Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 3 Months Ended
May 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of presentation
Basis of presentation –
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “CBI,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to Constellation Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We have prepared the consolidated financial statements included herein, 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 our opinion, all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial information. 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 our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2018 (the “2018 Annual Report”), and include the recently adopted accounting guidance described below and in Note 2 herein. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual results. During the three months ended May 31, 2018, we recorded an immaterial adjustment in selling, general and administrative expenses of $16.3 million related to prior periods. This adjustment was to correct for previously unrecognized deferred compensation costs associated with certain employment agreements.
Revenue recognition
Revenue recognition:
Effective March 1, 2018, we adopted the FASB amended guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers using the retrospective application method (see Note 2 for impacts of adoption). Our revenue (referred to in our financial statements as “sales”) consists primarily of the sale of beer, wine and spirits domestically in the U.S. Sales of products are for cash or otherwise agreed-upon credit terms. Our payment terms vary by location and customer, however, the time period between when revenue is recognized and when payment is due is not significant. Our customers consist primarily of wholesale distributors. Our revenue generating activities have a single performance obligation and are recognized at the point in time when control transfers and our obligation has been fulfilled, which is when the related goods are shipped or delivered to the customer, depending upon the method of distribution and shipping terms. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for the sale of our product. Our sales terms do not allow for a right of return except for matters related to any manufacturing defects on our part. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in sales.

As noted, the majority of our revenues are generated from the domestic sale of beer, wine and spirits to wholesale distributors in the U.S. Our other revenue generating activities include the export of certain of our products to select international markets, as well as the sale of our products through state alcohol beverage control agencies and on-premise, retail locations in certain markets. We have evaluated these other revenue generating activities under the disaggregation disclosure criteria outlined within the amended guidance and concluded that these other revenue generating activities are immaterial for separate disclosure. See Note 15 for disclosure of net sales by product type.

Sales reflect reductions attributable to consideration given to customers in various customer incentive programs, including pricing discounts on single transactions, volume discounts, promotional and advertising allowances, coupons and rebates. This variable consideration is recorded as a reduction of the transaction price based upon expected amounts at the time revenue for the corresponding product sale is recognized. For example, customer promotional discount programs are entered into with certain distributors for certain periods of time. The amount ultimately reimbursed to distributors is determined based upon agreed-upon promotional discounts which are applied to distributors’ sales to retailers. Other common forms of variable consideration include volume rebates for meeting established sales targets, and coupons and mail-in rebates offered to the end consumer. The determination of the reduction of the transaction price for variable consideration requires that we make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the timing and amounts of revenue and liabilities recorded. We estimate this variable consideration by taking into account factors such as the nature of the promotional activity, historical information and current trends, availability of actual results, and expectations of customer and consumer behavior.

Excise taxes remitted to tax authorities are government-imposed excise taxes on our beverage alcohol products. Excise taxes are shown on a separate line item as a reduction of sales. Excise taxes are recognized as a current liability within other accrued expenses and liabilities, with the liability subsequently reduced when the taxes are remitted to the tax authority.
Revenue recognition:
In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, this guidance requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

We adopted this guidance on March 1, 2018, using the retrospective application method to allow for comparable reporting in all periods throughout the year ending February 28, 2019. Based on our analysis, we concluded that the adoption of the amended guidance did not have a material impact on our net sales recognition. However, the broad definition of variable consideration under this guidance requires us to estimate and record certain variable payments resulting from various sales incentives earlier than we have historically recorded them. This change in the timing of when we recognize sales incentive expenses resulted in a shift in net sales recognition primarily between our fiscal quarters. Under the retrospective application method, we recognized the cumulative impact of adopting this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 with a reduction to our March 1, 2016, opening retained earnings of $49.0 million, net of income tax effect, with an offsetting increase to current accrued promotion expense and the recognition of a deferred tax asset to align the timing of when we recognize sales incentive expense and when we recognize revenue.

The effects of the retrospective application method on our consolidated financial statements for the periods presented in this report were as follows:
 
As
Previously
Reported
 
Revenue
Recognition
Adjustments
 
As
Adjusted
(in millions, except per share data)
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet at February 28, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
$
583.4

 
$
94.9

 
$
678.3

Total current liabilities
$
1,944.7

 
$
94.9

 
$
2,039.6

Other liabilities (including deferred income taxes – as previously reported, $718.3 million; as adjusted, $694.4 million)
$
1,113.7

 
$
(23.9
)
 
$
1,089.8

Total liabilities
$
12,476.0

 
$
71.0

 
$
12,547.0

Retained earnings
$
9,228.2

 
$
(71.0
)
 
$
9,157.2

Total stockholders’ equity
$
8,062.7

 
$
(71.0
)
 
$
7,991.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As
Previously
Reported
 
Revenue
Recognition
Adjustments
 
As
Adjusted
(in millions, except per share data)
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended May 31, 2017
Sales
$
2,115.3

 
$
(7.0
)
 
$
2,108.3

Net sales
$
1,935.5

 
$
(7.0
)
 
$
1,928.5

Gross profit
$
995.3

 
$
(7.0
)
 
$
988.3

Operating income
$
568.1

 
$
(7.0
)
 
$
561.1

Income before income taxes
$
479.4

 
$
(7.0
)
 
$
472.4

Provision for income taxes
$
(74.1
)
 
$
2.7

 
$
(71.4
)
Net income
$
405.3

 
$
(4.3
)
 
$
401.0

Net income attributable to CBI
$
402.8

 
$
(4.3
)
 
$
398.5

Comprehensive income attributable to CBI
$
590.3

 
$
(4.3
)
 
$
586.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share attributable to CBI:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic – Class A Common Stock
$
2.09

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
2.07

Basic – Class B Convertible Common Stock
$
1.90

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
1.88

 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted – Class A Common Stock
$
2.00

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
1.98

Diluted – Class B Convertible Common Stock
$
1.85

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
1.83


The adoption of the revenue recognition guidance had no impact to cash flows from operating, financing or investing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended May 31, 2017.
Income taxes
Income taxes:
In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Under this guidance, an entity is required to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Prior guidance prohibited the recognition in earnings of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset had been sold to an outside party or recovered through use.

We adopted this guidance on March 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective basis, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Based on our assessment of intra-entity asset transfers that are in scope and the related deferred income taxes, in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we recognized a net increase in our March 1, 2018, opening retained earnings and deferred tax assets of $2.2 billion, primarily in connection with the intra-entity transfer of certain intellectual property related to our imported beer business for the year ended February 28, 2018.
Leases
Leases:
In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance for the accounting for leases. Under this guidance, a lessee will recognize assets and liabilities for most leases, but will recognize expense similar to current lease accounting guidance. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. We are required to adopt this guidance for our annual and interim periods beginning March 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.