Constellation Brands, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock-Based Employee Compensation

Stock-Based Employee Compensation

12 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2016

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION:

We have two stock-based employee compensation plans (as further discussed below). Total compensation cost and income tax benefits recognized for our stock-based awards are as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016		February 28, 2015		February 28, 2014
(in millions)
Total compensation cost recognized in our results of operations	$	54.0	$	55.0	$	49.9
Total income tax benefit recognized in our results of operations	$	17.8	$	18.7	$	17.1

Long-term stock incentive plan –

Under our Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share units and other stock-based awards may be granted to our employees, officers and directors. The aggregate number of shares of our Class A Common Stock and Class 1 Common Stock available for awards under our Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan is 108,000,000 shares.

The exercise price, vesting period and term of nonqualified stock options granted are established by the committee administering the plan (the “Committee”). The exercise price of any nonqualified stock option may not be less than the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock on the date of grant. Nonqualified stock options generally vest and become exercisable over a four-year period from the date of grant and expire as established by the Committee, but not later than ten years after the grant date.

Grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share units and other stock-based awards may contain such vesting periods, terms, conditions and other requirements as the Committee may establish. Restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards are based on service and generally vest over one to four years from the date of grant. Performance share unit awards are based on service and the satisfaction of certain performance conditions, and vest over a required employee service period, generally from one to three years from the date of grant, which closely matches the performance period. The performance conditions include the achievement of specified financial or operational performance metrics, or market conditions which require the achievement of specified levels of shareholder return relative to other companies as defined in the applicable performance share unit agreement. The actual number of shares to be awarded upon vesting of a performance share unit award will range between 0% and 200% of the target award, based upon the measure of performance as certified by the Committee.

A summary of stock option activity, primarily under our Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, is as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016				February 28, 2015				February 28, 2014
	Number of Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number of Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number of Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding as of March 1	13,613,615		$	25.46	15,314,074		$	21.82	20,264,078		$	19.48
Granted	838,996		$	117.17	881,584		$	79.86	1,284,500		$	48.79
Exercised	(4,689,588	)	$	22.25	(2,527,458	)	$	22.02	(6,119,923	)	$	19.63
Forfeited	(220,433	)	$	71.75	(52,779	)	$	42.79	(103,497	)	$	28.86
Expired	(1,197	)	$	21.02	(1,806	)	$	19.55	(11,084	)	$	18.79
Outstanding as of last day of February	9,541,393		$	34.03	13,613,615		$	25.46	15,314,074		$	21.82
Exercisable	7,348,309		$	21.37	10,499,030		$	19.45	10,913,019		$	18.91

As of February 29, 2016, the aggregate intrinsic value of our options outstanding and exercisable was $1,024.7 million and $882.2 million, respectively. In addition, the weighted average remaining contractual life for our options outstanding and exercisable was 5.1 years and 4.3 years, respectively.

The fair value of stock options vested, and the intrinsic value of and tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options, are as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016		February 28, 2015		February 28, 2014
(in millions)
Fair value of stock options vested	$	20.1	$	19.6	$	20.5
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$	514.9	$	185.8	$	235.5
Tax benefit realized from stock options exercised	$	193.5	$	62.2	$	61.4

The weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted and the weighted average assumptions used to estimate the fair value on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model are as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016			February 28, 2015			February 28, 2014
Grant-date fair value	$	31.14		$	27.77		$	16.88
Expected life ⁽¹⁾	5.9 years			5.9 years			5.9 years
Expected volatility ⁽²⁾	28.5		%	32.4		%	34.8		%
Risk-free interest rate ⁽³⁾	1.6		%	2.1		%	0.9		%
Expected dividend yield ⁽⁴⁾	1.1		%	0.0		%	0.0		%


⁽¹⁾	Based on historical experience of employees’ exercise behavior for similar type awards.


⁽²⁾	Based primarily on historical volatility levels of our Class A Common Stock.


⁽³⁾	Based on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life.


⁽⁴⁾	Based on the calculated yield on our Class A Common Stock at date of grant using the current fiscal year projected annualized dividend distribution rate.

A summary of restricted Class A Common Stock activity under our Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan is as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016				February 28, 2015				February 28, 2014
	Number		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Restricted Stock Awards
Outstanding balance as of March 1, Nonvested	117,054		$	25.15	408,744		$	20.18	1,128,024		$	17.16
Granted	4,984		$	119.37	6,424		$	87.13	12,375		$	50.90
Vested	(116,810	)	$	25.16	(289,688	)	$	20.90	(697,994	)	$	15.90
Forfeited	(244	)	$	20.60	(8,426	)	$	20.43	(33,661	)	$	19.00
Outstanding balance as of last day of February, Nonvested	4,984		$	119.37	117,054		$	25.15	408,744		$	20.18


Restricted Stock Units
Outstanding balance as of March 1, Nonvested	1,063,726		$	51.16	1,104,580		$	39.87	721,503		$	23.65
Granted	230,742		$	122.60	250,923		$	80.72	656,710		$	50.74
Vested	(269,903	)	$	44.48	(241,895	)	$	32.34	(218,306	)	$	21.30
Forfeited	(107,556	)	$	58.65	(49,882	)	$	41.05	(55,327	)	$	30.58
Outstanding balance as of last day of February, Nonvested	917,009		$	70.23	1,063,726		$	51.16	1,104,580		$	39.87



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016				February 28, 2015				February 28, 2014
	Number		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value

Performance Share Units
Outstanding balance as of March 1, Nonvested	617,684		$	58.21	798,600		$	39.67	729,010		$	25.86
Granted	155,671		$	146.25	108,290		$	99.64	298,710		$	57.88
Performance achievement ⁽¹⁾	219,720		$	38.47	268,260		$	21.65	379,780		$	16.83
Vested	(439,440	)	$	38.47	(536,520	)	$	21.65	(577,230	)	$	16.88
Forfeited	(52,374	)	$	75.42	(20,946	)	$	47.21	(31,670	)	$	34.98
Outstanding balance as of last day of February, Nonvested	501,261		$	92.41	617,684		$	58.21	798,600		$	39.67


⁽¹⁾	Reflects the number of awards achieved above target levels based on actual performance measured at the end of the performance period.

The fair value of shares vested for our restricted Class A Common Stock awards is as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016		February 28, 2015		February 28, 2014
(in millions)
Restricted stock awards	$	13.7	$	23.6	$	34.4
Restricted stock units	$	31.7	$	19.7	$	10.7
Performance share units	$	51.5	$	43.6	$	28.5

The weighted average grant-date fair value of performance share units granted with a market condition and the weighted average assumptions used to estimate the fair value on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo Simulation model are as follows:



	For the Years Ended
	February 29, 2016			February 28, 2015			February 28, 2014
Grant-date fair value	$	153.64		$	101.05		$	66.33
Grant-date price	$	117.08		$	79.61		$	48.89
Performance period	3.0 years			3.0 years			3.0 years
Expected volatility ⁽¹⁾	33.5		%	38.2		%	38.7		%
Risk-free interest rate ⁽²⁾	0.9		%	0.8		%	0.4		%
Expected dividend yield ⁽³⁾	0.0		%	0.0		%	0.0		%


⁽¹⁾	Based primarily on historical volatility levels of our Class A Common Stock.


⁽²⁾	Based on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the performance period.


⁽³⁾	No expected dividend yield for the year ended February 29, 2016, as units granted earn dividend equivalents.

Employee stock purchase plan –

We have a stock purchase plan (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) under which 9,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock may be issued. Under the terms of the plan, eligible employees may purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock through payroll deductions. The purchase price is the lower of 85% of the fair market value of the stock on the first or last day of the purchase period. For the years ended February 29, 2016, February 28, 2015, and February 28, 2014, employees purchased 89,155 shares, 117,301 shares and 163,817 shares, respectively, under this plan.

Other –

As of February 29, 2016, there was $83.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under our stock-based employee compensation plans. This cost is expected to be recognized in our results of operations over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years. With respect to the issuance of shares under any of our stock-based compensation plans, we have the option to issue authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.