participant can elect to transfer his vested interest in the Plan to a qualified plan of his new employer, roll over his funds into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or receive his vested interest in the Plan in a lump-sum amount or in the form of installment payments over a period of time not to exceed his life expectancy. Withdrawals of investments in Brown-Forman Class B common stock may be taken in the form of Brown-Forman Class B common stock or cash. If the vested account balance is $1,000 or less, an automatic lump sum distribution will be made.  If the vested account balance is greater than $1,000 up to $5,000, and the participant does not direct otherwise, it will be rolled over into an IRA with Fidelity Management Trust Company (Fidelity), the trustee and related entity of the record keeper as described in the Plan.  In the event of death, the participant's beneficiary will receive the vested interest in a lump-sum payment or in the form of an installment payment. A participant can elect an in-service distribution at age fifty-nine and a half. A participant may also withdraw their vested interest in the case of financial hardship under guidelines promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service.  The participant’s contributions shall be suspended for six months after the receipt of a hardship distribution.

Notes Receivable from Participants

A participant may request permission from the plan administrator to borrow a portion of such participant’s vested accrued benefit under the Plan. Loans are generally limited to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the vested account balance. Loans must bear a reasonable rate of interest, be collateralized, and be repaid within five years. Interest rates are fixed and are equal to the prime rate plus one percent as determined by the prime rate in effect during the month prior to the loan.  Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions.  Participants do not share in the earnings from the Plan’s investments to the extent of any outstanding loans, except that the interest paid on such loans is allocated directly to the applicable participant’s account. The interest rates ranged from 4.25% to 9.5% for both 2012 and 2011.

Forfeited Accounts

Prior to January 1, 2012, forfeited balances of terminated participants' non-vested accounts were used first to reinstate previously forfeited account balances of re-employed participants, if any, and the remaining amounts were used for other Company contributions, as defined in the plan document, or used to pay administrative expenses of the Plan.  Effective January 1, 2012, the Plan was amended to allow the forfeitures to be used in the following order: 1) Reinstate previously forfeited balances by participants; 2) Pay administrative expenses of the Plan, and 3) Reduce Employer matching contributions. The remaining forfeitures, if any, shall be reallocated to participants based on the original nature of the contribution.  Due to the transfer of Winery Operations assets on December 31, 2012, the forfeited balances available for use totaled $0 at December 31, 2012. Forfeitures were $552 on December 31, 2011.  No forfeitures were used during 2012 and approximately $27,000 of forfeited accounts were transferred to the Brown-Forman Corporation Savings in conjunction with the merger.
 
6
 
 
 

 

 
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Effective September 1, 2010, the Plan was amended to incorporate a participant directed Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).  The conversion of the previous Company Stock Fund to an ESOP provides participants the option of having cash dividends payable on shares of Company Class B common stock held in the ESOP either paid directly to the participant in cash or reinvested in the ESOP.

Transfers (to) from Company Sponsored Plans

The Plan permits the transfer of participant account balances to (from) other Company sponsored plans as they experience changes in employment status.  As a result, ($580,706) and $25,540 of Plan assets were transferred from and to the Plan to and from other Company sponsored plans during 2012, respectively.


2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

The Plan's investments are stated at fair value at December 31, 2011.  The Plan defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or more advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.  The following represents the valuation methodologies utilized at December 31, 2011:

Registered Investment Companies (mutual funds):
Shares of mutual funds are valued at the net asset value (“NAV”) of shares held by the Plan at year end based on the quoted market value of the underlying assets on the last day of the year.  These funds are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are deemed to be actively traded.

Common Stock:
The Brown-Forman Class B Company Stock Fund (ESOP) is comprised of Brown-Forman Corporation Class B Common shares, which are valued at the quoted closing market price.  The value of a unit reflects the market value of the underlying Sponsor stock.
 
Common Collective Trust:
The Plan's interest in the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio (a common collective trust) is valued at the NAV per unit as determined by the collective trust as of the valuation date, which approximates fair value.  The underlying assets primarily consist of fixed income securities or bond funds.  They are valued on the basis of the relative interest of each participating investor at the fair value of the underlying assets.  The NAV is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value.  This practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different than the reported NAV.  Redemptions made to another investment option by a participant may be made on any business day, provided the exchange is not directed into a competing fund (money market fund or other fixed income funds).  Transferred amounts must be held in a non-competing investment option for 90 days before subsequent transfers to a competing fund can occur.  The investment may be subject to redemption restrictions, at the trustee's discretion, to the extent it is determined such actions would disrupt management of the fund.
 
7
 
 
 

 

 
Investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value.  However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.  The Plan invests in investment contracts through a common collective trust.  Contract value represents contributions and reinvested income, less any withdrawals plus accrued interest. Fair value represents the net asset value of the underlying assets of the common collective trust.  As required, the statement of net assets available for benefits presents the fair value of the investment in the collective trust as well as the adjustment of the investment in the collective trust from fair value to contract value relating to the investment contracts.  The statement of changes in net assets available for benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.

Certain events could limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the financial institution issuers.  Specifically, withdrawals or investment exchanges prompted by an employer-initiated event, such as withdrawals resulting from the sale of a division of the Plan Sponsor of a participating Plan, a corporate layoff or early retirement program, change(s) in the investment options of a participating Plan, or termination or partial termination of a participating Plan, may be paid at fair value, which may be less than contract value, or may be subject to a contract charge or penalty.

Money Market Fund:
The Plan's interest in the Retirement Money Market Portfolio (money market fund) is valued at the net asset value per unit as determined by the collective trust as of the valuation date, which approximates fair value.  The Retirement Money Market Portfolio is a fund of the Fidelity Money Market Trust (the "Trust") and is authorized to issue a number of shares.  The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open ended management investment company.  There are no unfunded commitments with respect to this investment, however, the investment may be subject to redemption  restrictions, at the trustee's discretion, to the extent it is determined such actions would disrupt management of the fund.

The Plan presents in the accompanying statement of changes in net assets available for benefits the net appreciation or depreciation in the value of its investments which consists of the realized gains or losses, the unrealized appreciation or depreciation on those investments, and capital gain distributions.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.

Notes Receivable from Participants

Notes receivable from participants are valued at the outstanding principal balance plus accrued interest.  Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.  No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2012 or 2011.  If a participant ceases to make loan repayments and the plan administrator deems the participant loan to be in default, the participant loan balance is reduced and a distribution is recorded.
 
8
 
 
 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In May 2011, the Accounting Standards Board ('FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU")  No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (Topic 820) -- Fair Value Measurement, to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards.  ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements.  ASU 2011-04 is effective for the Plan prospectively for the year ending December 31, 2012.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Plan’s financial statements.
 
Management Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of additions to and deductions from net assets during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Payment of Benefits

Benefits are recorded when paid.

Administrative Expenses

Investment management fees, record keeping fees and other reasonable administrative expenses are charged to and paid for by the Plan. All other administrative expenses of the Plan are paid for by the Company, except for certain fees that are paid by the participants.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before
financial statements are issued.  Management has reviewed events occurring through June 25, 2013,  the date the financial statements were issued and no subsequent events occurred requiring accrual or disclosure that are not otherwise disclosed herein.
 
9
 
 
 

 

 
3.
Investments

The Plan's investments are held by a custodian trust company. The following table presents the fair value of investments that represent 5% or more of Plan net assets at one or both year ends separately identified.


 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
Number of
     
Number of
   
 
Shares, Units
     
Shares, Units
   
 
or Principal
     
or Principal
   
 
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Amount
 
Fair Value
               
Investments at fair value:
             
Fidelity Money Market Trust
             
Retirement Money Market Portfolio
-
 
$                    -
 
683,945
 
$       683,945
Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio
-
 
-
 
553,162
 
567,150
Fidelity Growth Company Fund
-
 
-
 
8,959
 
723,969
Brown-Forman Corporation Class B
             
common stock
-
 
-
 
5,606
 
         451,295
PIMCO Total Return Fund
-
 
-
 
           63,114
 
         686,045
Fidelity Freedom 2020
-
 
-
 
28,629
 
355,854
Massachusetts Financial Services Value Fund R4
-
 
-
 
           25,884
 
         579,275
Other investments individually less than 5%
-
 
-
 
97,982
 
1,543,415
               
     
$                    -
     
$    5,590,948
               
During 2012, the Plan’s investments, including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year, appreciated/(depreciated) in value as follows:

Mutual funds
$     463,061
Brown-Forman Corporation Class B common stock
58,447
   
 
$     521,508

 
4.
Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service has determined, and informed the Companies by a letter dated April 16, 2003, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the IRC.  The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter.  However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable provisions of the IRC. The restated Plan document incorporating all amendments to date was filed with the Internal Revenue Service for a Determination Letter on January 31, 2011.  The Company is awaiting the IRS issuance a new determination letter.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2012, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2009.
 
10
 
 
 

 
 
 5.
Plan Termination

Although they have not expressed any intent to do so, the Companies have the right under the Plan to discontinue their contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.

6.
Related Party Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Fidelity.  Fidelity is the trustee as described in the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

Certain administrative costs incurred by the Plan are paid by the Sponsor.  Participant recordkeeping fees were waived by Fidelity.   In addition, other administrative services are provided by the Sponsor but not charged to the Plan.  Administrative expenses totaled $280 in 2012.

During the current year, participants for the Plan were eligible to invest in Brown-Forman Class B common stock through the ESOP. Purchases and sales of $59,148 and $569,246 during 2012 and $61,372 and $453,165 during 2011, respectively, of Brown-Forman Corporation Class B common stock were made from the ESOP by the Plan.

7.
Fair Value Measurements

The fair values of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2011 are categorized into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to determine those values.  Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, while Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment.

Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value is included in Note 2.  Fair value guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows:

Level 1 —Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The Plan’s investments with active markets include its investment in Brown-Forman Corporation Class B common stock as well as its investments in mutual funds which are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs. For these investments, quoted current market prices are readily available.
 
 
Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active; or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, or that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the assets. The Plan has concluded that the investments in the common collective trust and money market funds represent a Level 2 valuation.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs (i.e. projections, estimates, interpretations, etc.) that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the asset.  There are no investments in the Plan that represent a level 3 valuation.
 
11
 
 
 

 

 
The following table represents the Plan’s fair value hierarchy for its financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2011:

 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
           
     
Quoted Market
   
Significant
   
     
Prices in Active
   
Other
 
Significant
     
Markets for
   
Observable
 
Unobservable
     
Identical Assets
   
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Total
 
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Mutual funds
               
Large cap
$           1,432,707
 
$    1,432,707
   
$                     -
 
$                         -
Mid cap
123,352
 
123,352
   
-
 
-
Small cap
69,117
 
69,117
   
-
 
-
International
271,286
 
271,286
   
-
 
-
Blended fund
1,306,051
 
1,306,051
   
-
 
-
Income
686,045
 
686,045
   
-
 
-
Total Mutual funds
3,888,558
             
                 
Brown-Forman Corporation Class B common stock
451,295
 
451,295
       
-
Money market fund
683,945
       
683,945
 
-
Common collective trust fund
567,150
       
567,150
 
-
                 
Total Investments
$           5,590,948
 
$    4,339,853
   
$    1,251,095
 
$                         -










 
 

 

Signatures
 

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Brown-Forman Winery Operations Savings Plan has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 

 

 
BROWN-FORMAN WINERY OPERATIONS SAVINGS PLAN
 

 
BY:
 

 
/s/ Lisa Steiner
 
Lisa Steiner
 
Member, Employee Benefits Committee
 
(Plan Administrator)
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
 

 
Brown-Forman Corporation
 

 
June 25, 2013