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 0F 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 OR [_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the transition period from________ to________ Commission file number 333-70067 --------- A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: Sally Beauty 401(k) Savings Plan Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan 3900 Morse Street Denton, TX 76205 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 SIGNATURES The Plans: 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. SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN By: Sally Beauty Company, Inc., Plan Administrator By:/s/ William J. Cernugel ----------------------- William J. Cernugel Plan Administrator ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN By: Alberto-Culver Company, Inc., Plan Administrator By:/s/ William J. Cernugel ----------------------- William J. Cernugel Plan Administrator Dated: June 24, 2002 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule December 31, 2001 and 2000 (With Independent Auditors' Report Thereon) SALLY BEAUTY 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN Table of Contents Page Independent Auditors' Report 1 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4 Supplemental Schedule 1 Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) 9 [LETTERHEAD OF KPMG] 303 East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 Independent Auditors' Report To the Plan Administrator of the Sally Beauty 401(k) Savings Plan: We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Sally Beauty 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, 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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 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 plan benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) 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 audits 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. May 24, 2001 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 2001 and 2000 2001 2000 --------------- --------------- Assets: Cash $ 192,707 98,327 Investments 21,431,058 17,520,818 --------------- --------------- Total assets held for investment 21,623,765 17,619,145 Employer contribution receivable 1,503,555 1,217,441 --------------- --------------- Net assets available for plan benefits $ 23,127,320 18,836,586 =============== =============== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 2 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available Years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 2001 2000 ------------ ------------ Additions to net assets attributed to: Investment income (loss): Net depreciation in fair value of investments $ (1,766,638) (1,363,352) Dividend and interest income 273,311 213,535 Interest on participant loans 57,191 39,624 ------------ ------------ Total investment loss (1,436,136) (1,110,193) ------------ ------------ Contributions: Employer 1,503,555 1,217,441 Employee 5,993,977 5,224,212 ------------ ------------ Total contributions 7,497,532 6,441,653 ------------ ------------ Total additions 6,061,39 6,331,460 ------------ ------------ Deductions from net assets attributed to: Benefits paid to participants (1,740,721) (2,169,482) Administrative fees (29,941) (25,685) ------------ ------------ Total deductions (1,770,662) (2,195,167) ------------ ------------ Net increase 4,290,734 3,136,293 Net assets available for plan benefits at beginning of year 18,836,586 15,700,293 ------------ ------------ Net assets available for plan benefits at end of year $ 23,127,320 18,836,586 ------------ ------------ See accompanying notes to financial statements. 3 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 (1) Description of the Plan General The Sally Beauty 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan), established on January 1, 1994, is a defined contribution plan available to eligible employees of Sally Beauty Company (the Company). The Plan is administered by the Company with the assistance of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, a CIGNA company. The investment assets of the Plan are held by CIGNA Bank & Trust Company (the Trustee). The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Information about the Plan's provisions is contained in the plan document, which may be obtained from the Company. Participation All eligible employees whose customary employment is for at least 1,000 hours within 12 consecutive months, who are not members of a collective bargaining unit, and who are at least 21 years of age may participate in the Plan on the first day of the month coincident with or following the completion of 12 months of service. On December 31, 2001, there were 2,607 employees in the Plan. Contributions Participants may elect to contribute any amount from 1% to 15% of their eligible compensation, in whole percentage points, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the Code). The percentage of compensation contributed may be increased or decreased at the election of the participant any time during the year. All eligible participant contributions are tax deferred contributions pursuant to a qualified cash or deferral arrangement subject to the limitations of the Code. Company contributions to the Plan are based on a discretionary match on an annual basis. For the plan years 2001 and 2000, the Company matched $.50 of each dollar on 4% of eligible participant compensation. Investment Options Effective January 1, 2001, additional investment fund options were added to the Plan for the purposes of providing a broader selection of investment options for the participants to choose from. Effective May 1, 2001, the Fidelity Growth Opportunities Fund was deleted from the available Plan investment options due to the fund's inability to meet certain performance criteria established by the Plan's Investment Policy Statement. Participants may elect to invest their contributions and any Company contributions in nineteen investment options within seven different asset classes and the Company's Class B common stock. Such asset classes include: (i) fixed income, (ii) balanced, (iii) large capitalization equity, (iv) mid capitalization equity, (v) small capitalization equity, (vi) global equity, and (vii) international equity. Participants may invest Company and employee contributions in 1% increments in the Plan's available fund options and may reallocate their investments among the available fund options any time during the year. (Continued) 4 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 None of the investment funds, other than the CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund, guarantee a positive return to the participant. This fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high quality, fixed income instruments within CIGNA's general account. Principal and interest are backed by the underlying assets of CIGNA. Dividend and interest income received on investments made by the investment funds are reinvested accordingly in the same funds. Vesting Participants are fully vested in the current value of their contributions and earnings thereon, and become fully vested in the Company contributions and related earnings credited to their accounts based upon their years of vesting service as shown in the following table: Years of Vested vesting service percentage ---------- Less than 1 0% 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 contributions and related earnings or losses credited to their account. Distribution Options Upon termination of employment, participants generally may elect to receive the total value of their account attributable to their contributions, as well as the vested value of their Company contributions in cash, annual installments, direct rollover, Company stock, or an annuity according to the provisions of the Plan. Alternatively, participants may elect to defer the distribution of their account balance until age 65. Such deferred benefits remain in the Plan and participate in the earnings and losses of the investments. Participant Loans Participants may borrow against their account balances for periods of one to five years. In the event the loan is used to purchase a primary residence, an extended period of time for repayment is allowed. Participant loans are limited to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the participants' vested account balance and bear interest at a rate of prime plus 1% at the time the loan is made. Outstanding participant loans are considered investments of the Plan and repayments of principal and interest are credited to the borrowing participants' account using his or her current investment election. At December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000, interest rates on outstanding loans ranged from 6.00% to 10.5% and 7.0% to 10.5%, respectively. (Continued) 5 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 Forfeitures Company contributions, and earnings thereon, forfeited by terminating employees are used to reduce future Company contributions to the Plan. The Company will reinstate forfeited balances to the accounts of employees who rejoin the Company within five years of their termination. In 2001 and 2000, Company contributions were reduced by forfeiture amounts of $28,145 and $41,428 respectively. Administrative Expenses Administrative fees are paid by the Plan. All other Plan-related expenses are paid by the Company. Investment management fees are included in the investment fund yields. (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting The Company maintains the accounts of the Plan on an accrual basis. Asset Valuation The investment assets in the trust are valued at the quoted closing sale price on the last business day of the year. Securities traded in over-the-counter markets and listed securities for which no sale was reported on the last business day of the year are valued at their last reported bid price. Participant loans are stated at contract value which approximates fair value. Security Transactions and Investment Income Purchases and sales of investments in the Plan are recorded on a trade date basis. When investments are sold, the difference between the original cost (computed on an average cost basis) and the proceeds received are recorded as a realized gain or loss. Interest and dividend income are recorded when earned. 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 plan administrator estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for plan benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits during the reporting period and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. (Continued) 6 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activity. In June 2000, the FASB issued SFAS No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activity, an Amendment to SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 133 and SFAS No. 138 require that all derivative instruments be recorded on the statement of net assets available for benefits at their respective fair values. The Plan adopted SFAS No. 133 and No. 138 on January 1, 2001 and the adoption had no impact on the Plan's consolidated financial statements. (3) Termination of the Plan It is the intent of the Company that the Plan continue 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. (4) Tax Status The Plan has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), dated June 19, 1997, indicating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code. The plan administrator is not aware of any activity or transaction that may adversely affect the qualified status of the Plan. (5) Reconciliation of Financials Statements to Form 5500 The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for plan benefits included in the financial statements to the Form 5500: Year ended December 31, 2001 ------------ Net assets available for plan benefits included in the financial statements $ 23,127,320 Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2001 (28,384) ------------ Net assets available for plan benefits included in the IRS Form 5500 $ 23,098,936 ============ (Continued) 7 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements to the Form 5500: Year ended December 31, 2001 ------------ Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements $ 1,740,721 Add amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2001 28,384 ----------- Benefits paid to participants per IRS Form 5500 $ 1,769,105 =========== (6) Other Investment Information The fair values of investment fund balances which represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows: 2001 2000 ----------- --------- CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund $ 5,689,805 4,266,633 Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund 3,079,198 3,211,745 CIGNA Large Cap Growth Fund/Morgan Stanley 2,369,217 443,721 CIGNA S&P 500 Index Fund 1,970,890 1,765,088 Fidelity Advisor Balanced Fund 1,798,270 1,639,722 Alberto-Culver Company Class B Common Stock 1,184,684 543,357 Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund -- 1,800,702 ========== ========= (7) Subsequent Events Effective January 1, 2002, the annuity and installment provisions were eliminated as distribution options for the purposes of administration efficiency. Effective May 1, 2002, participants may elect to contribute any amount from 1% to 50% of their eligible compensation in whole percentage points to the Plan, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective May 1, 2002, participants were allowed to make catch-up contributions up to $1,000 in the Plan year 2002. Such amounts will increase by $1,000 per year up to a contribution of $5,000 in 2006 and then increases in $500 increments thereafter. Employer matching contributions will not be made on catch-up contributions. 8 Schedule 1 SALLY BEAUTY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) December 31, 2001 Description of investment including Identity of issues, borrower, maturity date, rate of interest, Fair lessor, or similar party par value, or number of shares value -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------- * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Guaranteed Income Fund $ 5,689,805 Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund 3,079,198 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Large Cap Growth Fund/Morgan Stanley 2,369,217 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company S&P 500 Index Fund 1,970,890 Fidelity Advisor Balanced Fund 1,798,270 * Alberto-Culver Company Class B Common Stock, 26,475 shares 1,184,684 Janus Worldwide Fund 1,018,182 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Small Cap Growth/Times Square 632,877 Credit Suisse International Equity Fund 576,381 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Small Cap Value/Berger 397,146 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Mid Cap Growth Fund/Cadence 338,626 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Lifetime 40 321,789 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Balanced Fund/Wellington Management 289,033 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Lifetime 50 264,970 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Lifetime 30 251,767 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Lifetime 20 248,906 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Large CapValue/John A. Levin & Co. 140,086 Lazard International Equity Fund 68,043 * CIGNA Bank & Trust Company Lifetime 60 37,471 * Plan participants Loans to participants, bearing interest from 6.0% to 10.5% 753,717 ------------- $ 21,431,058 ============= * Represents a party-in-interest. See accompanying independent auditors' report. 9 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule December 31, 2001 and 2000 (With Independent Auditors' Report Thereon) ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Table of Contents Page Independent Auditors' Report 1 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4 Supplemental Schedule 1 Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) 9 [LETTERHEAD OF KPMG] Independent Auditors' Report 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, 2001 and 2000, 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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 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 plan benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) 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 audits 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. May 24, 2001 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 2001 and 2000 2001 2000 ------------ ---------- Assets: Cash $ -- 45,929 Investments 25,563,595 24,052,038 ------------ ---------- Total assets held for investment 25,563,595 24,097,967 Employer contribution receivable 894,637 796,329 ------------ ---------- Net assets available for plan benefits $ 26,458,232 24,894,296 ============ ========== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 2 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 2001 2000 ------------ ------------ Additions to net assets attributed to: Investment income (loss): Net depreciation in fair value of investments $ (2,421,012) (2,037,547) Dividend and interest income 359,304 294,295 Interest on participant loans 60,540 50,288 ------------ ------------ Total investment loss (2,001,168) (1,692,964) ------------ ------------ Contributions: Employer 894,637 796,329 Employee 4,096,672 4,016,440 Transfers from Pro-Line International, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan -- 267,414 ------------ ------------ Total contributions 4,991,309 5,080,183 ------------ ------------ Total additions 2,990,141 3,387,219 ------------ ------------ Deductions from net assets attributed to: Benefits paid to participants (1,415,618) (2,377,346) Administrative fees (10,587) (10,243) ------------ ------------ Total deductions (1,426,205) (2,387,589) ------------ ------------ Net increase 1,563,936 999,630 Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year 24,894,296 23,894,666 ------------ ------------ Net assets available for benefits at end of year $ 26,458,232 24,894,296 ============ ============ See accompanying notes to financial statements 3 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 (1) Description of the Plan General The Alberto-Culver 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan), established on January 1, 1994, is a defined contribution plan available to eligible employees of Alberto-Culver Company (the Company), and certain subsidiaries of the Company. On March 23, 2000 the Company acquired Pro-Line Corporation and subsequently terminated the Pro-Line 401(k) / ESOP Plan (the Pro-Line Plan). Upon termination, participants were provided the opportunity to receive a distribution of assets from the ESOP portion of the Pro-Line Plan or transfer their funds to the Plan. Assets of the 401(k) portion of the Pro-Line Plan were automatically transferred to the Plan. Participants in the Pro-Line Plan received service credit for eligibility and vesting as of the date of acquisition. The Plan is administered by the Company with the assistance of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, a CIGNA company. The investment assets of the Plan are held by CIGNA Bank & Trust Company (the Trustee). The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Information about the Plan's provisions is contained in the Plan document, which may be obtained from the Company. Participation All eligible employees whose customary employment is for at least 1,000 hours within 12 consecutive months and are at least 21 years of age may participate in the Plan on the first day of the month coincident with or following the employee's hire date. Effective January 1, 2000, eligible employees of the Alberto-Culver Local 9777 Pension Plan were permitted to participate in the Plan. The Plan does not allow for Company matching contributions to this group. On December 31, 2001, there were 1,371 employees in the Plan. Contributions Participants may elect to contribute any amount from 1% to 15% of their eligible compensation, in whole percentage points, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the Code). The percentage of compensation contributed may be increased or decreased at the election of the participant any time during the year. All eligible participant contributions are tax deferred contributions pursuant to a qualified cash or deferral arrangement subject to the limitations of the Code. Company contributions to the Plan are based on a discretionary match on an annual basis. For the plan years 2001 and 2000, the Company matched $.50 of each dollar on 4% of eligible participant compensation. (Continued) 4 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 Investment Options Effective January 1, 2001, additional investment fund options were added to the Plan for the purposes of providing a broader selection of investment options for the participants to choose from. Effective May 1, 2001, the Fidelity Growth Opportunities Fund was deleted from the available plan investment options due to the fund's inability to meet certain performance criteria established by the Plan's Investment Policy Statement. Participants may elect to invest their contributions and any Company contributions in nineteen investment options within seven different asset classes and the Company's Class B common stock. Such asset classes include: (i) fixed income, (ii) balanced, (iii) large capitalization equity, (iv) mid capitalization equity, (v) small capitalization equity, (vi) global equity, and (vii) international equity. Participants may invest Company and employee contributions in 1% increments in the Plan's available fund options and may reallocate their investments among the available fund options any time during the year. None of the investment funds, other than the CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund, guarantee a positive return to the participant. This fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high quality, fixed income instruments within CIGNA's general account. Principal and interest are backed by the underlying assets of CIGNA. Dividend and interest income received on investments made by the investment funds are reinvested accordingly in the same funds. Vesting Participants are fully vested in the current value of their contributions and earnings thereon, and become fully vested in the Company contributions and related earnings credited to their accounts based upon their years of vesting service as shown in the following table: Years of Vested vesting service percentage ---------- Less than 1 0% 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 contributions and related earnings or losses credited to their account. (Continued) 5 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 Distribution Options Upon termination of employment, participants generally may elect to receive the total value of their account attributable to their contributions, as well as the vested value of their Company contributions in cash, annual installments, direct rollover, Company stock, or an annuity according to the provisions of the Plan. Alternatively, participants may elect to defer the distribution of their account balance until age 65. Such deferred benefits remain in the Plan and participate in the earnings and losses of the investments. Participant Loans Participants may borrow against their account balances for periods of one to five years. In the event the loan is used to purchase a primary residence, an extended period of time for repayment is allowed. Participant loans are limited to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the participants' vested account balance and bear interest at a rate of prime plus 1% at the time the loan is made. Outstanding participant loans are considered investments of the Plan and repayments of principal and interest are credited to the borrowing participants' account using his or her current investment election. At December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000, interest rates on outstanding loans ranged from 5.75% to 10.5% and 7.25% to 10.5%, respectively. Forfeitures Company contributions and earnings thereon forfeited by terminating employees are used to reduce future Company contributions to the Plan. The Company will reinstate forfeited balances to the accounts of employees who rejoin the Company within five years of their termination. In 2001 and 2000, Company contributions were reduced by forfeiture amounts of $11,111 and $9,275, respectively. Administrative Expenses Administrative fees are paid by the Plan. All other Plan-related expenses are paid by the Company. Investment management fees are included in the investment fund yield. (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting The Company maintains the accounts of the Plan on an accrual basis. Asset Valuation The investment assets in the Plan are valued at the quoted closing sale price on the last business day of the year. Securities traded in over-the-counter markets and listed securities for which no sale was reported on the last business day of the year are valued at their last reported bid price. Participant loans are stated at contract value which approximates fair value. (Continued) 6 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 Security Transactions and Investment Income Purchases and sales of investments in the Plan are recorded on a trade date basis. When investments are sold, the difference between the original cost (computed on an average cost basis) and the proceeds received is recorded as a realized gain or loss. Interest and dividend income are recorded when earned. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of plan administrator estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for plan benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits during the reporting period and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activity. In June 2000, the FASB issued SFAS No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activity, an Amendment to SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 133 and SFAS No. 138 require that all derivative instruments be recorded on the statement of net assets available for benefits at their respective fair values. The Plan adopted SFAS No. 133 and No. 138 on January 1, 2001 and the adoption had no impact on the Plan's consolidated financial statements. (3) Termination of the Plan It is the intent of the Company that the Plan continue 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. (4) Tax Status The Plan has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, dated December 16, 1996, indicating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code. (Continued) 7 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 (5) Other Investment Information The fair values of investment fund balances which represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows: 2001 2000 ------------- ----------- CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund $ 7,424,263 5,730,412 Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund 3,954,975 4,323,890 CIGNA S&P 500 Index Fund 3,261,946 3,632,861 Fidelity Advisor Balanced Fund 1,952,313 1,939,426 Janus Worldwide Fund 1,173,869 1,254,062 Alberto-Culver Company Class B Common Stock 1,210,425 767,426 Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund -- 2,099,446 ============= =========== (6) Subsequent Events Effective January 1, 2002, the annuity and installment provisions were eliminated as a distribution options for the purposes of administration efficiency. Effective May 1, 2002, participants may elect to contribute any amount from 1% to 50% of their eligible compensation in whole percentage points to the Plan, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective May 1, 2002, participants were allowed to make catch-up contributions up to $1,000 in the Plan year 2002. Such amounts will increase by $1,000 per year up to a contribution of $5,000 in 2006 and then increases in $500 increments thereafter. Employer matching contributions will not be made on catch-up contributions. 8 Schedule 1 ALBERTO-CULVER 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) December 31, 2001 Description of investment including Identity of issues, borrower, maturity date, rate of interest, Fair lessor, or similar party par value, or number of shares value -------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------- * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund $ 7,424,263 Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund 3,594,975 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA S&P 500 Index Fund 3,261,946 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Large Cap Growth Fund/Morgan Stanley 2,530,714 Fidelity Advisor Balanced Fund 1,952,313 * Alberto-Culver Company Class B Common Stock, 26,911 shares 1,210,425 Janus Worldwide Fund 1,173,869 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Small Cap Growth/Times Square 764,881 Credit Suisse International Equity Fund 670,344 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Small Cap Value/Berger 473,194 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Mid Cap Growth Fund/Cadence 458,544 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Lifetime 40 247,812 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Lifetime 30 230,545 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Lifetime 50 211,037 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Large CapValue/John A. Levin & Co. 172,245 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Lifetime 20 169,782 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Balanced Fund/Wellington Management 138,696 Lazard International Equity Fund 39,647 * Connecticut General Life Insurance Company CIGNA Lifetime 60 31,601 * Plan participants Loans to participants, bearing interest from 5.75% to 10.5% 806,763 ------------- $ 25,563,595 ============= * Represents a party-in-interest. See accompanying independent auditors' report. 9