FORM 10-Q
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended August 31, 2005

OR

o
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.)


370 Woodcliff Drive, Suite 300, Fairport, New York
14450
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(585) 218-3600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)


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 x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No o

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

The number of shares outstanding with respect to each of the classes of common stock of Constellation Brands, Inc., as of September 30, 2005, is set forth below:

Class
 
Number of Shares Outstanding
Class A Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share
 
 197,159,532
Class B Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share
 
   23,888,038


 
Item 1.     Financial Statements
     
 
 
           
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
(unaudited)
 
           
   
August 31,
 
February 28,
 
   
2005
 
2005
 
ASSETS
         
CURRENT ASSETS:
         
Cash and cash investments
 
$
18,667
 
$
17,635
 
Accounts receivable, net
   
890,639
   
849,642
 
Inventories
   
1,615,571
   
1,607,735
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
209,629
   
259,023
 
Total current assets
   
2,734,506
   
2,734,035
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net
   
1,439,735
   
1,596,367
 
GOODWILL
   
2,174,225
   
2,182,669
 
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net
   
886,983
   
945,650
 
OTHER ASSETS, net
   
227,924
   
345,451
 
Total assets
 
$
7,463,373
 
$
7,804,172
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
             
Notes payable to banks
 
$
71,509
 
$
16,475
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
   
213,358
   
68,094
 
Accounts payable
   
362,084
   
345,254
 
Accrued excise taxes
   
70,702
   
74,356
 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
   
589,285
   
633,908
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,306,938
   
1,138,087
 
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities
   
2,704,467
   
3,204,707
 
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
   
356,238
   
389,886
 
OTHER LIABILITIES
   
261,711
   
291,579
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
             
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value-
Authorized, 1,000,000 shares;
Issued, 170,500 shares at August 31, 2005, and
February 28, 2005 (Aggregate liquidation preference
of $172,951 at August 31, 2005)
   
2
   
2
 
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value-
Authorized, 300,000,000 shares;
Issued, 201,665,343 shares at August 31, 2005,
and 199,885,616 shares at February 28, 2005
   
2,017
   
1,999
 
Class B Convertible Common Stock, $.01 par value-
Authorized, 30,000,000 shares;
Issued, 28,896,938 shares at August 31, 2005,
and 28,966,060 shares at February 28, 2005
   
289
   
289
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
1,125,219
   
1,097,177
 
Retained earnings
   
1,430,070
   
1,276,853
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
303,676
   
431,843
 
     
2,861,273
   
2,808,163
 
Less-Treasury stock-
             
Class A Common Stock, 4,619,981 shares at
August 31, 2005, and 4,823,650 shares at
February 28, 2005, at cost
   
(24,855
)
 
(25,984
)
Class B Convertible Common Stock, 5,005,800 shares
at August 31, 2005, and February 28, 2005, at cost
   
(2,207
)
 
(2,207
)
     
(27,062
)
 
(28,191
)
Less-Unearned compensation-restricted stock awards
   
(192
)
 
(59
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
2,834,019
   
2,779,913
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
7,463,373
 
$
7,804,172
 
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
(unaudited)
 
                   
   
For the Six Months Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                   
SALES
 
$
2,834,974
 
$
2,474,557
 
$
1,468,665
 
$
1,300,242
 
Less - Excise taxes
   
(546,480
)
 
(510,311
)
 
(276,706
)
 
(263,301
)
Net sales
   
2,288,494
   
1,964,246
   
1,191,959
   
1,036,941
 
COST OF PRODUCT SOLD
   
(1,634,488
)
 
(1,424,101
)
 
(843,959
)
 
(747,258
)
Gross profit
   
654,006
   
540,145
   
348,000
   
289,683
 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES
   
(321,581
)
 
(270,783
)
 
(163,717
)
 
(132,355
)
ACQUISITION-RELATED INTEGRATION COSTS
   
(14,263
)
 
-
   
(7,824
)
 
-
 
RESTRUCTURING AND RELATED CHARGES
   
(4,142
)
 
(2,782
)
 
(2,262
)
 
(1,169
)
Operating income
   
314,020
   
266,580
   
174,197
   
156,159
 
EQUITY IN (LOSS) EARNINGS OF EQUITY
METHOD INVESTEES
   
(796
)
 
262
   
(254
)
 
200
 
INTEREST EXPENSE, net
   
(94,180
)
 
(60,681
)
 
(46,885
)
 
(30,400
)
Income before income taxes
   
219,044
   
206,161
   
127,058
   
125,959
 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
   
(60,925
)
 
(74,218
)
 
(44,638
)
 
(45,345
)
NET INCOME
   
158,119
   
131,943
   
82,420
   
80,614
 
Dividends on preferred stock
   
(4,902
)
 
(4,902
)
 
(2,451
)
 
(2,451
)
INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON
STOCKHOLDERS
 
$
153,217
 
$
127,041
 
$
79,969
 
$
78,163
 
                           
                           
SHARE DATA:
                         
Earnings per common share:
                         
Basic - Class A Common Stock
 
$
0.70
 
$
0.60
 
$
0.37
 
$
0.37
 
Basic - Class B Common Stock
 
$
0.64
 
$
0.54
 
$
0.33
 
$
0.33
 
Diluted
 
$
0.66
 
$
0.57
 
$
0.34
 
$
0.35
 
                           
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                         
Basic - Class A Common Stock
   
196,042
   
190,171
   
196,520
   
190,902
 
Basic - Class B Common Stock
   
23,930
   
24,107
   
23,905
   
24,098
 
Diluted
   
238,611
   
231,176
   
239,071
   
232,293
 
                           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 



CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(in thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
           
   
For the Six Months Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         
Net income
 
$
158,119
 
$
131,943
 
               
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
             
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
   
54,087
   
43,311
 
Deferred tax provision
   
33,301
   
14,884
 
Proceeds from settlement of interest rate swap contracts
   
30,269
   
-
 
Amortization of intangible and other assets
   
4,051
   
5,756
 
Loss on disposal of assets
   
1,737
   
2,813
 
Equity in loss (earnings) of equity method investees
   
796
   
(262
)
Stock-based compensation expense
   
67
   
53
 
Amortization of discount on long-term debt
   
39
   
35
 
Noncash portion of loss on extinguishment of debt
   
-
   
1,799
 
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects
from sales of businesses:
             
Accounts receivable, net
   
(66,083
)
 
(169,792
)
Inventories
   
(74,478
)
 
(119,808
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
(5,526
)
 
(36,251
)
Accounts payable
   
44,561
   
145,195
 
Accrued excise taxes
   
(2,221
)
 
22,085
 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
   
(3,928
)
 
20,502
 
Other, net
   
(669
)
 
(8,113
)
Total adjustments
   
16,003
   
(77,793
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
174,122
   
54,150
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
Proceeds from sale of assets
   
111,963
   
1,024
 
Proceeds from sale of equity method investment
   
35,953
   
-
 
Proceeds from sale of businesses
   
17,861
   
-
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
   
(62,962
)
 
(50,910
)
Investment in equity method investee
   
(2,286
)
 
-
 
Payment of accrued earn-out amount
   
(1,648
)
 
(1,339
)
Other investing activities
   
(5,008
)
 
-
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
93,873
   
(51,225
)
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
             
Principal payments of long-term debt
   
(336,677
)
 
(234,676
)
Payment of preferred stock dividends
   
(4,902
)
 
(4,902
)
Net proceeds from notes payable
   
55,050
   
192,472
 
Exercise of employee stock options
   
17,334
   
17,351
 
Proceeds from employee stock purchases
   
3,044
   
2,432
 
Payment of issuance costs of long-term debt
   
-
   
(901
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(266,151
)
 
(28,224
)
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash investments
   
(812
)
 
(2,069
)
               
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH INVESTMENTS
   
1,032
   
(27,368
)
CASH AND CASH INVESTMENTS, beginning of period
   
17,635
   
37,136
 
CASH AND CASH INVESTMENTS, end of period
 
$
18,667
 
$
9,768
 
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AUGUST 31, 2005

1)
MANAGEMENT’S REPRESENTATIONS:

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Constellation Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to quarterly reporting on Form 10-Q and reflect, in the opinion of the Company, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial information for the Company. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual results.

During April 2005, the Board of Directors approved two-for-one stock splits of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock, which were distributed in the form of stock dividends on May 13, 2005, to stockholders of record on April 29, 2005. Share and per share amounts are adjusted to give effect to these common stock splits.
 

2)    RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act (“AJCA”) was signed into law. The AJCA includes a special one-time 85 percent dividends received deduction for certain foreign earnings that are repatriated. In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 109-2 (“FSP FAS 109-2”), “Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.” FSP FAS 109-2 provides accounting and disclosure guidance for this repatriation provision (see Note 8).

3)    ACQUISITIONS:

On December 22, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of The Robert Mondavi Corporation (“Robert Mondavi”), a leading premium wine producer based in Napa, California. In connection with the production of its products, Robert Mondavi owns, operates and has an interest in certain wineries and controls certain vineyards. Robert Mondavi produces, markets and sells premium, super premium and fine California wines under the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection and Robert Mondavi Winery brand names. As a result of the Robert Mondavi acquisition, the Company acquired an ownership interest in Opus One, a joint venture owned equally by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, S.A. During September 2005, the Company's president and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild announced an agreement to maintain equal ownership of Opus One. Opus One produces fine wines at its Napa Valley winery.

The acquisition of Robert Mondavi supports the Company’s strategy of strengthening the breadth of its portfolio across price segments to capitalize on the overall growth in the premium, super-premium and fine wine categories. The Company believes that the acquired Robert Mondavi brand names have strong brand recognition globally. The vast majority of Robert Mondavi’s sales are generated in the United States. The Company intends to leverage the Robert Mondavi brands in the United States through its selling, marketing and distribution infrastructure. The Company also intends to further expand distribution for the Robert Mondavi brands in Europe through its Constellation Europe infrastructure.


The Robert Mondavi acquisition supports the Company’s strategy of growth and breadth across categories and geographies, and strengthens its competitive position in its core markets. The Robert Mondavi acquisition provides the Company with a greater presence in the growing premium, super-premium and fine wine sectors within the United States and the ability to capitalize on the broader geographic distribution in strategic international markets. In particular, the Company believes there are growth opportunities for premium, super-premium and fine wines in the United Kingdom and other “new world” wine markets. Total consideration paid in cash to the Robert Mondavi shareholders was $1,030.7 million. Additionally, the Company expects to incur direct acquisition costs of $11.2 million. The purchase price was financed with borrowings under the Company’s 2004 Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 7). In accordance with the purchase method of accounting, the acquired net assets are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. The purchase price was based primarily on the estimated future operating results of Robert Mondavi, including the factors described above, as well as an estimated benefit from operating cost synergies.
 
The results of operations of the Robert Mondavi business are reported in the Constellation Wines segment and have been included in the Consolidated Statement of Income since the acquisition date.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Robert Mondavi acquisition at the date of acquisition. The Company is in the process of obtaining third-party valuations of certain assets and liabilities, and refining its restructuring plan which is under development and will be finalized during the Company’s year ending February 28, 2006 (see Note 15). Accordingly, the allocation of the purchase price is subject to refinement. Estimated fair values at December 22, 2004, are as follows:

(in thousands)
     
Current assets
 
$
508,461
 
Property, plant and equipment
   
438,660
 
Other assets
   
129,329
 
Trademarks
   
138,000
 
Goodwill
   
630,687
 
Total assets acquired
   
1,845,137
 
         
Current liabilities
   
305,373
 
Long-term liabilities
   
497,903
 
Total liabilities assumed
   
803,276
 
         
Net assets acquired
 
$
1,041,861
 

The trademarks are not subject to amortization. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

In connection with the Robert Mondavi acquisition and Robert Mondavi’s previously disclosed intention to sell certain of its winery properties and related assets, and other vineyard properties, the Company has realized net proceeds of $164.0 million and $18.6 million from the sale of certain of these assets during the six months and three months ended August 31, 2005, respectively. The remaining assets classified as held for sale as of August 31, 2005, are insignificant. No gain or loss has been recognized upon the sale of these assets.


The following table sets forth the unaudited historical and unaudited pro forma results of operations of the Company for the six months and three months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, respectively. The unaudited pro forma results of operations for the six months and three months ended August 31, 2004, give effect to the Robert Mondavi acquisition as if it occurred on March 1, 2004. The unaudited pro forma results of operations are presented after giving effect to certain adjustments for depreciation, amortization of deferred financing costs, interest expense on the acquisition financing, interest expense associated with adverse grape contracts, and related income tax effects. The unaudited pro forma results of operations are based upon currently available information and certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited pro forma results of operations do not purport to present what the Company’s results of operations would actually have been if the aforementioned transaction had in fact occurred on such date or at the beginning of the period indicated, nor do they project the Company’s financial position or results of operations at any future date or for any future period.

   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
                 
Net sales
 
$
2,288,494
 
$
2,183,614
 
$
1,191,959
 
$
1,140,696
 
Income before income taxes
 
$
219,044
 
$
234,701
 
$
127,058
 
$
141,302
 
Net income
 
$
158,119
 
$
150,398
 
$
82,420
 
$
90,508
 
Income available to common stockholders
 
$
153,217
 
$
145,496
 
$
79,969
 
$
88,057
 
                           
Earnings per common share - basic:
                         
Class A Common Stock
 
$
0.70
 
$
0.69
 
$
0.37
 
$
0.41
 
Class B Common Stock
 
$
0.64
 
$
0.62
 
$
0.33
 
$
0.38
 
Earnings per common share - diluted
 
$
0.66
 
$
0.65
 
$
0.34
 
$
0.39
 
                           
Weighted average common shares
outstanding - basic:
                         
Class A Common Stock
   
196,042
   
190,171
   
196,520
   
190,902
 
Class B Common Stock
   
23,930
   
24,107
   
23,905
   
24,098
 
Weighted average common shares
outstanding - diluted
   
238,611
   
231,176
   
239,071
   
232,293
 

4)
INVENTORIES:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (computed in accordance with the first-in, first-out method) or market. Elements of cost include materials, labor and overhead and consist of the following:

   
August 31,
2005
 
February 28,
2005
 
(in thousands)
         
Raw materials and supplies
 
$
78,535
 
$
71,562
 
In-process inventories
   
901,900
   
957,567
 
Finished case goods
   
635,136
   
578,606
 
   
$
1,615,571
 
$
1,607,735
 
 
 

 
5)
GOODWILL:

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the six months ended August 31, 2005, are as follows:

   
Constellation
Wines
 
Constellation
Beers and
Spirits
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
             
Balance, February 28, 2005
 
$
2,031,244
 
$
151,425
 
$
2,182,669
 
Purchase accounting allocations
   
40,228
   
15
   
40,243
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
(50,675
)
 
550
   
(50,125
)
Purchase price earn-out
   
1,438
   
-
   
1,438
 
Balance, August 31, 2005
 
$
2,022,235
 
$
151,990
 
$
2,174,225
 

 
6)
INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

The major components of intangible assets are:

   
August 31, 2005
 
February 28, 2005
 
   
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Net
Carrying
Amount
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Net
Carrying
Amount
 
(in thousands)
                 
Amortizable intangible assets:
                 
Distributor relationships
 
$
3,700
 
$
3,618
 
$
3,700
 
$
3,679
 
Distribution agreements
   
18,882
   
8,002
   
12,884
   
1,666
 
Other
   
2,214
   
1,223
   
5,230
   
1,229
 
Total
 
$
24,796
   
12,843
 
$
21,814
   
6,574
 
                           
Nonamortizable intangible assets:
                         
Trademarks
         
855,728
         
920,664
 
Agency relationships
         
18,412
         
18,412
 
Total
         
874,140
         
939,076
 
Total intangible assets
       
$
886,983
       
$
945,650
 

The difference between the gross carrying amount and net carrying amount for each item presented is attributable to accumulated amortization. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $0.8 million and $1.6 million for the six months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, respectively, and $0.4 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for the remaining six months of fiscal 2006 and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter is as follows:

(in thousands)
     
2006
 
$
1,296
 
2007
 
$
1,417
 
2008
 
$
1,101
 
2009
 
$
1,088
 
2010
 
$
1,066
 
2011
 
$
827
 
Thereafter
 
$
6,048
 
 


7)
BORROWINGS:

Senior credit facility -
In connection with the acquisition of Robert Mondavi, on December 22, 2004, the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries (excluding certain inactive subsidiaries), together with certain of its subsidiaries organized in foreign jurisdictions, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as a lender and administrative agent, and certain other agents, lenders, and financial institutions entered into a new credit agreement (the “2004 Credit Agreement”). The 2004 Credit Agreement provides for aggregate credit facilities of $2.9 billion (subject to increase as therein provided to $3.2 billion), consisting of a $600.0 million tranche A term loan facility due in November 2010, a $1.8 billion tranche B term loan facility due in November 2011, and a $500.0 million revolving credit facility (including a sub-facility for letters of credit of up to $60.0 million) which terminates in December 2010. Proceeds of the 2004 Credit Agreement were used to pay off the Company’s obligations under its prior senior credit facility, to fund the cash consideration payable in connection with its acquisition of Robert Mondavi, and to pay certain obligations of Robert Mondavi, including indebtedness outstanding under its bank facility and unsecured notes of $355.4 million. The Company uses its revolving credit facility under the 2004 Credit Agreement for general corporate purposes, including working capital, on an as needed basis.
 
The tranche A term loan facility and the tranche B term loan facility were fully drawn on December 22, 2004. As of August 31, 2005, the required principal repayments of the tranche A term loan and the tranche B term loan are as follows:

   
Tranche A
Term Loan
 
Tranche B
Term Loan
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
             
2006
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
2007
   
33,382
   
-
   
33,382
 
2008
   
89,853
   
15,299
   
105,152
 
2009
   
110,588
   
15,299
   
125,887
 
2010
   
117,500
   
15,299
   
132,799
 
Thereafter
   
103,677
   
1,449,603
   
1,553,280
 
   
$
455,000
 
$
1,495,500
 
$
1,950,500
 

The rate of interest payable, at the Company’s option, 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 2004 Credit Agreement) and, with respect to LIBOR borrowings, ranges between 1.00% and 1.75%. As of August 31, 2005, the LIBOR margin for the revolving credit facility and the tranche A term loan facility is 1.50%, while the LIBOR margin on the tranche B term loan facility is 1.75%.

The Company’s obligations are guaranteed by substantially all of its U.S. subsidiaries and by certain of its foreign subsidiaries. These obligations are also secured by a pledge of (i) 100% of the ownership interests in most of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and (ii) 65% of the voting capital stock of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

The Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to customary lending covenants including those restricting additional liens, the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including guarantees of indebtedness), the sale of assets, the payment of dividends, transactions with affiliates, the disposition and acquisition of property and the making of certain investments, in each case subject to numerous baskets, exceptions and thresholds. The financial covenants are limited to maximum total debt and senior debt coverage ratios and minimum fixed charges and interest coverage ratios. As of August 31, 2005, the Company is in compliance with all of its covenants under its 2004 Credit Agreement.


As of August 31, 2005, under the 2004 Credit Agreement, the Company had outstanding tranche A term loans of $455.0 million bearing a weighted average interest rate of 4.9%, tranche B term loans of $1,495.5 million bearing a weighted average interest rate of 5.3%, revolving loans of $42.5 million bearing a weighted average interest rate of 4.8%, undrawn revolving letters of credit of $28.1 million, and $429.4 million in revolving loans available to be drawn.

At February 28, 2005, the Company had outstanding five year interest rate swap agreements to minimize interest rate volatility. The swap agreements fixed LIBOR interest rates on $1,200.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt at an average rate of 4.1% over the five-year term. In March 2005, the Company monetized the value of the interest rate swaps by replacing them with new five year delayed start interest rate swap agreements effective March 1, 2006, which extended the hedged period through fiscal 2010. The Company received $30.3 million in proceeds from the unwinding of the original swaps. This amount will be reclassified from AOCI (as defined in Note 13) ratably into earnings in the same period in which the original hedged item is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The effective interest rate remains the same under the new swap structure at 4.1%.
 
Foreign subsidiary facilities -
The Company has additional credit arrangements available totaling $176.7 million as of August 31, 2005. These arrangements support the financing needs of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiary operations. Interest rates and other terms of these borrowings vary from country to country, depending on local market conditions. As of August 31, 2005, amounts outstanding under the foreign subsidiary credit arrangements were $57.5 million.

8)
INCOME TAXES:

The Company’s effective tax rate for the six months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, was 27.8% and 36%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, was 35.1% and 36%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the six months ended August 31, 2005, was partially due to adjustments to income tax accruals of $16.2 million in connection with the completion of various income tax examinations. Additionally, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (“AJCA”) includes a special one-time 85 percent dividends received deduction for certain foreign earnings that are repatriated. During the three months ended August 31, 2005, the Company concluded its evaluation regarding the impact of the AJCA on distributions of certain foreign earnings. Management has concluded that a minimum of $45.0 million of foreign earnings will be distributed under these provisions. Since the Company does not currently consider its foreign earnings as permanently reinvested, the second quarter provision included a benefit under the AJCA of approximately $6.0 million related to this planned distribution. The Company continues to evaluate the potential for additional distributions of foreign earnings under the AJCA ranging from $0 to $80.0 million with an estimated additional benefit in the range of $0 to $7.0 million. This additional evaluation is expected to be complete prior to the end of fiscal 2006.
 

 

 
9)
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS:

Net periodic benefit costs reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans include the following components:

   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands)
                 
Service cost
 
$
1,074
 
$
1,074
 
$
534
 
$
531
 
Interest cost
   
9,027
   
8,008
   
4,445
   
4,033
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(8,683
)
 
(8,458
)
 
(4,276
)
 
(4,257
)
Amortization of prior service cost
   
96
   
5
   
48
   
3
 
Recognized net actuarial loss
   
1,468
   
1,251
   
722
   
630
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
2,982
 
$
1,880
 
$
1,473
 
$
940
 

Net periodic benefit costs reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the Company’s unfunded postretirement benefit plans include the following components:

   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands)
                 
Service cost
 
$
107
 
$
103
 
$
54
 
$
51
 
Interest cost
   
151
   
166
   
75
   
83
 
Amortization of prior service cost
   
(27
)
 
4
   
(13
)
 
2
 
Recognized net actuarial loss
   
12
   
11
   
6
   
6
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
243
 
$
284
 
$
122
 
$
142
 

 
    Contributions of $3.2 million and $1.1 million have been made by the Company to fund its defined benefit pension plans for the six months and three months ended August 31, 2005, respectively. The Company presently anticipates contributing an additional $5.1 million to fund its defined benefit pension plans during the year ending February 28, 2006, resulting in total employer contributions of $8.3 million for the year ending February 28, 2006.

10)    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

In July 2005, the stockholders of the Company approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 275,000,000 shares to 300,000,000 shares, thereby increasing the aggregate number of authorized shares of the Company's common and preferred stock to 331,000,000 shares.

11)
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

Basic earnings per common share excludes the effect of common stock equivalents and is computed using the two-class computation method. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could result if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Diluted earnings per common share assumes the exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method and the conversion of Class B Convertible Common Stock and Preferred Stock using the “if converted” method.
 

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
                 
Net income
 
$
158,119
 
$
131,943
 
$
82,420
 
$
80,614
 
Dividends on preferred stock
   
(4,902
)
 
(4,902
)
 
(2,451
)
 
(2,451
)
Income available to common stockholders
 
$
153,217
 
$
127,041
 
$
79,969
 
$
78,163
 
                           
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic:
                         
Class A Common Stock
   
196,042
   
190,171
   
196,520
   
190,902
 
Class B Convertible Common Stock
   
23,930
   
24,107
   
23,905
   
24,098
 
Total weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
   
219,972
   
214,278
   
220,425
   
215,000
 
Stock options
   
8,656
   
6,915
   
8,663
   
7,310
 
Preferred stock
   
9,983
   
9,983
   
9,983
   
9,983
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
   
238,611
   
231,176
   
239,071
   
232,293
 
                           
Earnings per common share - basic:
                         
Class A Common Stock
 
$
0.70
 
$
0.60
 
$
0.37
 
$
0.37
 
Class B Convertible Common Stock
 
$
0.64
 
$
0.54
 
$
0.33
 
$
0.33
 
Earnings per common share - diluted
 
$
0.66
 
$
0.57
 
$
0.34
 
$
0.35
 

Stock options to purchase 0.1 million shares of Class A Common Stock at a weighted average price per share of $30.52 and $30.15 were outstanding during the six months and three months ended August 31, 2005, respectively, but were not included in the computation of the diluted earnings per common share because the stock options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the Class A Common Stock for the period. There were no anti-dilutive options outstanding during the six months and three months ended August 31, 2004.
 
12)
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:

The Company applies the intrinsic value method described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (“APB No. 25”), “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based employee compensation plans. In accordance with APB No. 25, the compensation cost for stock options is recognized in income based on the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at the grant date of the award or other measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. The Company utilizes the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“SFAS No. 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended. (See Note 18 for additional discussion regarding Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment,” which will become effective for the Company beginning March 1, 2006). Options granted under the Company’s stock option plans have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant; therefore, no incremental compensation expense has been recognized for grants made to employees under the Company’s stock option plans. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation.


   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
                 
Net income, as reported
 
$
158,119
 
$
131,943
 
$
82,420
 
$
80,614
 
Add: Stock-based employee compensation
expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects
   
34
   
32
   
27
   
17
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee
compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
   
(5,333
)
 
(10,476
)
 
(2,005
)
 
(7,842
)
Pro forma net income
 
$
152,820
 
$
121,499
 
$
80,442
 
$
72,789
 
                           
Earnings per common share - basic:
                         
Class A Common Stock, as reported
 
$
0.70
 
$
0.60
 
$
0.37
 
$
0.37
 
Class B Convertible Common Stock, as reported
 
$
0.64
 
$
0.54
 
$
0.33
 
$
0.33
 
                           
Class A Common Stock, pro forma
 
$
0.68
 
$
0.55
 
$
0.36
 
$
0.33
 
Class B Convertible Common Stock, pro forma
 
$
0.62
 
$
0.50
 
$
0.32
 
$
0.30
 
                           
Earnings per common share - diluted, as reported
 
$
0.66
 
$
0.57
 
$
0.34
 
$
0.35
 
Earnings per common share - diluted, pro forma
 
$
0.64
 
$
0.52
 
$
0.34
 
$
0.31
 

13)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income, foreign currency translation adjustments, net unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments, net unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale marketable equity securities and minimum pension liability adjustments. The reconciliation of net income to comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:

 
   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005 
 
2004 
 
2005 
 
2004 
 
(in thousands)
                 
Net income
 
$
158,119
 
$
131,943
 
$
82,420
 
$
80,614
 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                         
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax
benefit (expense) of $7,414, ($21,295), $744 and $1,458, respectively
   
(115,262
)
 
(124,245
)
 
(1,838
)
 
(19,500
)
Cash flow hedges:
                         
Net derivative losses, net of tax benefit of $7,775,
$9,948, $448 and $484, respectively
   
(14,307
)
 
(23,097
)
 
(1,647
)
 
(1,201
)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax benefit
(expense) of $1,778, ($659), $692 and $844, respectively
   
(3,109
)
 
1,434
   
(856
)
 
(1,977
)
Net cash flow hedges
   
(17,416
)
 
(21,663
)
 
(2,503
)
 
(3,178
)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable equity
securities, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($17) and $62, respectively
   
-
   
39
   
-
   
(143
)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax
expense of ($1,927), ($813), ($135) and ($316), respectively
   
4,511
   
1,921
   
336
   
790
 
Total comprehensive income
 
$
29,952
 
$
(12,005
)
$
78,415
 
$
58,583
 


Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), net of tax effects, includes the following components:

   
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
 
Net
Unrealized
Gains on
Derivatives
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on Marketable
Equity
Securities
 
Minimum
Pension
Liability
Adjustment
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
(in thousands)
                     
Balance, February 28, 2005
 
$
473,949
 
$
37,316
 
$
-
 
$
(79,422
)
$
431,843
 
Current period change
   
(115,262
)
 
(17,416
)
 
-
   
4,511
   
(128,167
)
Balance, August 31, 2005
 
$
358,687
 
$
19,900
 
$
-
 
$
(74,911
)
$
303,676
 

14)    ACQUISITION-RELATED INTEGRATION COSTS:

For the six months ended August 31, 2005, the Company recorded $14.3 million of acquisition-related integration costs associated with the Company’s decision to restructure and integrate the operations of Robert Mondavi (the “Robert Mondavi Plan”). Acquisition-related integration costs included $4.7 million of employee-related costs and $9.6 million of facilities and other one-time costs.

      For the three months ended May 31, 2005, the Company recorded $6.4 million of acquisition-related integration costs associated with Robert Mondavi Plan. Acquisition-related integration costs included $1.4 million of employee-related costs and $5.0 million of facilities and other one-time costs.

For the three months ended August 31, 2005, the Company recorded $7.8 million of acquisition-related integration costs associated with the Robert Mondavi Plan. Acquisition-related integration costs included $3.3 million of employee-related costs and $4.5 million of facilities and other one-time costs.
 
15)
RESTRUCTURING AND RELATED CHARGES:

For the six months ended August 31, 2005, the Company recorded $4.1 million of restructuring and related charges associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan which included $2.2 million of employee termination benefit costs, $0.6 million of contract termination costs and $1.3 million of facility consolidation and relocation costs. For the six months ended August 31, 2004, the Company recorded $2.8 million of restructuring and related charges associated with the realignment of business operations within the Constellation Wines segment.

For the three months ended May 31, 2005, the Company recorded $1.9 million of restructuring and related charges associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan which included $1.2 million of employee termination benefit costs and $0.7 million of facility consolidation and relocation costs. For the three months ended May 31, 2004, the Company recorded $1.6 million of restructuring and related charges associated with the realignment of business operations within the Constellation Wines segment.

For the three months ended August 31, 2005, the Company recorded $2.3 million of restructuring and related charges associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan which included $1.0 million of employee termination benefit costs, $0.6 million of contract termination costs and $0.6 million of facility consolidation and relocation costs. For the three months ended August 31, 2004, the Company recorded $1.2 million of restructuring and related charges associated with the realignment of business operations within the Constellation Wines segment.


The Company is in the process of refining the Robert Mondavi Plan which will be finalized during the Company’s year ending February 28, 2006. Subject to the finalization of the Robert Mondavi Plan, which could result in additional restructuring charges, the Company estimates that the restructuring plans will include (i) a total of $13.4 million of employee termination benefit costs through February 28, 2006, of which $12.7 million has been incurred through August 31, 2005, (ii) a total of $20.0 million of contract termination costs, of which $19.9 million has been incurred through August 31, 2005, and (iii) a total of $4.7 million of facility consolidation and relocation costs through February 28, 2006, of which $4.3 million has been incurred through August 31, 2005.
 
     In connection with the Robert Mondavi acquisition, the Company accrued $49.1 million of liabilities for exit costs as of the acquisition date.  The Robert Mondavi acquisition line item in the table below reflects adjustments to the fair value of liabilities assumed in the acquisition.  The balance of these purchase accounting accruals was $13.5 million and $37.6 million as of August 31, 2005, and February 28, 2005, respectively.
 
The following table illustrates the changes in the restructuring liability balance since February 28, 2005:

   
Employee
Termination
Benefit
Costs
 
Contract
Termination
Costs
 
Facility
Consolidation/
Relocation
Costs
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
                 
Balance, February 28, 2005
 
$
15,270
 
$
23,204
 
$
743
 
$
39,217
 
Robert Mondavi acquisition
   
635
   
658
   
459
   
1,752
 
Restructuring charges
   
1,176
   
-
   
704
   
1,880
 
Cash expenditures
   
(9,506
)
 
(5,016
)
 
(161
)
 
(14,683
)
Foreign currency adjustments
   
(36
)
 
(115
)
 
(42
)
 
(193
)
Balance, May 31, 2005
   
7,539
   
18,731
   
1,703
   
27,973
 
Robert Mondavi acquisition
   
1,889
   
2,038
   
(787
)
 
3,140
 
Restructuring charges
   
1,025
   
629
   
608
   
2,262
 
Cash expenditures
   
(5,391
)
 
(11,304
)
 
(817
)
 
(17,512
)
Foreign currency adjustments
   
(19
)
 
(52
)
 
(1
)
 
(72
)
Balance, August 31, 2005
 
$
5,043
 
$
10,042
 
$
706
 
$
15,791
 
 
     Subsequent to August 31, 2005, the Company initiated a program to consolidate certain west coast production processes in the U.S. through a combination of investment in new assets, reconfiguration of certain existing assets and certain personnel reductions, as well as other personnel reductions in the Constellation Wines segment.  For fiscal 2006, the Company expects to incur total restructuring and related charges of $6.1 million and accelelated depreciation charges of $13.2 million in connection with these initiatives.


16)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

The following information sets forth the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of August 31, 2005, and February 28, 2005, the condensed consolidating statements of income for the six months and three months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, and the condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the six months ended August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, for the Company, the parent company, the combined subsidiaries of the Company which guarantee the Company’s senior notes and senior subordinated notes (“Subsidiary Guarantors”) and the combined subsidiaries of the Company which are not Subsidiary Guarantors, primarily Matthew Clark and Hardy and their subsidiaries, which are included in the Constellation Wines segment (“Subsidiary Nonguarantors”). The Subsidiary Guarantors are wholly owned and the guarantees are full, unconditional, joint and several obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors. Separate financial statements for the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Company are not presented because the Company has determined that such financial statements would not be material to investors. The accounting policies of the parent company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Subsidiary Nonguarantors are the same as those described for the Company in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, and include the recently adopted accounting pronoucements described in Note 2 herein. There are no restrictions on the ability of the Subsidiary Guarantors to transfer funds to the Company in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances.

   
Parent
Company
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Subsidiary
Nonguarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
                     
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at August 31, 2005
 
Current assets:
                     
Cash and cash investments
 
$
3,736
 
$
7,928
 
$
7,003
 
$
-
 
$
18,667
 
Accounts receivable, net
   
169,022
   
260,592
   
461,025
   
-
   
890,639
 
Inventories
   
35,726
   
876,988
   
722,229
   
(19,372
)
 
1,615,571
 
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets
   
1,034
   
163,866
   
44,729
   
-
   
209,629
 
Intercompany receivable (payable)
   
118,898
   
(786,211
)
 
667,313
   
-
   
-
 
Total current assets
   
328,416
   
523,163
   
1,902,299
   
(19,372
)
 
2,734,506
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
38,376
   
747,947
   
653,412
   
-
   
1,439,735
 
Investments in subsidiaries
   
5,140,900
   
1,867,962
   
-
   
(7,008,862
)
 
-
 
Goodwill
   
-
   
1,283,777
   
890,448
   
-
   
2,174,225
 
Intangible assets, net
   
-
   
545,345
   
341,638
   
-
   
886,983
 
Other assets, net
   
30,036
   
127,007
   
70,881
   
-
   
227,924
 
Total assets
 
$
5,537,728
 
$
5,095,201
 
$
3,858,678
 
$
(7,028,234
)
$
7,463,373
 
                                 
Current liabilities:
                               
Notes payable to banks
 
$
42,500
 
$
-
 
$
29,009
 
$
-
 
$
71,509
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
   
200,071
   
3,874
   
9,413
   
-
   
213,358
 
Accounts payable
   
4,093
   
135,081
   
222,910
   
-
   
362,084
 
Accrued excise taxes
   
9,769
   
33,575
   
27,358
   
-
   
70,702
 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
   
104,368
   
204,613
   
286,270
   
(5,966
)
 
589,285
 
Total current liabilities
   
360,801
   
377,143
   
574,960
   
(5,966
)
 
1,306,938
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
   
2,679,762
   
5,634
   
19,071
   
-
   
2,704,467
 
Deferred income taxes
   
(4,622
)
 
327,868
   
32,992
   
-
   
356,238
 
Other liabilities
   
5,671
   
116,069
   
139,971
   
-
   
261,711
 
 


   
Parent
Company
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Subsidiary
Nonguarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
                     
Stockholders’ equity:
                     
Preferred stock
   
2
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
2
 
Class A and Class B common stock
   
2,306
   
6,443
   
141,583
   
(148,026
)
 
2,306
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
1,125,219
   
2,301,961
   
2,498,737
   
(4,800,698
)
 
1,125,219
 
Retained earnings
   
1,446,719
   
1,815,292
   
244,846
   
(2,076,787
)
 
1,430,070
 
Accumulated other comprehensive
(loss) income
   
(50,876
)
 
144,791
   
206,518
   
3,243
   
303,676
 
Treasury stock and other
   
(27,254
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(27,254
)
Total stockholders’ equity
   
2,496,116
   
4,268,487
   
3,091,684
   
(7,022,268
)
 
2,834,019
 
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity
 
$
5,537,728
 
$
5,095,201
 
$
3,858,678
 
$
(7,028,234
)
$
7,463,373
 
                                 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at February 28, 2005
Current assets:
                               
Cash and cash investments
 
$
-
 
$
10,095
 
$
7,540
 
$
-
 
$
17,635
 
Accounts receivable, net
   
132,997
   
293,588
   
423,057
   
-
   
849,642
 
Inventories
   
35,719
   
943,711
   
637,556
   
(9,251
)
 
1,607,735
 
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets
   
41,515
   
163,910
   
53,598
   
-
   
259,023
 
Intercompany receivable (payable)
   
450,781
   
(1,111,951
)
 
661,170
   
-
   
-
 
Total current assets
   
661,012
   
299,353
   
1,782,921
   
(9,251
)
 
2,734,035
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
37,476
   
884,690
   
674,201
   
-
   
1,596,367
 
Investments in subsidiaries
   
4,961,521
   
1,844,354
   
-
   
(6,805,875
)
 
-
 
Goodwill
   
-
   
1,242,132
   
940,537
   
-
   
2,182,669
 
Intangible assets, net
   
-
   
587,075
   
358,575
   
-
   
945,650
 
Other assets, net
   
28,559
   
221,642
   
95,250
   
-
   
345,451
 
Total assets
 
$
5,688,568
 
$
5,079,246
 
$
3,851,484
 
$
(6,815,126
)
$
7,804,172
 
                                 
Current liabilities:
                               
Notes payable to banks
 
$
14,000
 
$
-
 
$
2,475
 
$
-
 
$
16,475
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
   
60,068
   
4,307
   
3,719
   
-
   
68,094
 
Accounts payable
   
4,237
   
146,116
   
194,901
   
-
   
345,254
 
Accrued excise taxes
   
13,633
   
41,070
   
19,653
   
-
   
74,356
 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
   
146,837
   
191,438
   
298,529
   
(2,896
)
 
633,908
 
Total current liabilities
   
238,775
   
382,931
   
519,277
   
(2,896
)
 
1,138,087
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
   
3,167,852
   
9,089
   
27,766
   
-
   
3,204,707
 
Deferred income taxes
   
(17,255
)
 
377,423
   
29,718
   
-
   
389,886
 
Other liabilities
   
1,101
   
126,173
   
164,305
   
-
   
291,579
 
Stockholders’ equity:
                               
Preferred stock
   
2
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
2
 
Class A and Class B common stock
   
2,288
   
6,443
   
141,583
   
(148,026
)
 
2,288
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
1,097,177
   
2,301,961
   
2,498,737
   
(4,800,698
)
 
1,097,177
 
Retained earnings
   
1,285,762
   
1,715,182
   
141,969
   
(1,866,060
)
 
1,276,853
 
Accumulated other comprehensive
(loss) income
   
(58,884
)
 
160,044
   
328,129
   
2,554
   
431,843
 
Treasury stock and other
   
(28,250
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(28,250
)
Total stockholders’ equity
   
2,298,095
   
4,183,630
   
3,110,418
   
(6,812,230
)
 
2,779,913
 
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity
 
$
5,688,568
 
$
5,079,246
 
$
3,851,484
 
$
(6,815,126
)
$
7,804,172
 



   
Parent
Company
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Subsidiary
Nonguarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
                     
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the Six Months Ended August 31, 2005
 
Gross sales
 
$
543,575
 
$
1,518,481
 
$
1,316,386
 
$
(543,468
)
$
2,834,974
 
Less - excise taxes
   
(73,052
)
 
(228,491
)
 
(244,937
)
 
-
   
(546,480
)
Net sales
   
470,523
   
1,289,990
   
1,071,449
   
(543,468
)
 
2,288,494
 
Cost of product sold
   
(378,862
)
 
(913,402
)
 
(874,574
)
 
532,350
   
(1,634,488
)
Gross profit
   
91,661
   
376,588
   
196,875
   
(11,118
)
 
654,006
 
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
   
(82,230
)
 
(129,053
)
 
(110,298
)
 
-
   
(321,581
)
Acquisition-related integration costs
   
-
   
(13,166
)
 
(1,097
)
 
-
   
(14,263
)
Restructuring and related charges
   
-
   
(2,740
)
 
(1,402
)
 
-
   
(4,142
)
Operating income (loss)
   
9,431
   
231,629
   
84,078
   
(11,118
)
 
314,020
 
Equity in earnings (loss) of equity
method investees and subsidiaries
   
179,379
   
23,447
   
(635
)
 
(202,987
)
 
(796
)
Interest (expense) income, net
   
(44,334
)
 
(114,830
)
 
64,984
   
-
   
(94,180
)
Income before income taxes
   
144,476
   
140,246
   
148,427
   
(214,105
)
 
219,044
 
Benefit from (provision for)
income taxes
   
21,383
   
(40,136
)
 
(45,550
)
 
3,378
   
(60,925
)
Net income
   
165,859
   
100,110
   
102,877
   
(210,727
)
 
158,119
 
Dividends on preferred stock
   
(4,902
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(4,902
)
Income available to common
stockholders
 
$
160,957
 
$
100,110
 
$
102,877
 
$
(210,727
)
$
153,217
 
                                 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the Six Months Ended August 31, 2004
Gross sales
 
$
386,014
 
$
1,043,690
 
$
1,222,083
 
$
(177,230
)
$
2,474,557
 
Less - excise taxes
   
(66,335
)
 
(224,885
)
 
(219,091
)
 
-
   
(510,311
)
Net sales
   
319,679
   
818,805
   
1,002,992
   
(177,230
)
 
1,964,246
 
Cost of product sold
   
(292,303
)
 
(487,190
)
 
(818,003
)
 
173,395
   
(1,424,101
)
Gross profit
   
27,376
   
331,615
   
184,989
   
(3,835
)
 
540,145
 
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
   
(72,987
)
 
(102,139
)
 
(95,657
)
 
-
   
(270,783
)
Acquisition-related integration costs
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Restructuring and related charges
   
-
   
(1,535
)
 
(1,247
)
 
-
   
(2,782
)
Operating (loss) income
   
(45,611
)
 
227,941
   
88,085
   
(3,835
)
 
266,580
 
Equity in earnings (loss) of equity
method investees and subsidiaries
   
156,774
   
46,473
   
262
   
(203,247
)
 
262
 
Interest income (expense), net
   
10,796
   
(55,596
)
 
(15,881
)
 
-
   
(60,681
)
Income before income taxes
   
121,959
   
218,818
   
72,466
   
(207,082
)
 
206,161
 
Benefit from (provision for)
income taxes
   
13,819
   
(62,044
)
 
(25,993
)
 
-
   
(74,218
)
Net income
   
135,778
   
156,774
   
46,473
   
(207,082
)
 
131,943
 
Dividends on preferred stock
   
(4,902
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(4,902
)
Income available to common
stockholders
 
$
130,876
 
$
156,774
 
$
46,473
 
$
(207,082
)
$
127,041
 



   
Parent
Company
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Subsidiary
Nonguarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
                     
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the Three Months Ended August 31, 2005
 
Gross sales
 
$
295,622
 
$
816,641
 
$
645,697
 
$
(289,295
)
$
1,468,665
 
Less - excise taxes
   
(39,652
)
 
(118,397
)
 
(118,657
)
 
-
   
(276,706
)
Net sales
   
255,970
   
698,244
   
527,040
   
(289,295
)
 
1,191,959
 
Cost of product sold
   
(202,206
)
 
(493,887
)
 
(426,395
)
 
278,529
   
(843,959
)
Gross profit
   
53,764
   
204,357
   
100,645
   
(10,766
)
 
348,000
 
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
   
(44,283
)
 
(66,939
)
 
(52,495
)
 
-
   
(163,717
)
Acquisition-related integration costs
   
-
   
(6,738
)
 
(1,086
)
 
-
   
(7,824
)
Restructuring and related charges
   
-
   
(1,549
)
 
(713
)
 
-
   
(2,262
)
Operating income (loss)
   
9,481
   
129,131
   
46,351
   
(10,766
)
 
174,197
 
Equity in earnings (loss) of equity
method investees and subsidiaries
   
143,394
   
1,340
   
436
   
(145,424
)
 
(254
)
Interest (expense) income, net
   
(81,174
)
 
(39,414
)
 
73,703
   
-
   
(46,885
)
Income before income taxes
   
71,701
   
91,057
   
120,490
   
(156,190
)
 
127,058
 
Benefit from (provision for)
income taxes
   
18,185
   
(29,438
)
 
(36,686
)
 
3,301
   
(44,638
)
Net income
   
89,886
   
61,619
   
83,804
   
(152,889
)
 
82,420
 
Dividends on preferred stock
   
(2,451
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(2,451
)
Income available to common
stockholders
 
$
87,435
 
$
61,619
 
$
83,804
 
$
(152,889
)
$
79,969
 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the Three Months Ended August 31, 2004
Gross sales
 
$
215,474
 
$
554,942
 
$
636,445
 
$
(106,619
)
$
1,300,242
 
Less - excise taxes
   
(34,480
)
 
(115,666
)
 
(113,155
)
 
-
   
(263,301
)
Net sales
   
180,994
   
439,276
   
523,290
   
(106,619
)
 
1,036,941
 
Cost of product sold
   
(161,191
)
 
(263,446
)
 
(426,237
)
 
103,616
   
(747,258
)
Gross profit
   
19,803
   
175,830
   
97,053
   
(3,003
)
 
289,683
 
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
   
(34,143
)
 
(50,072
)
 
(48,140
)
 
-
   
(132,355
)
Acquisition-related integration costs
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Restructuring charges
   
-
   
(234
)
 
(935
)
 
-
   
(1,169
)
Operating (loss) income
   
(14,340
)
 
125,524
   
47,978
   
(3,003
)
 
156,159
 
Equity in earnings of equity
method investees and subsidiaries
   
88,396
   
25,461
   
200
   
(113,857
)
 
200
 
Interest income (expense), net
   
5,297
   
(27,188
)
 
(8,509
)
 
-
   
(30,400
)
Income before income taxes
   
79,353
   
123,797
   
39,669
   
(116,860
)
 
125,959
 
Benefit from (provision for)
income taxes
   
4,264
   
(35,401
)
 
(14,208
)
 
-
   
(45,345
)
Net income
   
83,617
   
88,396
   
25,461
   
(116,860
)
 
80,614
 
Dividends on preferred stock
   
(2,451
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(2,451
)
Income available to common
stockholders
 
$
81,166
 
$
88,396
 
$
25,461
 
$
(116,860
)
$
78,163
 


   
Parent
Company
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Subsidiary
Nonguarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
                     
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended August 31, 2005
 
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
 
$
(75,725
)
$
294,483
 
$
(44,636
)
$
-
 
$
174,122
 
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Proceeds from sale of assets
   
-
   
111,175
   
788
   
-
   
111,963
 
Proceeds from sale of equity
method investment
   
-
   
35,953
   
-
   
-
   
35,953
 
Proceeds from sale of businesses
   
-
   
17,861
   
-
   
-
   
17,861
 
Purchases of property, plant and
equipment
   
(2,959
)
 
(27,032
)
 
(32,971
)
 
-
   
(62,962
)
Investment in equity method investee
   
-
   
-
   
(2,286
)
 
-
   
(2,286
)
Payment of accrued earn-out amount
   
-
   
(1,648
)
 
-
   
-
   
(1,648
)
Other investing activities
   
-
   
(5,008
)
 
-
   
-
   
(5,008
)
Net cash (used in) provided by
investing activities
   
(2,959
)
 
131,301
   
(34,469
)
 
-
   
93,873
 
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                               
Intercompany financings, net
   
368,477
   
(422,949
)
 
54,472
   
-
   
-
 
Principal payments of long-term debt
   
(330,033
)
 
(4,809
)
 
(1,835
)
 
-
   
(336,677
)
Payment of preferred stock dividends
   
(4,902
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(4,902
)
Net proceeds of notes payable
   
28,500
   
-
   
26,550
   
-
   
55,050
 
Exercise of employee stock options
   
17,334
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
17,334
 
Proceeds from employee stock
purchases
   
3,044
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
3,044
 
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
   
82,420
   
(427,758
)
 
79,187
   
-
   
(266,151
)
                                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash and cash investments
   
-
   
(193
)
 
(619
)
 
-
   
(812
)
                                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and
cash investments
   
3,736
   
(2,167
)
 
(537
)
 
-
   
1,032
 
Cash and cash investments, beginning
of period
   
-
   
10,095
   
7,540
   
-
   
17,635
 
Cash and cash investments, end of
period
 
$
3,736
 
$
7,928
 
$
7,003
 
$
-
 
$
18,667
 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended August 31, 2004
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
 
$
(20,696
)
$
122,696
 
$
(47,850
)
$
-
 
$
54,150
 
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Proceeds from sale of assets
   
5
   
3
   
1,016
   
-
   
1,024
 
Proceeds from sale of equity
method investment
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Proceeds from sale of businesses
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Purchases of property, plant and
equipment
   
(4,581
)
 
(19,870
)
 
(26,459
)
 
-
   
(50,910
)
Investment in equity method investee
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Payment of accrued earn-out amount
   
-
   
(1,339
)
 
-
   
-
   
(1,339
)
Other investing activities
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(4,576
)
 
(21,206
)
 
(25,443
)
 
-
   
(51,225
)

   
Parent
Company
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Subsidiary
Nonguarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in thousands)
                     
Cash flows from financing activities:
                     
Intercompany financing activities, net
   
102,059
   
(102,059
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
 
Principal payments of long-term debt
   
(230,029
)
 
(2,489
)
 
(2,158
)
 
-
   
(234,676
)
Payment of preferred stock dividends
   
(4,902
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(4,902
)
Payment of issuance costs of long-
term debt
   
(901
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
(901
)
Net proceeds from notes payable
   
139,000
   
-
   
53,472
   
-
   
192,472
 
Exercise of employee stock options
   
17,351
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
17,351
 
Proceeds from employee stock
purchases
   
2,432
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
2,432
 
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
   
25,010
   
(104,548
)
 
51,314
   
-
   
(28,224
)
                                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash and cash investments
   
(49
)
 
(315
)
 
(1,705
)
 
-
   
(2,069
)
                                 
Net decrease in cash and cash
investments
   
(311
)
 
(3,373
)
 
(23,684
)
 
-
   
(27,368
)
Cash and cash investments, beginning
of period
   
1,048
   
4,664
   
31,424
   
-
   
37,136
 
Cash and cash investments, end of
period
 
$
737
 
$
1,291
 
$
7,740
 
$
-
 
$
9,768
 

 
17)
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION:

The Company reports its operating results in three segments: Constellation Wines (branded wine, and U.K. wholesale and other), Constellation Beers and Spirits (imported beers and distilled spirits) and Corporate Operations and Other. Amounts included in the Corporate Operations and Other segment consist of general corporate administration and finance expenses. These amounts include costs of executive management, corporate development, corporate finance, human resources, internal audit, investor relations, legal and public relations. 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 operating segments.

The business segments reflect how the Company’s operations are being managed, how operating performance within the Company is being evaluated by senior management and the structure of its internal financial reporting. In addition, the Company excludes acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual items that affect comparability from its definition of operating income for segment purposes.
 

For the six months ended August 31, 2005, acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs consist of acquisition-related integration costs, the flow through of adverse grape cost (as described below), the flow through of inventory step-up, and restructuring and related charges associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi acquisition, and the write-off of due diligence costs associated with the Company’s evaluation of a potential offer for Allied Domecq of $14.3 million, $13.9 million, $4.6 million, $4.1 million and $3.8 million, respectively. For the six months ended August 31, 2004, acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs consist of financing costs associated with the redemption of the Company’s senior subordinated notes of $10.3 million, restructuring and related charges of $2.8 million, and the flow through of inventory step-up associated with the Hardy Acquisition of $2.3 million. For the three months ended August 31, 2005, acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs consist of acquisition-related integration costs and the flow through of adverse grape cost associated with the Robert Mondavi acquisition, the write-off of due diligence costs associated with the Company’s evaluation of a potential offer for Allied Domecq, the flow through of inventory step-up and restructuring and related charges associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi acquisition of $7.8 million, $6.4 million, $3.8 million, $2.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively. For the three months ended August 31, 2004, acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs consist of restructuring and related charges of $1.2 million, and the flow through of inventory step-up associated with the Hardy Acquisition of $0.9 million. Adverse grape cost represents the amount of historical inventory cost on Robert Mondavi’s balance sheet that exceeds the Company’s estimated ongoing grape cost and is primarily due to the purchase of grapes by Robert Mondavi prior to the acquisition date at above-market prices as required under the terms of their then existing grape purchase contracts.

The Company evaluates performance based on operating income of the respective business units. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described for the Company in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, and include the recently adopted accounting pronouncements described in Note 2 herein. Transactions between segments consist mainly of sales of products and are accounted for at cost plus an applicable margin.

Segment information is as follows:

   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands)
                 
Constellation Wines:
                 
Net sales:
                 
Branded wine
 
$
1,051,723
 
$
777,446
 
$
556,367
 
$
413,563
 
Wholesale and other
   
499,079
   
505,396
   
243,852
   
258,161
 
Net sales
 
$
1,550,802
 
$
1,282,842
 
$
800,219
 
$
671,724
 
Segment operating income
 
$
219,735
 
$
155,404
 
$
123,742
 
$
87,745
 
Equity in (loss) earnings of equity
method investees
 
$
(796
)
$
262
 
$
(254
)
$
200
 
Long-lived assets
 
$
1,340,035
 
$
968,760
 
$
1,340,035
 
$
968,760
 
Investment in equity method investees
 
$
162,385
 
$
7,806
 
$
162,385
 
$
7,806
 
Total assets
 
$
6,561,407
 
$
4,832,163
 
$
6,561,407
 
$
4,832,163
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
57,870
 
$
46,358
 
$
27,520
 
$
26,829
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
48,970
 
$
38,572
 
$
24,030
 
$
19,640
 
 

   
For the Six Months
Ended August 31,
 
For the Three Months
Ended August 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(in thousands)
                 
Constellation Beers and Spirits:
                         
Net sales:
                         
Imported beers
 
$
574,632
 
$
526,033
 
$
314,199
 
$
289,137
 
Spirits
   
163,060
   
155,371
   
77,541
   
76,080
 
Net sales
 
$
737,692
 
$
681,404
 
$
391,740
 
$
365,217
 
Segment operating income
 
$
163,575
 
$
151,663
 
$
87,585
 
$
83,811
 
Long-lived assets
 
$
84,339
 
$
79,356
 
$
84,339
 
$
79,356
 
Total assets
 
$
844,868
 
$
783,270
 
$
844,868
 
$
783,270
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
3,678
 
$
3,093
 
$
2,924
 
$
1,267
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
5,182
 
$
5,478
 
$
2,613
 
$
2,718
 
                           
Corporate Operations and Other:
                         
Net sales
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
Segment operating loss
 
$
(28,583
)
$
(25,125
)
$
(14,290
)
$
(13,256
)
Long-lived assets
 
$
15,361
 
$
13,162
 
$
15,361
 
$
13,162
 
Total assets
 
$
57,098
 
$
40,217
 
$
57,098
 
$
40,217
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
1,414
 
$
1,459
 
$
678
 
$
701
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
3,986
 
$
5,017
 
$
2,216
 
$
2,454
 
                           
Acquisition-Related Integration Costs,
Restructuring and Related Charges
and Unusual Costs:
                         
Operating loss
 
$
(40,707
)
$
(15,362
)
$
(22,840
)
$
(2,141
)
                           
Consolidated:
                         
Net sales
 
$
2,288,494
 
$
1,964,246
 
$
1,191,959
 
$
1,036,941
 
Operating income
 
$
314,020
 
$
266,580
 
$
174,197
 
$
156,159
 
Equity in (loss) earnings of equity
method investees
 
$
(796
)
$
262
 
$
(254
)
$
200
 
Long-lived assets
 
$
1,439,735
 
$
1,061,278
 
$
1,439,735
 
$
1,061,278
 
Investment in equity method investees
 
$
162,385
 
$
7,806
 
$
162,385
 
$
7,806
 
Total assets
 
$
7,463,373
 
$
5,655,650
 
$
7,463,373
 
$
5,655,650
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
62,962
 
$
50,910
 
$
31,122
 
$
28,797
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
58,138
 
$
49,067
 
$
28,859
 
$
24,812
 

18)
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED:

In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151 (“SFAS No. 151”), “Inventory Costs - an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” SFAS No. 151 amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43 (“ARB No. 43”), “Restatement and Revision of Accounting Research Bulletins,” Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage). SFAS No. 151 requires that those items be recognized as current period charges. In addition, SFAS No. 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 151 for fiscal years beginning March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 151 on its consolidated financial statements.


In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123(R) replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“SFAS No. 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (“APB Opinion No. 25”), “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” SFAS No. 123(R) requires the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. In addition, SFAS No. 123(R) establishes fair value as the measurement objective in accounting for share-based payment arrangements and requires all entities to apply a grant date fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions. SFAS No. 123(R) also amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 95 (“SFAS No. 95”), “Statement of Cash Flows,” to require that excess tax benefits be reported as a financing cash inflow rather than as a reduction of taxes paid. SFAS No. 123(R) applies to all awards granted, modified, repurchased, or cancelled after the required effective date (see below). In addition, SFAS No. 123(R) requires entities that used the fair-value-based method for either recognition or disclosure under SFAS No. 123 to apply SFAS No. 123(R) using a modified version of prospective application. This application requires compensation cost to be recognized on or after the required effective date for the portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered based on the grant date fair value of those awards as calculated under SFAS No. 123 for either recognition or pro forma disclosures. For periods before the required effective date, those entities may elect to apply a modified version of retrospective application under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods by SFAS No. 123. In March 2005, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB No. 107”), “Share Based Payment,” to express the views of the staff regarding the interaction between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations and to provide the staff’s views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 123(R) for interim periods beginning March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 123(R) on its consolidated financial statements and will take into consideration the additional guidance provided by SAB No. 107 in connection with the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 153 (“SFAS No. 153”), “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets - an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29.” SFAS No. 153 amends Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 29 (“APB No. 29”), “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” to eliminate the exception from fair value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replace it with a general exception from fair value measurement for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. SFAS No. 153 specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 153 for fiscal years beginning March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 153 on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47 (“FIN No. 47”), “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143.” FIN No. 47 clarifies the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in FASB Statement No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” A conditional asset retirement obligation is an unconditional legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. Therefore, an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. FIN No. 47 is effective for the Company no later than the end of the year ending February 28, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of FIN No. 47 on its consolidated financial statements.


In May 2005, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154 (“SFAS No. 154”), “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections - a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3.” SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle and requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requires that a change in depreciation, amortization, or depletion method for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change of estimate effected by a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 also carries forward without change the guidance in APB Opinion No. 20 with respect to accounting for changes in accounting estimates, changes in the reporting unit and correction of an error in previously issued financial statements. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 154 for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 154 on its consolidated financial statements.

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

The Company is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands with a broad portfolio across the wine, imported beer and spirits categories. The Company has the largest wine business in the world and is the largest multi-category supplier of beverage alcohol in the United States; a leading producer and exporter of wine from Australia and New Zealand; and both a major producer and independent drinks wholesaler in the United Kingdom.

The Company reports its operating results in three segments: Constellation Wines (branded wines, and U.K. wholesale and other), Constellation Beers and Spirits (imported beers and distilled spirits) and Corporate Operations and Other. Amounts included in the Corporate Operations and Other segment consist of general corporate administration and finance expenses. These amounts include costs of executive management, corporate development, corporate finance, human resources, internal audit, investor relations, legal and public relations. 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 operating segments. The business segments reflect how the Company’s operations are being managed, how operating performance within the Company is being evaluated by senior management and the structure of its internal financial reporting. In addition, the Company excludes acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual items that affect comparability from its definition of operating income for segment purposes.

The Company’s business strategy is to remain focused across the beverage alcohol industry by offering a broad range of products in each of the Company’s three major categories: wine, imported beer and spirits. The Company intends to keep its portfolio positioned for superior top-line growth while maximizing the profitability of its brands. In addition, the Company seeks to increase its relative importance to key customers in major markets by increasing its share of their overall purchasing, which is increasingly important in a consolidating industry. The Company’s strategy of breadth across categories and geographies is designed to deliver long-term profitable growth. This strategy allows the Company more investment choices, provides flexibility to address changing market conditions and creates stronger routes-to-market.


Marketing, sales and distribution of the Company’s products, particularly the Constellation Wines segment’s products, are managed on a geographic basis in order to fully leverage leading market positions within each geographic market. Market dynamics and consumer trends vary significantly across the Company’s three core geographic markets - North America (primarily the U.S.), Europe (primarily the U.K.) and Australasia (primarily Australia and New Zealand). Within the U.S. market, the Company offers a wide range of beverage alcohol products across the Constellation Wines segment and the Constellation Beers and Spirits segment. In Europe, the Company leverages its position as the largest wine supplier in the U.K. In addition, the Company leverages its U.K. wholesale business as a strategic route-to-market for its imported wine portfolio and as a key supplier of a full range of beverage alcohol products primarily to large national on-premise accounts. Within Australasia, where consumer trends favor domestic wine products, the Company leverages its position as one of the largest wine producers in Australia.
 
The Company remains committed to its long-term financial model of growing sales (both through acquisitions and organically), expanding margins and increasing cash flow to achieve superior earnings per share growth and improve return on invested capital.

The environment for the Company’s products is competitive in each of the Company’s key geographic markets, due, in part, to industry and retail consolidation. Specifically, in the U.K., the market for branded wine continues to be challenging; furthermore, retailer consolidation is contributing to increased competition and promotional activities among suppliers. Competition in the U.S. beers and spirits markets is normally intense, with domestic beer producers increasing brand spending in an effort to gain market share.

Additionally, the supply of certain raw materials, particularly grapes, as well as consumer demand, can affect the overall competitive environment. Two years of lighter than expected California grape harvests in calendar 2004 and 2003, combined with a reduction in wine grape acreage in California, has brought the U.S. grape supply more into balance with demand. This has led to an overall firming of the pricing of wine grape varietals from California. Two years of record Australian grape harvests have contributed to an oversupply of certain red grape varietals. This has led to an overall reduction in grape costs for these varietals, which may affect markets for Australian red wines around the world.

In Second Quarter 2006 (as defined below), the Company’s results of operations benefited from the inclusion of a full quarter of operations of Robert Mondavi (as defined below). The Company’s net sales increased 15% over Second Quarter 2005 (as defined below) primarily from increases in branded wine net sales and imported beer net sales. Operating income increased 12% over the comparable prior year period primarily due to the favorable sales mix shift to higher margin wine brands acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition partially offset by increased acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs.  Lastly, as a result of the above factors partially offset by increased interest expense for Second Quarter 2006, net income increased 2% over the comparable prior year period.

In Six Months 2006 (as defined below), the Company’s results of operations benefited from the inclusion of a full six months of operations of Robert Mondavi. The Company’s net sales increased 17% over Six Months 2005 (as defined below) primarily from increases in branded wine net sales and imported beer net sales. Operating income increased 18% over the comparable prior year period primarily due to the favorable sales mix shift to higher margin wine brands acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition partially offset by increased acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs. Net income increased 20% over the comparable prior year period as a result of the above factors  combined with a lower income tax provision and increased interest expense.


The following discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting (i) consolidated results of operations of the Company for the three months ended August 31, 2005 (“Second Quarter 2006”), compared to the three months ended August 31, 2004 (“Second Quarter 2005”), and for the six months ended August 31, 2005 (“Six Months 2006”), compared to the six months ended August 31, 2004 (“Six Months 2005”), and (ii) financial liquidity and capital resources for Six Months 2006. This discussion and analysis also identifies certain acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual items expected to affect consolidated results of operations of the Company for the year ending February 28, 2006 (“Fiscal 2006”). This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005 (“Fiscal 2005”).
 
Common Stock Splits

During April 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company approved two-for-one stock splits of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, which were distributed in the form of stock dividends on May 13, 2005, to stockholders of record on April 29, 2005. Share and per share amounts in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are adjusted to give effect to these common stock splits.

Acquisition in Fiscal 2005 and Equity Method Investment

Acquisition of Robert Mondavi

On December 22, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of The Robert Mondavi Corporation (“Robert Mondavi”), a leading premium wine producer based in Napa, California. In connection with the production of its products, Robert Mondavi owns, operates and has an interest in certain wineries and controls certain vineyards. Robert Mondavi produces, markets and sells premium, super premium and fine California wines under the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection and Robert Mondavi Winery brand names. In the United States, Woodbridge is the leading domestic premium wine brand and Robert Mondavi Private Selection is the leading super-premium wine brand. As a result of the Robert Mondavi acquisition, the Company acquired an ownership interest in Opus One, a joint venture owned equally by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, S.A. During September 2005, the Company's president and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild announced an agreement to maintain equal ownership of Opus One. Opus One produces fine wines at its Napa Valley winery.

The acquisition of Robert Mondavi supports the Company’s strategy of strengthening the breadth of its portfolio across price segments to capitalize on the overall growth in the premium, super-premium and fine wine categories. The Company believes that the acquired Robert Mondavi brand names have strong brand recognition globally. The vast majority of Robert Mondavi’s sales are generated in the United States. The Company intends to leverage the Robert Mondavi brands in the United States through its selling, marketing and distribution infrastructure. The Company also intends to further expand distribution for the Robert Mondavi brands in Europe through its Constellation Europe infrastructure. Distribution of the Robert Mondavi Woodbridge brand in the U.K. market is underway and the brand has been introduced into certain U.K. retailers as of the end of August.


The Robert Mondavi acquisition supports the Company’s strategy of growth and breadth across categories and geographies, and strengthens its competitive position in its core markets. The Robert Mondavi acquisition provides the Company with a greater presence in the growing premium, super-premium and fine wine sectors within the United States and the ability to capitalize on the broader geographic distribution in strategic international markets. In particular, the Company believes there are growth opportunities for premium, super-premium and fine wines in the United Kingdom and other “new world” wine markets. Total consideration paid in cash to the Robert Mondavi shareholders was $1,030.7 million. Additionally, the Company expects to incur direct acquisition costs of $11.2 million. The purchase price was financed with borrowings under the Company’s 2004 Credit Agreement (as defined below). In accordance with the purchase method of accounting, the acquired net assets are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. The purchase price was based primarily on the estimated future operating results of Robert Mondavi, including the factors described above, as well as an estimated benefit from operating cost synergies.
 
The results of operations of the Robert Mondavi business are reported in the Constellation Wines segment and are included in the consolidated results of operations of the Company from the date of acquisition. The acquisition of Robert Mondavi is significant and the Company expects it to have a material impact on the Company’s future results of operations, financial position and cash flows. In particular, the Company expects its future results of operations to be significantly impacted by, among other things, the flow through of anticipated inventory step-up and adverse grape cost, acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges, and interest expense associated with the 2004 Credit Agreement. Adverse grape cost represents the amount of historical inventory cost on Robert Mondavi’s balance sheet that exceeds the Company’s estimated ongoing grape cost and is primarily due to the purchase of grapes by Robert Mondavi prior to the acquisition date at above-market prices as required under the terms of their then existing grape purchase contracts.

In connection with the Robert Mondavi acquisition and Robert Mondavi’s previously disclosed intention to sell certain of its winery properties and related assets, and other vineyard properties, the Company has realized net proceeds of $164.0 million and $18.6 million from the sale of certain of these assets during Six Months 2006 and Second Quarter 2006, respectively. Sales of these assets are essentially complete, and, since the date of acquisition through August 31, 2005,  net proceeds from these asset sales total $173.1 million. No gain or loss has been recognized upon the sale of these assets.

Investment in Ruffino

On December 3, 2004, the Company purchased a 40 percent interest in Ruffino S.r.l. (“Ruffino”), the well-known Italian fine wine company, for $89.2 million, including direct acquisition costs of $7.0 million. As of February 1, 2005, the Constellation Wines segment began distributing Ruffino’s products in the United States. The Company accounts for the investment under the equity method; accordingly, the results of operations of Ruffino from December 3, 2004, are included in the equity in (loss) earnings of equity method investees line in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.


Results of Operations

Second Quarter 2006 Compared to Second Quarter 2005

Net Sales

The following table sets forth the net sales (in millions of dollars) by operating segment of the Company for Second Quarter 2006 and Second Quarter 2005.

   
Second Quarter 2006 Compared to Second Quarter 2005
 
   
Net Sales
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
% Increase /
(Decrease)
 
Constellation Wines:
             
 Branded wine
 
$
556.4
 
$
413.6
   
35%
 
 Wholesale and other
   
243.9
   
258.1
   
(6)%
 
Constellation Wines net sales
 
$
800.3
 
$
671.7
   
19%
 
Constellation Beers and Spirits:
                   
 Imported beers
 
$
314.2
 
$
289.1
   
9%
 
 Spirits
   
77.5
   
76.1
   
2%
 
Constellation Beers and Spirits net sales
 
$
391.7
 
$
365.2
   
7%
 
Consolidated Net Sales
 
$
1,192.0
 
$
1,036.9
   
15%
 

Net sales for Second Quarter 2006 increased to $1,192.0 million from $1,036.9 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $155.1 million, or 15%. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in branded wine net sales of $142.8 million and imported beer net sales of $25.1 million partially offset by a decrease in other net sales of $15.7 million. The increase in branded wine net sales is due primarily to $110.2 million of net sales of branded wines acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition and $11.8 million of net sales of Ruffino brands, which the Company began distributing in the U.S. on February 1, 2005. The decrease in other net sales is primarily due to the Company’s fiscal 2004 decision to exit the commodity concentrate business during fiscal 2005. The impact of foreign currency on the Company’s Second Quarter 2006 net sales was insignificant.
 
Constellation Wines

Net sales for Constellation Wines increased to $800.3 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $671.7 million in Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $128.6 million, or 19%. Branded wine net sales increased $142.8 million primarily from $110.2 million of net sales of branded wines acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition and $11.8 million of net sales of Ruffino brands. Wholesale and other net sales decreased $14.2 million as growth in the U.K. wholesale business was more than offset by a decrease in other net sales, including a reduction in net sales from the Company’s divested commodity concentrate business (as noted above), cider and bottled water. The impact of foreign currency on the segment’s Second Quarter 2006 net sales was insignificant.

Constellation Beers and Spirits

Net sales for Constellation Beers and Spirits increased to $391.7 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $365.2 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $26.5 million, or 7%. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in imported beers net sales of $25.1 million. The growth in imported beers net sales is due to volume growth in the Company’s Mexican beer portfolio.


Gross Profit

The Company’s gross profit increased to $348.0 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $289.7 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $58.3 million, or 20%. The Constellation Wines segment’s gross profit increased $60.9 million primarily from the additional gross profit of $57.5 million due to the Robert Mondavi acquisition. The Constellation Beers and Spirits segment’s gross profit increased $5.4 million primarily due to volume growth in the Company’s Mexican beer portfolio. In addition, unusual items, which consist of certain costs that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment, were higher by $8.0 million in Second Quarter 2006 versus Second Quarter 2005. This increase resulted from increased flow through of inventory step-up and adverse grape cost associated with the Robert Mondavi acquisition. Gross profit as a percent of net sales increased to 29.2% for Second Quarter 2006 from 27.9% for Second Quarter 2005 primarily due to sales of higher-margin wine brands acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition partially offset by the higher unusual costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $163.7 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $132.4 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $31.4 million, or 24%. The Constellation Wines segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $24.9 million due to increased advertising expenses, selling expenses, and general and administrative expenses to support the growth in the segment’s business, primarily due to the costs related to the brands acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition. The Constellation Beers and Spirits segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased slightly as increased selling and advertising expenses were partially offset by lower general and administrative expenses. The Corporate Operations and Other segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.0 million primarily due to increased general and administrative expenses to support the Company’s growth. Lastly, there was an increase of $3.8 million of unusual costs which consist of certain items that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment. Second Quarter 2006 included costs associated with professional service fees incurred for due diligence in connection with the Company’s evaluation of a potential offer for Allied Domecq. There were no unusual costs in Second Quarter 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales increased to 13.7% for Second Quarter 2006 as compared to 12.8% for Second Quarter 2005 primarily due to the increase in the Constellation Wines segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses growing at a faster rate than the increase in the segment’s net sales and the increase in the unusual costs in Second Quarter 2006. The Constellation Wines segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales was impacted by the inclusion of the Robert Mondavi business, which has a higher percentage of selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales than the segment’s base business.
 
Acquisition-Related Integration Costs

The Company recorded $7.8 million of acquisition-related integration costs for Second Quarter 2006 in connection with the Company’s decision to restructure and integrate the operations of Robert Mondavi (the “Robert Mondavi Plan”). Acquisition-related integration costs included $3.3 million of employee-related costs and $4.5 million of facilities and other one-time costs. For Fiscal 2006, the Company expects to incur total acquisition-related integration costs of $17.3 million.


Restructuring and Related Charges

The Company recorded $2.3 million of restructuring and related charges for Second Quarter 2006 associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan. Restructuring and related charges included $1.0 million of employee termination benefit costs, $0.6 million of contract termination costs and $0.6 million of facility consolidation and relocation costs. The Company recorded $1.2 million of restructuring and related charges for Second Quarter 2005 associated with the realignment of business operations within the Constellation Wines segment (the “Fiscal 2004 Plan”).

The Company is in the process of refining the Robert Mondavi Plan which will be finalized during Fiscal 2006. For Fiscal 2006, subject to finalization of the Robert Mondavi Plan, which could result in additional restructuring charges, the Company expects to incur total restructuring and related charges of $5.3 million associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan.

Subsequent to August 31, 2005, the Company initiated a program to consolidate certain west coast production processes in the U.S. through a combination of investment in new assets, reconfiguration of certain existing assets and certain personnel reductions, as well as other personnel reductions in the Constellation Wines segment. For Fiscal 2006, the Company expects to incur total restructuring and related charges of $6.1 million and accelerated depreciation charges of $13.2 million in connection with these initiatives. The accelerated depreciation charges will be recorded on the Cost of Product Sold line within the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Operating Income

The following table sets forth the operating income (loss) (in millions of dollars) by operating segment of the Company for Second Quarter 2006 and Second Quarter 2005.

   
Second Quarter 2006 Compared to Second Quarter 2005
 
   
Operating Income (Loss)
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
% Increase
 
Constellation Wines
 
$
123.7
 
$
87.8
   
41%
 
Constellation Beers and Spirits
   
87.6
   
83.8
   
5%
 
Corporate Operations and Other
   
(14.3
)
 
(13.3
)
 
8%
 
Total Reportable Segments
   
197.0
   
158.3
   
24%
 
Acquisition-Related Integration Costs,
Restructuring and Related Charges
and Unusual Costs
   
(22.8
)
 
(2.1
)
 
986%
 
Consolidated Operating Income
 
$
174.2
 
$
156.2
   
12%
 
 
As a result of the factors discussed above, consolidated operating income increased to $174.2 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $156.2 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $18.0 million, or 12%. Acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs of $22.8 million for Second Quarter 2006 consist of certain costs that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment. These costs represent acquisition-related integration costs, adverse grape cost, and the flow through of inventory step-up associated with the Company’s acquisition of Robert Mondavi of $7.8 million, $6.4 million and $2.5 million, respectively, costs associated with professional service fees incurred for due diligence in connection with the Company’s evaluation of a potential offer for Allied Domecq of $3.8 million, and restructuring and related charges of $2.3 million in the Constellation Wines segment associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan. Acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs of $2.1 million for Second Quarter 2005 represent restructuring and related charges associated with the Fiscal 2004 Plan of $1.2 million, and the flow through of inventory step-up associated with the Hardy Acquisition of $0.9 million.


Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income of $0.8 million and $0.3 million for Second Quarter 2006 and Second Quarter 2005, respectively, increased to $46.9 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $30.4 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $16.5 million, or 54%. The increase resulted from higher average borrowings in Second Quarter 2006 primarily due to the Robert Mondavi acquisition and the investment in Ruffino in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 35.1% for Second Quarter 2006 and 36.0% for Second Quarter 2005, a decrease of 0.9%. This decrease is due primarily to the repatriation provisions of the “American Jobs Creation Act of 2004” (“AJCA”). During Second Quarter 2006, the Company recorded a benefit in connection with its conclusion regarding the impact of the AJCA on distributions of certain foreign earnings. This benefit was partially offset by higher estimated residual U.S. income taxes associated with the timing and geographic composition of repatriating foreign earnings to take advantage of this one-time foreign dividends received deduction.

For Fiscal 2006, the Company expects the effective tax rate to more closely approximate its prior year’s effective tax rate before giving effect to a non-cash reduction in the Company’s provision for income taxes of $16.2 million as a result of adjustments to income tax accruals in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 in connection with the completion of various income tax examinations.

Net Income

As a result of the above factors, net income increased to $82.4 million for Second Quarter 2006 from $80.6 million for Second Quarter 2005, an increase of $1.8 million, or 2%.

Six Months 2006 Compared to Six Months 2005

Net Sales

The following table sets forth the net sales (in millions of dollars) by operating segment of the Company for Six Months 2006 and Six Months 2005.

   
Six Months 2006 Compared to Six Months 2005
 
   
Net Sales
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
% Increase /
(Decrease)
 
Constellation Wines:
             
 Branded wine
 
$
1,051.7
 
$
777.4
   
35%
 
 Wholesale and other
   
499.1
   
505.4
   
(1)%
 
Constellation Wines net sales
 
$
1,550.8
 
$
1,282.8
   
21%
 
Constellation Beers and Spirits:
                   
 Imported beers
 
$
574.6
 
$
526.0
   
9%
 
 Spirits
   
163.1
   
155.4
   
5%
 
Constellation Beers and Spirits net sales
 
$
737.7
 
$
681.4
   
8%
 
Consolidated Net Sales
 
$
2,288.5
 
$
1,964.2
   
17%
 
 
 

Net sales for Six Months 2006 increased to $2,288.5 million from $1,964.2 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $324.3 million, or 17%. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in branded wine net sales of $261.6 million (on a constant currency basis) and imported beer net sales of $48.6 million. The increase in branded wine net sales is due primarily to $200.0 million of net sales of branded wines acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition and $25.3 million of net sales of Ruffino brands, which the Company began distributing in the U.S. on February 1, 2005. In addition, net sales benefited from a favorable foreign currency impact of $14.8 million.

Constellation Wines

Net sales for Constellation Wines increased to $1,550.8 million for Six Months 2006 from $1,282.8 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $268.0 million, or 21%. Branded wine net sales increased $274.3 million primarily from $200.0 million of net sales of branded wines acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition, $25.3 million of net sales of Ruffino brands, an increase in branded wine net sales in the U.S. (excluding sales of Robert Mondavi and Ruffino brands) of $30.4 million and a favorable foreign currency impact of $12.6 million. Wholesale and other net sales decreased $6.3 million ($8.4 million on a constant currency basis) as growth in the U.K. wholesale business was more than offset by a decrease in other net sales. The decrease in other net sales is primarily due to the Company’s fiscal 2004 decision to exit the commodity concentrate business during fiscal 2005.

Constellation Beers and Spirits

Net sales for Constellation Beers and Spirits increased to $737.7 million for Six Months 2006 from $681.4 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $56.3 million, or 8%. This increase resulted from increases in imported beers net sales of $48.6 million and spirits net sales of $7.7 million. The growth in imported beers net sales is primarily due to volume growth in the Company’s Mexican beer portfolio. The growth in spirits net sales is attributable to an increase in the Company’s contract production net sales partially offset by a slight decrease in branded spirits net sales.
 
Gross Profit

The Company’s gross profit increased to $654.0 million for Six Months 2006 from $540.1 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $113.9 million, or 21%. The Constellation Wines segment’s gross profit increased $115.6 million primarily from the additional gross profit of $103.0 million due to the Robert Mondavi acquisition. The Constellation Beers and Spirits segment’s gross profit increased $14.5 million primarily due to volume growth in the Company’s Mexican beer portfolio. In addition, unusual items, which consist of certain costs that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment, were higher by $16.2 million in Six Months 2006 versus Six Months 2005. This increase resulted from increased flow through of inventory step-up and adverse grape cost associated with the Robert Mondavi acquisition. Gross profit as a percent of net sales increased to 28.6% for Six Months 2006 from 27.5% for Six Months 2005 primarily due to sales of higher-margin wine brands acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition partially offset by the higher unusual costs.


Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $321.6 million for Six Months 2006 from $270.8 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $50.8 million, or 19%. The Constellation Wines segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $51.3 million due to increased selling expenses, advertising expenses, and general and administrative expenses to support the growth in the segment’s business, primarily due to the costs related to the brands acquired in the Robert Mondavi acquisition. The Constellation Beers and Spirits segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased slightly as increased selling and advertising expenses were partially offset by lower general and administrative expenses. The Corporate Operations and Other segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.5 million primarily due to increased general and administrative expenses to support the Company’s growth. Lastly, there was a decrease of $6.5 million of unusual costs which consist of certain items that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment. Six Months 2006 included costs associated with professional service fees incurred for due diligence in connection with the Company’s evaluation of a potential offer for Allied Domecq of $3.8 million. Six Months 2005 costs consisted of financing costs recorded in connection with the Company’s redemption of its $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due March 2009 (the “Senior Subordinated Notes”) of $10.3 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales increased to 14.1% for Six Months 2006 as compared to 13.8% for Six Months 2005 primarily due to the increase in the Constellation Wines segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses growing at a faster rate than the increase in the segment’s net sales partially offset by the lower unusual costs. The Constellation Wines segment’s selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales was impacted by the inclusion of the Robert Mondavi business, which has a higher percentage of selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales than the segment’s base business.

Acquisition-Related Integration Costs

The Company recorded $14.3 million of acquisition-related integration costs for Six Months 2006 in connection with the Robert Mondavi Plan. Acquisition-related integration costs included $4.7 million of employee-related costs and $9.6 million of facilities and other one-time costs. For Fiscal 2006, the Company expects to incur total acquisition-related integration costs of $17.3 million.

Restructuring and Related Charges

The Company recorded $4.1 million of restructuring and related charges for Six Months 2006 associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan. Restructuring and related charges included $2.2 million of employee termination benefit costs, $0.6 million of contract termination costs and $1.3 million of facility consolidation and relocation costs. The Company recorded $2.8 million of restructuring and related charges for Six Months 2005 associated with the Fiscal 2004 Plan.
 
The Company is in the process of refining the Robert Mondavi Plan which will be finalized during Fiscal 2006. For Fiscal 2006, subject to finalization of the Robert Mondavi Plan, which could result in additional restructuring charges, the Company expects to incur total restructuring and related charges of $5.3 million associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan.

Subsequent to August 31, 2005, the Company initiated a program to consolidate certain west coast production processes in the U.S. through a combination of investment in new assets, reconfiguration of certain existing assets and certain personnel reductions, as well as other personnel reductions in the Constellation Wines segment. For Fiscal 2006, the Company expects to incur total restructuring and related charges of $6.1 million and accelerated depreciation charges of $13.2 million in connection with these initiatives. The accelerated depreciation charges will be recorded on the Cost of Product Sold line within the Consolidated Statement of Income.


Operating Income

The following table sets forth the operating income (loss) (in millions of dollars) by operating segment of the Company for Six Months 2006 and Six Months 2005.

   
Six Months 2006 Compared to Six Months 2005
 
   
Operating Income (Loss)
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
% Increase
 
Constellation Wines
 
$
219.7
 
$
155.4
   
41%
 
Constellation Beers and Spirits
   
163.6
   
151.7
   
8%
 
Corporate Operations and Other
   
(28.6
)
 
(25.1
)
 
14%
 
Total Reportable Segments
   
354.7
   
282.0
   
26%
 
Acquisition-Related Integration Costs,
Restructuring and Related Charges
and Unusual Costs
   
(40.7
)
 
(15.4
)
 
164%
 
Consolidated Operating Income
 
$
314.0
 
$
266.6
   
18%
 

As a result of the factors discussed above, consolidated operating income increased to $314.0 million for Six Months 2006 from $266.6 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $47.4 million, or 18%. Acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs of $40.7 million for Six Months 2006 consist of certain costs that are excluded by management in their evaluation of the results of each operating segment. These costs represent acquisition-related integration costs, adverse grape cost, and the flow through of inventory step-up associated with the Company’s acquisition of Robert Mondavi of $14.3 million, $13.9 million and $4.6 million, respectively; restructuring and related charges of $4.1 million in the Constellation Wines segment associated primarily with the Robert Mondavi Plan; and costs associated with professional service fees incurred for due diligence in connection with the Company’s evaluation of a potential offer for Allied Domecq of $3.8 million. Acquisition-related integration costs, restructuring and related charges and unusual costs of $15.4 million for Six Months 2005 represent financing costs associated with the redemption of the Company’s Senior Subordinated Notes of $10.3 million, restructuring and related charges associated with the Fiscal 2004 Plan of $2.8 million, and the flow through of inventory step-up associated with the Hardy Acquisition of $2.3 million.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income of $1.7 million and $0.8 million for Six Months 2006 and Six Months 2005, respectively, increased to $94.2 million for Six Months 2006 from $60.7 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $33.5 million, or 55%. The increase resulted primarily from higher average borrowings in Six Months 2006 primarily due to the Robert Mondavi acquisition and the investment in Ruffino in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 27.8% for Six Months 2006 and 36.0% for Six Months 2005, a decrease of 8.2%. This decrease is due primarily to a non-cash reduction in the Company’s provision for income taxes of $16.2 million, or 7.4%, as a result of adjustments to income tax accruals in connection with the completion of various income tax examinations. The Company expects the effective tax rate for Fiscal 2006 to more closely approximate its prior year’s effective tax rate before giving effect to the $16.2 million adjustment.


Net Income

As a result of the above factors, net income increased to $158.1 million for Six Months 2006 from $131.9 million for Six Months 2005, an increase of $26.2 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 United States, the annual grape crush normally begins in August and runs through October. In Australia, 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 payments for such grapes beginning to come due one month later. 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 to support its working capital requirements. The Company believes that cash provided by operating activities and its financing activities, primarily short-term borrowings, will provide adequate resources to satisfy its working capital, scheduled principal and interest payments on debt, preferred stock dividend payment requirements, and anticipated capital expenditure requirements for both its short-term and long-term capital needs.

Six Months 2006 Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for Six Months 2006 was $174.1 million, which resulted from $158.1 million of net income, plus $94.0 million of net non-cash items charged to the Consolidated Statement of Income and $30.3 million of cash proceeds credited to accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) within the Consolidated Balance Sheet, less $108.3 million representing the net change in the Company’s operating assets and liabilities. The net non-cash items consisted primarily of depreciation of property, plant and equipment and deferred tax provision. The net change in operating assets and liabilities resulted primarily from seasonal increases in accounts receivable and inventories, partially offset by a seasonal increase in accounts payable.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities for Six Months 2006 was $93.9 million, which resulted primarily from $165.8 million of net proceeds from sales of assets, equity method investment, and businesses, primarily attributable to sales of non-strategic Robert Mondavi assets, partially offset by $63.0 million of capital expenditures.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for Six Months 2006 was $266.2 million resulting primarily from principal payments of long-term debt of $336.7 million partially offset by net proceeds of $55.1 million from notes payable.


During June 1998, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of its Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The repurchase of shares of common stock will be accomplished, from time to time, in management’s discretion and depending upon market conditions, through open market or privately negotiated transactions. The Company may finance such repurchases through cash generated from operations or through its current senior credit facility. The repurchased shares will become treasury shares. As of October 11, 2005, the Company had purchased a total of 8,150,688 shares of Class A Common Stock at an aggregate cost of $44.9 million, or at an average cost of $5.51 per share. No shares were repurchased during Six Months 2006 under the Company’s share repurchase program.

Debt

Total debt outstanding as of August 31, 2005, amounted to $2,989.3 million, a decrease of $299.9 million from February 28, 2005. The ratio of total debt to total capitalization decreased to 51.3% as of August 31, 2005, from 54.2% as of February 28, 2005.

Senior Credit Facilities

2004 Credit Agreement

In connection with the acquisition of Robert Mondavi, on December 22, 2004, the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries (excluding certain inactive subsidiaries), together with certain of its subsidiaries organized in foreign jurisdictions, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as a lender and administrative agent, and certain other agents, lenders, and financial institutions entered into a new credit agreement (the “2004 Credit Agreement”). The 2004 Credit Agreement provides for aggregate credit facilities of $2.9 billion (subject to increase as therein provided to $3.2 billion), consisting of a $600.0 million tranche A term loan facility due in November 2010, a $1.8 billion tranche B term loan facility due in November 2011, and a $500.0 million revolving credit facility (including a sub-facility for letters of credit of up to $60.0 million) which terminates in December 2010. Proceeds of the 2004 Credit Agreement were used to pay off the Company’s obligations under its prior senior credit facility, to fund the cash consideration payable in connection with its acquisition of Robert Mondavi, and to pay certain obligations of Robert Mondavi, including indebtedness outstanding under its bank facility and unsecured notes of $355.4 million. The Company uses its revolving credit facility under the 2004 Credit Agreement for general corporate purposes, including working capital, on an as needed basis.

The tranche A term loan facility and the tranche B term loan facility were fully drawn on December 22, 2004. As of August 31, 2005, the required principal repayments of the tranche A term loan and the tranche B term loan are as follows:

   
Tranche A
Term Loan
 
Tranche B
Term Loan
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
             
2006
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
2007
   
33,382
   
-
   
33,382
 
2008
   
89,853
   
15,299
   
105,152
 
2009
   
110,588
   
15,299
   
125,887
 
2010
   
117,500
   
15,299
   
132,799
 
Thereafter
   
103,677
   
1,449,603
   
1,553,280
 
   
$
455,000
 
$
1,495,500
 
$
1,950,500
 


The rate of interest payable, at the Company’s option, 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 2004 Credit Agreement) and, with respect to LIBOR borrowings, ranges between 1.00% and 1.75%. As of August 31, 2005, the LIBOR margin for the revolving credit facility and the tranche A term loan facility is 1.50%, while the LIBOR margin on the tranche B term loan facility is 1.75%. Pursuant to the terms of the 2004 Credit Agreement, the Company is entitled to a 0.25% reduction in the LIBOR margin on both the tranche A and tranche B term loans, which reduction is expected to become effective during the third quarter of fiscal 2006.
 
The Company’s obligations are guaranteed by substantially all of its U.S. subsidiaries and by certain of its foreign subsidiaries. These obligations are also secured by a pledge of (i) 100% of the ownership interests in most of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and (ii) 65% of the voting capital stock of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

The Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to customary lending covenants including those restricting additional liens, the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including guarantees of indebtedness), the sale of assets, the payment of dividends, transactions with affiliates, the disposition and acquisition of property and the making of certain investments, in each case subject to numerous baskets, exceptions and thresholds. The financial covenants are limited to maximum total debt and senior debt coverage ratios and minimum fixed charges and interest coverage ratios. As of August 31, 2005, the Company is in compliance with all of its covenants under its 2004 Credit Agreement.

As of August 31, 2005, under the 2004 Credit Agreement, the Company had outstanding tranche A term loans of $455.0 million bearing a weighted average interest rate of 4.9%, tranche B term loans of $1,495.5 million bearing a weighted average interest rate of 5.3%, revolving loans of $42.5 million bearing a weighted average interest rate of 4.8%, undrawn revolving letters of credit of $28.1 million, and $429.4 million in revolving loans available to be drawn.

At February 28, 2005, the Company had outstanding five year interest rate swap agreements to minimize interest rate volatility. The swap agreements fixed LIBOR interest rates on $1,200.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt at an average rate of 4.1% over the five-year term. In March 2005, the Company monetized the value of the interest rate swaps by replacing them with new five year delayed start interest rate swap agreements effective March 1, 2006, which extended the hedged period through fiscal 2010. The Company received $30.3 million in proceeds from the unwinding of the original swaps. This amount will be reclassified from AOCI ratably into earnings in the same period in which the original hedged item is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The effective interest rate remains the same under the new swap structure at 4.1%.

Foreign Subsidiary Facilities

The Company has additional credit arrangements available totaling $176.7 million as of August 31, 2005. These arrangements support the financing needs of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiary operations. Interest rates and other terms of these borrowings vary from country to country, depending on local market conditions. As of August 31, 2005, amounts outstanding under the foreign subsidiary credit arrangements were $57.5 million.

Senior Notes

As of August 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8 5/8% Senior Notes due August 2006 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes are currently redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company.


As of August 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding £1.0 million ($1.8 million) aggregate principal amount of 8 1/2% Series B Senior Notes due November 2009 (the “Sterling Series B Senior Notes”). In addition, as of August 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding £154.0 million ($277.4 million, net of $0.4 million unamortized discount) aggregate principal amount of 8 1/2% Series C Senior Notes due November 2009 (the “Sterling Series C Senior Notes”). The Sterling Series B Senior Notes and Sterling Series C Senior Notes are currently redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company.
 
Also, as of August 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due February 2008 (the “February 2001 Senior Notes”). The February 2001 Senior Notes are currently redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company.

Senior Subordinated Notes

As of August 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due January 2012 (the “January 2002 Senior Subordinated Notes”). The January 2002 Senior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after January 15, 2007.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151 (“SFAS No. 151”), “Inventory Costs - an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” SFAS No. 151 amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43 (“ARB No. 43”), “Restatement and Revision of Accounting Research Bulletins,” Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage). SFAS No. 151 requires that those items be recognized as current period charges. In addition, SFAS No. 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 151 for fiscal years beginning March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 151 on its consolidated financial statements.


In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123(R) replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“SFAS No. 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (“APB Opinion No. 25”), “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” SFAS No. 123(R) requires the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. In addition, SFAS No. 123(R) establishes fair value as the measurement objective in accounting for share-based payment arrangements and requires all entities to apply a grant date fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions. SFAS No. 123(R) also amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 95 (“SFAS No. 95”), “Statement of Cash Flows,” to require that excess tax benefits be reported as a financing cash inflow rather than as a reduction of taxes paid. SFAS No. 123(R) applies to all awards granted, modified, repurchased, or cancelled after the required effective date (see below). In addition, SFAS No. 123(R) requires entities that used the fair-value-based method for either recognition or disclosure under SFAS No. 123 to apply SFAS No. 123(R) using a modified version of prospective application. This application requires compensation cost to be recognized on or after the required effective date for the portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered based on the grant date fair value of those awards as calculated under SFAS No. 123 for either recognition or pro forma disclosures. For periods before the required effective date, those entities may elect to apply a modified version of retrospective application under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods by SFAS No. 123. In March 2005, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB No. 107”), “Share Based Payment,” to express the views of the staff regarding the interaction between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations and to provide the staff’s views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 123(R) for interim periods beginning March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 123(R) on its consolidated financial statements and will take into consideration the additional guidance provided by SAB No. 107 in connection with the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 153 (“SFAS No. 153”), “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets - an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29.” SFAS No. 153 amends Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 29 (“APB No. 29”), “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” to eliminate the exception from fair value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replace it with a general exception from fair value measurement for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. SFAS No. 153 specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 153 for fiscal years beginning March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 153 on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47 (“FIN No. 47”), “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143.” FIN No. 47 clarifies the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in FASB Statement No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” A conditional asset retirement obligation is an unconditional legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. Therefore, an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. FIN No. 47 is effective for the Company no later than the end of the year ending February 28, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of FIN No. 47 on its consolidated financial statements.


In May 2005, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154 (“SFAS No. 154”), “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections - a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3.” SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle and requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requires that a change in depreciation, amortization, or depletion method for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change of estimate effected by a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 also carries forward without change the guidance in APB Opinion No. 20 with respect to accounting for changes in accounting estimates, changes in the reporting unit and correction of an error in previously issued financial statements. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 154 for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after March 1, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of SFAS No. 154 on its consolidated financial statements.

Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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 facts included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including statements regarding the Company’s future financial position and prospects, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition to the risks and uncertainties of ordinary business operations, the forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this Form 10-Q are also subject to the following risks and uncertainties: the successful integration of the Robert Mondavi business into that of the Company; final management determinations and independent appraisals vary materially from current management estimates of (i) the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the Robert Mondavi acquisition and (ii) the fair value of assets and liabilities of Ruffino; the Company achieving certain sales projections and meeting certain cost targets; wholesalers and retailers may give higher priority to products of the Company’s competitors; raw material supply, production or shipment difficulties could adversely affect the Company’s ability to supply its customers; increased competitive activities in the form of pricing, advertising and promotions could adversely impact consumer demand for the Company’s products and/or result in higher than expected selling, general and administrative expenses; a general decline in alcohol consumption; increases in excise and other taxes on beverage alcohol products; and changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. For additional information about risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect the Company’s forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005.



Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company, as a result of its global operating and financing activities, is exposed to market risk associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to these risks, the Company periodically purchases and/or sells derivative instruments including foreign currency exchange contracts 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 forward contracts and foreign currency options are used to hedge existing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, forecasted foreign currency denominated sales both to third parties as well as intercompany sales, and intercompany principal and interest payments. As of August 31, 2005, the Company had exposures to foreign currency risk primarily related to the Australian dollar, British pound sterling, euro, New Zealand dollar, Canadian dollar, Chilean peso and Mexican peso.

As of August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, the Company had outstanding foreign exchange derivative instruments with a notional value of $741.7 million and $694.6 million, respectively. Approximately 74% of the Company’s total exposures were hedged as of August 31, 2005. 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 August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, the fair value of open foreign exchange contracts would have been decreased by $77.9 million and $68.8 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.
 
The fair value of fixed rate debt is subject to interest rate risk, credit risk and foreign currency risk. The estimated fair value of the Company’s total fixed rate debt, including current maturities, was $1,031.8 million and $1,062.1 million as of August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, respectively. A hypothetical 1% increase from prevailing interest rates as of August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, would have resulted in a decrease in fair value of fixed interest rate long-term debt by $26.3 million and $45.6 million, respectively.

As of August 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding five-year delayed start interest rate swap agreements effective March 1, 2006, to minimize interest rate volatility. The swap agreements fix LIBOR interest rates on $1,200.0 million of the Company’s floating LIBOR rate debt at an average rate of 4.1% over the five-year term. A hypothetical 1% increase from prevailing interest rates as of August 31, 2005, would have increased the fair value of the interest rate swaps by $43.7 million. As of August 31, 2004, the Company had no interest rate swap agreements outstanding.

In addition to the $1,031.8 million and $1,062.1 million estimated fair value of fixed rate debt outstanding as of August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, respectively, the Company also had variable rate debt outstanding (primarily LIBOR based) as of August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, of $2,034.5 million and $1,023.6 million, respectively. Using a sensitivity analysis based on a hypothetical 1% increase in prevailing interest rates over a 12-month period, the approximate increase in cash required for interest as of August 31, 2005, and August 31, 2004, is $20.3 million and $9.6 million, respectively.



Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, that the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.





PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid
Per Share
 
Total Number
of  Shares
Purchased as
Part of a
Publicly
Announced
Program
 
Approximate
 Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be
Purchased
Under
the Program (1)
 
June 1 - 30, 2005
   
-
 
$
-
   
-
 
$
55,122,140
 
July 1 - 31, 2005
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
55,122,140
 
August 1 - 31, 2005
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
55,122,140
 
Total
   
-
 
$
-
   
-
 
$
55,122,140
 

(1) In June 1998, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase from time to time of up to $100.0 million of the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock. The program does not have a specified expiration date. The Company did not repurchase any shares under this program during the period June 1, 2005 through and including August 31, 2005.


Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Constellation Brands, Inc. held on July 28, 2005 (the “Annual Meeting”), the holders of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Stock”), voting as a separate class, elected the Company’s slate of director nominees designated to be elected by the holders of the Class A Stock, and the holders of the Company’s Class A Stock and Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Stock”), voting together as a single class with holders of Class A Stock having one (1) vote per share and holders of Class B Stock having ten (10) votes per share, elected the Company’s slate of director nominees designated to be elected by the holders of the Class A Stock and Class B Stock voting together as a single class.
 
In addition, at the Annual Meeting, the holders of Class A Stock and the holders of Class B Stock, voting together as a single class, voted upon a proposal to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP, Certified Public Accountants, as the Company’s independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2006, and a proposal to amend the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock from 275,000,000 shares to 300,000,000 shares.
 

Set forth below is the number of votes cast for, against or withheld, as well as the number of abstentions and broker nonvotes, as applicable, as to each of the foregoing matters.

I.    The results of the voting for the election of Directors of the Company are as follows:

Directors Elected by the Holders of Class A Stock:

Nominee
   For
  Withheld
Thomas C. McDermott 
167,323,183
11,034,368
Paul L. Smith
167,304,026
11,053,525
 
Directors Elected by the Holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock:

Nominee
  For
  Withheld
George Bresler
357,871,167 
58,690,744
Jeananne K. Hauswald
405,507,236
11,054,675
James A. Locke III
358,245,003
58,316,908
Richard Sands 
372,662,940
43,898,971
Robert Sands
371,482,428 
45,079,483
 
 
II.
The selection of KPMG LLP was ratified with the following votes:

For:
416,128,374
 
Against:
275,216
 
Abstain:
158,321
 
Broker Nonvotes:
0
 

 
III.
The Amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation was approved with the following votes:

For:
414,133,567
 
Against:
1,822,265
 
Abstain:
606,079
 
Broker Nonvotes:
0
 

 

Item 6.    Exhibits

Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

For the exhibits that are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference, see the Index to Exhibits located on page 46 of this Report. The Index to Exhibits is incorporated herein by reference.



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


 
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
     
Dated: October 11, 2005
By:
/s/ Thomas F. Howe
   
Thomas F. Howe, Senior Vice President,
 Controller
     
Dated: October 11, 2005
By:
/s/ Thomas S. Summer
 
 
Thomas S. Summer, Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer and principal
accounting officer)





 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit No.
 
 
(2)
 
Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession.
 
2.1 
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 3, 2004, by and among Constellation Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation, RMD Acquisition Corp., a California corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Constellation Brands, Inc., and The Robert Mondavi Corporation, a California corporation (filed as Exhibit 2.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
2.2 
 
Support Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2004, by and among Constellation Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation and certain shareholders of The Robert Mondavi Corporation (filed as Exhibit 2.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
(3)
 
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws.
 
3.1 
 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed herewith).
 
 
3.2 
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed herewith).
 
 
3.3 
 
Certificate of Designations of 5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (filed herewith).
 
 
3.4 
 
By-Laws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
(4)
 
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures.
 
4.1 
 
Indenture, dated as of February 25, 1999, among the Company, as issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor Trustee to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 25, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference). (1)
 
4.2 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 2, with respect to 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2006, dated as of August 4, 1999, by and among the Company, as Issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor Trustee to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 28, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference). (1)
 




4.3 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of August 6, 1999, by and among the Company, Canandaigua B.V., Barton Canada, Ltd., Simi Winery, Inc., Franciscan Vineyards, Inc., Allberry, Inc., M.J. Lewis Corp., Cloud Peak Corporation, Mt. Veeder Corporation, SCV-EPI Vineyards, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor Trustee to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.20 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference). (1)
 
4.4 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 4, with respect to 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009, dated as of May 15, 2000, by and among the Company, as Issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor Trustee to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference). (1)
 
4.5 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 5, dated as of September 14, 2000, by and among the Company, as Issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor Trustee to The Bank of New York), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference). (1)
 
4.6 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 6, dated as of August 21, 2001, among the Company, Ravenswood Winery, Inc. and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor trustee to Harris Trust and Savings Bank and The Bank of New York, as applicable), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Pre-effective Amendment No. 1) (Registration No. 333-63480) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.7 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 7, dated as of January 23, 2002, by and among the Company, as Issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 17, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.8 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 8, dated as of March 27, 2003, by and among the Company, CBI Australia Holdings Pty Limited (ACN 103 359 299), Constellation Australia Pty Limited (ACN 103 362 232) and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.9 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 9, dated as of July 8, 2004, by and among the Company, BRL Hardy Investments (USA) Inc., BRL Hardy (USA) Inc., Pacific Wine Partners LLC, Nobilo Holdings, and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.10 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 10, dated as of September 13, 2004, by and among the Company, Constellation Trading, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 



4.11 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 11, dated as of December 22, 2004, by and among the Company, The Robert Mondavi Corporation, R.M.E. Inc., Robert Mondavi Winery, Robert Mondavi Investments, Robert Mondavi Affilates d/b/a Vichon Winery and Robert Mondavi Properties, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.12 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.12 
 
Indenture, with respect to 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009, dated as of November 17, 1999, among the Company, as Issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-94369) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.13 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of August 21, 2001, among the Company, Ravenswood Winery, Inc. and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.14 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of March 27, 2003, among the Company, CBI Australia Holdings Pty Limited (ACN 103 359 299), Constellation Australia Pty Limited (ACN 103 362 232) and BNY Midwest Trust Company (successor to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.18 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.15 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of July 8, 2004, by and among the Company, BRL Hardy Investments (USA) Inc., BRL Hardy (USA) Inc., Pacific Wine Partners LLC, Nobilo Holdings, and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.15 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.16 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of September 13, 2004, by and among the Company, Constellation Trading, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.16 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.17 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 5, dated as of December 22, 2004, by and among the Company, The Robert Mondavi Corporation, R.M.E. Inc., Robert Mondavi Winery, Robert Mondavi Investments, Robert Mondavi Affilates d/b/a Vichon Winery and Robert Mondavi Properties, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.18 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.18 
 
Indenture, with respect to 8% Senior Notes due 2008, dated as of February 21, 2001, by and among the Company, as Issuer, certain principal subsidiaries, as Guarantors and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement filed on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-60720) and incorporated herein by reference).
 




4.19 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of August 21, 2001, among the Company, Ravenswood Winery, Inc. and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-63480) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.20 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of March 27, 2003, among the Company, CBI Australia Holdings Pty Limited (ACN 103 359 299), Constellation Australia Pty Limited (ACN 103 362 232) and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.21 
 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of July 8, 2004, by and among the Company, BRL Hardy Investments (USA) Inc., BRL Hardy (USA) Inc., Pacific Wine Partners LLC, Nobilo Holdings, and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.20 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.22 
 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of September 13, 2004, by and among the Company, Constellation Trading, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.21 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.23 
 
 
Supplemental Indenture No. 5, dated as of December 22, 2004, by and among the Company, The Robert Mondavi Corporation, R.M.E. Inc., Robert Mondavi Winery, Robert Mondavi Investments, Robert Mondavi Affilates d/b/a Vichon Winery and Robert Mondavi Properties, Inc., and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.24 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.24 
 
 
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2004, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, as Syndication Agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Sole Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, and Bank of America, SunTrust Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-Documentation Agents (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 22, 2004, filed December 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.25 
 
 
Certificate of Designations of 5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2003, filed July 30, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
4.26 
 
Deposit Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2003, by and among the Company, Mellon Investor Services LLC and all holders from time to time of Depositary Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares Representing 5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2003, filed July 30, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
(10)
 
Material contracts. 
 
10.1
 
Description of Compensation Arrangements for Non-Management Directors (filed herewith). (2)
 
 



(11)
 
Statement re computation of per share earnings.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(15)
 
Letter re unaudited interim financial information.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(18)
 
Letter re change in accounting principles.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(19)
 
Report furnished to security holders.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(22)
 
Published report regarding matters submitted to a vote of security holders.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(23) 
 
Consents of experts and counsel.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(24)
 
Power of attorney.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(31)
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications.
 
31.1 
 
 
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
 
31.2 
 
 
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
 
(32)
 
Section 1350 Certifications.
 
32.1 
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. 1350 (filed herewith).
 
32.2 
 
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. 1350 (filed herewith).
 
(99)
 
Additional Exhibits.
 
99.1 
 
Not applicable.
 
(100)
 
XBRL-Related Documents.
 
   
Not applicable.
 
 


(1) Company’s Commission File No. 001-08495. For filings prior to October 4, 1999, use Commission File No. 000-07570.

(2) Designates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


The Company agrees, upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to furnish copies of each instrument that defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company or its subsidiaries that is not filed herewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) because the total amount of long-term debt authorized under such instrument does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.