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{{Short description|Defunct American holding company}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Fortune Brands
| name = Fortune Brands
| logo = [[File:Fortune Brands logo.png|Leading consumer brands. Consistently strong results.|200px]]
| logo = Fortune Brands Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| former type =
| former type =
| type =
| type =
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| fate = Split
| fate = Split
| predecessor = American Brands
| predecessor = American Brands
| successor = American Brands, [[Fila (company)|FILA Korea]], [[Fortune Brands Home & Security]], [[Beam Inc.]]
| successor = [[Fila (company)|FILA Korea]], [[Fortune Brands Home & Security]], [[Beam Inc.]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1969}} (as American Brands)
| foundation = {{start date and age|1969}} (as American Brands)
| founder =
| founder =
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| area_served = Worldwide
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Bruce A. Carbonari ([[Chairman of the Board]] & [[CEO]])
| key_people = Bruce A. Carbonari ([[Chairman of the Board]] & [[CEO]])
| products = [[Moen (company)|Moen]]<br />[[Master Lock]]<br />[[Jim Beam]]<br />[[DeKuyper]]<br />[[Knob Creek (bourbon)|Knob Creek]]<br />[[Vox (vodka)|Vox vodka]]<br />[[El Tesoro tequila]]
| products = [[Moen Incorporated|Moen]]<br />[[Master Lock]]<br />[[Jim Beam]]<br />[[DeKuyper]]<br />[[Knob Creek (bourbon)|Knob Creek]]<br />[[Vox (vodka)|Vox vodka]]<br />[[El Tesoro tequila]]
| revenue = {{decrease}} [[United States Dollar|$]] 6.695 billion <small>(2009)</small>
| revenue = {{decrease}} [[United States Dollar|$]] 6.695 billion <small>(2009)</small>
| operating_income = {{increase}} $ 505.20 million <small>(2009)</small>
| operating_income = {{increase}} $ 505.20 million <small>(2009)</small>
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| num_employees = 24,248 <small>(2009)</small>
| num_employees = 24,248 <small>(2009)</small>
| parent =
| parent =
| divisions = [[#Present_divisions|List of Divisions]]
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.fortunebrands.com/}}
| homepage =
}}
}}

'''Fortune Brands''' was a [[holding company]] founded in 1969 as '''American Brands''' and later renamed in 1997 and split apart in 2011. The corporate headquarters was in [[Deerfield, Illinois]], in the United States. The company historically had a significant diversity of products. It announced on December 8, 2010, that it planned to focus on its liquor business, and to spin off or sell other parts of the company including home furnishings and hardware and other golf products.<ref>Aaron Smith, [http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/08/news/companies/jim_beam_titleist/index.htm Jim Beam, neat, is company's new strategy], ''CNN Money'', December 8, 2010.</ref><ref name = WSJ3>[https://www.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20101208-903042.html?mod=wsjcrmain Fortune Brands Announces Intent to Separate Company's Three Businesses], ''The Wall Street Journal'', December 8, 2010.</ref> The company then sold its [[Titleist]] and [[FootJoy]] product lines to [[Fila (company)|FILA Korea]]. On October 3, 2011, it split the remainder of its business into two publicly traded companies: [[Fortune Brands Home & Security]] ({{nyse2|FBHS}})<ref>[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fortune-Brands-Home-Security-bw-1447000967.html?x=0 Fortune Brands Home & Security Now Independent, Begins Trading on NYSE] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013171845/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fortune-Brands-Home-Security-bw-1447000967.html?x=0 |date=October 13, 2011 }}, ''Businesswire'', October 4, 2011.</ref> and [[Beam Inc.]] ({{NYSE was|BEAM}}). On January 13, 2014, Suntory announced a deal to buy Beam Inc. for about $13.6 billion.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news| first=Bruce| last=Horovitz| date=January 13, 2014| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/13/suntory-buying-spirits-maker-beam/4450909| title=Suntory buys spirits maker Beam for $13.6B| work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on April 30, 2014, for a final cost of about $16 billion – when it was also announced that Beam would become a subsidiary of Suntory named [[Beam Suntory]].<ref>[http://www.suntory.com/news/2014/12050.html Beam Suntory completes acquisition of Beam Inc], ''Suntory.com'', 30 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304547704579563590503205778| title=Suntory Still has M&A Thirst| first=Eric| last=Pfanner| work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]| date=May 15, 2014| accessdate=March 1, 2016| subscription=yes}}</ref>
'''Fortune Brands''' was a [[holding company]] founded in 1969 as '''American Brands''', renamed in 1997 and split apart in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2011-06-30-chi-fortune-brands-to-split-into-2-public-companies-20110630-story.html|title=Fortune Brands to split into 2 public companies|last=York|first=Emily Bryson|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref> The corporate headquarters was in [[Deerfield, Illinois]], in the United States. The company had diversified product lines. It announced on December 8, 2010, that it would focus on its liquor business, and spin off or sell other parts of the company including home furnishings, hardware and golf products.<ref>Aaron Smith, [https://money.cnn.com/2010/12/08/news/companies/jim_beam_titleist/index.htm Jim Beam, neat, is company's new strategy], ''CNN Money'', December 8, 2010.</ref><ref name = WSJ3>[https://www.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20101208-903042.html?mod=wsjcrmain Fortune Brands Announces Intent to Separate Company's Three Businesses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002092552/https://www.wsj.com/articles/PR-CO-20101208-903042/ |date=2020-10-02 }}, ''The Wall Street Journal'', December 8, 2010.</ref> The company sold its [[Titleist]] and [[FootJoy]] product lines to [[Fila]]. On October 3, 2011, it split the remainder of its business into two publicly traded companies: [[Fortune Brands Home & Security]] ({{nyse2|FBHS}})<ref>[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fortune-Brands-Home-Security-bw-1447000967.html?x=0 Fortune Brands Home & Security Now Independent, Begins Trading on NYSE] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013171845/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fortune-Brands-Home-Security-bw-1447000967.html?x=0 |date=October 13, 2011 }}, ''Businesswire'', October 4, 2011.</ref> and [[Beam Inc.]] ({{NYSE was|BEAM}}). On January 13, 2014, [[Suntory]] (headquartered in [[Osaka, Japan]]) announced it would buy Beam Inc. for about $13.6 billion.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news| first=Bruce| last=Horovitz| date=January 13, 2014| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/13/suntory-buying-spirits-maker-beam/4450909| title=Suntory buys spirits maker Beam for $13.6B| work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on April 30, 2014, for about $16 billion and Beam became a subsidiary of Suntory named Beam Suntory, [[Suntory Global Spirits]] since 2024 .<ref>[http://www.suntory.com/news/2014/12050.html Beam Suntory completes acquisition of Beam Inc], ''Suntory.com'', 30 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304547704579563590503205778| title=Suntory Still has M&A Thirst| first=Eric| last=Pfanner| work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]| date=May 15, 2014| access-date=March 1, 2016|url-access=subscription }}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
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== Former divisions==
== Former divisions==
=== Tobacco ===
=== Tobacco ===
[[American Tobacco Company]] was the original division of American Brands. American Tobacco was sold to [[British American Tobacco]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news | issn = 0362-4331 | last = Ipsen | first = Erik | title = A $1 Billion Bet That Smoking Has a Future | work = The New York Times | accessdate = 2014-11-11 | date = 1994-04-27 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/27/news/27iht-bat.html }}</ref>
[[American Tobacco Company]] was the original division of American Brands. American Tobacco was sold to [[British American Tobacco]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news | issn = 0362-4331 | last = Ipsen | first = Erik | title = A $1 Billion Bet That Smoking Has a Future | work = The New York Times | access-date = 2014-11-11 | date = 1994-04-27 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/27/news/27iht-bat.html }}</ref>


=== Insurance ===
=== Insurance ===
American Brands acquired Franklin Life Insurance in 1979. It sold the company to [[American General]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web | title = American General Deal Enfolds Franklin Life For $1.17 Billion Cash | work = Chicago Tribune | accessdate = 2014-11-11 | url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-11-30/news/9412010063_1_franklin-deal-american-brands-unitrin }}</ref>
American Brands acquired Franklin Life Insurance in 1979. It sold the company to [[American General]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web | title = American General Deal Enfolds Franklin Life For $1.17 Billion Cash | work = Chicago Tribune | access-date = 2014-11-11 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/11/30/american-general-deal-enfolds-franklin-life-for-117-billion-cash/ }}</ref>


=== ACCO ===
=== ACCO ===
In 1987 American Brands acquired ACCO, a holding company which owned several office supply subsidiaries. Stapler manufacturer [[Swingline|Swingline, Inc.]], which American Brands had acquired in 1970, was combined with ACCO. In 2005, the company spun off ACCO to shareholders, and immediately thereafter ACCO merged with [[General Binding Corporation]]. This merged company is now known as [[ACCO Brands]].
In 1987 American Brands acquired ACCO, a holding company which owned several office supply subsidiaries. Stapler manufacturer [[Swingline|Swingline, Inc.]], which American Brands had acquired in 1970, was combined with ACCO. In 2005, the company spun off ACCO to shareholders, and immediately thereafter ACCO merged with [[General Binding Corporation]]. This merged company is now known as [[ACCO Brands]].<ref>[http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2/119312505145588/filing-main.htm Fortune Brands and General Binding Corporation announce further progress toward creation of ACCO Brands Corporation] Joint press release of Fortune Brands and GBC dated July 19, 2005</ref>


=== Golf Division ===
=== Golf ===
The [[Acushnet Company]], purchased in 1976, became American Brands' [[golf]] division. It produced golf balls, shoes, and clubs under the [[Pinnacle Golf]], [[Titleist]], [[FootJoy]] and formerly [[Cobra Golf]] (now under the ownership of Puma Sport) trademarks. The Acushnet Rubber division, which was Acushnet's original business, was sold off in 1985. Cobra Golf was sold to [[Puma AG]] in March 2010, and the other golf brands were sold to [[Fila (company)|Fila]] in 2011.
The [[Acushnet Company]], purchased in 1976, became American Brands' [[golf]] division. It produced golf balls, shoes, and clubs under the [[Pinnacle Golf]], [[Titleist]], [[FootJoy]] and [[Cobra Golf]] trademarks. The Acushnet Rubber division, which was Acushnet's original business, was sold off in 1985. Cobra Golf was sold to [[Puma AG]] in March 2010, and the other golf brands were sold to [[Fila (company)|Fila]] in 2011.


=== Home and hardware ===
=== Home and hardware ===


This division, which had annual sales of over $4 billion, included such businesses as Waterloo Industries, Masterbrand Cabinets (and its various subsidiary cabinet lines), [[Moen (company)|Moen]] faucets, Fypon, Therma-Tru doors, Simonton windows, [[Master Lock]], American Lock, and Vista Window Company, Western Division. Many of these operations passed to Fortune Brands Home & Security when the company was split.
The home and hardware division reached annual sales of over $4 billion, from Waterloo Industries, [[Moen Incorporated|Moen]] faucets, Fypon, Therma-Tru doors, Simonton windows, [[Master Lock]], American Lock, and Vista Window Company, Western Division. Many of these operations passed to Fortune Brands Home & Security when the company was split.


=== Spirits ===
=== Spirits ===
Fortune Brands had a stable of well known [[Distilled beverage|spirits]] brands, led by [[Jim Beam]].
Fortune Brands had a stable of well known [[Distilled beverage|spirits]] brands, led by [[Jim Beam]], which it had purchased in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beamsuntory.com/about/history|title=Beam Suntory – History (slideshow)|website=Beam Suntory|access-date=August 5, 2017|archive-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707133045/http://www.beamsuntory.com/about/history|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In July 2005, Fortune Brands and French spirits company [[Pernod Ricard]] acquired over 25 additional spirits and wine brands from British holding company [[Allied Domecq]].
In July 2005, Fortune Brands and French spirits company [[Pernod Ricard]] acquired over 25 additional spirits and wine brands from British holding company [[Allied Domecq]].
In November 2007, [[Constellation Brands]] announced a purchase of Fortune Brands' wine operations for $885 million [[USD]], a transaction that added {{convert|1500|acre|km2}} of vineyards, several major brands such as Clos du Bois, and 2.6 million cases per year of "super-premium" class wine production.
In November 2007, [[Constellation Brands]] announced a purchase of Fortune Brands' wine operations for $885 million [[USD]], a transaction that added {{convert|1500|acre|km2}} of vineyards, several major brands such as Clos du Bois, and 2.6 million cases per year of "super-premium" class wine production.


After the other product lines were sold and spun off, the remaining spirits business became [[Beam Inc.]].
After the other product lines were sold and spun off, the remaining spirits business became [[Beam Inc.]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.fortunebrands.com Fortune Brands company web site]


{{Illinois Corporations}}
{{Illinois Corporations}}
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[[Category:American companies established in 1969]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1969]]
[[Category:Conglomerate companies established in 1969]]
[[Category:Conglomerate companies established in 1969]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:Holding companies disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:2011 disestablishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:2011 disestablishments in Illinois]]

Latest revision as of 23:16, 9 October 2024

Fortune Brands
IndustryConglomerate
PredecessorAmerican Brands
Founded1969; 55 years ago (1969) (as American Brands)
DefunctOctober 3, 2011 (2011-10-03)
FateSplit
SuccessorFILA Korea, Fortune Brands Home & Security, Beam Inc.
Headquarters,
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Bruce A. Carbonari (Chairman of the Board & CEO)
ProductsMoen
Master Lock
Jim Beam
DeKuyper
Knob Creek
Vox vodka
El Tesoro tequila
RevenueDecrease $ 6.695 billion (2009)
Increase $ 505.20 million (2009)
Decrease $ 242.80 million (2009)
Total assetsIncrease $ 12.370 billion (2009)
Total equityIncrease $ 5.106 billion (2008)
Number of employees
24,248 (2009)

Fortune Brands was a holding company founded in 1969 as American Brands, renamed in 1997 and split apart in 2011.[1] The corporate headquarters was in Deerfield, Illinois, in the United States. The company had diversified product lines. It announced on December 8, 2010, that it would focus on its liquor business, and spin off or sell other parts of the company including home furnishings, hardware and golf products.[2][3] The company sold its Titleist and FootJoy product lines to Fila. On October 3, 2011, it split the remainder of its business into two publicly traded companies: Fortune Brands Home & Security (NYSEFBHS)[4] and Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM). On January 13, 2014, Suntory (headquartered in Osaka, Japan) announced it would buy Beam Inc. for about $13.6 billion.[5] The acquisition was completed on April 30, 2014, for about $16 billion and Beam became a subsidiary of Suntory named Beam Suntory, Suntory Global Spirits since 2024 .[6][7]

History

[edit]

The American Tobacco Company was founded in 1890. In the late 1960s, with health concerns seen as posing an increasing threat to the tobacco business, management decided to diversify into other fields and changed the corporate name to American Brands, Inc. Brown & Williamson acquired the tobacco division in 1994.

Former divisions

[edit]

Tobacco

[edit]

American Tobacco Company was the original division of American Brands. American Tobacco was sold to British American Tobacco in 1994.[8]

Insurance

[edit]

American Brands acquired Franklin Life Insurance in 1979. It sold the company to American General in 1994.[9]

ACCO

[edit]

In 1987 American Brands acquired ACCO, a holding company which owned several office supply subsidiaries. Stapler manufacturer Swingline, Inc., which American Brands had acquired in 1970, was combined with ACCO. In 2005, the company spun off ACCO to shareholders, and immediately thereafter ACCO merged with General Binding Corporation. This merged company is now known as ACCO Brands.[10]

Golf

[edit]

The Acushnet Company, purchased in 1976, became American Brands' golf division. It produced golf balls, shoes, and clubs under the Pinnacle Golf, Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra Golf trademarks. The Acushnet Rubber division, which was Acushnet's original business, was sold off in 1985. Cobra Golf was sold to Puma AG in March 2010, and the other golf brands were sold to Fila in 2011.

Home and hardware

[edit]

The home and hardware division reached annual sales of over $4 billion, from Waterloo Industries, Moen faucets, Fypon, Therma-Tru doors, Simonton windows, Master Lock, American Lock, and Vista Window Company, Western Division. Many of these operations passed to Fortune Brands Home & Security when the company was split.

Spirits

[edit]

Fortune Brands had a stable of well known spirits brands, led by Jim Beam, which it had purchased in 1968.[11]

In July 2005, Fortune Brands and French spirits company Pernod Ricard acquired over 25 additional spirits and wine brands from British holding company Allied Domecq. In November 2007, Constellation Brands announced a purchase of Fortune Brands' wine operations for $885 million USD, a transaction that added 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of vineyards, several major brands such as Clos du Bois, and 2.6 million cases per year of "super-premium" class wine production.

After the other product lines were sold and spun off, the remaining spirits business became Beam Inc.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ York, Emily Bryson. "Fortune Brands to split into 2 public companies". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  2. ^ Aaron Smith, Jim Beam, neat, is company's new strategy, CNN Money, December 8, 2010.
  3. ^ Fortune Brands Announces Intent to Separate Company's Three Businesses Archived 2020-10-02 at the Wayback Machine, The Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2010.
  4. ^ Fortune Brands Home & Security Now Independent, Begins Trading on NYSE Archived October 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Businesswire, October 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Horovitz, Bruce (January 13, 2014). "Suntory buys spirits maker Beam for $13.6B". USA Today.
  6. ^ Beam Suntory completes acquisition of Beam Inc, Suntory.com, 30 April 2014.
  7. ^ Pfanner, Eric (May 15, 2014). "Suntory Still has M&A Thirst". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  8. ^ Ipsen, Erik (1994-04-27). "A $1 Billion Bet That Smoking Has a Future". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  9. ^ "American General Deal Enfolds Franklin Life For $1.17 Billion Cash". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  10. ^ Fortune Brands and General Binding Corporation announce further progress toward creation of ACCO Brands Corporation Joint press release of Fortune Brands and GBC dated July 19, 2005
  11. ^ "Beam Suntory – History (slideshow)". Beam Suntory. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.