SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 23) BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION (Name of Issuer) Class A Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 115637-10-0 (CUSIP Number) Thomas E. Rutledge Ogden Newell & Welch PLLC 1700 PNC Plaza 500 West Jefferson Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 (502) 582-1601 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) January 1, 2002 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d- 1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box [ ]. CUSIP NO. 115637-10-0 (1) Names of reporting persons.......................................... Robinson S. Brown, Jr. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons ........................ (406-05-2589) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a) (see instructions) ------------------------- (b) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC use only ....................................................... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Source of funds (see instructions)................................. N/A --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Check if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Items 2(d)or 2(e) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (6) Citizenship or Place of Organization ............................... United States of America --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with: (7) Sole voting power ............................................. 190,915 -------------------------- (8) Shared voting power............................................ 2,871,286 -------------------------- (9) Sole dispositive power ........................................ 190,915 -------------------------- (10) Shared dispositive power ...................................... 2,871,286 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 3,062,201 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) Check if the aggregate amount Row (11) excludes certain shares N/A (see instructions). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (13) Percent of class represented by amount in Row (11).................. 10.56% --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (14) Type of reporting person (see instructions) ........................ IN --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 2 - ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER. Brown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock 850 Dixie Highway Louisville, Kentucky 40210 ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND. a) Name: Robinson S. Brown, Jr. b) Principal Business address: 5230 Avish Lane Louisville, Kentucky 40027 c) Retired, former Chairman of the Board of the issuer, Brown-Forman Corporation. d) Criminal Convictions: No criminal convictions in the last five years (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors). e) Securities Proceedings: No judgments, decrees or final orders enjoining further violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to federal or state securities laws or finding any violations with respect to such laws. ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION. N/A ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION. N/A ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER. The amount of shares beneficially owned by the undersigned as of December 31, 2001, is as follows: - 3 - Aggregate Percent Number of Class ------ -------- (a) Beneficially Owned 3,062,201 10.56% (b) Sole Voting Power 190,915 Shared by Voting Power 2,871,286 Sole Disposition Power 190,915 Shared Disposition Power 2,871,286 (c) None. (d) Other persons have the right to receive income from trusts holding Brown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock, as to which stock the undersigned has sole or shared voting power. The following person is sole income beneficiary of one of these trusts which holds more than 5% of the outstanding shares of such Class A Common Stock: Sarah S. Brown. (e) Not applicable. ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER. None. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 11, 2002 -- /s/ Robinson S. Brown, Jr. ----------------------------------------- Robinson S. Brown, Jr. - 4 -