UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 2010
Fortune Brands, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 1-9076 | 13-3295276 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
520 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
847-484-4400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
| Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On December 8, 2010, Fortune Brands, Inc. (“Fortune Brands” or the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors had unanimously approved in principle a separation of the Company’s three consumer businesses – distilled spirits, home and security and golf products. The plan that the Company intends to pursue includes: the continuation of Fortune Brands as an independent, publicly-traded company focused solely on its distilled spirits business; the tax-free spin-off to shareholders of the home and security business into an independent, publicly-traded company; and the sale or tax-free spin-off of the golf business. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in, or incorporated into, this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | The following is a list of the exhibits furnished herewith: | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Fortune Brands, Inc. on December 8, 2010 | |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| FORTUNE BRANDS, INC. | ||||
| (Registrant) | ||||
| By: | /s/ Mark A. Roche | |||
| Name: | Mark A. Roche | |||
| Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | |||
Date: December 8, 2010
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Fortune Brands, Inc. on December 8, 2010 | |