8-K

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):

May 24, 2017

Brown-Forman Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	001-00123	61-0143150
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

850 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Kentucky	40210
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (502) 585-1100

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

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:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Kathleen M. Gutmann

On May 24, 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Brown-Forman Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Kathleen M. Gutmann as a director of the Company.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Gutmann with any other persons pursuant to which she was selected as a director. Additionally, there are no transactions involving the Company and Ms. Gutmann that the Company would be required to report pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. The Board has not yet determined committee assignments for Ms. Gutmann.

Ms. Gutmann will be entitled to a prorated portion of the annual compensation paid to the Company’s non-employee directors. A summary of the compensation the Company provides its non-employee directors is described under the heading “Director Compensation” on pages 22 and 23 of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2016.

A copy of the Company’s press release relating to the foregoing is attached herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Brown-Forman Corporation Press Release dated May 24, 2017.

SIGNATURES

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.

	BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION
	(Registrant)
Date: May 26, 2017	/s/ Michael E. Carr, Jr.
	Michael E. Carr, Jr.
	Vice President, Managing Attorney and Assistant Corporate Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Brown-Forman Corporation Press Release dated May 24, 2017.

EX-99.1

	NEWS RELEASE
	PHIL LYNCH	JAY KOVAL
	VICE PRESIDENT	VICE PRESIDENT
	DIRECTOR CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS	DIRECTOR INVESTOR
	AND PUBLIC RELATIONS	RELATIONS
	502-774-7928	502-774-6903

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KATHLEEN GUTMANN ELECTED TO BROWN-FORMAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Louisville, KY, May 24, 2017 - Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB) announced that Kate Gutmann has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors, effective today.

Gutmann is Chief Sales and Solutions Officer for United Parcel Service (UPS) at its corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA. An experienced global leader with more than 26 years of worldwide sales and marketing expertise, she is a member of the UPS executive committee and is involved in corporate strategy, oversight, and execution. Gutmann is responsible for more than $60 billion in revenue and oversees the UPS Store and UPS Capital business units globally.

Gutmann is a graduate of Siena College and a member of The Committee of 200 and the International Women’s Forum, and is a participant in the Yale CEO Summit. Gutmann has participated in the World Economic Forum for many years. She is also co-founder of the UPS Reading Clubs at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.

In making the announcement, Brown-Forman Board Chairman Geo. Garvin Brown IV said, “Kate Gutmann brings excellent global strategic, marketing, and sales leadership and expertise to our Board and we look forward to her making significant contributions to Brown-Forman’s growth for many years to come as we continue on our path of building forever.”

Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga stated, “We are particularly excited to bring Kate’s extensive global business experience to our board as Brown-Forman continues to expand its reach to more than 165 countries around the world.”

The election of Gutmann increases the number of directors on Brown-Forman’s Board to 13.

For more than 145 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, Chambord, BenRiach and GlenDronach. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 4,600 employees and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.

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