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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 11-K
(Mark One)
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission file number 333-138794
| A. | Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: |
Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan
| B. | Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: |
Alberto-Culver Company
2525 Armitage Ave.
Melrose Park, IL 60160
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
December 31, 2007 and 2006
(With Independent Auditors’ Report Thereon)
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
| Page | ||
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | ||
| Supplemental Schedule |
||
| Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) |
11 | |
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 |
KPMG LLP 303 East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601-5212 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Plan Administrator of the
Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule, Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31,2007 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
Chicago, Illinois
June 27, 2008
KPMG LLP, a U.S. limited liability partnership, is the U.S.
member firm of KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative.
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| 2007 | 2006 | ||||
| Assets: |
|||||
| Investments, at fair value |
$ | 59,978,841 | 55,767,704 | ||
| Receivables: |
|||||
| Employer contributions |
1,567,845 | 1,619,174 | |||
| Participant contributions |
14,008 | 12,742 | |||
| Total receivables |
1,581,853 | 1,631,916 | |||
| Net assets available for benefits |
$ | 61,560,694 | 57,399,620 | ||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
2
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 007 and 2006
| 2007 | 2006 | ||||||
| Additions to net assets attributed to: |
|||||||
| Investment income: |
|||||||
| Net appreciation in fair value of investments |
$ | 3,894,719 | 2,115,409 | ||||
| Dividends and interest income |
525,990 | 3,476,925 | |||||
| Interest on participant loans |
90,915 | 66,152 | |||||
| Total investment income |
4,511,624 | 5,658,486 | |||||
| Contributions: |
|||||||
| Employer |
1,567,845 | 1,619,174 | |||||
| Participant |
6,282,524 | 6,039,871 | |||||
| Total contributions |
7,850,369 | 7,659,045 | |||||
| Total additions |
12,361,993 | 13,317,531 | |||||
| Deductions from net assets attributed to: |
|||||||
| Benefits paid to participants |
(8,194,642 | ) | (5,450,608 | ) | |||
| Administrative fees |
(6,277 | ) | (13,583 | ) | |||
| Total deductions |
(8,200,919 | ) | (5,464,191 | ) | |||
| Net increase |
4,161,074 | 7,853,340 | |||||
| Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year |
57,399,620 | 49,546,280 | |||||
| Net assets available for benefits at end of year |
$ | 61,560,694 | 57,399,620 | ||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
3
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| (1) | Description of the Plan |
The following description of the Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
| (a) | General |
The Plan, established on January 1, 1994, is a defined contribution plan available to eligible employees of Alberto-Culver Company (the Company) and its participating subsidiaries. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).
The Company is the administrator of the Plan. Prudential Bank & Trust Company, FSB (the Trustee) is the trustee of the Plan. Certain affiliates of the Trustee provide recordkeeping, accounting, custodian, brokerage, and investment management services relating to the operation and the assets of the Plan.
| (b) | Participation |
Employees who are at least 21 years of age may participate in the Plan. On December 31, 2007 and 2006 there were 1,210 and 1,150 participants in or beneficiaries of the Plan, respectively.
| (c) | Contributions |
Contributions to the Plan are made by both the participant and the Company. Participants may contribute any whole percentage, up to 50% of their eligible compensation, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). Highly compensated participants, as defined by the Code, are subject to more restrictive maximum annual contribution limits. The percentage of compensation contributed may be increased or decreased at the election of the participant any time during the year. Participants may also make a rollover contribution from other qualified plans or rollover IRA.
Company contributions to the Plan are based on a discretionary match credited to eligible participant accounts on an annual basis. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company matched $0.50 on each pre-tax dollar contributed to the Plan up to 6% of eligible participant compensation for noncollectively bargained participants.
For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company agreed to match $0.10 of each dollar contributed up to 6% of eligible compensation for collectively bargained employees of the Company belonging to the United States Steelworkers of America – Local 9777 Chapter.
| (d) | Participant Accounts |
Participant contributions and Company contributions are invested in the Plan’s available investment alternatives (see note l(e)) based upon investment elections of the participant. A participant’s account value depends upon the participant’s investment elections, investment returns, and the amount of Company contributions contributed to his or her account.
| 4 | (Continued) |
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| (e) | Investment Alternatives |
Participants may elect to invest their account balances in nineteen investment alternatives within eight different asset classes, as well as the Company’s Common Stock Account. The asset classes include: (i) stable value, (ii) fixed income, (iii) balanced, (iv) large capitalization equity, (v) mid-capitalization equity, (vi) small capitalization equity, (vii) global equity, and (viii) international equity.
Account balances may be invested in 1% increments in any of the Plan’s available investment alternatives. Participants may reallocate their investments among the available investment alternatives any time during the year. Dividend and interest income received on investments is reinvested in the same funds.
Effective June 19, 2006, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC) replaced Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell & Company, LLC with Mellon Equity Associates, LLP (MEA) as the fund’s investment sub-advisor creating the Small Cap Value/MEA Fund.
Effective February 1,2007, the Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account was no longer offered as an investment option. As a result, the Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account assets were transferred to the Large Cap Growth/Turner Investment Partners Fund on January 31,2007.
Effective September 28, 2007, the Mid Cap Blend/New Amsterdam Partners Fund was no longer offered as an investment option. As a result, the Mid Cap Blend/New Amsterdam Partners Fund assets were transferred to the Mid Cap Value Fund (Sub-Advised by Wellington Management) on September 28,2007.
| (f) | Vesting and Forfeitures |
Participants become fully vested in the Company contributions and related earnings credited to their accounts based upon their years of service as shown in the following table:
| Years of vesting service |
Vested percentage |
||
| Less than 1 |
— | % | |
| 1 but less than 2 |
20 | ||
| 2 but less than 3 |
40 | ||
| 3 but less than 4 |
60 | ||
| 4 but less than 5 |
80 | ||
| 5 or more |
100 |
Participants who are age 65 or over, die, or become permanently disabled are automatically 100% vested in the value of Company matching contributions and related earnings credited to their account.
| 5 | (Continued) |
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
If a participant terminates employment with the Company, the participant’s nonvested portion of the Company contributions and earnings thereon are forfeited. Forfeited amounts are used to reduce future Company matching contributions to the Plan. For the plan years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, forfeiture amounts allocated to eligible participants were $65,074 and $50,001, respectively.
The Company will reinstate the forfeited balance to the account of a terminated participant who rejoins the Company before incurring five consecutive one-year breaks in service.
| (g) | Payment of Benefits |
Upon termination of employment, including termination due to disability, death, or retirement, a participant or their beneficiary may elect to receive a lump sum payment of the total value of the vested interest in his or her account. Alternatively, a participant may elect to receive a partial payment, Company common stock (to the extent the participant’s account is invested in Company common stock), a direct rollover, or leave his or her account balance with the Plan.
Actively employed participants who have reached age 59 1/2 may begin receiving payments from the vested interest in his or her account. The Plan also allows participants to make hardship withdrawals (subject to provisions of the Code and the Plan) of some or all of their pretax contributions made to the Plan.
| (h) | Participant Loans |
A participant may borrow against the vested interest in his or her account for periods of one to five years. In the event the loan is used to purchase a primary residence, up to a ten year period for repayment is allowed. Participant loans are limited to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account and bear interest at the prime rate at the time the loan is made. The $50,000 maximum is reduced by the participant’s highest outstanding loan balance(s) from all qualified retirement plans maintained by the Company during the preceding twelve months.
Outstanding participant loans are considered investments of the Plan and repayments of principal and interest are credited to the borrowing participant’s account using his or her current investment election. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, interest rates on outstanding loans ranged from 5.0% to 10.5%. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the number of participants with outstanding loans was 232 and 243, respectively.
| (i) | Administrative Expenses |
The Trustee and its affiliates charge certain administrative fees which are paid by the Plan. All other Plan-related administrative expenses are paid by the Company.
| (2) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
| (a) | Basis of Accounting |
The accompanying financial statements of the Plan are prepared on an accrual basis of accounting.
| 6 | (Continued) |
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| (b) | Asset Valuation and Income Recognition |
Net appreciation and net depreciation in the current value of investments include realized gains and losses on investments sold or disposed of during the year and unrealized gains and losses on investments held at year end. The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Fair value of pooled separate accounts is measured by the net unit value, which is based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the account (excluding the Plan’s stable value investment option, the Principal Preservation Separate Account (PPSA). The fair value of the Company common stock is based upon its quoted market price. Participant loans are valued at their outstanding principal balances, which approximate fair value. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on the trade date. Interest and dividends are recorded when earned.
The PPSA is an insurance product offered through a group annuity contract with PRIAC which is “evergreen” in nature and has no maturity date. The PPSA provides a constant “open window” for participant directed deposits and withdrawals. As such the contract does not provide for any predetermined schedules of cashflows as there would be for a traditional guaranteed investment contract. The PPSA offers a full guarantee of principal and interest by PRIAC. Assets to support the contractual guarantees are held in a nonunitized commingled separate collateral account of PRIAC. The value of the PPSA is stated at contract value which equals fair value given the specific characteristics of the product. Interest crediting rates for the PPSA are declared by PRIAC in advance and guaranteed for six-month periods (January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December 31). The interest crediting rates are not based on the performance of the collateral account. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the average yield and crediting interest rates were approximately 4.0% and 3.6%, respectively.
The carrying value of cash and receivables approximates their fair value given the short maturity of those instruments.
| (c) | Payment of Benefits |
Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution from the Plan.
| (d) | Use of Estimates |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for benefits during the reporting period and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
| (e) | Risks and Uncertainties |
The Plan invests in various forms of investments. These investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risks associated with certain investments, it is possible that changes in the values of investments will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
| 7 | (Continued) |
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| (3) | Investment Information |
The fair values of investment fund balances that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:
| 2007 | 2006 | ||||
| Principal Preservation Separate Account |
$ | 12,805,354 | 13,199,787 | ||
| Large Cap Growth/Turner Investment Partners Fund |
8,605,779 | 3,936,105 | |||
| Dryden S&P 500 Index Fund |
6,686,144 | 6,256,857 | |||
| Balanced I Fund (Sub-advised by Wellington Management) |
4,283,963 | 4,346,619 | |||
| International Equity/Julius Baer Fund |
3,730,641 | 3,029,086 | |||
| Oppenheimer Global Fund |
3,237,473 | 3,163,502 | |||
| Company Common Stock Account |
3,132,734 | * | |||
| Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account |
* | 3,813,981 | |||
| * | Investment does not exceed 5% of the Plan’s net assets |
During the Plan years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold, and held during the year) appreciated/(depreciated) in value as follows:
| 2007 | 2006 | |||||
| Pooled Separate Accounts |
$ | 3,924,548 | 4,332,001 | |||
| Company Common Stock Account** |
366,345 | (2,214,041 | ) | |||
| Sally Beauty Common Stock Account*** |
103,488 | (2,551 | ) | |||
| Net appreciation in fair value |
$ | 4,394,381 | 2,115,409 | |||
| ** | The depreciation in the value of the Company Common Stock Account for the year ended December 31, 2006 is impacted by the separation transaction described in note 4. The special cash dividend of $2,299,305 and the allocation of Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. shares of $724,509, both of which are recorded as dividend income in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, reduced the fair value of the Company Common Stock Account. Offsetting the impact of the separation transaction was appreciation in the value of the Company Common Stock Account of $809,773. |
| *** | The 2006 amount represents depreciation in value from November 16, 2006 (the separation transaction date - see note 4) through December 31, 2006. |
| (4) | Related-Party Transactions |
PRIAC provides recordkeeping, investment management and custodian services for the Plan. Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS) provides brokerage services relating to transactions involving the Company’s common stock held by the Plan.
| 8 | (Continued) |
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
PRIAC and PIMS are affiliates of the Trustee, which are subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees for the above services are paid by the Plan as a reduction of the yield earned on the Plan’s investments and, in some instances, a transaction charge (e.g. loan, distribution processing).
The Company, as plan administrator, is a party-in-interest. Party-in-interest investments held by the Plan included 127,658 shares and 108,110 shares of the Company’s common stock at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, with a fair value of $3,132,734 and $2,318,957, respectively. Dividend income earned on the Company’s common stock was $26,329 and $2,335,808 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
On November 16, 2006, the Company separated its consumer products business and its Sally/BSG beauty supply distribution business into two separate publicly traded companies. As part of the transaction, participant account balances invested in Company common stock as of this date received the following for every share of Company common stock held: a $25 per share special cash dividend, one share of the new consumer products business (Alberto-Culver Company), and one share of the new Sally/BSG beauty supply distribution business (Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.). The special cash dividend was invested in the Plan’s Principal Preservation Separate Account. Shares of Alberto-Culver Company received from the transaction remained invested in the Company Common Stock Account. Shares of Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. received from the transaction were placed in the new Sally Beauty Common Stock Account and will remain there until a participant reallocates the investment of that portion of their account to the Plan’s other available investment alternatives participants are not permitted to direct new investments into shares of the Sally Beauty Common Stock Account.
| (5) | Plan Termination |
It is the intent of the Company that the Plan continues into the future; however, the Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan. In the event the Plan is terminated, participants would become fully vested in their accounts and the assets of the Plan would be distributed to the participants in proportion to their respective interests in the Plan.
| (6) | Tax Status |
The Company adopted a Prototype Standardized Profit Sharing Plan with a cash or deferral arrangement which received a favorable opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service, dated July 28, 2004, which stated that the form of the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Code. The Company believes that the Plan currently is designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, the Plan qualifies under Section 401(a) of the Code and is exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code. Furthermore, the plan administrator is not aware of any activity or transactions that may adversely affect the qualified status of the Plan.
| 9 | (Continued) |
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| (7) | Subsequent Events |
Effective January 1, 2008, for employees of the Company belonging to the United States Steelworkers of America - Local 9777 Chapter, the Company agreed to increase the Company matching contribution of $0.10 of each dollar contributed up to 6% to $1.00 of each dollar contributed up to 2% of eligible compensation contributed. The Company also agreed to make a contribution equal to 2% of eligible compensation to employees’ individual accounts in the Plan. Company contributions are contributed annually based upon an employee’s eligible compensation accumulated during the year.
The Company, as plan administrator, is preparing to merge an affiliated defined contribution plan, the Alberto-Culver Company Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan, into the Plan. The merger is expected to be completed by September 30, 2008.
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ALBERTO-CULVER
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2007
| Identity of issuer, borrower, lessor, or similar party |
Description of investment including maturity date, rate of interest, par value, or number of shares |
Number of shares/units |
Current value | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Principal Preservation Separate Account | 1,106,783 Units | $ | 12,805,354 | |||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Large Cap Growth/Turner | ||||||
| Investment Partners Fund | 517,402 Units | 8,605,779 | |||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Dryden S&P 500 Index Fund | 73,391 Units | 6,686,144 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Balanced I Fund (Sub-advised by | ||||||
| Wellington Management) | 76,956 Units | 4,283,963 | |||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
International Equity/Julius Baer Fund | 128,344 Units | 3,730,641 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Oppenheimer Global Fund | 37,161 Units | 3,237,473 | ||||
| * Alberto-Culver Company |
Alberto-Culver Company Common Stock | 127,658 Shares | 3,132,734 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Mid Cap Value (Sub-advised by | ||||||
| Wellington Management) | 105,176 Units | 2,364,025 | |||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Small Cap Growth/Times Square Fund | 78,430 Units | 2,148,151 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Lifetime Balanced Fund | 104,159 Units | 2,025,089 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Lifetime Growth Fund | 98,654 Units | 1,971,705 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Lifetime Aggressive Fund | 76,576 Units | 1,548,719 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Small Cap Value/MEA Fund | 55,830 Units | 1,460,559 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Large Cap Value/AJO Fund | 70,699 Units | 1,163,460 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Mid Cap Growth/Artisan Partners Fund | 75,977 Units | 1,141,991 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. |
Lifetime Conservative Fund | 53,981 Units | 1,036,991 | ||||
| Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 60,922 Units | 551,347 | |||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company |
Core Plus Bond/PIMCO Fund | 37,145 Units | 512,792 | ||||
| * Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company Participant loans |
Lifetime Income & Equity Fund | 20,433 Units | 379,301 | ||||
| Loans to participants, bearing interest from 5.0% to 10.50% with varying maturities through 2017 | — | 1,192,623 | |||||
| $ | 59,978,841 | ||||||
| * | Represents a party-in-interest. |
See accompanying independent auditors’ report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plans) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan | ||||||||
| Dated: June 27, 2008 | By: | /s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti | ||||||
| Alberto-Culver Company, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as Plan Administrator | ||||||||