UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   May 21, 2008



    CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.­    
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        Delaware        
  
       001-08495      
  
        16-0716709        
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  
(Commission
File Number)
  
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)



    370 Woodcliff Drive, Suite 300, Fairport, NY  14450    
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                  (Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code  
  
(585) 218-3600


              Not Applicable                
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
(e)       Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
The Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) determined that it was appropriate to formalize and standardize the employment arrangements with respect to the Company’s current executive officers (collectively, the “Executive Officers” and individually, an “Executive Officer”).  To that end, on May 21, 2008, the Company and each of its Executive Officers, including persons who are expected to be “named executive officers” in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2008 annual meeting, entered into executive employment agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements” and individually, an “Employment Agreement”).  The Employment Agreements supersede any currently existing employment agreements or employment letter arrangements between an Executive Officer and the Company or its affiliates.

In general, each Employment Agreement contains provisions concerning terms of employment, voluntary and involuntary termination, retirement, severance payments, and other termination benefits including the continuation of perquisites.  Richard Sands, Chairman of the Board, and Robert Sands, President and Chief Executive Officer, have substantially similar Employment Agreements and the form of their Employment Agreement is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.  Other than with respect to the Employment Agreement with Jose F. Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer, Constellation Wines North America, and the Employment Agreement with Alexander L. Berk, Chief Executive Officer, Constellation Beers and Spirits, the form of the Employment Agreement the Company has entered into with each other Executive Officer is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.  Mr. Fernandez’s Employment Agreement and Mr. Berk’s Employment Agreement are filed, respectively, as Exhibits 99.3 and 99.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The term of each of the Employment Agreements runs from May 21, 2008 until February 28, 2011, provided that on February 28, 2011, and on each subsequent anniversary thereof, the term shall automatically be extended by the parties for an additional one-year period, until the Company or its applicable affiliate gives the Executive Officer notice, not less than 180 days prior to February 28, 2011, or an anniversary thereof, of a decision not to extend the Employment Agreement for an additional one-year period.

The Employment Agreements provide for an initial annual base salary level for each Executive Officer, which may be adjusted upwards by the Committee.  The following table sets forth the initial, annual base salary levels set forth in the Employment Agreements for those Executive Officers identified below:



 
 
 


 
Name And Position
 Initial Base Salary
Richard Sands,
Chairman of the Board
$1,114,048    
Robert Sands,
President and Chief
Executive  Officer
$1,081,500    
Alexander L. Berk,
Chief Executive Officer,
Constellation Beers and Spirits
 
$ 651,460    
Thomas J. Mullin,
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel
$ 476,451    
Robert Ryder,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
$ 530,400    
 
Each Employment Agreement is intended to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.  The Employment Agreements for each of the Chairman of the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer provide for a cash payment equal to three (3) times base salary and three (3) times the average annual bonus paid to the Executive Officer over the prior three fiscal years, as well as the continuation of certain benefits and perquisites for a period of three (3) years, in the event the Employment Agreement expires or his employment is terminated due to his death or Disability, by him for a Good Reason Termination, due to his Retirement, or by the Company for any reason other than a For Cause Termination (as each term is defined in the Employment Agreement).  The Employment Agreement for each other Executive Officer provides for a cash payment equal to two (2) times base salary and two (2) times the average annual bonus paid to the Executive Officer over the prior three fiscal years, as well as the continuation of certain benefits and perquisites for a period of two (2) years, in the event the Employment Agreement expires or his employment is terminated due to his death or Disability, by him for a Good Reason Termination, due to his Retirement, or by the Company for any reason other than a For Cause Termination (as each term is defined in the Employment Agreement).  Each Executive Officer (including Messrs. Richard Sands and Robert Sands) would also receive up to 18 months of outplacement services under these circumstances.

In addition, the Employment Agreements contain restrictions upon the Executive Officers’ ability, during and after the period of employment, to use confidential information or trade secrets of the Company, to provide services that are competitive with the Company, and to solicit or induce employees to terminate their employment relationships with the Company.

The Employment Agreement with Mr. Fernandez also reflects certain payments and benefits that are applicable during his term of employment for so long as the Company requires him to maintain two primary business locations.  As Mr. Berk is employed by Barton Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, both Barton Incorporated and the Company are parties to the Employment Agreement with Mr. Berk.

 
 
The preceding description of the Employment Agreements is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the forms of Employment Agreement filed herewith as Exhibits 99.1 through 99.4, all of which Exhibits 99.1 through 99.4 are incorporated by reference herein.
 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
 
(a)
Financial statements of businesses acquired.
     
   
Not applicable.
     
 
(b)
Pro forma financial information.
     
   
Not applicable.
     
 
(c)
Shell company transactions.
     
   
Not applicable.
     
 
(d)
Exhibits.
     
   
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 
Exhibit No.
  
Description
 
  99.1
  
Form of Executive Employment Agreement between Constellation Brands, Inc. and its Chairman of the Board and its President and Chief Executive Officer.
       
       99.2   Form of Executive Employment Agreement between Constellation Brands, Inc. and its other Executive Officers (other than Messrs. Fernandez and Berk).
       
       99.3  
Executive Employment Agreement dated May 21, 2008 between Constellation Brands, Inc. and Jose Fernandez.
       
         99.4   Executive Employment Agreement dated May 21, 2008 between Constellation Brands, Inc., Barton Incorporated and Alexander L. Berk.
 

 
 
 


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 hereunto duly authorized.


Date:  May 21, 2008
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
   
 
By:     /s/ Robert Ryder         
   
Robert Ryder
   
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



 
 
 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
  
Description

(1)
  
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(2)
  
PLAN OF ACQUISITION, REORGANIZATION, ARRANGEMENT, LIQUIDATION OR SUCCESSION
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(3)
  
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(4)
  
INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(7)
  
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT REGARDING NON-RELIANCE ON A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AUDIT REPORT OR COMPLETED INTERIM REVIEW
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(14)
  
CODE OF ETHICS
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(16)
  
LETTER RE CHANGE IN CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(17)
  
CORRESPONDENCE ON DEPARTURE OF DIRECTOR
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(20)
  
OTHER DOCUMENTS OR STATEMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(23)
  
CONSENTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(24)
  
POWER OF ATTORNEY
     
   
Not Applicable.
     
(99)
  
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS
     
 (99.1)
   Form of Executive Employment Agreement between Constellation Brands, Inc. and its Chairman of the Board and its President and Chief Executive Officer.
     
 (99.2)
  
Form of Executive Employment Agreement between Constellation Brands, Inc. and its Other Executive Officers (other than Messrs. Fernandez and Berk).
     
 (99.3)
  
Executive Employment Agreement dated May 21, 2008 between Constellation Brands, Inc. and Jose Fernandez.
     
 (99.4)
  
Executive Employment Agreement dated May 21, 2008 between Constellation Brands, Inc., Barton Incorporated and Alexander L. Berk.
     
(100)
  
XBRL-RELATED DOCUMENTS
     
   
Not Applicable.