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 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 20, 2002 Brown-Forman Corporation (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-123 61-0243150 (State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.) incorporation) 850 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Kentucky 40210 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (502) 585-1100 Item 5. On December 20, 2002, Brown-Forman Corporation issued a press release announcing the resignation by Jerry E. Abramson from the company's board of directors, effective today. A copy of Brown-Forman Corporation's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99. 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: December 20, 2002 By: /s/ Michael B. Crutcher Michael B. Crutcher Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary Exhibit Index (99) Press Release, dated December 20, 2002, issued by Brown-Forman Corporation Exhibit 99 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAYOR-ELECT JERRY ABRAMSON STEPS DOWN FROM BROWN-FORMAN BOARD Louisville, KY, December 20, 2002- Brown-Forman Chairman and CEO Owsley Brown II announced today that Jerry E. Abramson, mayor-elect of the new Louisville Metro Government, has resigned from the company's Board of Directors, effective today. In making the announcement, Brown said, "Mayor-elect Abramson has been an exceptionally valuable member of our Board for the last four years and while we are sorry to lose him, we're proud that our community has chosen him to be the leader of our new merged city-county government." Abramson stated, "I have enjoyed immensely serving on the Board of Directors of this fine Louisville-based company, but believe that it would be inappropriate to continue that service when I assume public office." Abramson, who takes office January 6, was mayor of the former Louisville city government from 1986 to 1999, after which he joined Brown-Forman's Board. The departure of Abramson reduces the number of Brown-Forman's Directors to eleven from twelve. Brown-Forman is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, Korbel California Champagnes, Lenox, Dansk, and Gorham tableware giftware, and Hartmann Luggage.