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
January 11, 2000 (January 11, 2000)
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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.)
300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (847) 484-4400
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INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 5. Other Events.
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Registrant's press release dated January 11, 2000 is filed
herewith as Exhibit 20 and is incorporated herein by references.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(c) Exhibits.
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20. Press release of Registrant dated January 11, 2000.
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 /s/ Mark Hausberg
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Mark Hausberg
Senior Vice President - Finance
and Treasurer
Date: January 11, 2000
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Sequentially
Exhibit Numbered Page
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20. Press release of Registrant dated
January 11, 2000.
EXHIBIT 20
NEWS RELEASE
[COMPANY LOGO] NEWS RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
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Fortune Brands, Inc., 300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Contact:
Media Relations: Investor Relations:
Clarkson Hine Anthony J. Diaz
(847) 484-4415 (847) 484-4410
FORTUNE BRANDS PROJECTS ACHIEVING DOUBLE-DIGIT EPS GROWTH
GOALS FOR FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 1999
Company Reaffirms Solid Double-Digit Growth Outlook for 2000
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Lincolnshire, IL, January 11, 2000 - Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), the
consumer products company, today announced that it expects to hit its
double-digit earnings growth target for 1999 when it reports full-year results
next week. The company also reaffirmed its expectation of solid double-digit
growth for 2000.
Fortune Brands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Norm Wesley, speaking today
at the annual Goldman Sachs Consumer Products Conference, said: "The strong
performance of our leading consumer brands and the success of our balanced
operating strategy are producing excellent results. Our preliminary data
indicates we'll achieve our double-digit earnings growth goals for the fourth
quarter and for full-year 1999, excluding extraordinary items and restructuring.
When we announce full-year results next week, we expect to report 11% diluted
EPS growth before charges and the benefit of lower goodwill amortization.
Including the benefit of lower goodwill, we anticipate diluted EPS before
charges will be up 19% for full-year 1999 and up 22% for the fourth quarter.
"Looking ahead, we continue to expect 2000 to be an excellent year with solid
double-digit EPS growth," Wesley added.
Wesley also announced that the company completed its entire 11 million share
repurchase authorization for 1999, representing more than 6% of outstanding
common shares.
Fortune Brands plans to release its 1999 results on Thursday, January 20, 2000.
* * *
Fortune Brands, Inc. is a consumer products company with annual sales exceeding
$5 billion. Its operating companies have premier brands and leading market
positions in home products, office products, golf equipment and spirits and
wine. Home brands include Moen faucets, Master locks and Aristokraft and Schrock
cabinets sold by units of MasterBrand Industries. Office brands include
Day-Timer, Swingline and Wilson Jones sold by units of ACCO World Corporation.
Acushnet Company's golf brands
(more)
www.fortunebrands.com
<PAGE>
include Titleist, Cobra and FootJoy. Major spirits and wine brands sold by units
of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. include Jim Beam and Knob Creek bourbons,
DeKuyper cordials, Whyte & Mackay Scotch and Geyser Peak and Canyon Road wines.
Fortune Brands, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, is traded on the New
York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FO.
* * *
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. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date hereof. 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, trade
consolidations, the impact of excise tax increases with respect to distilled
spirits, regulatory developments, the uncertainties of litigation, changes in
golf equipment regulatory standards, the impact of weather, particularly on the
home products and golf brand groups, expenses and disruptions related to shifts
in manufacturing to different locations and sources, delays in the integration
of recent acquisitions, 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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