Edgar Filing: CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

STZ 2.28.2013 10K

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)



ý	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2013



¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 001-08495

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware	16-0716709
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



207 High Point Drive, Building 100 Victor, New York	14564
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (585) 678-7100

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:



Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock (par value $.01 per share)	New York Stock Exchange
Class B Common Stock (par value $.01 per share)	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý No ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):



Large accelerated filer	ý	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No ý

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing sales prices of the registrant’s Class A and Class B Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $4,995,477,196.

The number of shares outstanding with respect to each of the classes of common stock of Constellation Brands, Inc., as of April 22, 2013, is set forth below:



Class	Number of Shares Outstanding
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	162,180,414
Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	23,492,035
Class 1 Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	37

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The proxy statement of Constellation Brands, Inc. to be issued for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders which is expected to be held July 24, 2013 is incorporated by reference in Part III to the extent described therein.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS



		Page
PART I
ITEM 1.	Business	1
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	9
ITEM 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	22
ITEM 2.	Properties	22
ITEM 3.	Legal Proceedings	24
ITEM 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	25

PART II
ITEM 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	27
ITEM 6.	Selected Financial Data	28
ITEM 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29
ITEM 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	55
ITEM 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	56
ITEM 9.	Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	126
ITEM 9A.	Controls and Procedures	126
ITEM 9B.	Other Information	126

PART III
ITEM 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	127
ITEM 11.	Executive Compensation	127
ITEM 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	127
ITEM 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	128
ITEM 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	128

PART IV
ITEM 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	129

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This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including without limitation (I) the statements under Item 1 “Business” and Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding (i) the Company’s business strategy, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management, (ii) the Company’s expected restructuring charges, accelerated depreciation and other costs, (iii) information concerning expected or potential actions of third parties, (iv) information concerning the future expected balance of supply and demand for wine, (v) the expected impact upon results of operations resulting from the Company’s decision to consolidate its U.S. distributor network, (vi) the duration of the share repurchase implementation, and (II) the statements regarding the acquisition of the remaining portion of Crown Imports LLC, the acquisition of the Piedras Negras brewery, and the acquisition of the perpetual brand rights for the Modelo brands currently sold in the U.S. and certain extensions (collectively the “Beer Business Acquisition”) and associated financing are forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to the risks and uncertainties of ordinary business operations and conditions in the general economy and markets in which the Company competes, the forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are also subject to the risk and uncertainty that (i) the actual balance of supply and demand for wine products will vary from current expectations due to, among other reasons, actual grape harvest and actual consumer demand, (ii) the Company’s restructuring charges, accelerated depreciation and other costs may vary materially from current expectations due to, among other reasons, variations in anticipated headcount reductions, contract terminations or modifications, equipment relocation and/or other costs of implementation, (iii) the amount and timing of any share repurchases may vary due to market conditions, the Company’s cash and debt position, the impact of the Beer Business Acquisition and other factors as determined by management from time to time, and (iv) any consummation of the Beer Business Acquisition and any actual date of consummation of the Beer Business Acquisition may vary from the Company’s current expectations, (v) the exact components, availability and terms of the financing for the Beer Business Acquisition, including any anticipated amendment or restatement of the Company’s senior credit facility, may vary due to market conditions, the Company’s cash and debt position, and other factors as determined by management, and (vi) the timeframe and actual costs associated with the expansion of the Piedras Negras brewery may vary from management’s current expectations due to market conditions, the Company’s cash and debt position, and other factors as determined by management. The Beer Business Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including receipt of any required regulatory approvals and the consummation of certain transactions between Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. and certain of its affiliates. Additional important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are those described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report and in other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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PART I

Item 1. Business.

Introduction

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to Constellation Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and all references to “net sales” refer to gross sales less promotions, returns and allowances, and excise taxes to conform with the Company’s method of classification. All references to “Fiscal 2013,” “Fiscal 2012” and “Fiscal 2011” refer to the Company’s fiscal year ended the last day of February of the indicated year. All references to “Fiscal 2014” refer to the Company’s fiscal year ending February 28, 2014.

Market positions and industry data discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are as of calendar 2012 and have been obtained or derived from industry and government publications and Company estimates. The industry and government publications include: Beverage Information Group; Impact Databank Review and Forecast; SymphonyIRI Group; Aztec; Euromonitor International; International Wine and Spirit Record; Association for Canadian Distillers; Distilled Spirits Council of the United States; and Canadian Home Wine Trade Association. The Company has not independently verified the data from the industry and government publications. Unless otherwise noted, all references to market positions are based on equivalent unit volume.

The Company is a Delaware corporation incorporated on December 4, 1972, as the successor to a business founded in 1945. The Company has approximately 4,500 employees located primarily in the United States (“U.S.”) and Canada with its corporate headquarters located in Victor, New York. The Company conducts its business through entities it wholly owns as well as through a variety of joint ventures and other entities.

The Company is the world’s leading premium wine company with a leading market position in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. Prior to January 31, 2011, the Company had a leading market position in both Australia and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) through its Australian and U.K. business. On January 31, 2011, the Company sold 80.1% of its Australian and U.K. business as part of its efforts to premiumize its portfolio and improve margins and return on invested capital (see additional discussion regarding this divestiture below). The Company’s wine portfolio is complemented by select premium spirits brands and other select beverage alcohol products.

The Company is the leading marketer of imported beer in the U.S. through its investment in Crown Imports LLC (“Crown Imports”), a joint venture with Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Modelo”) pursuant to which Modelo’s Mexican beer portfolio (the “Modelo Brands”) are imported, marketed and sold by the joint venture in the U.S. on an exclusive basis. As discussed in Recent Developments below, the Company has signed definitive agreements to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in Crown Imports for approximately $1.85 billion, and the Piedras Negras brewery located in Nava, Coahuila, Mexico and the perpetual brand rights for the Modelo Brands currently sold in the U.S. and certain extensions for approximately $2.9 billion. The combined $4.75 billion beer business transaction is expected to be completed around the end of the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2014, or shortly thereafter. The pending transaction is expected to position the Company as the third largest producer and marketer of beer for the U.S. market and the largest multi-category supplier (wine, spirits and beer) of beverage alcohol in the U.S.

Many of the Company’s products are recognized leaders in their respective categories and geographic markets. The Company’s strong market positions make the Company a supplier of choice to many of its customers, who include wholesale distributors, retailers, on-premise locations and government alcohol beverage control agencies.

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The Company currently reports net sales in one reportable segment, Constellation Wines and Spirits (formerly known as Constellation Wines North America through February 29, 2012). Prior to the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture (as defined below), the Company reported its net sales in two reportable segments, Constellation Wines and Spirits and Constellation Wines Australia and Europe (see additional discussion regarding business segments below). Net sales reported by segment (based on the location of the selling company) are summarized as follows:



	For the Year Ended February 28, 2013		% of Total		For the Year Ended February 29, 2012		% of Total		For the Year Ended February 28, 2011		% of Total
(in millions)
Constellation Wines and Spirits	$	2,796.1	100	%	$	2,654.3	100	%	$	2,557.3	77	%
Constellation Wines Australia and Europe	—		—		—		—		774.7		23	%
Consolidated Net Sales	$	2,796.1	100	%	$	2,654.3	100	%	$	3,332.0	100	%

During the past 10 years, there have been certain key trends within the beverage alcohol industry, which include:


•	Consolidation of suppliers, wholesalers and retailers;


•	An increase in global wine consumption, with premium wines growing faster than value-priced wines;


•	Premium spirits growing faster than value-priced spirits; and


•	High-end beer (imports and crafts) growing faster than domestic beer in the U.S.

To capitalize on these trends and become more competitive, the Company has generally employed a strategy focused on a combination of organic growth, acquisitions and investments in joint ventures and other entities, with an increasing focus on the higher-margin premium categories of the beverage alcohol industry. Key elements of the Company’s strategy include:


•	Leveraging its existing portfolio of leading brands;


•	Developing new products, new packaging and line extensions;


•	Strengthening relationships with wholesalers and retailers;


•	Expanding distribution of its product portfolio;


•	Enhancing production capabilities;


•	Realizing operating efficiencies and synergies; and


•	Maximizing asset utilization.

Over the four fiscal years ended February 28, 2011, the Company complemented this strategy by divesting certain businesses, brands, and assets as part of its efforts to increase its mix of premium brands, improve margins, create operating efficiencies and reduce debt. Since completing that period of divestiture activity, the Company acquired the remaining interest in Ruffino S.r.l. (“Ruffino”) in Fiscal 2012 and acquired Mark West (as defined below) in Fiscal 2013. The Ruffino and Mark West brands are higher-margin premium wine growth brands.

The pending beer business transaction, including the acquisition of the perpetual brand rights for the Modelo Brands currently sold in the U.S. and certain extensions and the Mexican brewery assets, is expected to solidify the Company’s position in the U.S. beer market over the long-term. The transaction is also expected to diversify the Company’s profit base and enhance margins, earnings and cash flow.

Recent Developments

Crown Imports

In June 2012, the Company signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in Crown Imports for approximately $1.85 billion (the “Initial Purchase Agreement”). As discussed previously, Crown Imports has the exclusive right to import, market and sell primarily the Modelo Brands in the U.S. and Guam. Crown Imports’ portfolio of brands includes Corona Extra, the best-selling imported beer and the sixth best-selling

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beer overall in the U.S.; Corona Light, the leading imported light beer; and Modelo Especial, the third largest and one of the fastest growing major imported beer brands.

In February 2013, the Company signed an amended and restated agreement to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in Crown Imports for the previously agreed amount of approximately $1.85 billion (the “February 2013 Crown Purchase Agreement”). In addition, the Company signed an agreement to purchase (i) all of the outstanding capital stock of Compañia Cervecera de Coahuila, S.A. de C.V., the company which owns the Piedras Negras brewery located in Nava, Coahuila, Mexico (the “Brewery”), (ii) all of the outstanding capital stock of Servicios Modelo de Coahuila, S.A. de C.V. (the “Services Company”), and (iii) the perpetual brand rights for the Modelo Brands currently sold in the U.S. and certain extensions (collectively, the “February 2013 Purchased Shares and Licensed Rights”) for approximately $2.9 billion, in aggregate, subject to a post-closing adjustment. The February 2013 Crown Purchase Agreement and the February 2013 Purchased Shares and Licensed Rights are collectively referred to as the “February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition.”

In April 2013, the Company entered into amendments to the agreements regarding the February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition (the “First Amendments”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company is required to build out and expand the Brewery to a nominal capacity of at least 20 million hectoliters of packaged beer annually by December 31, 2016. In addition, the First Amendments provide, among other things, that the United States will have approval rights, in its sole discretion, for amendments or modifications to the amended agreements and the United States will have a right of approval, in its sole discretion, of any extension of the term of interim supply arrangements beyond three years. The February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition together with the First Amendments is referred to as the “Beer Business Acquisition.” The pending Beer Business Acquisition is expected to position the Company as the third largest producer and marketer of beer for the U.S. and the largest multi-category supplier of beverage alcohol in the U.S.

Recent Acquisitions and Divestitures

In July 2012, the Company acquired Mark West for $159.3 million. The transaction primarily includes the acquisition of the Mark West trademark, related inventories and certain grape supply contracts (“Mark West”). The acquisition of this higher-margin, premium wine growth brand complements the Company’s existing portfolio and further strengthens the Company’s focus on consumer-preferred premium wine brands.

In October 2011, the Company acquired the remaining 50.1% equity interest in Ruffino for €50.3 million ($68.6 million). The Company also assumed indebtedness of Ruffino, net of cash acquired, of €54.2 million ($73.1 million). Prior to this transaction, the Company had owned 49.9% of Ruffino and was the U.S. importer for the Ruffino wine brands.

In January 2011, the Company sold 80.1% of its Australian and U.K. business (the “CWAE Divestiture”) at a transaction value of $267.7 million. The Company has received cash proceeds of $193.1 million, net of cash divested of $15.8 million, direct costs paid of $12.0 million and post-closing adjustments paid of $18.5 million. The Company has retained a less than 20% interest in the business. This transaction is consistent with the Company’s strategic focus on premiumizing the Company’s portfolio and improving margins and return on invested capital.

For more information about these transactions, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Business Segments

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operating segment to form one reportable segment. Accordingly, prior to January 31, 2011, the Company reported its operating results in four segments: Constellation Wines and Spirits (wine and spirits) (formerly known as Constellation Wines North America through February 29, 2012), Constellation Wines Australia and Europe (wine) (“CWAE”), Corporate Operations and Other, and Crown Imports (imported beer). As a result of the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture, as of February 1, 2011, the Company no longer reports operating results for the CWAE segment.

From February 1, 2011, through May 31, 2011, the Company’s internal management financial reporting consisted of three business divisions: Constellation Wines North America, Constellation Wines New Zealand and Crown Imports. As discussed above, the Company had aggregated the results of its Constellation Wines New Zealand operating segment with its Constellation Wines North America operating segment to form one reportable segment. Accordingly, from February 1, 2011, through May 31, 2011, the Company reported its operating results in three segments: Constellation Wines and Spirits, Corporate Operations and Other, and Crown Imports.

Information regarding net sales, operating income and total assets of each of the Company’s business segments and information regarding geographic areas is set forth in Note 21 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements located in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Constellation Wines and Spirits

Constellation Wines and Spirits is the leading producer and marketer of premium wine in the world. It has a leading market position in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand and sells a large number of wine brands across all categories – table wine, sparkling wine and dessert wine – and across all price points – popular, premium, super-premium and fine wine. The portfolio of super-premium and fine wines is supported by vineyard holdings in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Italy. Wine produced by the Company in the U.S. is primarily marketed domestically and in Canada and the U.K. Wine produced in Canada is primarily marketed domestically. Wine produced in New Zealand is primarily marketed in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K. and domestically. Wine produced in Italy is primarily marketed in the U.S., Canada and domestically. In addition, Constellation Wines and Spirits exports its wine products to other major wine consuming markets of the world.

In the U.S., Constellation Wines and Spirits sells 14 of the top-selling 100 table wine brands and is a leading premium wine company. In Canada, it is the leading wine company and has six of the top-selling 25 table wine brands and the leading icewine brand with Inniskillin.

Constellation Wines and Spirits’ well-known wine brands include Robert Mondavi Brands, Clos du Bois, Estancia, Black Box, Arbor Mist, Blackstone, Rex Goliath, Simi, Toasted Head, Mark West, Ravenswood, Franciscan Estate, Ruffino, Wild Horse, Kim Crawford, Mount Veeder, Nobilo, Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs.

Premium spirit brands in Constellation Wines and Spirits’ portfolio include SVEDKA Vodka, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy, all of which have a leading position in their respective categories.

Constellation Wines and Spirits is also a leading producer and marketer of wine kits and beverage alcohol refreshment drinks in Canada.

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In conjunction with its wine production, Constellation Wines and Spirits produces and sells bulk wine and other related products and services.

Constellation Wines Australia and Europe

Prior to the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture, the Company’s CWAE segment was a leading producer and marketer of wine in Australia and a leading marketer of wine in the U.K. Wine produced by the Company in Australia was primarily marketed domestically and in the U.K. CWAE sold wine brands across all price points and varieties, and was the leading producer of value-priced cask (box) wines in Australia.

Crown Imports

In January 2007, the Company completed the formation of Crown Imports. The Company and Modelo indirectly each have an equal interest in Crown Imports, which has the exclusive right to import, market and sell primarily the Modelo Brands, which include Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Negra Modelo and Victoria, in all 50 states of the U.S. In the U.S., Crown Imports has five of the top-selling 25 imported beer brands. Corona Extra is the best-selling imported beer and the sixth best-selling beer overall in the U.S.; Corona Light is the leading imported light beer; and Modelo Especial is the third largest and one of the fastest growing major imported beer brands. The Company currently accounts for its investment in Crown Imports under the equity method.

Corporate Operations and Other

The Corporate Operations and Other segment includes traditional corporate-related items including executive management, corporate development, corporate finance, human resources, internal audit, investor relations, legal, public relations and global information technology.

Marketing and Distribution

The Company’s segments employ full-time, in-house marketing, sales and customer service organizations to maintain a high degree of focus on their respective product categories. The organizations use a range of marketing strategies and tactics designed to build brand equity and increase sales, including market research, consumer and trade advertising, price promotions, point-of-sale materials, event sponsorship, on-premise promotions and public relations. Where opportunities exist, particularly with national accounts in the U.S., the Company leverages its sales and marketing skills across the organization.

In North America, the Company’s products are primarily distributed by wholesale distributors as well as state and provincial alcoholic beverage control agencies. As is the case with all other beverage alcohol companies, products sold through state or provincial alcoholic beverage control agencies are subject to obtaining and maintaining listings to sell the Company’s products in that agency’s state or province. State and provincial governments can affect prices paid by consumers of the Company’s products. This is possible either through the imposition of taxes or, in states and provinces in which the government acts as the distributor of the Company’s products through an alcohol beverage control agency, by directly setting retail prices for the Company’s products.

Trademarks and Distribution Agreements

Trademarks are an important aspect of the Company’s business. The Company sells its products under a number of trademarks, which the Company owns or uses under license. Throughout its segments, the Company also has various licenses and distribution agreements for the sale, or the production and sale, of its products and products of third parties. These licenses and distribution agreements have varying terms and durations. At the end of the Company’s year ended February 28, 2013, these agreements included, among others, a long-term license agreement with the B. Manischewitz Company, which expires in 2042, for the Manischewitz brand, and a distribution and importation agreement with Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., which expires in December 2016, for the Mouton Cadet brand. Additionally, in connection with the CWAE Divestiture, the Company entered into distribution, importation and license agreements, some of which may expire in 2014 regarding the production,

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distribution, importation and licensing of products owned by the divested business which include various brands, such as, but not limited to, the Hardy’s brands in certain countries outside the U.S.

All of the Company’s imported beer products are imported, marketed and sold through Crown Imports. Crown Imports has entered into exclusive importation agreements with the suppliers of the imported beer products. These agreements have terms that vary and prohibit Crown Imports from importing beer products from other producers from the same country. Crown Imports’ Mexican beer portfolio, the Modelo Brands, currently consists of the Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico and Victoria brands. Crown Imports has the right to market and sell the Modelo Brands in all 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia and Guam. Crown Imports has an exclusive sub-license to use certain trademarks related to Modelo Brands beer products in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and Guam) pursuant to a sub-license agreement between Crown Imports and Marcas Modelo, S.A. de C.V. This sub-license agreement continues for the duration of the Crown Imports joint venture.

Crown Imports and Extrade II S.A. de C.V. (“Extrade II”), an affiliate of Modelo, have entered into an Importer Agreement, pursuant to which Extrade II granted to Crown Imports the exclusive right to sell the Modelo Brands in the territories mentioned above. The joint venture and the related importation arrangements provide that, subject to the terms and conditions of those agreements, the joint venture and the related importation arrangements will continue through 2016 for an initial term of 10 years, and renew in 10-year periods unless GModelo Corporation, a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Diblo, S.A. de C.V. (“Diblo”), gives notice prior to the end of year seven of any term.

Competition

The beverage alcohol industry is highly competitive. The Company competes on the basis of quality, price, brand recognition and distribution strength. The Company’s beverage alcohol products compete with other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for consumer purchases, as well as shelf space in retail stores, restaurant presence and wholesaler attention. The Company competes with numerous multinational producers and distributors of beverage alcohol products, some of which have greater resources than the Company.

Constellation Wines and Spirits’ principal wine competitors include: E&J Gallo Winery, The Wine Group, Treasury Wine Estates, W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Kendall-Jackson in the U.S.; Andrew Peller, E&J Gallo Winery, Treasury Wine Estates and Kruger in Canada; and Pernod Ricard, Lion Nathan and Treasury Wine Estates in New Zealand. Constellation Wines and Spirits’ principal distilled spirits competitors include: Diageo, Beam, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi and Brown-Forman.

Crown Imports’ principal competitors include: Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors and Heineken.

Production

In the U.S., the Company operates 18 wineries where wine is produced from many varieties of grapes grown principally in the Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and San Joaquin regions of California. The Company also operates nine wineries in Canada, four wineries in New Zealand and five wineries in Italy. Grapes are crushed at most of the Company’s wineries and stored as wine until packaged for sale under the Company’s brand names or sold in bulk. In the U.S., Canada and Italy, the Company’s inventories of wine are usually at their highest levels in September through November during and after the crush of each year’s grape harvest, and are reduced prior to the subsequent year’s crush. Similarly, in New Zealand, the Company’s inventories of wine are usually at their highest levels in March through May during and after the crush of each year’s grape harvest, and are reduced prior to the subsequent year’s crush.

The Company’s Canadian whisky requirements are produced and aged at its Canadian distillery in Lethbridge, Alberta. The Company’s requirements of grains and bulk spirits it uses in the production of Canadian whisky are purchased from various suppliers.

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Sources and Availability of Production Materials

The principal components in the production of the Company’s branded beverage alcohol products are agricultural products, such as grapes and grain, and packaging materials (primarily glass).

Most of the Company’s annual grape requirements are satisfied by purchases from each year’s harvest which normally begins in August and runs through October in the U.S., Canada and Italy, and begins in February and runs through May in New Zealand. The Company believes that it has adequate sources of grape supplies to meet its sales expectations. However, when demand for certain wine products exceeds expectations, the Company sources the extra requirements from the bulk wine markets. Depending upon overall demand, the Company could experience shortages.

The Company receives grapes from approximately 1,080 independent growers in the U.S., approximately 100 independent growers in Canada, approximately 80 independent growers in New Zealand and approximately 20 independent growers in Italy. The Company enters into written purchase agreements with a majority of these growers and pricing generally varies year-to-year and is generally based on then-current market prices.

At February 28, 2013, the Company owned or leased approximately 19,200 acres of land and vineyards, either fully bearing or under development, in California (U.S.), New York (U.S.), Canada, New Zealand and Italy. This acreage supplies only a small percentage of the Company’s overall total grape needs for wine production. However, most of this acreage is used to supply a large portion of the grapes used for the production of the Company’s super-premium and fine wines. The Company continues to consider the purchase or lease of additional vineyards, and additional land for vineyard plantings, to supplement its grape supply.

The distilled spirits manufactured and imported by the Company require various agricultural products, neutral grain spirits and bulk spirits. The Company fulfills its requirements through purchases from various sources by contractual arrangement and through purchases on the open market. The Company believes that adequate supplies of the aforementioned products are available at the present time.

The Company utilizes glass and polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) bottles and other materials such as caps, corks, capsules, labels, wine bags and cardboard cartons in the bottling and packaging of its products. After grape purchases, glass bottle costs are the largest component of the Company’s cost of product sold. In the U.S. and Canada, the glass bottle industry is highly concentrated with only a small number of producers. The Company has traditionally obtained, and continues to obtain, its glass requirements from a limited number of producers under long-term supply arrangements. Currently, one producer supplies most of the Company’s glass container requirements for its U.S. operations and a portion of the Company’s glass container requirements for its Canadian operations, with the remaining portion of the Company’s glass container requirements for its Canadian operations supplied by another producer. The Company has been able to satisfy its requirements with respect to the foregoing and considers its sources of supply to be adequate at this time. However, the inability of any of the Company’s glass bottle suppliers to satisfy the Company’s requirements could adversely affect the Company’s operations.

Government Regulation

The Company is subject to a range of regulations in the countries in which it operates. Where it produces products, the Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations, and may be required to obtain environmental and alcohol beverage permits and licenses to operate its facilities. Where it markets and sells products, it may be subject to laws and regulations on brand registration, packaging and labeling, distribution methods and relationships, pricing and price changes, sales promotions, advertising and public relations. The Company is also subject to rules and regulations relating to changes in officers or directors, ownership or control.

The Company believes it is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable governmental laws and regulations in the countries in which it operates. The Company also believes that the cost of administration and compliance with, and liability under, such laws and regulations does not have, and is not expected to have, a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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Seasonality

The beverage alcohol industry is subject to seasonality in each major category. As a result, in response to wholesaler and retailer demand which precedes consumer purchases, the Company’s wine and spirits sales are typically highest during the third quarter of its fiscal year, primarily due to seasonal holiday buying. Crown Imports’ imported beer sales are typically highest during the first and second quarters of the Company’s fiscal year, which correspond to the Spring and Summer periods in the U.S.

Employees

As of the end of March 2013, the Company had approximately 4,500 full-time employees. Approximately 2,700 full-time employees were in the U.S. and approximately 1,800 full-time employees were outside of the U.S., primarily in Canada. Additional workers may be employed by the Company during the grape crushing seasons. The Company considers its employee relations generally to be good.

Company Information

The Company’s internet address is http://www.cbrands.com. The Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are accessible free of charge at http://www.cbrands.com as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, such as the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. The internet address of the SEC’s site is http://www.sec.gov. Also, the public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

The Company has adopted a Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Executive Code of Ethics that specifically applies to its chief executive officer, its principal financial officer, and controller. This Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Executive Code of Ethics meets the requirements as set forth in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Item 406 of Regulation S-K. The Company has posted on its internet website a copy of the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Executive Code of Ethics. It is located at http://www.cbrands.com/investors/corporate-governance.

The Company also has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all employees, directors and officers, including each person who is subject to the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Executive Code of Ethics. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Company’s internet website, together with the Company’s Global Code of Responsible Practices for Beverage Alcohol Advertising and Marketing, its Board of Directors Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Charters of the Board’s Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee (which serves as the Board’s compensation committee) and Corporate Governance Committee (which serves as the Board’s nominating committee). All of these materials are accessible on the Company’s internet website at http://www.cbrands.com/investors/corporate-governance. Amendments to, and waivers granted to the Company’s directors and executive officers under the Company’s codes of ethics, if any, will be posted in this area of the Company’s website. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Global Code of Responsible Practices for Beverage Alcohol Advertising and Marketing, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Executive Code of Ethics, and/or the Board of Directors Corporate Governance Guidelines and committee charters are available in print to any shareholder who requests it. Shareholders should direct such requests in writing to Investor Relations Department, Constellation Brands, Inc., 207 High Point Drive, Building 100, Victor, New York 14564, or by telephoning the Company’s Investor Center at 1-888-922-2150.

The foregoing information regarding the Company’s website and its content is for your convenience only. The content of the Company’s website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this report or filed with the SEC.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the following factors which could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. The risks described below are not the only risks we face. Additional factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, cash flows, financial condition or results of operations in future periods.

Worldwide and domestic economic trends and financial market conditions could adversely impact our financial performance.

Although we believe the adverse worldwide and domestic economic conditions experienced over recent years are improving, the degree and pace of recovery is uncertain and is expected to vary around the globe. Worldwide and domestic economies remain subject to prolongation, exacerbation and expansion of adverse conditions. In addition, instability in global credit markets, including the uncertainty related to sovereign debt issues in certain countries in the European Union, the instability in the geopolitical environment in many parts of the world, and other disruptions, may continue to put pressure on global economic conditions. We are subject to risks associated with adverse economic conditions, including economic slowdown, inflation, and the disruption, volatility and tightening of credit and capital markets. Additionally, changes in economic and financial conditions in the United States (“U.S.”) and other countries, including the outcome of negotiations surrounding the U.S. “sequester”, tax increases and potential spending cuts may impact consumer confidence and consumer spending.

In addition, unfavorable global or domestic economic situations could adversely impact our major suppliers, distributors and retailers. The inability of suppliers, distributors or retailers to conduct business or to access liquidity could impact our ability to produce and distribute our products. We have a committed credit facility and additional liquidity facilities available to us. While to date we have not experienced problems with accessing these facilities, to the extent that the financial institutions that participate in these facilities were to default on their obligation to fund, those funds would not be available to us.

The timing and nature of any recovery in the financial markets continues to remain uncertain, and there can be no assurance that market conditions will continue to improve in the near future. A prolonged downturn, worsening or broadening of adverse conditions in the worldwide and domestic economies, or return of high levels of inflation could affect consumer spending patterns and purchases of our products, and create or exacerbate credit issues, cash flow issues and other financial hardships for us and for our suppliers, distributors, retailers and consumers. Depending upon their severity and duration, these conditions could have a material adverse impact on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. We are not able to predict the pace of recovery of the economies in the U.S. and our other major markets outside the U.S., nor are we able to predict the outcome of negotiations surrounding the U.S. “sequester”.

Any failure to complete the pending Beer Business Acquisition could materially adversely impact the market price of our common stock.

On June 28, 2012, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “MIPA”) with Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“ABI”) under which we agreed that, through our subsidiaries, we would acquire the remaining 50% of Crown Imports for a purchase price of approximately $1.85 billion. In addition, on June 28, 2012, we entered into an interim loan agreement (the “Bridge”) to provide for fully committed bridge financing in order to complete the acquisition. The Bridge provided for aggregate credit facilities of $1.875 billion. On February 13, 2013, we amended and restated the MIPA, entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”), and amended and restated the Bridge and on April 19, 2013, we further amended the MIPA and amended the SPA. As a result of these activities, we have agreed to acquire (i) the remaining 50% of Crown Imports for a purchase price of approximately $1.85 billion, and (ii) the stock of a company that holds the Piedras Negras brewery located in Nava, Coahuila, Mexico (the “Brewery”) together with the stock of the company which provides workers for the Brewery (together, the “Brewery Companies”), and will be granted perpetual brand licenses for the Mexican portfolio of Crown Imports currently sold in the U.S. and certain extensions for approximately $2.9 billion, subject to certain

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closing adjustments. Collectively, these acquisition activities are the “Beer Business Acquisition”. Pursuant to our current amended and restated Bridge financing, we have committed financing of up to $4.375 billion.

If the Beer Business Acquisition is not completed for any reason the price of our common stock will likely decline to the extent that the market price of our common stock reflects market assumptions that the acquisition will be completed. We cannot guarantee that the Beer Business Acquisition will be completed on the agreed upon terms or at all. Consummation of that acquisition is subject to the following risks and uncertainties, among others:


•	ABI and Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Modelo”) (and affiliated entities of each of them) may not complete their transaction due to lack of receipt of necessary regulatory approval, legal challenges by private parties, or otherwise.


•	Although our Bridge provides committed financing for additional debt to fund most of the purchase price, there is no guarantee that the Bridge lenders will fulfill their obligations to us or that we will be able to otherwise finance the Beer Business Acquisition.

Due to its unique nature, if the Beer Business Acquisition does not occur it is unlikely that a comparable transaction can be consummated.

In order to complete the Beer Business Acquisition, we will incur a substantial amount of additional indebtedness which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and make it more difficult for us to obtain additional financing in the future.

We currently expect to finance the Beer Business Acquisition with available cash and proceeds from a combination of debt financings, including the issuance of notes, additional term loans and revolver borrowings under our senior credit facility and borrowings under our accounts receivable securitization facility. We anticipate that it will be necessary for us to amend our current senior credit facility in order to provide for certain of this additional debt needed to fund the Beer Business Acquisition. The incurrence of the additional debt to fund the approximately $4.75 billion aggregate purchase price for the Beer Business Acquisition may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and may limit our ability to obtain financing in the future. We may have to obtain financing under the Bridge Facility if we cannot secure some or all of the expected permanent financing. The interest rates and other financial terms for debt incurred pursuant to the Bridge Facility would be generally less favorable than what we have contemplated under our present plans for permanent financing arrangements. In addition, the Bridge Facility imposes various covenants and restrictions upon us which would apply in the event we obtained financing under it.

If we fail to realize the expected benefits from the Beer Business Acquisition, it may make it more difficult for us to service our debt and our results of operations may fail to meet expectations.

If the financial performance of our business, as supplemented by the assets and business acquired in the Beer Business Acquisition, does not meet our expectations, it may make it more difficult for us to service our debt obligations and our results of operations may fail to meet market expectations. We may not realize the expected benefits of the Beer Business Acquisition because of integration difficulties and other challenges. The success of the Beer Business Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to successfully integrate the acquired assets and business with our existing businesses. The integration process may be complex, costly and time-consuming. Complications with the integration could result from the following circumstances, among others:


•	failure to implement our business plan for the combined business;


•	unanticipated issues in integrating manufacturing, logistics, information, communications and other systems;


•	failure to retain key customers and suppliers;


•	unanticipated changes in applicable laws and regulations;


•	failure to retain key employees of Crown or the Brewery Companies;


•	operating risks inherent in the acquired businesses and assets and our business;


•	failure to expand the Brewery under the timeline imposed by the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice pursuant to its proposed final judgment;


•	unanticipated issues, expenses and liabilities; and


•	unfamiliarity with operating in Mexico.

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We may not be able to achieve the levels of revenue, earnings or operating efficiency that we expect with respect to our operation of the Brewery and our full ownership of Crown and other acquired assets. In addition, we may not accomplish the integration smoothly, including the expansion of the Brewery, successfully or within the anticipated costs or timeframe. If we experience difficulties with the integration process or if the anticipated cost savings, growth opportunities and other potential synergies of the Beer Business Acquisition are not realized fully, or at all, or take longer to realize than expected, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be negatively impacted.

Our experience operating breweries is not of the size and complexity contemplated by the Beer Business Acquisition.

Although we have prior experience operating breweries, it is not of the size and complexity contemplated by the Beer Business Acquisition. In order to operate the Brewery we will be dependent upon the operational experience of employees who are new to our organization.

Our business will become more dependent on our sales of Modelo Brands’ products.

Following completion of the Beer Business Acquisition, sales of the Modelo Brands in the U.S. will become a more significant portion of our business. Accordingly, if the growth rate, amount or profitability of our sales of the Modelo Brands in the U.S. declines, our business could be more adversely affected than as compared to a time prior to the Beer Business Acquisition. The Modelo Brands are among the top imported premium beer brands in the U.S; Corona Extra is the leading imported brand, Modelo Especial is third and Corona Light is first among imported light beers. Consequently, any material shift in consumer preferences away from the Modelo Brands, or from the categories in which they compete, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Consumer preferences and tastes may shift away from the Modelo Brands or beer generally due to, among other reasons, changing taste preferences, demographics or perceived value. Such changes in performance and taste could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We will become dependent on the Brewery for our supply of Modelo Brands and, eventually, the Brewery is expected to be our sole source of supply for the Modelo Brands.

The majority of Crown's requirements for Modelo Brands are produced by the Brewery, which is a single facility located in Nava, Coahuila, Mexico, and our contractual arrangements with ABI anticipate that eventually all of Crown's supply of the Modelo Brands will be produced by the Brewery. We intend to expand the Brewery's capacity over the three-year period following consummation of the Beer Business Acquisition and will enter into interim supply arrangements for a supply of additional Modelo Brands products for a period of three years following consummation of the Beer Business Acquisition. These arrangements will also provide for up to two one-year extensions. However, the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice will have a right of approval, in its sole discretion, of any extension of the term of these interim supply arrangements beyond three years. There can be no assurance that any requested extension would be granted.

Crown may not be able to satisfy all its product supply requirements for Modelo Brands in the event of a significant partial destruction or the total destruction of the Brewery due to terrorism or other risks such as natural disasters or catastrophic events that damage or destroy the facility. Also, if the contemplated expansion of the Brewery is not completed within three years after consummation of the Beer Business Acquisition, the Brewery may not be able to produce sufficient Modelo Brands to satisfy our needs. Under such circumstances, we may be unable to obtain Modelo Brands at a reasonable price from another source, if at all. A significant disruption at the Brewery, even on a short-term basis, could impair our ability to produce and ship products to the market on a timely basis. Alternative facilities with sufficient capacity or capabilities may not readily be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant time to start production, any of which could negatively affect our business and financial performance. Additionally, our general insurance policies may not cover certain types of catastrophes that might affect the Brewery. A major uninsured catastrophe could result in significant unrecoverable losses. The Brewery currently has the capacity to fill approximately 60% of our current projected product requirements.

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We face risks associated with the SPA in connection with the Beer Business Acquisition.

In connection with the Beer Business Acquisition, the companies we acquire may have liabilities that are not satisfied on or prior to the closing date. There may be liabilities that we underestimated or did not discover in the course of performing our due diligence investigation of the Brewery Companies we will acquire. Under the SPA, ABI has agreed to provide us with a limited set of representations and warranties. Our sole remedy from ABI for any breach of those representations and warranties is an action for indemnification, not to exceed $500 million under the SPA. Damages resulting from a breach of a representation or warranty could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our operation of the Brewery will depend on a sufficient supply of quality water and agricultural and other raw materials.

We will be dependent on sufficient amounts of quality water for operation of the Brewery. The Brewery receives allotments of water originating from a mountain aquifer. Although we anticipate receiving allotments adequate to support the brewery’s on-going requirements, including as a result of the anticipated expansion, there is no guarantee that its allotments or requirements will not change materially in the future. If water becomes scarcer or the quality of the water deteriorates, we may incur increased production costs or face manufacturing constraints which could negatively affect our business and financial performance. Even if quality water is widely available to the brewery, water purification and waste treatment infrastructure limitations could increase costs or constrain operation of the brewery. Any of these factors could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The Brewery also uses a large volume of agricultural and other raw materials to produce its products, such as corn starch, malt, hops, and water, and packaging materials, including glass, aluminum, cardboard and other paper products. The Brewery also uses a significant amount of energy in its operations. The supply and price of these raw materials and energy can be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including market demand, global geopolitical events (especially as to their impact on crude oil prices), droughts and other weather conditions, economic factors affecting growth decisions, inflation, plant diseases and theft. To the extent any of the foregoing factors affect the prices of ingredients or packaging or do not effectively or completely hedge changes in commodity price risks, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.

Expanding our operations into Mexico increases risks associated with international operations.

We have limited operating experience in Mexico. Completion of the Beer Business Acquisition will generally increase the potential risks and uncertainties associated with our doing business globally, including risks relating to currency rate fluctuations, interest rate fluctuations, and geopolitical uncertainty, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operation of Crown and the Brewery. Our operations in Mexico will expose us to additional risks associated with international operations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, including:


•	changes in local political, economic, social and labor conditions;


•	potential disruption from socio-economic violence, including drug-related violence;


•	restrictions on foreign ownership and investments or on repatriation of cash earned in countries outside the U.S.;


•	import and export requirements;


•	currency exchange rate fluctuations;


•	a less developed and less certain legal and regulatory environment, which among other things can create uncertainty with regard to liability issues;


•	compliance with applicable anti-bribery laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and


•	other challenges caused by distance, language, and cultural differences.

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Other risks and uncertainties which we currently face will be increased by the Beer Business Acquisition.

Upon completion of the Beer Business Acquisition, some of the other risks and uncertainties we already face and which are described more fully elsewhere in this section will be increased, such as risks and uncertainties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, relating to:


•	the possibility of increases in import and excise duties or other taxes or government regulations;


•	the possibility that benefit cost increases could occur and reduce our profitability;


•	the possibility that various diseases, pests and certain weather conditions could affect the quality and quantity of agricultural raw materials used in production of our products;


•	our purchase of raw materials under short-term supply contracts;


•	the amount of our intangible assets and the possibility of a write-down relating to any of these assets;


•	the possibility of a class action or other litigation relating to alcohol abuse, the misuse of alcohol, product liability, or marketing or sales practices;


•	any damage to our reputation;


•	our dependence on trademarks and proprietary rights, and any failure to protect our intellectual property rights or any claims that we are infringing upon the rights of others;


•	contamination harming the integrity of or consumer support for our brands;


•	increases in the cost of energy or the costs of environmental regulatory compliance; and


•	our reliance upon complex information systems distributed worldwide and our reliance upon third party global networks and the possibility we could experience breaches of security or interruptions to our business services.

We are controlled by the Sands Family.

Our Class B common stock is principally held by members of the Sands family, either directly or through entities controlled by members of the Sands family. Holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B common stock are entitled to 10 votes per share. Holders of Class 1 common stock generally do not have voting rights. The stock ownership of the Sands family and entities controlled by members of the Sands family represents a majority of the combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s common stock as of April 22, 2013, voting as a single class. As a result, the Sands family has the power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors and approve actions requiring the approval of the stockholders of the Company voting as a single class.

Our indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on our financial health.

We have incurred substantial indebtedness to finance our acquisitions and repurchase shares of our common stock, and we will incur substantial additional indebtedness to fund the Beer Business Acquisition. In the future, we may continue to incur substantial additional indebtedness to finance further acquisitions, additional repurchases of shares of our stock, and other general corporate purposes. Our ability to satisfy our debt obligations outstanding from time to time will depend upon our future operating performance. We do not have complete control over our future operating performance because it is subject to prevailing economic conditions, levels of interest rates and financial, business and other factors. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet all of our debt service requirements and to fund our general corporate capital requirements.

Our current and future debt service obligations and covenants could have important consequences to you. These consequences include, or may include, the following:


•	Our ability to obtain financing for future working capital needs or acquisitions or other purposes may be limited;


•	Our funds available for operations, expansion or distributions will be reduced because we will dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness;


•	Our ability to conduct our business could be limited by restrictive covenants; and


•	Our vulnerability to adverse economic conditions may be greater than less leveraged competitors and, thus, our ability to withstand competitive pressures may be limited.

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Restrictive covenants in our senior credit facility and in our indentures place limits on our ability to conduct our business. Covenants in our senior credit facility include those that restrict our ability to make acquisitions, incur debt, create liens, sell assets, pay dividends, engage in mergers and consolidations, enter into transactions with affiliates, make investments and permit our subsidiaries to enter into certain restrictive agreements. It additionally contains certain financial covenants, including a debt ratio test and an interest coverage ratio test. Covenants in our indentures are generally less restrictive than our senior credit facility but nevertheless, among other things, limit our ability under certain circumstances to create liens or enter into sale-leaseback transactions and impose conditions on our ability to engage in mergers, consolidations and sales of all or substantially all of our assets.

These agreements also contain certain change of control provisions which, if triggered, may result in an acceleration of our obligation to repay the debt. If we fail to comply with the obligations contained in the senior credit facility, our existing or future indentures or other loan agreements, we could be in default under such agreements, which could require us to immediately repay the related debt and also debt under other agreements that may contain cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions.

Our acquisition, divestiture and joint venture strategies may not be successful.

We have made a number of acquisitions and divestitures. We anticipate that we may, from time to time, acquire additional businesses, assets or securities of companies that we believe would provide a strategic fit with our business and that we may divest ourselves of businesses, assets or securities of companies that we believe no longer provide a strategic fit with our business. We will need to integrate acquired businesses with our existing operations; our overall internal control over financial reporting processes; and our financial, operations and information systems. We cannot assure you that we will effectively assimilate the business or product offerings of acquired companies into our business or realize anticipated operational synergies. Integrating the operations and personnel of acquired companies into our existing operations or separating from our existing operations the operations and personnel of businesses of which we divest may result in difficulties, significant expense and accounting charges, disrupt our business or divert management’s time and attention.

We expect to acquire the remaining 50% interest in Crown Imports and 100% of the interest in the Brewery Companies, and we recently acquired the remaining 50.1% interest in Ruffino S.r.l. and sold 80.1% of our Australian and U.K. business. In connection with the integration of acquired operations, the separation of divested businesses, or the conduct of our overall business strategies, we may periodically restructure our businesses, integrate or separate our financial, operations and/or information systems, reorganize the management and reporting relationships within our business and/or sell assets or portions of our business. We may not achieve expected cost savings or efficiencies from restructuring activities or realize the expected proceeds from sales of assets or portions of our business. Actual charges, costs and adjustments due to restructuring activities may vary materially from our estimates. We may provide various indemnifications in connection with the sale of assets or portions of our business. Additionally, our final determinations and appraisals of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in our acquisitions may vary materially from earlier estimates. We cannot assure you that the fair value of acquired businesses will remain constant.

Acquisitions involve numerous other risks, including potential exposure to unknown liabilities of acquired companies and the possible loss of key employees and customers of the acquired business. In connection with acquisitions or joint venture investments outside the U.S., we may enter into derivative contracts to purchase foreign currency in order to hedge against the risk of foreign currency fluctuations in connection with such acquisitions or joint venture investments. This would subject us to the risk of foreign currency fluctuations associated with such derivative contracts.

We have also acquired or retained equity or membership interests in companies which we do not control, such as our retained less than 20% interest in certain companies that comprised our Australian and U.K. business. The other parties that hold the remaining equity or membership interests in these types of companies may at any time have economic, business or legal interests or goals that are inconsistent with our goals or the goals of those companies. The arrangements through which we acquired or hold our equity or membership interests may require us, among other matters, to pay certain costs or to purchase other parties’ interests. Our failure to adequately

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manage the risks associated with any acquisition, or the failure of an entity in which we have an equity or membership interest, could adversely affect our financial condition or our valuation of these types of investments.

We have entered into joint ventures, including our joint venture with Modelo and our holdings in Opus One Winery LLC, and we may enter into additional joint ventures. We share control of our joint ventures. Our joint venture partners may at any time have economic, business or legal interests or goals that are inconsistent with our goals or the goals of the joint venture. Our joint venture arrangements may require us, among other matters, to pay certain costs or to make certain capital investments. In addition, our joint venture partners may be unable to meet their economic or other obligations and we may be required to fulfill those obligations alone. Our failure or the failure of an entity in which we have a joint venture interest to adequately manage the risks associated with any acquisitions or joint ventures could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We cannot assure you that any of our acquisitions, investments or joint ventures will be profitable or that forecasts regarding joint venture activities will be accurate. In particular, risks and uncertainties associated with our joint ventures include, among others, the joint venture’s ability to operate its business successfully, the joint venture’s ability to develop appropriate standards, controls, procedures and policies for the growth and management of the joint venture, and the strength of the joint venture’s relationships with its employees, suppliers and customers.

Competition could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We are in a highly competitive industry and the dollar amount and unit volume of our sales could be negatively affected by our inability to maintain or increase prices, changes in geographic or product mix, a general decline in beverage alcohol consumption or the decision of wholesalers, retailers or consumers to purchase competitor’s products instead of our products. Wholesaler, retailer and consumer purchasing decisions are influenced by, among other things, the perceived absolute or relative overall value of our products, including their quality or pricing, compared to competitor’s products. Unit volume and dollar sales could also be affected by pricing, purchasing, financing, operational, advertising or promotional decisions made by wholesalers, state and provincial agencies, and retailers which could affect their supply of, or consumer demand for, our products. We could also experience higher than expected selling, general and administrative expenses if we find it necessary to increase the number of our personnel or our advertising or marketing expenditures to maintain our competitive position or for other reasons.

An increase in import and excise duties or other taxes or government regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The U.S., Canada and other countries in which we operate impose import and excise duties and other taxes on beverage alcohol products in varying amounts which have been subject to change. Significant increases in import and excise duties or other taxes on beverage alcohol products could materially and adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. The U.S. federal budget and individual state, provincial or local municipal budget deficits could result in increased taxes on our products, business, customers or consumers. Various proposals to increase taxes on beverage alcohol products have been made at the federal and state or provincial level in recent years. Many U.S. states have considered proposals to increase, and some of these states have increased, state alcohol excise taxes. There may be further consideration by federal, state, provincial, local and foreign governmental entities to increase taxes upon beverage alcohol products as governmental entities explore available alternatives for raising funds during the current macroeconomic climate. In addition, federal, state, provincial, local and foreign governmental agencies extensively regulate the beverage alcohol products industry concerning such matters as licensing, warehousing, trade and pricing practices, permitted and required labeling, advertising and relations with wholesalers and retailers. Certain federal, state or provincial regulations also require warning labels and signage. New or revised regulations or increased licensing fees, requirements or taxes could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Benefit cost increases could reduce our profitability.

Our profitability is affected by employee medical costs and other employee benefits. In recent years, employee medical costs have increased due to factors such as the increase in health care costs in the U.S. These

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factors, plus the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010, will continue to put pressure on our business and financial performance due to higher employee benefit costs. Although we actively seek to control increases in employee benefit costs and encourage employees to maintain healthy lifestyles to reduce future potential medical costs, there can be no assurance that we will succeed in limiting future cost increases. Continued employee benefit cost increases could have an adverse affect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We also sponsor a very limited number of defined benefit plans that cover a limited number of our non-U.S. employees. Our costs of providing defined benefit plans are dependent upon a number of factors, such as discount rates, the rates of return on the plans’ assets, exchange rate fluctuations, future governmental regulation, global equity prices, and our required and/or voluntary contributions to the plans. Without sustained growth in pension investments over time to increase the value of the plans’ assets, and depending upon the other factors relating to worldwide and domestic economic trends and financial market conditions, we could be required to increase funding for some or all of our defined benefit plans.

We rely on the performance of wholesale distributors, major retailers and government agencies for the success of our business.

Local market structures and distribution channels vary worldwide. In the U.S., we sell our products principally to wholesalers for resale to retail outlets including grocery stores, club and discount stores, package liquor stores and restaurants and also directly to government agencies, while in Canada, we sell our products principally to government agencies. In the U.S., we have entered into exclusive arrangements with certain wholesalers that generate a large portion of our U.S. net sales. The replacement or poor performance of our major wholesalers, retailers or government agencies could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Our inability to collect accounts receivable from our major wholesalers, retailers or government agencies could also materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The industry is being affected by the trend toward consolidation in the wholesale and retail distribution channels, particularly in the U.S. If we are unable to successfully adapt to this changing environment, our net income, market share and volume growth could be negatively affected. In addition, wholesalers and retailers of our products offer products which compete directly with our products for retail shelf space and consumer purchases. Accordingly, wholesalers or retailers may give higher priority to products of our competitors. In the future, our wholesalers and retailers may not continue to purchase our products or provide our products with adequate levels of promotional support.

Our business could be adversely affected by a decline in the consumption of products we sell.

While over the past several years there have been modest increases in consumption of beverage alcohol in most of our product categories and geographic markets, there have been periods in the past in which there were substantial declines in the overall per capita consumption of beverage alcohol products in the U.S. and other markets in which we participate. A limited or general decline in consumption in one or more of our product categories could occur in the future due to a variety of factors, including:


•	A general decline in economic or geopolitical conditions;


•	Concern about the health consequences of consuming beverage alcohol products and about drinking and driving;


•	A general decline in the consumption of beverage alcohol products in on-premise establishments, such as may result from smoking bans and stricter laws related to driving while under the influence of alcohol;


•	Consumer dietary preferences favoring lighter, lower calorie beverages such as diet soft drinks, sports drinks and water products;


•	The increased activity of anti-alcohol groups;


•	Increased federal, state, provincial or foreign excise or other taxes on beverage alcohol products and possible restrictions on beverage alcohol advertising and marketing; and


•	Increased regulation placing restrictions on the purchase or consumption of beverage alcohol products.

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We are primarily a branded consumer products company and we rely on consumers’ demand for our products. Consumer preferences may shift due to a variety of factors, including changes in demographic or social trends, public health policies, and changes in leisure, dining and beverage consumption patterns. Our continued success will require us to anticipate and respond effectively to shifts in consumer behavior and drinking tastes. If consumer preferences were to move away from our premium brands in any of our major markets, our financial results might be adversely affected. Other factors may also reduce consumer spending on our products, including economic declines, inflation, a trend towards frugality even as the economy improves, wars, pandemics, weather, and natural or man-made disasters. As the cost of gasoline and other petroleum-based products increases, consumers may not have as much discretionary funds available to buy our products.

In addition, our continued success depends, in part, on our ability to develop new products. The launch and ongoing success of new products are inherently uncertain especially with regard to their appeal to consumers. The launch of a new product can give rise to a variety of costs and an unsuccessful launch, among other things, can affect consumer perception of existing brands and our reputation. Unsuccessful implementation or short-lived popularity of our product innovations may result in inventory write-offs and other costs.

Various diseases, pests and certain weather conditions could affect quality and quantity of grapes or other agricultural raw materials.

Various diseases, pests, fungi, viruses, drought, frosts and certain other weather conditions could affect the quality and quantity of grapes and other agricultural raw materials available, decreasing the supply of our products and negatively impacting profitability. We cannot guarantee that our grape suppliers or suppliers of other agricultural raw materials will succeed in preventing contamination in existing vineyards or fields or that we will succeed in preventing contamination in our existing vineyards or future vineyards we may acquire. Future government restrictions regarding the use of certain materials used in grape growing may increase vineyard costs and/or reduce production. Growing agricultural raw materials also requires adequate water supplies. A substantial reduction in water supplies could result in material losses of grape crops and vines or other crops, which could lead to a shortage of our product supply.

We generally purchase raw materials under short-term supply contracts, we are subject to substantial price fluctuations for grapes and grape-related materials, and we have a limited group of suppliers of glass bottles.

Our business is heavily dependent upon raw materials, such as grapes, grape juice concentrate, grains, alcohol and packaging materials from third-party suppliers. We could experience raw material supply, production or shipment difficulties that could adversely affect our ability to supply goods to our customers. Increases in the costs of raw materials also directly affect us. In the past, we have experienced dramatic increases in the cost of grapes. Although we believe we have adequate sources of grape supplies, we could experience shortages if the demand for particular wine products exceeds expectations.

The wine industry swings between cycles of grape oversupply and undersupply. In a severe oversupply environment, the ability of wine producers, including ourselves, to raise prices is limited, and, in certain situations, the competitive environment may put pressure on producers to lower prices. Further, although an oversupply may enhance opportunities to purchase grapes at lower costs, a producer’s selling and promotional expenses associated with the sale of its wine products can rise in such an environment.

Glass bottle costs are one of our largest components of cost of product sold. In the U.S. and Canada, glass bottles have only a small number of producers. Currently, one producer supplies most of our glass container requirements for our U.S. operations and a portion of our glass container requirements for our Canadian operations, with the remaining portion of our glass container requirements for our Canadian operations supplied by another producer. The inability of any of our glass bottle suppliers to satisfy our requirements could adversely affect our business.

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Climate change, or legal, regulatory or market measures to address climate change, may negatively affect our business, operations or financial performance, and water scarcity or poor quality could negatively impact our production costs and capacity.

Our business depends upon agricultural activity and natural resources. There has been much public discussion related to concerns that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may have an adverse impact on global temperatures, weather patterns and the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters. Severe weather events and climate change may negatively affect agricultural productivity in the regions from which we presently source our agricultural raw materials such as grapes. Decreased availability of our raw materials may increase the cost of goods for our products. Severe weather events or changes in the frequency or intensity of weather events can also disrupt our supply chain, which may affect production operations, insurance cost and coverage, as well as delivery of our products to wholesalers, retailers and consumers.

Water is essential in the production of our products. The quality and quantity of water available for use is important to the supply of grapes and our ability to operate our business. Water is a limited resource in many parts of the world and if climate patterns change and droughts become more severe, there may be a scarcity of water or poor water quality which may affect our production costs or impose capacity constraints. Such events could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

If we suffer a loss to our wineries, production facilities or distribution system, or the breweries which produce the beer we sell, due to catastrophe, our business, operations or financial performance could be seriously harmed.

Throughout the years, we have consolidated several of our winery and production facility operations. Two of our largest wineries are the Woodbridge Winery in Acampo, CA and the Mission Bell Winery in Madera, CA. These two facilities produce approximately 27 million cases (or 42%) of our product annually. Much of our supply of Mexican beer is produced at the Brewery in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. Additionally, many of our vineyards and production and distribution facilities are located in areas which are prone to seismic activity. If any of these vineyards and facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, it could disrupt our operations, delay production, shipments and revenue, and result in potentially significant expenses to repair or replace the vineyard or facility. If such a disruption were to occur, we could breach agreements, our reputation could be harmed, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected. In addition, since we have consolidated certain of our operations and various production and distribution facilities, we are more likely to experience an interruption of our operations in the event of a catastrophic event in any one location, such as through acts of war or terrorism, fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural or man-made disasters. Economic conditions and uncertainties in global markets may adversely affect the cost and other terms upon which we are able to obtain insurance. Although we carry insurance for property damage and business interruption, certain catastrophes are not covered by our insurance policies as we believe this to be a prudent financial decision. If our insurance coverage is adversely affected, or to the extent we have elected to self-insure, we may be at greater risk that we may experience an adverse impact to our financial results. We take steps to minimize the damage that would be caused by a catastrophic event, but there is no certainty that our efforts would prove successful. If one or more significant uninsured events occur, we could suffer a major financial loss.

Our operations subject us to risks relating to doing business globally, currency rate fluctuations, interest rate fluctuations, and geopolitical uncertainty, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

In addition to our operations in the U.S., we have operations in Canada, New Zealand and Italy, our products are produced in various countries around the world and we sell our products in numerous countries throughout the world, and we have announced plans to enter into certain emerging markets over time. Upon consummation of the pending Beer Business Acquisition, we will also have operations in Mexico. Therefore, we are subject to risks associated with potential disruptions caused by changes in political, economic and social environments, including civil and political unrest, terrorism, local labor conditions and changes in laws, governmental regulations and policies in many countries outside the U.S. We are also subject to U.S. laws affecting the activities of U.S. companies abroad, including tax laws, anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and laws regarding the enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights. Our success will

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depend, in part, on our ability to overcome the challenges we encounter with respect to these factors and other matters generally affecting U.S. companies with global operations. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations, including anti-corruption laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, business partners or agents will not violate our policies or take action determined to be in violation of the law. Any determination that our operations or activities were not in compliance with applicable U.S. or foreign laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines and penalties, interruptions of business, terminations of necessary licenses and permits, and other legal and equitable sanctions. We are also exposed to risks associated with currency fluctuations and risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. Currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies in the markets in which we do business have fluctuated in recent years and are likely to continue to do so in the future. We manage our exposure to foreign currency and interest rate risks utilizing derivative instruments and other means to reduce those risks. We could experience changes in our ability to hedge against or manage fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in reducing those risks. We could also be affected by nationalizations or unstable governments or legal systems or intergovernmental disputes. These currency, economic and political uncertainties may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, especially to the extent these matters, or the decisions, policies or economic strength of our suppliers, affect our global operations.

We have a significant amount of intangible assets, such as goodwill and trademarks, and if we are required to write-down any of these intangible assets, it could materially reduce our net income.

For the years ended February 29, 2012, and February 28, 2011, we recorded impairment losses of $38.1 million and $23.6 million, respectively, on certain of our intangible assets. For the year ended February 28, 2013, no impairment losses were recorded. We continue to have a significant amount of intangible assets such as goodwill and trademarks and may acquire more intangible assets in the future. In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance for intangibles – goodwill and other, goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are subject to a periodic impairment evaluation. The write-down of any of these intangible assets could materially and adversely affect our net income.

The termination of our joint venture with Modelo relating to importing, marketing and selling imported beer could have a material adverse effect on our business.

On January 2, 2007, we participated in establishing and commencing operations of a joint venture with Modelo, pursuant to which Corona Extra and the other Modelo Brands are imported, marketed and sold by the joint venture in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia) and Guam. Pursuant to the joint venture and related importation arrangements, the joint venture will continue for an initial term of 10 years, and renew in 10-year periods unless GModelo Corporation, a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Diblo, gives notice prior to the end of year seven of any term of its intention to purchase our interest we hold through our subsidiary, Constellation Beers Ltd. (“Constellation Beers”). The joint venture may also terminate under other circumstances involving action by governmental authorities, certain changes in control of us or Constellation Beers as well as in connection with certain breaches of the importation and related sub-license agreements, after notice and cure periods.

The termination of the joint venture by acquisition of Constellation Beers’ interest or for other reasons noted above could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. This risk should be eliminated if the Beer Business Acquisition is consummated.

Class action or other litigation relating to alcohol abuse, the misuse of alcohol, product liability, or marketing or sales practices could adversely affect our business.

There has been public attention directed at the beverage alcohol industry, which we believe is due to concern over problems related to harmful use of alcohol, including drinking and driving, underage drinking and health consequences from the misuse of alcohol. We also could be exposed to lawsuits relating to product liability or marketing or sales practices. Adverse developments in lawsuits concerning these types of matters or a significant decline in the social acceptability of beverage alcohol products that results from lawsuits could have a material adverse effect on our business.

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Any damage to our reputation could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

Maintaining a good reputation globally is critical to selling our branded products. Product contamination or tampering or the failure to maintain high standards for product quality, safety and integrity, including with respect to raw materials obtained from suppliers, may reduce demand for our products or cause production and delivery disruptions. Although we maintain standards for the materials and product components we receive from our suppliers, and we also audit our suppliers’ compliance with our standards, it is possible that a supplier may not provide materials or product components which meet our required standards or may falsify documentation associated with the fulfillment of those requirements. If any of our products becomes unfit for consumption, is misbranded or causes injury, we may have to engage in a product recall and/or be subject to liability and incur additional costs. A widespread product recall or a significant product liability judgment could cause our products to be unavailable for a period of time, which could further reduce consumer demand and brand equity. Our reputation could be impacted negatively by public perception, adverse publicity (whether or not valid), or our responses relating to:


•	A perceived failure to maintain high ethical, social and environmental standards for all of our operations and activities;


•	A perceived failure to address concerns related to the quality, safety or integrity of our products;


•	Our environmental impact, including use of agricultural materials, packaging, water and energy use and waste management; or


•	Efforts that are perceived as insufficient to promote the responsible use of alcohol.

Failure to comply with local laws and regulations, to maintain an effective system of internal controls, to provide accurate and timely financial statement information, or to protect our information systems against service interruptions, misappropriation of data or breaches of security, could also hurt our reputation. Damage to our reputation or loss of consumer confidence in our products for any of these or other reasons could result in decreased demand for our products and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to rebuild our reputation, competitive position and brand equity.

We depend upon our trademarks and proprietary rights, and any failure to protect our intellectual property rights or any claims that we are infringing upon the rights of others may adversely affect our competitive position and brand equity.

Our future success depends significantly on our ability to protect our current and future brands and products and to defend our intellectual property rights. We have been granted numerous trademark registrations covering our brands and products and have filed, and expect to continue to file, trademark applications seeking to protect newly-developed brands and products. We cannot be sure that trademark registrations will be issued with respect to any of our trademark applications. There is also a risk that we could, by omission, fail to timely renew or protect a trademark or that our competitors will challenge, invalidate or circumvent any existing or future trademarks issued to, or licensed by, us.

Contamination could harm the integrity of, or consumer support for, our brands and adversely affect the sales of our products.

The success of our brands depends upon the positive image that consumers have of those brands. Contamination, whether arising accidentally or through deliberate third-party action, or other events that harm the integrity or consumer support for those brands, could adversely affect their sales. Contaminants in raw materials purchased from third parties and used in the production of our wine and spirits products or defects in the distillation or fermentation process could lead to low beverage quality as well as illness among, or injury to, consumers of our products and may result in reduced sales of the affected brand or all of our brands.

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An increase in the cost of energy or the cost of environmental regulatory compliance could affect our profitability.

We have experienced increases in energy costs, and energy costs could continue to rise, which would result in higher transportation, freight and other operating costs. We may experience significant future increases in the costs associated with environmental regulatory compliance, including fees, licenses, and the cost of capital improvements to our operating facilities in order to meet environmental regulatory requirements. Our future operating expenses and margins will be dependent on our ability to manage the impact of cost increases. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to pass along increased energy costs or increased costs associated with environmental regulatory compliance to our customers through increased prices.

In addition, we may be party to various environmental remediation obligations arising in the normal course of our business or in connection with historical activities of businesses we acquire. Due to regulatory complexities, uncertainties inherent in litigation and the risk of unidentified contaminants in our current and former properties, the potential exists for remediation, liability and indemnification costs to differ materially from the costs that we have estimated. We cannot assure you that our costs in relation to these matters will not exceed our projections or otherwise have an adverse effect upon our business reputation, financial condition or results of operations.

Our reliance upon complex information systems distributed worldwide and our reliance upon third party global networks means we could experience breaches of security or interruptions to our business services.

We depend on information technology to enable us to operate efficiently and interface with customers, as well as maintain financial accuracy and efficiency. If we do not allocate and effectively manage the resources necessary to build and sustain the proper technology infrastructure, we could be subject to transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, the loss of customers, business disruptions, or the loss of or damage to intellectual property through security breach. As with all large information technology systems, our systems could be penetrated by outside parties intent on extracting confidential or proprietary information, corrupting our information, disrupting our business processes, or engaging in the unauthorized use of strategic information about us or our employees, customers or consumers. Such unauthorized access could disrupt our business operations and could result in the loss of assets or revenues, litigation, remediation costs, damage to our reputation, or the failure by us to retain or attract customers following such an event. Such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We have outsourced various functions to third-party service providers and may outsource other functions in the future. We rely on those third-party service providers to provide services on a timely and effective basis. Although we closely monitor the performance of these third parties and maintain contingency plans in case they are unable to perform as agreed, we do not ultimately control their performance. Their failure to perform as expected or as required by contract could result in significant disruptions and costs to our operations, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flow, and could impair our ability to make required filings with various reporting agencies on a timely or accurate basis.

Changes in accounting standards and guidance and taxation requirements could affect our financial results.

New accounting guidance that may become applicable to us from time to time, or changes in the interpretations of existing guidance, could have a significant effect on our reported results for the affected periods. The Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board continue to work towards a convergence of accounting standards. Certain standards may become applicable to us and change the interpretation of existing guidance. Such events could have a significant effect on our reported results for the affected periods. In addition, our products are subject to import and excise duties and/or sales or value-added taxes in many jurisdictions in which we operate. Increases in indirect taxes could affect our products’ affordability and therefore reduce our sales. We are also subject to income tax in numerous jurisdictions in which we generate revenues. Changes in tax laws, tax rates or tax rulings may have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate. Our tax liabilities are affected by the mix of pretax income or loss among the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. We must exercise judgment in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes, interest and penalties; accordingly, future events could change management’s assessment of these amounts.

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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not Applicable.

Item 2. Properties.

The Company operates wineries, a distilling plant and bottling plants, many of which include warehousing and distribution facilities on the premises. In addition to the Company’s properties described below, certain of the Company’s businesses maintain office space for sales and similar activities and offsite warehouse and distribution facilities in a variety of geographic locations.

The Company believes that its facilities, taken as a whole, are in good condition and working order and have adequate capacity to meet its needs for the foreseeable future, although it does possess certain underutilized assets.

As a result of the January 2011 sale of 80.1% of the Company’s Australian and U.K. business, as of February 1, 2011, the Company is no longer reporting results for its CWAE segment. The following discussion details the properties associated with the Company’s remaining three business segments.

Constellation Wines and Spirits

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, the Company maintains facilities in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Italy. These facilities include wineries, a distilling plant, bottling plants, warehousing and distribution facilities, distribution centers and office facilities. The segment maintains owned and/or leased division offices in a variety of locations, including Canandaigua, New York; St. Helena, California; San Francisco, California; Mississauga, Ontario; Huapai, New Zealand; and Brescia, Italy.

United States

In the U.S., the Company, through its Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, operates one winery in New York, located in Canandaigua; 16 wineries in California, located in Acampo, Geyserville, Gonzales, Healdsburg, Madera, Oakville, Soledad, Rutherford, Templeton, Ukiah, two in Lodi, two in Napa, two in Sonoma; and one winery in Washington, located in Prosser. Sixteen of these wineries are owned and one winery in Napa, California and one winery in Sonoma, California are leased. The Company considers the segment’s principal facilities in the U.S. to be the Mission Bell winery in Madera (California), the Canandaigua winery in Canandaigua (New York), the Franciscan Vineyards winery in Rutherford (California), the Woodbridge Winery in Acampo (California), the Turner Road Vintners Wineries in Lodi (California), the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville (California), the Clos du Bois Winery in Geyserville (California) and the Gonzales Winery in Gonzales (California). The Mission Bell winery crushes grapes, produces, bottles and distributes wine and produces specialty concentrates and Mega Colors for sale. The Canandaigua winery crushes grapes and produces, bottles and distributes wine. The other principal wineries crush grapes, vinify, cellar and bottle wine. In California, the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment also operates a distribution center and three warehouses and, in New York, operates a warehouse, all of which are leased.

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, as of February 28, 2013, the Company owned or leased approximately 12,200 acres of vineyards, either fully bearing or under development, in California and New York to supply a portion of the grapes used in the production of wine.

Canada

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, the Company operates nine Canadian wineries, four of which are in British Columbia, four in Ontario, and one in Quebec. Seven of these wineries are owned, one winery in British Columbia is leased and one winery in Ontario is leased. The British Columbia and Ontario

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operations all harvest a domestic crop and all locations vinify and cellar wines. Four wineries include bottling and/or packaging operations. The Company also operates a warehousing and distribution facility and sales office in Scoudouc, New Brunswick and, in a leased facility, a sales and marketing office and distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario. In addition, through this segment, the Company operates facilities in Vancouver, British Columbia and Kitchener, Ontario in connection with its beer and wine making kit business. The Company also operates various retail stores in rented facilities throughout Ontario. The Company considers the segment’s principal facilities in Canada to be Niagara Cellars located in Niagara Falls (Ontario), Constellation Brands Quebec located in Rougemont (Quebec), the Oliver Winery located in Oliver (British Columbia) and the warehousing and distribution facility located in Scoudouc (New Brunswick).

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, as of February 28, 2013, the Company owned or leased approximately 1,800 acres of vineyards, either fully bearing or under development, in Ontario and British Columbia to supply a portion of the grapes used in the production of wine.

Through this segment, the Company currently owns and operates a distilling plant located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. This facility distills, bottles and stores Canadian whisky for the segment, and distills and/or bottles and stores Canadian whisky, vodka, rum, gin and liqueurs for third parties. The Company considers this facility to be a principal facility.

New Zealand

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, the Company owns and operates four wineries in New Zealand. Three of these New Zealand wineries vinify and cellar wine and crush grapes. The other winery provides bulk storage, bottling and packaging operations. The Company considers the segment’s principal facilities in New Zealand to be the Nobilo Winery located in Huapai, West Auckland (North Island) and the Drylands Winery located in Marlborough (South Island).

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, as of February 28, 2013, the Company owned or had interests in approximately 4,000 acres of vineyards, either fully bearing or under development, in New Zealand.

Italy

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, the Company leases and operates five wineries in Italy, leases seven warehouses and owns a storage and bottling facility. All of these Italian wineries vinify and cellar wine and crush grapes. The Company considers the segment’s principal facilities in Italy to be the Poggio Casciano Winery located in Bagno a Ripoli, San Polo, Florence, the Gretole Winery located in Castellina, Chianti, Siena, and the Pontassieve Winery, which consists of a storage/bottling facility located in Pontassieve, Florence.

Through the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment, as of February 28, 2013, the Company owned or had interests in approximately 1,200 acres of vineyards, either fully bearing or under development, in Italy.

Crown Imports

Crown Imports has entered into various arrangements to satisfy its warehouse requirements. It currently has contracted with six providers of warehouse space and services in a total of 12 locations throughout the U.S. Crown Imports maintains leased offices in Chicago, Illinois as well as in three other locations throughout the U.S.

Corporate Operations and Other

The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in leased offices in Victor, New York. The Company’s Corporate Operations and Other segment also maintains leased office space in other locations in the U.S.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

In the ordinary course of their business, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to lawsuits, arbitrations, claims and other legal proceedings in connection with their business. Some of the legal actions include claims for substantial or unspecified compensatory and/or punitive damages. A substantial adverse judgment or other unfavorable resolution of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Management believes that the Company has adequate legal defenses with respect to the legal proceedings to which it is a defendant or respondent and that the outcome of these pending proceedings is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. However, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters.

Regulatory Matters – The Company and its subsidiaries are in discussions with various governmental agencies concerning matters raised during regulatory examinations or otherwise subject to such agencies’ inquiry. These matters could result in censures, fines or other sanctions. Management believes the outcome of any pending regulatory matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters.

As discussed previously under “Recent Developments” in Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company has signed definitive agreements with Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“ABI”) to acquire the 50% ownership in Crown Imports LLC which it does not already own, all the capital stock of the entity which owns and operates the Piedras Negras brewery located in Nava, Coahuila, Mexico (the “Brewery”), all the capital stock of the entity which provides personnel and services for the operation and maintenance of the Brewery, and an irrevocable, fully-paid and perpetual license to produce in Mexico (or worldwide under certain circumstances) and exclusively import, market and sell Modelo’s (as defined below) Mexican beer portfolio (the “Modelo Brands”) and certain extensions in the U.S., the District of Columbia and Guam through a sub-license agreement. The closing of these transactions is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of any required regulatory approvals, and the consummation of certain transactions between ABI and Grupo Modelo, S.A.B de C.V. (“Modelo”) and certain of its affiliates.

On January 31, 2013, the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division (the “DOJ”) brought an action against ABI and Modelo in United States District Court for the District of Columbia (the “District Court”) seeking to enjoin their transaction alleging that ABI’s acquisition of Modelo would likely substantially lessen competition and therefore, was illegal and in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act. On February 8, 2013, the Company and Crown moved to intervene. The action was initially stayed until March 19, 2013, which was subsequently extended until April 9, 2013, and finally until April 23, 2013. On April 19, 2013, the Company, ABI and Modelo entered into, and filed with the District Court, a Stipulation and Order to Hold Separate and to Join Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Stipulation and Order”) and a Proposed Final Judgment with the DOJ. Pursuant to the Stipulation and Order, the Company was added as a defendant to the action for the purposes of settlement and for entry of a final judgment.

Under the terms of the Stipulation and Order and the Proposed Final Judgment, ABI and Modelo have agreed to the prompt and certain divestiture of certain rights and assets held by them. Pursuant to the Proposed Final Judgment, (i) the Company and ABI have agreed to amend certain agreements to be executed in connection with the proposed acquisition of the equity interest in Crown Imports and the Brewery and (ii) the Company is obligated to build-out and expand the Brewery to a nominal capacity of at least 20 million hectoliters of packaged beer annually by December 31, 2016, and to use its best efforts to achieve certain construction milestones by specified dates. In addition, the Proposed Final Judgment provides the United States with approval rights, in its sole discretion, for amendments or modifications to the agreements between the Company and ABI. The Proposed Final Judgment also provides the United States with a right of approval, in its sole discretion, of any extension beyond three years of the term of the Interim Supply Agreement that will be entered into between the Company and ABI.

On April 22, 2013, the District Court signed the Stipulation and Order and Proposed Final Judgment, permitting the Company and ABI to consummate the transactions described above, subject to a 60-day public comment period required under the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act.

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An action has been filed by private parties, and other actions may be filed, against the Company, ABI, and Modelo alleging certain antitrust claims and seeking to enjoin the proposed transaction between ABI and Modelo. Management believes that this action is baseless and without merit and the Company intends to defend itself vigorously against this claim.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not Applicable.

Executive Officers of the Company

Information with respect to the current executive officers of the Company is as follows:



NAME	AGE	OFFICE OR POSITION HELD
Richard Sands	62	Chairman of the Board
Robert Sands	54	President and Chief Executive Officer
F. Paul Hetterich	50	Executive Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Strategy
Thomas J. Mullin	61	Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Robert Ryder	53	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
W. Keith Wilson	62	Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer
John A. (Jay) Wright	54	Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Richard Sands, Ph.D., is the Chairman of the Board of the Company. He has been employed by the Company in various capacities since 1979. He has served as a director since 1982. In September 1999, Mr. Sands was elected Chairman of the Board. He served as Chief Executive Officer from October 1993 to July 2007, as Executive Vice President from 1982 to May 1986, as President from May 1986 to December 2002 and as Chief Operating Officer from May 1986 to October 1993. He is the brother of Robert Sands.

Robert Sands is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2007 and appointed as President in December 2002. He has served as a director since January 1990. Mr. Sands also served as Chief Operating Officer from December 2002 to July 2007, as Group President from April 2000 through December 2002, as Chief Executive Officer, International from December 1998 through April 2000, as Executive Vice President from October 1993 through April 2000, as General Counsel from June 1986 through May 2000, and as Vice President from June 1990 through October 1993. He is the brother of Richard Sands.

F. Paul Hetterich has been the Company’s Executive Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Strategy since June 2011. From July 2009 until June 2011, he served as Executive Vice President, Business Development, Corporate Strategy and International. From June 2003 until July 2009, he served as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Strategy. From April 2001 to June 2003, Mr. Hetterich served as the Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. Prior to that, Mr. Hetterich held several increasingly senior positions in the Company’s marketing and business development groups. Mr. Hetterich has been with the Company since 1986.

Thomas J. Mullin joined the Company as Executive Vice President and General Counsel in May 2000. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mullin served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TD Waterhouse Bank, NA, a national banking association, since February 2000, of CT USA, F.S.B. since September 1998, and of CT USA, Inc. since March 1997. He also served as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Strategy of C.T. Financial Services, Inc. from March 1997 through February 2000. From 1985 through 1997, Mr. Mullin served as Vice Chairman and Senior Executive Vice President of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Rochester, New York and from 1982 through 1985, he was a partner in the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP.

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Robert Ryder joined the Company in May 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Ryder previously served from 2005 to 2006 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of IMG, a sports marketing and media company. From 2002 to 2005, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of American Greetings Corporation, a publicly traded, multi-national consumer products company. From 1989 to 2002, he held several management positions of increasing responsibility with PepsiCo, Inc. These included control, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions and CFO and Controller positions serving at PepsiCo’s corporate headquarters and at its Frito-Lay International and Frito-Lay North America divisions. Mr. Ryder is a certified public accountant.

W. Keith Wilson joined the Company in January 2002 as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. In September 2002, he was elected Chief Human Resources Officer and in April 2003 he was elected Executive Vice President. In July 2007, he was appointed Chief Administrative Officer while retaining the position of Executive Vice President. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Wilson served as Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources of Xerox Engineering Systems, a subsidiary of Xerox Corporation, which engineers, manufactures and sells hi-tech reprographics equipment and software worldwide. From 1990 to 1999, he served in various senior human resource positions with the banking, marketing and real estate and relocation businesses of Prudential Life Insurance of America, an insurance company that also provides other financial products.

John A. (Jay) Wright is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. He was appointed to this position effective June 2011 and has served as President of Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc. (formerly known as Constellation Wines U.S., Inc.) since December 2009. Additionally, from December 2009 until June 2011, he served as President, Constellation Wines North America. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Constellation Wines U.S., Inc. from March 2009 until December 2009. Mr. Wright joined the Company in June 2006 with the Company’s acquisition of Vincor International Inc. (now known as Constellation Brands Canada, Inc.) Mr. Wright served as President of Vincor International Inc. from June 2006 until March 2009 and, prior to that, as President and Chief Operating Officer of Vincor International Inc.’s Canadian Wine Division from October 2001 until June 2006. Before that, he held various positions of increasing responsibility with various other consumer products companies.

Executive officers of the Company are generally chosen or elected to their positions annually and hold office until the earlier of their removal or resignation or until their successors are chosen and qualified.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The Company’s Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Stock”) and Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Stock”) trade on the New York Stock Exchange^® (“NYSE”) under the symbols STZ and STZ.B, respectively. There is no public trading market for the Company’s Class 1 Common Stock. The following tables set forth for the periods indicated the high and low sales prices of the Class A Stock and the Class B Stock as reported on the NYSE.

CLASS A STOCK



	1st Quarter		2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter		4th Quarter
Fiscal 2012
High	$	23.19	$	22.00	$	21.03	$	22.34
Low	$	18.12	$	16.42	$	17.05	$	18.95
Fiscal 2013
High	$	24.87	$	33.23	$	36.98	$	44.99
Low	$	18.60	$	18.50	$	31.99	$	28.37

CLASS B STOCK



	1st Quarter		2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter		4th Quarter
Fiscal 2012
High	$	22.99	$	21.90	$	20.97	$	22.25
Low	$	18.22	$	16.89	$	17.03	$	19.17
Fiscal 2013
High	$	24.74	$	32.88	$	37.05	$	44.55
Low	$	18.75	$	18.64	$	32.05	$	28.71

At April 22, 2013, the number of holders of record of Class A Stock, Class B Stock and Class 1 Common Stock of the Company were 788, 152 and 1, respectively.

The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock since its initial public offering in 1973. The Company currently intends to retain all of its earnings to finance the development and expansion of its business, but may in the future consider paying cash dividends on its common stock. In addition, the terms of the Company’s 2012 Credit Agreement (as defined under Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources – Debt – Senior Credit Facility”) may restrict the payment of cash dividends on its common stock under certain circumstances. Any indentures for debt securities issued in the future, the terms of any preferred stock issued in the future and any credit agreements entered into in the future may also restrict or prohibit the payment of cash dividends on the Company’s common stock.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.



	For the Years Ended
	February 28, 2013			February 29, 2012			February 28, 2011			February 28, 2010			February 28, 2009
(in millions, except per share data)
Sales	$	3,171.4		$	2,979.1		$	4,096.7		$	4,213.0		$	4,723.0
Less – excise taxes	(375.3		)	(324.8		)	(764.7		)	(848.2		)	(1,068.4		)
Net sales	2,796.1			2,654.3			3,332.0			3,364.8			3,654.6
Cost of product sold	(1,687.8		)	(1,592.2		)	(2,141.9		)	(2,220.0		)	(2,424.6		)
Gross profit	1,108.3			1,062.1			1,190.1			1,144.8			1,230.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(584.7		)	(521.5		)	(640.9		)	(682.5		)	(832.0		)
Restructuring charges ⁽¹⁾	(0.7		)	(16.0		)	(23.1		)	(47.6		)	(68.0		)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets ⁽²⁾	—			(38.1		)	(23.6		)	(103.2		)	(300.4		)
Operating income	522.9			486.5			502.5			311.5			29.6
Equity in earnings of equity method investees	233.1			228.5			243.8			213.6			186.6
Interest expense, net	(227.1		)	(181.0		)	(195.3		)	(265.1		)	(323.0		)
Loss on write-off of financing costs	(12.5		)	—			—			(0.7		)	—
Income (loss) before income taxes	516.4			534.0			551.0			259.3			(106.8		)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(128.6		)	(89.0		)	8.5			(160.0		)	(194.6		)
Net income (loss)	$	387.8		$	445.0		$	559.5		$	99.3		$	(301.4	)

Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic – Class A Common Stock	$	2.15		$	2.20		$	2.68		$	0.46		$	(1.40	)
Basic – Class B Convertible Common Stock	$	1.96		$	2.00		$	2.44		$	0.41		$	(1.27	)
Diluted – Class A Common Stock	$	2.04		$	2.13		$	2.62		$	0.45		$	(1.40	)
Diluted – Class B Convertible Common Stock	$	1.87		$	1.96		$	2.40		$	0.41		$	(1.27	)

Total assets	$	7,638.1		$	7,109.9		$	7,167.6		$	8,094.3		$	8,036.5

Long-term debt, including current maturities	$	3,305.4		$	2,751.6		$	3,152.6		$	3,464.3		$	4,206.3

⁽¹⁾

For a detailed discussion of restructuring charges for the years ended February 28, 2013, February 29, 2012, and February 28, 2011, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the captions “Fiscal 2013 Compared to Fiscal 2012 – Restructuring Charges” and “Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011 – Restructuring Charges,” respectively.


⁽²⁾	For a detailed discussion of impairment of intangible assets for the years ended February 29, 2012, and February 28, 2011, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011 – Impairment of Intangible Assets”.

For the years ended February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview

The Company is the world’s leading premium wine company with a broad portfolio of consumer-preferred premium wine brands complemented by premium spirits, imported beer and other select beverage alcohol products. The Company continues to supply imported beer in the United States (“U.S.”) through its investment in a joint venture with Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Modelo”) (see additional discussion below under “Recent Developments – Crown Imports.”) This imported beers joint venture operates as Crown Imports LLC and is referred to hereinafter as “Crown Imports.” The Company is a leading premium wine company in the U.S., the leading producer and marketer of wine in Canada, and a leading producer and exporter of wine from New Zealand and Italy. Prior to January 31, 2011, the Company had leading market positions in both Australia and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) through its Australian and U.K. business. On January 31, 2011, the Company completed the sale of 80.1% of its Australian and U.K. business (the “CWAE Divestiture”) as further discussed below under “Divestiture in Fiscal 2011.”

Prior to January 31, 2011, the Company’s internal management financial reporting consisted of four business divisions: Constellation Wines North America, Constellation Wines Australia and Europe, Constellation Wines New Zealand, and Crown Imports. Due to a number of factors, including the size of the Constellation Wines New Zealand segment’s operations, the similarity of its economic characteristics and long-term financial performance with that of the Constellation Wines North America business, and the fact that the vast majority of the wine produced by the Constellation Wines New Zealand operating segment is sold in the U.S. and Canada, the Company had aggregated the results of this operating segment with its Constellation Wines North America operating segment to form one reportable segment. Accordingly, prior to January 31, 2011, the Company reported its operating results in four segments: Constellation Wines and Spirits (wine and spirits) (formerly known as Constellation Wines North America through February 29, 2012), Constellation Wines Australia and Europe (wine) (“CWAE”), Corporate Operations and Other, and Crown Imports (imported beer). As a result of the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture, as of February 1, 2011, the Company no longer reports operating results for the CWAE segment.

In connection with the Company’s changes on June 1, 2011, within its internal management structure for its wine and spirits business, the Company changed its internal management financial reporting to consist of two business divisions: Constellation Wines North America and Crown Imports. These organizational changes had no impact on the Company’s previously reported segment financial information as the Company continues to report its operating results in three segments: Constellation Wines and Spirits, Corporate Operations and Other, and Crown Imports. The business segments reflect how the Company’s operations are managed, how operating performance within the Company is evaluated by senior management and the structure of its internal financial reporting. Amounts included in the Corporate Operations and Other segment consist of costs of executive management, corporate development, corporate finance, human resources, internal audit, investor relations, legal, public relations and global information technology. Any costs incurred at the corporate office that are applicable to the segments are allocated to the appropriate segment. The amounts included in the Corporate Operations and Other segment are general costs that are applicable to the consolidated group and are therefore not allocated to the other reportable segments. All costs reported within the Corporate Operations and Other segment are not included in the chief operating decision maker’s evaluation of the operating income performance of the other reportable segments.

In addition, the Company excludes restructuring charges and unusual items that affect comparability from its definition of operating income for segment purposes as these items are not reflective of normal continuing operations of the segments. The Company excludes these items as segment operating performance and segment

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management compensation is evaluated based upon a normalized segment operating income. As such, the performance measures for incentive compensation purposes for segment management do not include the impact of these items.

The Company’s business strategy in the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment is to remain focused on consumer-preferred premium wine brands, complemented by premium spirits. In this segment, the Company continues to focus on growing premium product categories and expects to profitably grow the business. During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company effectively completed its efforts to further consolidate its U.S. distributor network in markets where it was feasible in order to obtain dedicated selling resources which focus on the Company’s U.S. wine and spirits portfolio to drive profitable, organic growth. In connection with these efforts, since the second half of fiscal 2010, the Company has negotiated long-term contracts with distributors who currently represent about 70% of the Company’s branded wine and spirits volume in the U.S. Throughout the remainder of the terms of these contracts, the majority of which continue through the end of fiscal 2015, the Company expects shipments on an annual basis to these distributors to essentially equal the distributors’ shipments to retailers.

Although the calendar 2012 U.S. grape harvest came in larger than the calendar 2011 U.S. grape harvest, the Company continues to believe the current overall supply of wine is generally in balance with demand within the U.S. The Company expects that the larger calendar 2012 U.S. grape harvest may provide some relief from the recent tightening of supply within certain U.S. varietals due to relatively smaller U.S. grape harvests in the prior two calendar years.

The Company remains committed to its long-term financial model of growing sales, including international expansion of its Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s branded portfolio, expanding margins and increasing cash flow in order to achieve earnings per share growth and improve return on invested capital.

Marketing, sales and distribution of the Company’s products are managed on a geographic basis in order to fully leverage leading market positions. In addition, market dynamics and consumer trends vary across each of the Company’s markets. Within its primary markets (U.S. and Canada), the Company offers a range of beverage alcohol products across the branded wine and spirits and, through Crown Imports, imported beer categories in the U.S. The environment for the Company’s products is competitive in each of the Company’s markets.

For the year ended February 28, 2013 (“Fiscal 2013”), the Company’s net sales increased 5% over the year ended February 29, 2012 (“Fiscal 2012”), primarily due to (i) U.S. base branded (as defined below) wine and spirits volume growth, (ii) net sales of branded wine acquired in the acquisitions of Mark West and Ruffino (both as defined below), and (iii) favorable product mix shift, partially offset by higher promotional spend. Operating income for Fiscal 2013 increased 7% over Fiscal 2012 primarily due to the items discussed above combined with lower restructuring charges and unusual items, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. Net income for Fiscal 2013 decreased 13% over Fiscal 2012 primarily due to the items discussed above offset by increases in interest expense, net, and the provision for income taxes.

The following discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting (i) consolidated results of operations of the Company for Fiscal 2013 compared to Fiscal 2012, and Fiscal 2012 compared to the year ended February 28, 2011 (“Fiscal 2011”), and (ii) financial liquidity and capital resources for Fiscal 2013. References to base branded exclude the impact of (i) branded wine acquired in the acquisitions of Ruffino and Mark West, and/or (ii) branded wine for the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment previously sold through the Company’s CWAE segment, as appropriate. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein.

Recent Developments

Crown Imports

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Imports has the exclusive right to import, market and sell primarily Modelo’s Mexican beer portfolio (the “Modelo Brands”) in the U.S. and Guam. Crown Imports’ portfolio of brands includes Corona Extra, the best-selling imported beer and the sixth best-selling beer overall in the U.S.; Corona Light, the leading imported light beer; and Modelo Especial, the third largest and one of the fastest growing major imported beer brands.

In August 2012, the Company entered into financing arrangements to fund the Initial Purchase Agreement consisting of the Term A-2 Facility and the August 2012 Senior Notes (both as defined below under the caption “Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt). Because of the differences between the terms relating to the February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition and the Initial Purchase Agreement, the Company determined that the conditions for the release of the Escrowed Property (as defined below under the caption “Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt) to the Company pursuant to the Escrow Agreement (as defined below under the caption “Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt) could not be satisfied. Accordingly, the Company gave notice to the escrow agent on February 19, 2013, to release the Escrowed Property for purposes of effecting the Special Mandatory Redemption (as defined below under the caption “Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt). As a result, the August 2012 Senior Notes were redeemed on February 20, 2013, and the Escrow Agreement was terminated in accordance with its terms. The Company expects permanent financing for the Beer Business Acquisition to consist of a combination of available cash and debt financings, including an amended delayed draw U.S. term loan facility (in favor of the Company), one or more new credit facilities (in favor of a European subsidiary of the Company) under an amended and restated senior credit facility, an accounts receivable securitization facility (as discussed below), the issuance of certain notes or debt securities, and revolver borrowings under an amended and restated senior credit facility. The Company has a fully committed, amended and restated bridge financing in place through December 30, 2013, upon which it could draw to fund a portion of the Beer Business Acquisition if any of its expected financing is unavailable. The Company currently expects to complete the Beer Business Acquisition around the end of the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2014, or shortly thereafter, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including the receipt of any required regulatory approvals and the consummation of certain transactions between Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Modelo and certain of its affiliates. The Company cannot guarantee, however, that this transaction will be completed upon the agreed upon terms, or at all. The results of operations of the Beer Business Acquisition will be reported in the Crown Imports segment and will be included in the consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The Beer Business Acquisition is expected to be significant and the Company expects it to have a material impact on the Company’s future results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

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Acquisition in Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 and Equity Method Investment in Fiscal 2011

Mark West

In July 2012, the Company acquired Mark West for $159.3 million. The transaction primarily includes the acquisition of the Mark West trademark, related inventories and certain grape supply contracts (“Mark West”). The purchase price was financed with revolver borrowings under the May 2012 Credit Agreement (as defined below). The results of operations of Mark West are reported in the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment and are included in the consolidated results of operations of the Company from the date of acquisition.

Ruffino

In connection with the Company’s December 2004 investment in Ruffino S.r.l. (“Ruffino”), the Company granted separate irrevocable and unconditional options to the two other shareholders of Ruffino to put to the Company all of the ownership interests held by these shareholders for a price as calculated in the joint venture agreement. Each option was exercisable during the period starting from January 1, 2010, and ending on December 31, 2010. During the year ended February 28, 2010, the 9.9% shareholder of Ruffino exercised its option to put its entire equity interest in Ruffino to the Company. In May 2010, the Company settled this put option through a cash payment of €23.5 million ($29.6 million) to the 9.9% shareholder of Ruffino, thereby increasing the Company’s equity interest in Ruffino from 40.0% to 49.9%. In December 2010, the Company received notification from the 50.1% shareholder of Ruffino that it was exercising its option to put its entire equity interest in Ruffino to the Company for €55.9 million. Prior to this notification, the Company had initiated arbitration proceedings against the 50.1% shareholder alleging various matters which should have affected the validity of the put option. However, subsequent to the initiation of the arbitration proceedings, the Company began discussions with the 50.1% shareholder on a framework for settlement of all legal actions. The framework of the settlement would include the Company’s purchase of the 50.1% shareholder’s entire equity interest in Ruffino on revised terms to be agreed upon by both parties. As a result, the Company recognized a loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 of €43.4 million ($60.0 million) on the contingent obligation. This loss is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

On October 5, 2011, the Company acquired the 50.1% shareholder’s entire equity interest in Ruffino for €50.3 million ($68.6 million). In conjunction with this acquisition, all of the aforementioned legal actions were settled. As a result of this acquisition, the Company assumed indebtedness of Ruffino, net of cash acquired, of €54.2 million ($73.1 million). The purchase price was financed with revolver borrowings under the Company’s then existing senior credit facility. Prior to the acquisition of Ruffino, the Company recognized a net foreign currency loss of $2.1 million on the contingent obligation originally recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. This net loss is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. In connection with the acquisition of Ruffino, the Company recognized net gains of $8.4 million related primarily to the gain on the revaluation of the Company’s previously held 49.9% equity interest in Ruffino to the acquisition-date fair value (consisting largely of the reclassification of the related foreign currency translation adjustments previously recognized in other comprehensive income), and the revaluation of the Company’s contingent obligation originally recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. These net gains are included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The results of operations of the Ruffino business are reported in the Company’s Constellation Wines and Spirits segment and are included in the consolidated results of operations of the Company from the date of acquisition.

Divestiture in Fiscal 2011

Australian and U.K. Business

In January 2011, the Company sold 80.1% of its Australian and U.K. business (the “CWAE Divestiture”) at a transaction value of $267.7 million. As of February 28, 2013, the Company has received cash proceeds of $193.1 million, net of cash divested of $15.8 million, direct costs paid of $12.0 million and post-closing adjustments paid

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of $18.5 million. The Company has retained a less than 20% interest in its previously owned Australian and U.K. business, Accolade Wines (“Accolade”). This transaction is consistent with the Company’s strategic focus on premiumizing the Company’s portfolio and improving margins and return on invested capital. The following table summarizes the net gain recognized and the net cash proceeds received in connection with this divestiture.



(in millions)
Net assets sold	$	(734.1	)
Cash received from buyer, net of cash divested and post-closing adjustments paid	205.1
Retained interest in Accolade	48.2
Foreign currency reclassification	678.8
Indemnification liabilities	(18.4		)
Direct costs to sell, paid and accrued	(13.2		)
Other	7.9
Net gain on sale	174.3
Loss on settlement of pension obligations	(109.9		)
Net gain	$	64.4

Of the $64.4 million net gain, the Company recognized net gains of $7.1 million, $2.1 million and $55.2 million for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively. In addition, the Company recognized additional net (losses) gains related to this divestiture of ($0.2) million, ($1.6) million and $28.5 million for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively, primarily associated with net gains on derivative instruments of $20.8 million for Fiscal 2011. Total net gains associated with this divestiture of $91.1 million ($6.9 million, $0.5 million and $83.7 million for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Results of Operations

Fiscal 2013 Compared to Fiscal 2012

Net Sales

The following table sets forth the net sales by reportable segment of the Company for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012.



	Fiscal 2013			Fiscal 2012			% Increase (Decrease)
(in millions)
Constellation Wines and Spirits	$	2,796.1		$	2,654.3		5	%
Crown Imports	2,588.1			2,469.5			5	%
Consolidations and eliminations	(2,588.1		)	(2,469.5		)	(5	%)
Consolidated Net Sales	$	2,796.1		$	2,654.3		5	%

Constellation Wines and Spirits

Net sales for Constellation Wines and Spirits increased to $2,796.1 million for Fiscal 2013 from $2,654.3 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $141.8 million, or 5%. This increase resulted primarily from (i) U.S. base branded wine and spirits volume growth, (ii) $55.5 million of net sales of branded wine acquired in the acquisitions of Mark West and Ruffino, and (iii) favorable product mix shift in the base branded wine and spirits portfolio (predominantly in the U.S.), partially offset by higher promotional spend (predominately within U.S. base branded wine).

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Crown Imports

As this segment is eliminated in consolidation, see “Equity in Earnings of Equity Method Investees” below for a discussion of Crown Imports’ net sales, gross profit, selling, general and administrative expenses, and operating income.

Gross Profit

The Company’s gross profit increased to $1,108.3 million for Fiscal 2013 from $1,062.1 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $46.2 million, or 4%. This increase is primarily due to (i) gross profit of $34.2 million from the acquisitions of Ruffino and Mark West, (ii) favorable product mix shift in the base branded wine and spirits portfolio, and (iii) higher volumes in the U.S. base branded wine and spirits portfolio, partially offset by the higher promotional spend. In addition, unusual items, which consist of certain amounts that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment, were higher by $5.9 million in Fiscal 2013 versus Fiscal 2012. Gross profit as a percent of net sales decreased slightly to 39.6% for Fiscal 2013 from 40.0% for Fiscal 2012 primarily due to the factors discussed above.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $584.7 million for Fiscal 2013 from $521.5 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $63.2 million, or 12%. This increase is due to increases in (i) unusual items, which consist of certain amounts that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment, of $27.8 million, (ii) the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment of $23.8 million, and (iii) the Corporate Operations and Other segment of $11.6 million. The increase in unusual items consists of the following:



	Fiscal 2013			Fiscal 2012			Increase(Decrease)
(in millions)
Transaction and related costs associated with pending and completed acquisitions	$	27.7		$	—		$	27.7
Net gains on CWAE Divestiture and related activities	(7.1		)	(0.5		)	(6.6		)
Net gains on acquisition of Ruffino (excluding gain on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder) and related activities	—			(3.8		)	3.8
Gain on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder	—			(2.5		)	2.5
Other costs	4.7			4.3			0.4
	$	25.3		$	(2.5	)	$	27.8

The increase in Constellation Wines and Spirits’ selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increases (on a constant currency basis) in general and administrative expenses of $10.5 million, selling expenses of $8.0 million and advertising expenses of $6.0 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to an overlap of a prior year favorable legal settlement in the U.S. related to the use of a certain intangible asset, combined with an increase in general and administrative expenses associated with the acquisition of Ruffino. The increases in advertising and selling expenses is primarily due to a planned increase in marketing, advertising and selling behind the segment’s branded wine and spirits portfolio. The increase in Corporate Operations and Other’s selling, general and administrative expenses is due to an increase in general and administrative expenses driven largely by an increase in higher compensation and benefits and other costs related to the Company’s initiative to implement a comprehensive, multi-year program to strengthen and enhance the Company’s global business capabilities and processes through the creation of an integrated technology platform (“Project Fusion”), and an overlap of prior year net gains in connection with the early redemption of certain available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities from Accolade. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales increased to 20.9% for Fiscal 2013 as compared to 19.6% for Fiscal 2012 primarily due to the factors discussed above, combined with the higher promotional spend.

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Restructuring Charges

The Company recorded $0.7 million of restructuring charges for Fiscal 2013 associated primarily with the Company’s plan (committed to in May 2011, announced in June 2011) to streamline operations, gain efficiencies and reduce its cost structure following the CWAE Divestiture (the “Fiscal 2012 Initiative”). Restructuring charges consisted of $0.4 million of employee termination benefit costs, $0.2 million of contract termination costs and $0.1 million of facility consolidation/relocation costs. The Company recorded $16.0 million of restructuring charges for Fiscal 2012 associated primarily with the Fiscal 2012 Initiative.

In addition, the Company incurred additional costs for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 in connection with the Company’s restructuring plans. Total costs incurred in connection with all plans for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 are as follows:



	Fiscal 2013		Fiscal 2012
(in millions)
Cost of Product Sold
Accelerated depreciation	$	—	$	0.3

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Other costs	$	8.5	$	8.4

Restructuring Charges	$	0.7	$	16.0

The Company does not expect to incur any additional costs associated with its restructuring plans.

Impairment of Intangible Assets

The Company recorded an impairment loss of $38.1 million for Fiscal 2012. No such impairment was recorded for Fiscal 2013. The Fiscal 2012 impairment loss resulted from the Company’s fourth quarter annual review, pursuant to the Company’s accounting policy, of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment. The Company determined that trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian business were impaired largely due to lower revenue and profitability associated with products incorporating these assets included in long-term financial forecasts developed as part of the strategic planning cycle conducted during the Company’s fourth quarter. As a result of this review, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $38.1 million, which is included in impairment of intangible assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Operating Income

The following table sets forth the operating income (loss) by reportable segment of the Company for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012.



	Fiscal 2013			Fiscal 2012			% Increase(Decrease)
(in millions)
Constellation Wines and Spirits	$	650.2		$	621.9		5	%
Corporate Operations and Other	(93.5		)	(81.9		)	(14	%)
Crown Imports	448.0			431.0			4	%
Consolidations and eliminations	(448.0		)	(431.0		)	(4	%)
Total Reportable Segments	556.7			540.0			3	%
Restructuring Charges and Unusual Items	(33.8		)	(53.5		)	NM
Consolidated Operating Income	$	522.9		$	486.5		7	%

NM = Not Meaningful

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As a result of the factors discussed above, consolidated operating income increased to $522.9 million for Fiscal 2013 from $486.5 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $36.4 million, or 7%. Restructuring charges and unusual items of $33.8 million and $53.5 million for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, respectively, consist of certain amounts that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment. These amounts include:



	Fiscal 2013			Fiscal 2012
(in millions)
Cost of Product Sold
Flow through of inventory step-up	$	7.8		$	1.6
Accelerated depreciation	—			0.3
Cost of Product Sold	7.8			1.9

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Transaction and related costs associated with pending and completed acquisitions	27.7			—
Net gains on CWAE Divestiture and related activities	(7.1		)	(0.5		)
Net gains on acquisition of Ruffino (excluding gain on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder) and related activities	—			(3.8		)
Gain on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder	—			(2.5		)
Other costs	4.7			4.3
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	25.3			(2.5		)

Impairment of Intangible Assets	—			38.1

Restructuring Charges	0.7			16.0
Restructuring Charges and Unusual Items	$	33.8		$	53.5

Equity in Earnings of Equity Method Investees

The Company’s equity in earnings of equity method investees increased to $233.1 million for Fiscal 2013 from $228.5 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $4.6 million, or 2%. This increase is primarily due to higher equity in earnings of Crown Imports and the Company’s Opus One equity method investment, partially offset by lower equity in earnings from Ruffino as a result of the October 5, 2011, acquisition of Ruffino and the consolidation of Ruffino’s results of operations from the date of acquisition.

Net sales for Crown Imports increased to $2,588.1 million for Fiscal 2013 from $2,469.5 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $118.6 million, or 5%. This increase resulted primarily from volume growth within the Crown Imports’ Mexican beer portfolio which benefited from continued consumer demand and increased advertising spend, partially offset by the loss of the St. Pauli Girl brand volume. Crown Imports’ gross profit increased $34.4 million, or 5%, primarily due to these factors. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $17.4 million, or 6%, primarily due to the planned increase in advertising spend, coupled with higher compensation and benefit costs, partially offset by a gain recognized in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 in connection with the receipt of a payment terminating Crown Imports’ right to distribute the St. Pauli Girl beer brand. Operating income increased $17.0 million, or 4%, primarily due to these factors.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income of $6.8 million and $6.6 million, for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, respectively, increased to $227.1 million for Fiscal 2013 from $181.0 million for Fiscal 2012, an increase of $46.1 million, or 25%. The increase was driven largely by higher average borrowings as the Company positioned itself for the expected funding of the then-pending February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition.

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Loss on Write-Off of Financing Costs

The Company recorded a loss on the write-off of financing costs of $12.5 million for Fiscal 2013 primarily in connection with the Special Mandatory Redemption (as defined below) of the August 2012 Senior Notes. There was no loss recorded for the write-off of financing costs for Fiscal 2012.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 was 24.9% and 16.7%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for Fiscal 2013 was substantially impacted by the generation of additional foreign tax credits. The Company’s effective tax rate for Fiscal 2012 reflects decreases in uncertain tax positions of $85.2 million and other tax adjustments of $42.5 million in connection with the completion of various income tax examinations during Fiscal 2012 and a change in the method of filing certain state income tax returns. The Company expects its effective tax rate for the year ending February 28, 2014, to be approximately 37%, which is closer to the Company’s U.S. statutory rate.

Net Income

As a result of the above factors, net income decreased to $387.8 million for Fiscal 2013 from $445.0 million for Fiscal 2012, a decrease of $57.2 million, or (13%).

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Net Sales

The following table sets forth the net sales by reportable segment of the Company for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011.



	Fiscal 2012			Fiscal 2011			% Increase (Decrease)
(in millions)
Constellation Wines and Spirits	$	2,654.3		$	2,557.3		4	%
CWAE	—			774.7			(100	%)
Crown Imports	2,469.5			2,392.9			3	%
Consolidations and eliminations	(2,469.5		)	(2,392.9		)	(3	%)
Consolidated Net Sales	$	2,654.3		$	3,332.0		(20	%)

Net sales for Fiscal 2012 decreased to $2,654.3 million from $3,332.0 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $677.7 million, or (20%). This decrease resulted primarily from the CWAE Divestiture of $680.3 million.

Constellation Wines and Spirits

Net sales for Constellation Wines and Spirits increased to $2,654.3 million for Fiscal 2012 from $2,557.3 million for Fiscal 2011, an increase of $97.0 million, or 4%. This increase is primarily due to a benefit of $94.4 million from wine net sales to Europe, Australia and Japan which were previously sold through the Company’s CWAE segment combined with favorable product mix shift in the U.S. base branded wine portfolio, partially offset by lower U.S. base branded wine volume.

Constellation Wines Australia and Europe

Net sales for CWAE decreased $774.7 million, or (100%), from Fiscal 2011 due to the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture.

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Crown Imports

Gross Profit

The Company’s gross profit decreased to $1,062.1 million for Fiscal 2012 from $1,190.1 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $128.0 million, or (11%). This decrease is primarily due to decreases in CWAE’s gross profit of $122.6 million and Constellation Wines and Spirits’ gross profit of $8.2 million. The decrease in CWAE’s gross profit is due to the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture. The decrease in Constellation Wines and Spirits’ gross profit is primarily due to (i) lower U.S. base branded wine volume, (ii) higher average cost of product sold in the U.S. (due largely to higher costs for transportation in the Company’s wine and spirits portfolio) and (iii) higher average U.S. promotional spend; partially offset by favorable product mix shift in the U.S. base branded wine portfolio and a benefit of $16.3 million from lower-margin wine net sales to Europe, Australia and Japan which were previously sold through the Company’s CWAE segment. In addition, unusual items, which consist of certain amounts that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment, were lower by $2.8 million in Fiscal 2012 versus Fiscal 2011. Gross profit as a percent of net sales increased to 40.0% for Fiscal 2012 from 35.7% for Fiscal 2011 primarily due to the factors discussed above.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $521.5 million for Fiscal 2012 from $640.9 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $119.4 million, or (19%). This decrease is due to decreases in the CWAE segment of $113.3 million and the Corporate Operations and Other segment of $24.7 million, partially offset by increases in unusual items, which consist of certain amounts that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment, of $17.7 million, and the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment of $0.9 million. The decrease in CWAE’s selling, general and administrative expenses is due to the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture. The decrease in Corporate Operations and Other’s selling, general and administrative expenses is due to a decrease in general and administrative expenses primarily relating to (i) lower expenses incurred in connection with Project Fusion, (ii) lower annual management incentive compensation expense, (iii) lower stock-based compensation expense and (iv) the recognition of net gains in connection with the early redemption of certain AFS debt securities from Accolade; partially offset by an increase in depreciation expense primarily related to Project Fusion. The increase in unusual items consists of the following:



	Fiscal 2012			Fiscal 2011			(Decrease) Increase
(in millions)
Net gains on acquisition of Ruffino (excluding gain on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder) and related activities	$	(3.8	)	$	—		$	(3.8	)
(Gain) loss on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder	(2.5		)	60.0			(62.5		)
Net gains on the CWAE Divestiture and related activities	(0.5		)	(83.7		)	83.2
Other costs	4.3			3.5			0.8
	$	(2.5	)	$	(20.2	)	$	17.7

The increase in Constellation Wines and Spirits’ selling, general and administrative expenses is due to increases in advertising expenses (on a constant currency basis) of $11.6 million, selling expenses (on a constant currency basis) of $5.7 million and an unfavorable year-over-year foreign currency translation impact of $4.7 million, partially offset by a decrease in general and administrative expenses (on a constant currency basis) of $21.1 million. The increases in advertising and selling expenses are due largely to the launch of several new products in the segment’s U.S. branded wine portfolio. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to (i) a favorable legal settlement in the U.S. related to the use of a certain intangible asset, (ii) lower annual profit sharing and management incentive compensation expense and (iii) higher gains on foreign currency transactions. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales increased to 19.6% for Fiscal 2012 as compared to

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19.2% for Fiscal 2011 primarily due to the factors discussed above, combined with lower U.S. base branded wine net sales.

Restructuring Charges

The Company recorded $16.0 million of restructuring charges for Fiscal 2012 associated primarily with the Company’s Fiscal 2012 Initiative. Restructuring charges consisted of $12.1 million of employee termination benefit costs, $3.7 million of contract termination costs and $0.2 million of facility consolidation/relocation costs. The Company recorded $23.1 million of restructuring charges for Fiscal 2011 associated primarily with the Company’s plan (announced in April 2009) to simplify its business, increase efficiencies and reduce its cost structure on a global basis (the “Global Initiative”), and the Company’s plan (announced in August 2008) to sell certain assets and implement operational changes designed to improve the efficiencies and returns associated with the Australian business, primarily by consolidating certain winemaking and packaging operations and reducing the Company’s overall grape supply due to reduced capacity needs resulting from a streamlining of the Company’s product portfolio (the “Australian Initiative”).

In addition, the Company incurred additional costs for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 in connection with the Company’s restructuring and acquisition-related integration plans. Total costs incurred in connection with these plans for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 are as follows:



	Fiscal 2012		Fiscal 2011
(in millions)
Cost of Product Sold
Accelerated depreciation	$	0.3	$	2.2

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Other costs	$	8.4	$	5.8

Restructuring Charges	$	16.0	$	23.1

Impairment of Intangible Assets

The Company recorded impairment losses of $38.1 million and $23.6 million for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively. The Fiscal 2012 impairment loss resulted from the Company’s fourth quarter annual review, pursuant to the Company’s accounting policy, of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment. The Company determined that trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian business were impaired largely due to lower revenue and profitability associated with products incorporating these assets included in long-term financial forecasts developed as part of the strategic planning cycle conducted during the Company’s fourth quarter. As a result of this review, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $38.1 million, which is included in impairment of intangible assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Fiscal 2011 impairment losses resulted primarily from the Company’s fourth quarter annual review, pursuant to the Company’s accounting policy, of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment. The Company determined that trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian business were impaired largely due to lower revenue and profitability associated with products incorporating these assets included in long-term financial forecasts developed as part of the strategic planning cycle conducted during the Company’s fourth quarter. As a result of this review, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $16.7 million, which is included in impairment of intangible assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. In addition, in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, in connection with the Company’s decision to discontinue certain wine brands within its Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s U.S. wine portfolio, the Company determined that certain indefinite lived trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s U.S. business were impaired. As a result of this decision, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $6.9 million, which is included in impairment of intangible assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

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Operating Income

The following table sets forth the operating income (loss) by reportable segment of the Company for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011.



	Fiscal 2012			Fiscal 2011			% (Decrease) Increase
(in millions)
Constellation Wines and Spirits	$	621.9		$	631.0		(1	%)
CWAE	—			9.3			(100	%)
Corporate Operations and Other	(81.9		)	(106.6		)	23	%
Crown Imports	431.0			453.0			(5	%)
Consolidations and eliminations	(431.0		)	(453.0		)	5	%
Total Reportable Segments	540.0			533.7			1	%
Restructuring Charges and Unusual Items	(53.5		)	(31.2		)	NM
Consolidated Operating Income	$	486.5		$	502.5		(3	%)

As a result of the factors discussed above, consolidated operating income decreased to $486.5 million for Fiscal 2012 from $502.5 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $16.0 million, or (3%). Restructuring charges and unusual items of $53.5 million and $31.2 million for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively, consist of certain amounts that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment. These amounts include:



	Fiscal 2012			Fiscal 2011
(in millions)
Cost of Product Sold
Flow through of inventory step-up	$	1.6		$	2.4
Accelerated depreciation	0.3			2.2
Other	—			0.1
Cost of Product Sold	1.9			4.7

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Net gains on acquisition of Ruffino (excluding gain on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder) and related activities	(3.8		)	—
(Gain) loss on obligation from put option of Ruffino shareholder	(2.5		)	60.0
Net gains on CWAE Divestiture and related activities	(0.5		)	(83.7		)
Other costs	4.3			3.5
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	(2.5		)	(20.2		)

Impairment of Intangible Assets	38.1			23.6

Restructuring Charges	16.0			23.1
Restructuring Charges and Unusual Items	$	53.5		$	31.2

Equity in Earnings of Equity Method Investees

The Company’s equity in earnings of equity method investees decreased to $228.5 million for Fiscal 2012 from $243.8 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $15.3 million, or (6%). This decrease is primarily due to lower equity in earnings from the Company’s Crown Imports joint venture of $11.0 million and lower equity in earnings from the Company’s U.K. equity method investment in connection with the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture of $5.0 million.

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Net sales for Crown Imports increased to $2,469.5 million for Fiscal 2012 from $2,392.9 million for Fiscal 2011, an increase of $76.6 million, or 3%. This increase resulted primarily from volume growth within the Crown Imports’ Mexican beer portfolio driven largely by increased advertising spend and product line extensions for certain brands within the Crown Imports’ Mexican beer portfolio, combined with the continuing launch of the Victoria brand which began during the Company’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Crown Imports’ gross profit increased $30.5 million, or 4%, primarily due to these factors. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $52.5 million, or 22%, primarily due to a planned increase in advertising spend. Operating income decreased $22.0 million, or (5%), primarily due to these factors.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income of $6.6 million and $3.5 million, for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively, decreased to $181.0 million for Fiscal 2012 from $195.3 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $14.3 million, or (7%). The decrease resulted from lower average borrowings in total, partially offset by a higher weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings resulting primarily from the prepayment of a portion of the lower interest rate tranche B term loan facility.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 was 16.7% and (1.5%), respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for Fiscal 2012 reflects decreases in uncertain tax positions of $85.2 million and other tax adjustments of $42.5 million in connection with the completion of various income tax examinations during Fiscal 2012 and a change in the method of filing certain state income tax returns. The Company’s effective tax rate for Fiscal 2011 was driven largely by a benefit of $207.0 million associated with the deduction for investments and loans related to the CWAE Divestiture and a decrease in uncertain tax positions of $36.0 million in connection with the completion of various income tax examinations and the expiration of statutes of limitation during Fiscal 2011, partially offset by the recognition of valuation allowances against net operating losses in the U.K. and Australia.

Net Income

As a result of the above factors, net income decreased to $445.0 million for Fiscal 2012 from $559.5 million for Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $114.5 million, or (20%).

Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

The Company’s principal use of cash in its operating activities is for purchasing and carrying inventories and carrying seasonal accounts receivable. The Company’s primary source of liquidity has historically been cash flow from operations, except during annual grape harvests when the Company has relied on short-term borrowings. In the U.S., Canada and Italy, the annual grape crush normally begins in August and runs through October. In New Zealand, the annual grape crush normally begins in February and runs through May. The Company generally begins taking delivery of grapes at the beginning of the crush season with the majority of payments for such grapes coming due within 90 days. The Company’s short-term borrowings to support such purchases generally reach their highest levels one to two months after the crush season has ended. Historically, the Company has used cash flow from operating activities to repay its short-term borrowings and fund capital expenditures. The Company will continue to use its short-term borrowings, including its accounts receivable securitization facility, to support its working capital requirements.

The Company has maintained adequate liquidity to meet current working capital requirements, fund capital expenditures and repay scheduled principal and interest payments on debt. Absent deterioration of market conditions, the Company believes that cash flows from operating activities and its financing activities, primarily short-term borrowings, will provide adequate resources to satisfy its working capital, scheduled principal and

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interest payments on debt, and anticipated capital expenditure requirements for both its short-term and long-term capital needs.

As of April 22, 2013, the Company had $835.6 million in revolving loans available to be drawn under its 2012 Credit Agreement. The member financial institutions participating in the Company’s 2012 Credit Agreement have complied with prior funding requests and the Company believes the member financial institutions will comply with ongoing funding requests. However, there can be no assurances that any particular financial institution will continue to do so in the future.

As previously discussed in the Overview section above, the Company has entered into certain agreements with respect to the Beer Business Acquisition. The consummation of the Beer Business Acquisition will require the incurrence of debt by the Company of approximately $4.75 billion, less any available cash used to fund the Beer Business Acquisition. In August 2012, the Company entered into financing arrangements to fund the Initial Purchase Agreement consisting of a $575.0 million delayed draw term loan facility available until December 30, 2013, under the Company’s 2012 Credit Agreement, and the August 2012 Senior Notes. Because of the differences between the terms relating to the February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition and the Initial Purchase Agreement, the Company determined that the conditions for the release of the Escrowed Property to the Company pursuant to the Escrow Agreement could not be satisfied. Accordingly, the Company gave notice to the escrow agent on February 19, 2013, to release the Escrowed Property for purposes of effecting the Special Mandatory Redemption. As a result, the August 2012 Senior Notes were redeemed on February 20, 2013, and the Escrow Agreement was terminated in accordance with its terms. The Company expects permanent financing for the Beer Business Acquisition to consist of a combination of available cash and debt financings, including an amended delayed draw U.S. term loan facility (in favor of the Company), one or more new credit facilities (in favor of a European subsidiary of the Company) under an amended and restated senior credit facility, an accounts receivable securitization facility, the issuance of certain notes or debt securities, and revolver borrowings under an amended and restated senior credit facility. The Company has a fully committed, amended and restated bridge financing in place through December 30, 2013, upon which it could draw to fund a portion of the Beer Business Acquisition if any of the Company’s expected financing is unavailable. See further information above under the caption “Recent Developments – Crown Imports.”

Fiscal 2013 Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for Fiscal 2013 was $556.3 million, which resulted primarily from net income of $387.8 million, plus net noncash items charged to the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income of $213.6 million and other, net of $22.6 million, less net cash used in the net change in the Company’s operating assets and liabilities of $67.7 million.

The net noncash items consisted primarily of depreciation expense, stock-based compensation expense, and deferred tax provision. Other, net, consists primarily of an increase in deferred revenue. The net cash used in the net change in the Company’s operating assets and liabilities resulted primarily from increases in inventories of $90.0 million and accounts receivable, net, of $38.9 million combined with an increase in Fiscal 2013 income tax payments of $86.7 million; partially offset by increases in accounts payable of $76.9 million, accrued interest of $33.7 million and accrued advertising and promotions of $20.6 million. The increase in inventories is primarily due to increased purchases of bulk product to offset the lower harvests from recent years combined with higher grape costs. The increase in accounts payable is primarily due to timing of payments as well as increased purchasing of bulk inventory. The increase in income tax payments is due largely to the receipt of an $85.5 million refund in the prior year associated with tax benefits recognized in connection with the CWAE Divestiture. The increase in accounts receivable, net, is due largely to the net sales volume growth and impact of the net sales from the acquisition of Mark West in the U.S branded wine and spirits portfolio. The increase in accrued interest is primarily due to timing of payments combined with higher average borrowings. The increase in accrued promotions and advertising is driven primarily by the increased U.S. promotional spend.

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Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for Fiscal 2013 was $206.8 million, which resulted primarily from the acquisition of Mark West for $159.3 million and capital expenditures of $62.1 million.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for Fiscal 2013 was $98.7 million resulting primarily from principal payments of long-term debt of $1,537.2 million, purchases of treasury stock of $383.0 million (see “Share Repurchase Programs” below), net repayment of notes payable of $372.6 million and payment of financing costs of long-term debt of $35.8 million, largely offset by proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $2,050.0 million, proceeds from exercises of employee stock options of $158.3 million and excess tax benefits from stock-based payment awards of $17.7 million.

Fiscal 2012 Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for Fiscal 2012 was $784.1 million, which resulted primarily from net income of $445.0 million, plus net noncash items charged to the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income of $242.3 million and net cash provided by the net change in the Company’s operating assets and liabilities of $101.6 million.

The net noncash items consisted primarily of depreciation expense, deferred tax provision, stock-based compensation expense and an impairment of intangible assets. The net cash provided by the net change in the Company’s operating assets and liabilities resulted primarily from a decrease in inventories of $51.5 million and an increase in other accrued expenses and liabilities of $44.6 million. The decrease in inventories is due primarily to a decrease in U.S. inventory levels driven largely by net sales volume growth during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 in the U.S. branded wine portfolio, combined with the lower U.S. calendar 2011 grape harvest. The increase in other accrued expenses and liabilities is due largely to an increase in current income taxes payable due primarily to a refund of $85.5 million received in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 associated with the recognition of income tax benefits in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 in connection with the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for Fiscal 2012 was $135.1 million, which resulted primarily from capital expenditures of $68.4 million, purchase of the remaining 50.1% equity interest in Ruffino of $51.5 million and payments of post-closing adjustments and direct costs associated with the January 2011 CWAE Divestiture of $30.8 million; partially offset by proceeds from the redemption of AFS debt securities of $20.2 million.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for Fiscal 2012 was $575.1 million resulting primarily from principal payments of long-term debt of $475.9 million and purchases of treasury stock of $413.7 million, partially offset by net proceeds from notes payable of $249.8 million and proceeds from exercises of employee stock options of $51.3 million.

Share Repurchase Programs

In April 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock (the “2011 Authorization”). During Fiscal 2011, the Company repurchased 17,223,404 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this authorization at an aggregate cost of $300.0 million, or an average cost of $17.42 per share, through a collared accelerated stock buyback (“ASB”) transaction that was announced in April 2010. The Company paid the purchase price under the

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ASB transaction in April 2010, at which time it received an initial installment of 11,016,451 shares of Class A Common Stock. In May 2010, the Company received an additional installment of 2,785,029 shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the early termination of the hedge period on May 10, 2010. In November 2010, the Company received the final installment of 3,421,924 shares of Class A Common Stock following the end of the calculation period on November 24, 2010. The Company used proceeds from revolver borrowings under its then existing senior credit facility to pay the purchase price for the repurchased shares. The repurchased shares have become treasury shares.

In April 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock (the “2012 Authorization”). During Fiscal 2012, the Company repurchased 21,234,266 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2012 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $413.7 million, or an average cost of $19.48 per share, through open market transactions. During Fiscal 2013, the Company utilized the remaining $86.3 million outstanding under the 2012 Authorization to repurchase 3,970,481 shares of Class A Common Stock at an average cost of $21.74 per share, through open market transactions. In total, the Company has repurchased 25,204,747 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2012 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $500.0 million, or an average cost of $19.84 per share. The Company used proceeds from revolver borrowings under its then existing senior credit facility and cash generated from operations to pay the purchase price for the repurchased shares. The repurchased shares have become treasury shares.

In April 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1.0 billion of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock (the “2013 Authorization”). The Board of Directors did not specify a date upon which the 2013 Authorization would expire. Share repurchases under the 2013 Authorization may be accomplished at management’s discretion from time to time based on market conditions, the Company’s cash and debt position, and other factors as determined by management. Shares may be repurchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions. The Company may fund future share repurchases with cash generated from operations, proceeds from borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization facility or proceeds from revolver borrowings under its senior credit facility. Any repurchased shares will become treasury shares.

During Fiscal 2013, the Company repurchased 14,023,985 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2013 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $296.7 million, or an average cost of $21.15 per share, through open market transactions. The Company used proceeds from the April 2012 Senior Notes, revolver borrowings under both the May 2012 Credit Agreement and its prior senior credit facility, and cash generated from operations to pay the purchase price for the repurchased shares. The repurchased shares have become treasury shares.

Debt

Total debt outstanding as of February 28, 2013, amounted to $3,305.4 million, an increase of $175.9 million from February 29, 2012.

Senior Credit Facility

2012 Credit Agreement

On May 3, 2012 (the “Closing Date”), the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other lenders (all such parties other than the Company are collectively referred to as the “Lenders”) entered into a new Credit Agreement (the “May 2012 Credit Agreement”). On August 8, 2012, the May 2012 Credit Agreement was amended and restated (the “August 2012 Restatement”). The May 2012 Credit Agreement together with the August 2012 Restatement is referred to as the “2012 Credit Agreement.” The 2012 Credit Agreement provides for aggregate credit facilities of $2,225.0 million, consisting of a $550.0 million term loan facility maturing on May 3, 2017 (the “Term A Facility”), a $250.0 million term loan facility maturing on May 3, 2019 (the “Term A-1 Facility”), a $575.0 million delayed draw term loan facility maturing on August 8, 2017 (the “Term A-2 Facility”), and an $850.0 million revolving credit facility (including a sub-facility for letters of credit of up to $200.0 million) which terminates on May 3, 2017 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The obligation of the relevant

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Lenders to make loans pursuant to the Term A-2 Facility (the “Term A-2 Loans”) terminates no later than December 30, 2013, and is subject to limited conditions, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of Crown Imports pursuant to the Initial Purchase Agreement having closed (or closing concurrently with the making of the Term A-2 Loans, the “Term A-2 Closing Date”) without a material adverse change in its terms. However, in February 2013, the terms of the Initial Purchase Agreement were amended by, among other things, adding the acquisition of the February 2013 Purchased Shares and Licensed Rights. Consequently, the Term A-2 Facility became unavailable and the Company is pursuing a second amendment and restatement of its senior credit facility (as discussed below). The 2012 Credit Agreement also permits the Company from time to time after the Closing Date to elect to increase the Lenders’ revolving credit commitments or add one or more tranches of additional term loans, subject to the willingness of existing or new lenders to fund such increase or term loans and other customary conditions. The minimum aggregate principal amount of such incremental revolving credit commitment increases or additional term loans may be no less than $25.0 million and the maximum aggregate principal amount of all such incremental revolving credit commitment increases and additional term loans (the “Incremental Facilities Cap”), other than term loans the proceeds of which are applied to repay existing term loans, may be no more than $500.0 million until the Term A-2 Closing Date (see additional discussion below). A portion of the proceeds of the May 2012 Credit Agreement were used to repay the outstanding obligations under the Company’s then existing senior credit facility. The Company uses its revolving credit facility under the 2012 Credit Agreement for general corporate purposes.

The rate of interest on borrowings under the 2012 Credit Agreement is a function of LIBOR plus a margin, the federal funds rate plus a margin, or the prime rate plus a margin. The margin is adjustable based upon the Company’s debt ratio (as defined in the 2012 Credit Agreement). As of February 28, 2013, the LIBOR margin for the Term A Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility was 1.5%; and the LIBOR margin for the Term A-1 Facility was 1.75%.

The changes to the May 2012 Credit Agreement effected by the August 2012 Restatement, among other things, (i) arranged a portion of the debt to finance the Initial Purchase Agreement (the Term A-2 Facility), (ii) facilitated the issuance of the August 2012 Senior Notes and the arrangements under the Escrow Agreement (as defined below), (iii) modified certain defined terms and covenant requirements, and (iv) adjusted the Incremental Facilities Cap from $750.0 million to $500.0 million until the Term A-2 Closing Date. Subsequent to the Term A-2 Closing Date, the Incremental Facilities Cap will be $750.0 million minus the amount by which the aggregate initial principal amount of the Term A-2 Loans exceeds $325.0 million, if any. If the Term A-2 Loans are never borrowed and the commitments for the Term A-2 Facility are terminated, the Incremental Facilities Cap will revert to $750.0 million.

The obligations under the 2012 Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries. These obligations are also secured by a pledge of (i) 100% of the ownership interests in certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and (ii) 55-65% of certain interests of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

The Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to covenants that are contained in the 2012 Credit Agreement, including those restricting the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including guarantees of indebtedness), additional liens, mergers and consolidations, the payment of dividends, the making of certain investments, prepayments of certain debt, transactions with affiliates, agreements that restrict the Company’s non-guarantor subsidiaries from paying dividends, and dispositions of property, in each case subject to numerous conditions, exceptions and thresholds. The financial covenants are limited to a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum net debt coverage ratio.

As of February 28, 2013, under the 2012 Credit Agreement, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the Term A Facility of $515.6 million bearing an interest rate of 2.0%, Term A-1 Facility of $246.9 million bearing an interest rate of 2.2%, outstanding letters of credit of $14.5 million, and $835.5 million in revolving loans available to be drawn.

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As of February 28, 2013, the required principal repayments of the Term A Facility and the Term A-1 Facility for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter are as follows:



	Term A Facility		Term A-1 Facility		Total
(in millions)
2014	$	6.9	$	0.6	$	7.5
2015	41.2		2.5		43.7
2016	55.0		2.5		57.5
2017	55.0		2.5		57.5
2018	357.5		2.5		360.0
Thereafter	—		236.3		236.3
	$	515.6	$	246.9	$	762.5

As of April 22, 2013, under the 2012 Credit Agreement, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the Term A Facility of $515.6 million bearing an interest rate of 2.0%, Term A-1 Facility of $246.9 million bearing an interest rate of 2.2%, outstanding letters of credit of $14.4 million, and $835.6 million in revolving loans available to be drawn.

In June 2010, the Company entered into a five year delayed start interest rate swap agreement effective September 1, 2011, which was designated as a cash flow hedge for $500.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt. Accordingly, the Company fixed its interest rates on $500.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt at an average rate of 2.9% (exclusive of borrowing margins) through September 1, 2016. In April 2012, the Company transitioned its interest rate swap agreement to a one-month LIBOR base rate versus the then existing three-month LIBOR base rate. Accordingly, the Company entered into a new interest rate swap agreement which was designated as a cash flow hedge for $500.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt. In addition, the then existing interest rate swap agreement was dedesignated by the Company and the Company entered into an additional undesignated interest rate swap agreement for $500.0 million to offset the prospective impact of the newly undesignated interest rate swap agreement. The unrealized losses in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) related to the dedesignated interest rate swap agreement are being reclassified from AOCI ratably into earnings in the same period in which the original hedged item is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Accordingly, the Company has fixed its interest rates on $500.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt at an average rate of 2.8% (exclusive of borrowing margins) through September 1, 2016. For Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, the Company reclassified net losses of $8.0 million and $3.8 million, net of income tax effect, respectively, from AOCI to interest expense, net, on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. No amounts were reclassified from AOCI to interest expense, net, on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for Fiscal 2011.

Possible Refinancing of Senior Credit Facility

The Company currently expects to enter into a second amendment and restatement of its 2012 Credit Agreement to, among other things, establish a committed $675.0 million U.S. term loan to the Company and $1.5 billion term loan facilities to a newly formed Luxembourg subsidiary of the Company that will indirectly own the Mexican assets to be acquired in the Beer Business Acquisition, in each case to fund a portion of the purchase price for the Beer Business Acquisition, and extend the maturities and change the pricing of the Company's existing credit facilities. The Company currently expects the new $675.0 million U.S. term loan to mature in 2018, amortize in annual amounts of 5% to 10% prior to maturity, and bear interest, at the Company's option, at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus a margin which will initially be 2.00%, or (ii) the base rate plus a margin which will initially be 1.00%, which margins would be subject to change based on the Company's debt ratio. Of the $1.5 billion term loan facilities to the Company's newly formed Luxembourg subsidiary, the Company expects (a) $500.0 million of such facilities to mature in 2018, amortize in annual amounts of 5% to 10% prior to maturity, and bear interest, at the Luxembourg subsidiary's option, at a rate equal to (x) LIBOR plus a margin which will initially be 2.00%, or (y) the base rate plus a margin which will initially be 1.00%, which margins would be subject to change based on the Company's debt ratio, and (b) $1.0 billion of such facilities to mature in 2020, amortize in annual amounts of

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1% prior to maturity, and bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a minimum rate of 0.75%, plus a margin of 2.0% (declining to 1.75% if the Company's debt ratio is less than 4.25:1.0) or, at the Luxembourg subsidiary's option, a base rate alternative. The Company currently expects the definitions of LIBOR and base rate and the manner in which the Company's debt ratio is calculated to be substantively identical to those concepts in its 2012 Credit Agreement. There can be no assurance that the Company will enter into an amendment and restatement of its senior credit facility on the terms described above or at all.

Senior Notes

On August 15, 2006, the Company issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due September 2016 at an issuance price of $693.1 million (net of $6.9 million unamortized discount, with an effective interest rate of 7.4%) (the “August 2006 Senior Notes”). Interest on the August 2006 Senior Notes is payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning March 1, 2007. As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the Company had outstanding $697.0 million (net of $3.0 million unamortized discount) and $696.3 million (net of $3.7 million unamortized discount), respectively, aggregate principal amount of August 2006 Senior Notes.

On May 14, 2007, the Company issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due May 2017 (the “Original May 2007 Senior Notes”). Interest on the Original May 2007 Senior Notes is payable semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning November 15, 2007. In January 2008, the Company exchanged $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due May 2017 (the “May 2007 Senior Notes”) for all of the Original May 2007 Senior Notes. The terms of the May 2007 Senior Notes are substantially identical in all material respects to the Original May 2007 Senior Notes, except that the May 2007 Senior Notes are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the Company had outstanding $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of May 2007 Senior Notes.

On December 5, 2007, the Company issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.375% Senior Notes due December 2014 at an issuance price of $496.7 million (net of $3.3 million unamortized discount, with an effective interest rate of 8.5%) (the “December 2007 Senior Notes”). Interest on the December 2007 Senior Notes is payable semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2008. As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the Company had outstanding $499.0 million (net of $1.0 million unamortized discount) and $498.5 million (net of $1.5 million unamortized discount), respectively, aggregate principal amount of December 2007 Senior Notes.

On April 17, 2012, the Company issued $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6% Senior Notes due May 2022 (the “April 2012 Senior Notes”). The net proceeds of the offering ($591.4 million) were used for general corporate purposes, including, among others, reducing the outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s prior senior credit facility and common stock share repurchases under the 2013 Authorization. Interest on the April 2012 Senior Notes is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2012. As of February 28, 2013, the Company had outstanding $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of April 2012 Senior Notes.

The senior notes described above are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount plus a make whole payment based on the present value of the future payments at the adjusted Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points. The senior notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment to all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company. Certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries guarantee the senior notes on a senior unsecured basis.

On August 14, 2012, the Company issued $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Senior Notes due March 2023 (the “August 2012 Senior Notes”). The Company intended to use the net proceeds from the offering ($640.6 million) to fund a portion of the Initial Purchase Agreement. In connection with the issuance of the August 2012 Senior Notes, the Company and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, as Trustee, escrow agent, and securities intermediary, entered into an agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which an amount

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equal to 100% of the principal amount of the August 2012 Senior Notes (collectively, with any other property from time to time held by the escrow agent, the “Escrowed Property”) was placed into an escrow account to be released to the Company upon the closing of the Initial Purchase Agreement. If the Initial Purchase Agreement was terminated or had not been consummated on or prior to December 30, 2013, all of the August 2012 Senior Notes would be redeemed (the “Special Mandatory Redemption”) at a price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption. In accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement, if the Initial Purchase Agreement was terminated or had not been consummated on or prior to December 30, 2013, the Escrowed Property would be released for purposes of effecting the Special Mandatory Redemption. Because of the differences between the terms relating to the February 2013 Beer Business Acquisition and the Initial Purchase Agreement, the Company determined that the conditions for the release of the Escrowed Property to the Company pursuant to the Escrow Agreement could not be satisfied. Accordingly, the Company gave notice to the escrow agent on February 19, 2013, to release the Escrowed Property for purposes of effecting the Special Mandatory Redemption. As a result, the August 2012 Senior Notes were redeemed on February 20, 2013, and the Escrow Agreement was terminated in accordance with its terms.

Indentures

The Company’s Indentures relating to its outstanding senior notes contain certain covenants, including, but not limited to: (i) a limitation on liens on certain assets; (ii) a limitation on certain sale and leaseback transactions; and (iii) restrictions on mergers, consolidations and the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person.

Subsidiary credit facilities

The Company has additional credit arrangements totaling $371.5 million and $253.8 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively. These arrangements primarily support the financing needs of the Company’s domestic and foreign subsidiary operations. Interest rates and other terms of these borrowings vary from country to country, depending on local market conditions. As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, amounts outstanding under these arrangements were $46.9 million and $110.1 million, respectively, the majority of which is classified as current as of the respective date.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

On December 4, 2012, the Company entered into a 364-day revolving trade accounts receivable securitization facility. Under the facility, trade accounts receivable generated by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries are sold by the Company to a wholly-owned bankruptcy remote single purpose subsidiary (the “SPV”), which is consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes. Such trade accounts receivable have been pledged by the SPV to secure borrowings under the facility. The Company will continue to service the trade accounts receivable and act as servicer for the facility. The trade accounts receivable balances related to this facility will continue to be reported as accounts receivable on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, but the trade accounts receivable will at all times be owned by the SPV and be included on the financial statements of the Company to comply with generally accepted accounting principles. Any borrowings under the facility will be recorded as secured borrowings and will bear interest at a rate based on a margin of 100 basis points plus the conduit lender’s cost of funds or, if such borrowings were not funded by commercial paper issuances by the conduit lender, one-month LIBOR. The facility provides borrowing capacity of $65.0 million up to $250.0 million structured to account for the seasonality of the Company’s business, subject to further limitations based upon various pre-agreed formulas. Through April 29, 2013, the SPV had not effected any borrowings under the facility.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table sets forth information about the Company’s long-term contractual obligations outstanding at February 28, 2013. The table brings together data for easy reference from the consolidated balance sheet and from individual notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Notes 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements located in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of the items noted in the following table.

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	PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD
	Total		Less than 1 year		1-3 years		3-5 years		After 5 years
(in millions)
Contractual obligations
Long-term debt (excluding unamortized discount)	3,309.4		27.6		620.7		1,823.2		837.9
Interest payments on long-term debt ⁽¹⁾	864.7		207.9		368.6		249.8		38.4
Operating leases	343.4		45.0		71.7		52.3		174.4
Other long-term liabilities ⁽²⁾	222.4		76.3		67.5		23.7		54.9
Unconditional purchase obligations ⁽³⁾	1,845.5		519.3		617.7		257.1		451.4
Total contractual obligations	$	6,585.4	$	876.1	$	1,746.2	$	2,406.1	$	1,557.0

⁽¹⁾

Interest rates on long-term debt obligations range from 2.0% to 8.4% as of February 28, 2013. Interest payments on long-term debt obligations include amounts associated with the Company’s outstanding interest rate swap agreements to fix LIBOR interest rates on $500.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt. Interest payments on long-term debt do not include interest related to capital lease obligations or certain foreign credit arrangements, which represent approximately 1.4% of the Company’s total long-term debt, as amounts are not material.

⁽²⁾

Other long-term liabilities include $25.3 million associated with expected payments for unrecognized tax benefit liabilities as of February 28, 2013, none of which is expected to be paid in the less than one year period. The payments are reflected in the period in which the Company believes they will ultimately be settled based on the Company’s experience in these matters. Other long-term liabilities do not include payments for unrecognized tax benefit liabilities of $75.3 million due to the uncertainty of the timing of future cash flows associated with these unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. In addition, other long-term liabilities do not include expected payments for interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefit liabilities as amounts are not material. See Note 11 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements located in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of these items.

⁽³⁾

Total unconditional purchase obligations consist of $1,415.7 million for contracts to purchase grapes over the next fifteen fiscal years, $60.8 million for contracts to purchase bulk wine over the next four fiscal years, $253.7 million for contracts to purchase certain raw materials over the next two fiscal years, and $115.3 million for processing contracts over the next seven fiscal years. See Note 13 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements located in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of these items.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that either have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

Capital Expenditures

During Fiscal 2013, the Company incurred $62.1 million for capital expenditures. Management reviews the capital expenditure program periodically and modifies it as required to meet current business needs. The Company plans to spend from $200 million to $230 million for capital expenditures for the year ending February 28, 2014 (“Fiscal 2014”). Included within the planned expenditures for Fiscal 2014 are amounts associated with the required brewery expansion in connection with the pending Beer Business Acquisition of approximately $120 – $140 million with the remaining amount consisting of improvements of existing operating facilities and replacements of existing equipment and/or buildings. In total, over the next three fiscal year periods, the Company expects to spend between

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$500 – $600 million for capital expenditures associated with the required brewery expansion in connection with the pending Beer Business Acquisition.

Effects of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s results of operations and financial condition have not been significantly affected by inflation and changing prices. The Company intends to pass along rising costs through increased selling prices, subject to normal competitive conditions. There can be no assurances, however, that the Company will be able to pass along rising costs through increased selling prices. In addition, the Company continues to identify on-going cost savings initiatives.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements located in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, certain of the Company’s accounting policies are particularly important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial position and results of operations and require the application of significant judgment by the Company’s management; as a result, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. In applying those policies, the Company’s management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates. Those estimates are based on the Company’s historical experience, the Company’s observance of trends in the industry, information provided by the Company’s customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews its estimates to ensure that they appropriately reflect changes in the Company’s business. The Company’s critical accounting policies include:

•

Inventory valuation. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined on the first-in, first-out method. The Company assesses the valuation of its inventories and reduces the carrying value of those inventories that are obsolete or in excess of the Company’s forecasted usage to their estimated net realizable value. The Company estimates the net realizable value of such inventories based on analyses and assumptions including, but not limited to, historical usage, future demand and market requirements. Reductions to the carrying value of inventories are recorded in cost of product sold. If the future demand for the Company’s products is less favorable than the Company’s forecasts, then the value of the inventories may be required to be reduced, which could result in material additional expense to the Company and have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements. Inventory write-downs to net realizable value recognized in the ordinary course of business were not material for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011. Inventories were $1,480.9 million and $1,374.5 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively.

•

Goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets by classifying intangible assets into three categories: (i) intangible assets with definite lives subject to amortization; (ii) intangible assets with indefinite lives not subject to amortization; and (iii) goodwill. For intangible assets with definite lives, impairment testing is required if conditions exist that indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For intangible assets with indefinite lives and for goodwill, impairment testing is required at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that these assets might be impaired. The Company performs annual impairment tests and re-evaluates the useful lives of other intangible assets with indefinite lives at its annual impairment test measurement date of January 1 or when circumstances arise that indicate a possible impairment might exist. The Company uses a two-step process to evaluate goodwill for impairment. In the first step, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill. The estimate of fair value of the reporting unit is generally determined on the basis of discounted future cash flows supplemented by the market approach. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit, a second step is performed to determine the amount of the goodwill impairment the Company should record. In the second step, an implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is determined by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities other than goodwill (including any unrecognized intangible assets). The resulting implied fair value of the goodwill is compared to the carrying value of goodwill. The amount of impairment charge for goodwill is equal to the

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excess of the carrying value of the goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The Company’s reporting units include the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Italy. In estimating the fair value of the reporting units, management must make assumptions and projections regarding such items as future cash flows, future revenues, future earnings and other factors. The assumptions used in the estimate of fair value are consistent with historical trends and the projections and assumptions that are used in current strategic operating plans. These assumptions reflect management’s estimates of future economic and competitive conditions and are, therefore, subject to change as a result of changing market conditions. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets. The recording of any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements.

The most significant assumptions used in the discounted cash flows calculation to determine the fair value of the Company’s reporting units in connection with impairment testing are: (i) the discount rate, (ii) the expected long-term growth rate and (iii) the annual cash flow projections. If the Company used a discount rate that was 50 basis points higher or used an expected long-term growth rate that was 50 basis points lower or used annual cash flow projections that were 100 basis points lower in its impairment testing of goodwill, then the changes individually would not have resulted in the carrying value of the respective reporting unit’s net assets, including its goodwill, exceeding its fair value, which would indicate the potential for impairment and the requirement to measure the amount of impairment, if any.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, pursuant to the Company’s accounting policy, the Company performed its annual goodwill impairment analysis. No indication of impairment was noted for any of the Company’s reporting units, as the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units with goodwill exceeded their carrying value. Based on this analysis, the fair value of the Company’s Italian, New Zealand, U.S. and Canadian reporting units exceeded their carrying value by approximately 181%, 31%, 17% and 9%, respectively. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, as a result of its annual goodwill impairment analysis, the Company concluded that there were no indications of impairment for any of the Company’s reporting units. The fair value of the Italian reporting unit approximated the carrying value as the Company acquired the remaining 50.1% equity interest in Ruffino on October 5, 2011. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, as a result of its annual goodwill impairment analysis, the Company concluded that there were no indications of impairment for any of the Company’s reporting units. Goodwill was $2,722.3 million and $2,632.9 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively.

The Company’s other intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships and trademarks obtained through business acquisitions. Customer relationships are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The useful lives of existing trademarks that were determined to be indefinite are not amortized. These trademarks are evaluated for impairment by comparing the carrying value of the trademarks to their estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of trademarks is calculated based on an income approach using the relief from royalty methodology. The estimated fair value of trademarks is generally determined on the basis of discounted cash flows. The estimate of fair value is then compared to the carrying value of each trademark. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value of the trademark, then an impairment charge is recorded by the Company to reduce the carrying value of the trademark to its estimated fair value. In estimating the fair value of the trademarks, management must make assumptions and projections regarding future cash flows based upon future revenues and other factors. The assumptions used in the estimate of fair value are consistent with historical trends and the projections and assumptions that are used in current strategic operating plans. These assumptions reflect management’s estimates of future economic and competitive conditions and are, therefore, subject to change as a result of changing market conditions. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets. The recording of any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements.

The most significant assumptions used in the discounted cash flows calculation to determine the fair value of intangible assets with indefinite lives in connection with impairment testing are: (i) the estimated royalty rate, (ii) the discount rate, (iii) the expected long-term growth rate and (iv) the annual cash flow projections. If the Company used a royalty rate that was 50 basis points lower or used a discount rate that

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was 50 basis points higher or used an expected long-term growth rate that was 50 basis points lower or used annual cash flow projections that were 100 basis points lower in its impairment testing of intangible assets with indefinite lives, then each change individually would not have resulted in any unit of accounting’s carrying value exceeding its fair value, except for the trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian business.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, pursuant to the Company’s accounting policy, the Company performed its annual review of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment. No indication of impairment was noted for any of the Company’s indefinite lived intangible assets for Fiscal 2013. If the Company used a royalty rate that was reduced by an additional 50 basis points, then the Company would have recorded an impairment loss for the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian trademarks of approximately $16.0 million. If the Company used a discount rate that was 50 basis points higher, then the Company would have recorded an impairment loss for the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian trademarks of approximately $5.0 million. If the Company used an expected long-term growth rate that was 50 basis points lower, then the Company would have recorded an impairment loss for the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian trademarks of approximately $4.0 million. If the Company used annual cash flow projections that were 100 basis points lower, then the Company would have recorded an impairment loss for the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian trademarks of approximately $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, pursuant to the Company’s accounting policy, the Company performed its annual review of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment. The Company determined that trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian business were impaired. While the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s overall Canadian business experienced growth, the growth has been largely due to new product development and expansion of the import portfolio with a negative revenue trend over the past few years in the portfolio of brands represented by the acquired trademarks. In the forecast used in the annual review of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company included the expected revenue benefits from targeted brand building actions for the portfolio of brands represented by the acquired trademarks. During Fiscal 2012, the expected revenue benefits from these targeted brand building actions were less than forecasted, leading the Company to believe that the inherent value of the acquired trademarks would be viewed as diminished by a market participant. In the forecast used in the annual review of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company included expected revenue benefits from planned additional brand building actions throughout Fiscal 2013 that were designed to reverse the negative revenue trend and improve growth within the portfolio of brands represented by the acquired trademarks. However, to reflect a market participant’s view of a lower inherent value of the acquired trademarks in respect of the negative revenue trends and uncertainty around the effectiveness of the brand building activities, the royalty rate applied to the forecasted revenue included a 100 basis point reduction in the royalty rate as compared to the prior year. In addition, the Company also reduced the annual cash flow projections for the portfolio of brands represented by the acquired trademarks. As a result of this review, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $38.1 million, which is included in impairment of intangible assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, and of which amount $31.1 million is attributable to the reduction in the royalty rate and $7.0 million is attributable to the reduction in the annual cash flow projections. If the Company used a royalty rate that was reduced by an additional 50 basis points, then the impairment loss would have increased by an additional $16.0 million. If the Company used a discount rate that was 50 basis points higher, then the impairment loss would have increased by an additional $6.0 million. If the Company used an expected long-term growth rate that was 50 basis points lower, then the impairment loss would have increased by an additional $4.0 million. If the Company used annual cash flow projections that were 100 basis points lower, then the impairment loss would have increased by an additional $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, as a result of its annual review of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment, the Company determined that trademarks associated with the Constellation Wines and Spirits segment’s Canadian business were impaired. As a result of this review, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $16.7 million, which is included in impairment of intangible assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company had previously recorded an impairment loss of $6.9 million during its third quarter of fiscal 2011 in connection with the Company’s decision to discontinue certain wine brands within its Constellation Wines and Spirits

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segment’s U.S. wine portfolio. Intangible assets with indefinite lives were $814.5 million and $803.6 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively.

•

Accounting for promotional activities. Sales reflect reductions attributable to consideration given to customers in various customer incentive programs, including pricing discounts on single transactions, volume discounts, promotional and advertising allowances, coupons, and rebates. Certain customer incentive programs require management to estimate the cost of those programs. The accrued liability for these programs is determined through analysis of programs offered, historical trends, expectations regarding customer and consumer participation, sales and payment trends, and experience with payment patterns associated with similar programs that have been offered previously. If assumptions included in the Company’s estimates were to change or market conditions were to change, then material incremental reductions to revenue could be required, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements. Promotional costs were $479.4 million, $418.5 million and $699.0 million for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively. Accrued promotion costs were $73.5 million and $57.6 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively.

•

Accounting for stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation cost is calculated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense, net of estimated pre-vesting forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period of the award. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the grant date fair value of its option and purchase right awards. The Company uses the Monte Carlo Simulation model to calculate the grant date fair value of its performance share unit awards which contain a market condition. The calculation of fair value of stock-based awards requires the input of assumptions, including the expected term of the stock-based awards and the associated stock price volatility. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent the Company’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company uses different assumptions, then stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. If the Company used an expected term for its stock-based awards that was one year longer, the fair value of stock-based awards granted during Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012, Fiscal 2011 and for the years ended February 28, 2010 (“Fiscal 2010”), and February 28, 2009 (“Fiscal 2009”), would have increased by $15.9 million, resulting in an increase of $1.8 million of stock-based compensation expense for Fiscal 2013. If the Company used an expected term of the stock-based awards that was one year shorter, the fair value of the stock-based awards granted during Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012, Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 would have decreased by $13.1 million, resulting in a decrease of $1.7 million of stock-based compensation expense for Fiscal 2013. The total amount of stock-based compensation recognized for Fiscal 2013 was $41.2 million, of which $37.1 million was expensed for Fiscal 2013 and $4.1 million was capitalized in inventory as of February 28, 2013. The total amount of stock-based compensation recognized for Fiscal 2012 was $47.4 million, of which $43.7 million was expensed for Fiscal 2012 and $3.7 million was capitalized in inventory as of February 29, 2012. The total amount of stock-based compensation recognized for Fiscal 2011 was $47.0 million, of which $43.1 million was expensed for Fiscal 2011 and $3.9 million was capitalized in inventory as of February 28, 2011.

•

Accounting for income taxes. The Company estimates its income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits based upon various factors including, but not limited to, historical pretax operating income, future estimates of pretax operating income, differences between book and tax treatment of items of income and expense and tax planning strategies. The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Italy and other jurisdictions. The Company recognizes its deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon the expected future tax outcome of amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. If necessary, the Company records a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets if the realization of the asset appears doubtful. The Company believes that all tax positions are fully supported; however, the Company records tax liabilities in accordance with the FASB’s guidance for income tax accounting. The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the Company’s current estimate of the tax liabilities. In addition, changes in existing tax laws or rates could significantly change the Company’s current estimate of

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its tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined. Changes in current estimates, if significant, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements. The annual effective tax rate was 24.9%, 16.7% and (1.5%) for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively.

•

Accounting for business combinations. The acquisition of businesses is an important element of the Company’s strategy. Under the acquisition method, the Company is required to record the net assets acquired at the estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. The determination of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the Company’s financial statements. For example, the Company’s acquisitions typically result in the recognition of goodwill and other intangible assets; the value and estimated life of those assets may affect the amount of future period amortization expense for intangible assets with finite lives as well as possible impairment charges that may be incurred. Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets was $7.2 million, $5.4 million and $5.5 million for Fiscal 2013, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011, respectively. Amortizable intangible assets were $56.9 million and $62.8 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively.

Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities –

In December 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance creating new disclosure requirements about the nature of an entity’s rights of setoff and related arrangements associated with its financial instruments and derivative instruments. The Company is required to adopt this amended guidance for its annual and interim periods beginning March 1, 2013. In addition, this amended guidance requires retrospective application. The adoption of this amended guidance on March 1, 2013, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Intangibles – goodwill and other –

In July 2012, the FASB issued amended guidance for indefinite lived intangible asset impairment testing. The amended guidance allows an entity to assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that an indefinite lived intangible asset is impaired. If an entity concludes it is not more likely than not that an indefinite lived intangible asset is impaired, the entity is not required to take further action. If an entity concludes otherwise, then the entity would be required to determine the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible asset and compare the fair value with the carrying amount of the indefinite lived intangible asset. The Company is required to adopt this amended guidance for its annual and interim periods beginning March 1, 2013. The adoption of this amended guidance on March 1, 2013, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Comprehensive income –

In February 2013, the FASB issued amended guidance for reporting of amounts reclassified out of AOCI. The amended guidance requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of AOCI by component. In addition, an entity is required to present significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by the respective line items of net income, or, for amounts not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. that provide additional detail about those amounts. The Company is required to adopt this amended guidance for its annual and interim periods beginning March 1, 2013. The adoption of this amended guidance on March 1, 2013, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Liabilities –

In February 2013, the FASB issued guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of certain obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date. The Company is required to adopt this guidance for its annual and interim periods beginning March 1, 2014. In addition, this guidance requires retrospective application. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

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Foreign currency –

In March 2013, the FASB issued amended guidance to clarify the applicable guidance for the release of foreign currency cumulative translation adjustments under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. The amended guidance clarifies when cumulative translation adjustments should be released into net income in connection with (i) the loss of a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity or (ii) the partial sale of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity. The amended guidance also clarifies the types of events that result in the sale of an investment in a foreign entity. The Company is required to adopt this amended guidance for its annual and interim periods beginning March 1, 2014. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The Company, as a result of its global operating, acquisition and financing activities, is exposed to market risk associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates, diesel fuel prices and interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to these risks, the Company periodically purchases and/or sells derivative instruments including foreign currency forward and option contracts, diesel fuel swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements. The Company uses derivative instruments solely to reduce the financial impact of these risks and does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes.

Foreign currency derivative instruments are or may be used to hedge existing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, forecasted foreign currency denominated sales/purchases to/from third parties as well as intercompany sales/purchases, intercompany principal and interest payments, and in connection with acquisitions or joint venture investments outside the U.S. As of February 28, 2013, the Company had exposures to foreign currency risk primarily related to the euro, New Zealand dollar and Canadian dollar.

As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the Company had outstanding foreign currency derivative instruments with a notional value of $575.4 million and $502.3 million, respectively. As of February 28, 2013, approximately 49.4% of the Company’s balance sheet exposures and forecasted transactional exposures for the year ending February 28, 2014, were hedged. The estimated fair value of the Company’s foreign currency derivative instruments was a net asset of $4.4 million and $6.8 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively. Using a sensitivity analysis based on estimated fair value of open contracts using forward rates, if the contract base currency had been 10% weaker as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the fair value of open foreign currency contracts would have been decreased by $16.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Losses or gains from the revaluation or settlement of the related underlying positions would substantially offset such gains or losses on the derivative instruments.

As of February 28, 2013, the Company had outstanding diesel fuel swap agreements with a notional value of $17.4 million. The Company had no diesel fuel swap agreements outstanding as of February 29, 2012. The estimated fair value of the Company’s diesel fuel swap agreements was a net asset of $0.5 million as of February 28, 2013. Using a sensitivity analysis based on estimated fair value of open contracts using forward rates, if the contract base price had been 10% weaker as of February 28, 2013, the fair value of open diesel fuel contracts would have been decreased by $1.4 million.

The fair value of fixed interest rate debt is subject to interest rate risk, credit risk and foreign currency risk. The estimated fair value of the Company’s total fixed interest rate debt, including current maturities, was $2,870.3 million and $2,189.1 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively. A hypothetical 1% increase from prevailing interest rates as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, would have resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the fixed interest rate long-term debt by $114.5 million and $80.7 million, respectively.

As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the Company had outstanding cash flow designated interest rate swap agreements to minimize interest rate volatility. As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the swap agreements fix LIBOR interest rates on $500.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt at an average rate of 2.8% and 2.9% (exclusive of borrowing margins), respectively, through September 1, 2016. In

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addition, the Company has offsetting undesignated interest rate swap agreements with an absolute notional value of $1.0 billion outstanding as of February 28, 2013. The estimated fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was a net liability of $40.5 million and $45.7 million as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively. A hypothetical 1% increase from prevailing interest rates as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, would have favorably increased the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements by $17.0 million and $23.2 million, respectively.

In addition to the $2,870.3 million and $2,189.1 million estimated fair value of fixed interest rate debt outstanding as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, respectively, the Company also had variable interest rate debt outstanding (primarily LIBOR-based), certain of which includes a fixed margin. As of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, the estimated fair value of the Company’s total variable interest rate debt, including current maturities, was $733.3 million and $1,196.4 million, respectively. A hypothetical 1% increase from prevailing interest rates as of February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012, would have resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the variable interest rate long-term debt by $30.2 million and $15.2 million, respectively.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

The following information is presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:




	Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – KPMG LLP	57
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – KPMG LLP	58
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	59
Consolidated Balance Sheets – February 28, 2013, and February 29, 2012	60
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended February 28, 2013, February 29, 2012, and February 28, 2011	61
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended February 28, 2013, February 29, 2012, and February 28, 2011	62
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended February 28, 2013, February 29, 2012, and February 28, 2011	64
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	65
Selected Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited)	124

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Constellation Brands, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Constellation Brands, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of February 28, 2013 and February 29, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended February 28, 2013. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Constellation Brands, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 28, 2013 and February 29, 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended February 28, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Constellation Brands, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of February 28, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated April 29, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Constellation Brands, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Rochester, New York

April 29, 2013

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Constellation Brands, Inc.:

We have audited Constellation Brands, Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of February 28, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Constellation Brands, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Constellation Brands, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of February 28, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Constellation Brands, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 28, 2013 and February 29, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended February 28, 2013, and our report dated April 29, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Rochester, New York

April 29, 2013

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Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of Constellation Brands, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting. This system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Further, because of changes in conditions, effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting may vary over time.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the system of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 28, 2013.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

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CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions, except share and per share data)

	February 28, 2013		February 29, 2012
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash investments	$	331.5	$	85.8
Accounts receivable, net	471.9		437.6
Inventories	1,480.9		1,374.5
Prepaid expenses and other	186.9		136.4
Total current assets	2,471.2		2,034.3
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net	1,229.0		1,255.8
GOODWILL	2,722.3		2,632.9
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	871.4		866.4
OTHER ASSETS, net	344.2		320.5
Total assets	$	7,638.1	$	7,109.9
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Notes payable to banks	$	—	$	377.9
Current maturities of long-term debt	27.6		330.2
Accounts payable	209.0		130.5
Accrued excise taxes	18.9		24.8
Other accrued expenses and liabilities	422.4		336.2
Total current liabilities	677.9		1,199.6
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities	3,277.8