UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
March 2, 1998 (February 27, 1998)
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-9076 13-3295276
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
l700 East Putnam Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut 06870-0811
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 698-5000
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<PAGE>
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 5. Other Events.
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Registrant's press release dated February 27, 1998 is filed herewith as
Exhibit 20 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(c) Exhibits.
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20. Press release of Registrant dated February 27, 1998.
SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
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(Registrant)
By Charles H. McGill
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Charles H. McGill
Senior Vice President --
Corporate Development
Date: March 2, 1998
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Sequentially
Exhibit Numbered Page
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20. Press release of Registrant dated
February 27, 1998.
EXHIBIT 20
NEWS RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
Fortune Brands, Inc., 1700 East Putnam Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT 06870
NEWS RELEASE
Media Relations: Investor Relations:
Roger W. W. Baker Daniel A. Conforti
(203)698-5148 (203)698-5132
FORTUNE BRANDS COMPLETES PURCHASE OF
APOLLO PRESENTATION PRODUCTS
Old Greenwich, CT, February 27, 1998 -- Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE-FO), the
consumer products company, announced today that its ACCO office products unit
has completed the purchase of the Apollo Presentation Products business, a North
American leader in the presentation products category with sales of
approximately $60 million and headquarters in Ronkonkoma, New York. Fortune
Brands had announced on February 6 that its office products unit had entered
into an agreement to acquire Apollo Presentation Products.
With the acquisition of Apollo, Fortune Brands has completed six
bolt-on acquisitions in the past 15 months, adding around $250 million in
annualized sales.
Fortune Brands' strategy is sharply focused on superior revenue growth,
aggressive cost initiatives and enhanced asset management. In 1998, the Company
expects to achieve its long-term E.P.S. growth goal in the range of 13-15%,
assuming a satisfactory economic and pricing environment and no further erosion
in key exchange rates.
Fortune Brands, Inc. is a consumer products company with headquarters
in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Its operating companies have powerhouse brands
and leading market positions. Home and office products consist of hardware and
home improvement brands -- including Moen faucets, Master locks and Aristokraft
cabinets sold by units of MasterBrand Industries -- and office products brands
- -- including ACCO World Corporation's Day-Timer and Swingline. Acushnet
Company's golf brands include Titleist, Cobra and FootJoy. Major distilled
spirits brands sold by units of JBB Worldwide, Inc. include Jim Beam and Knob
Creek Bourbon, DeKuyper cordials and Whyte & Mackay Scotch.
* * *
This press release contains statements relating to future results,
which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially
from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including
but not limited to changes in general economic conditions, foreign exchange rate
fluctuations, competitive product and pricing pressures, the impact of excise
tax increases with respect to distilled spirits, regulatory developments, the
uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed
from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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