9.        INVESTMENTS:

          Investments in equity method investees –

          Crown Imports:

          Constellation Beers Ltd. (“Constellation Beers”) (previously known as Barton Beers, Ltd.), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Diblo, S.A. de C.V. (“Diblo”), an entity owned 76.75% by Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Modelo”) and 23.25% by Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., each have, directly or indirectly, equal interests in a joint venture, Crown Imports LLC (“Crown Imports”). Crown Imports has the exclusive right to import, market and sell Modelo’s Mexican beer portfolio (the “Modelo Brands”) in the U.S. and Guam. In addition, Crown Imports also has the exclusive rights to import, market and sell the Tsingtao and St. Pauli Girl brands in the U.S.

          The Company accounts for its investment in Crown Imports under the equity method. Accordingly, the results of operations of Crown Imports are included in equity in earnings of equity method investees on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of May 31, 2011, and February 28, 2011, the Company’s investment in Crown Imports was $183.7 million and $183.3 million, respectively. The carrying amount of the investment is greater than the Company’s equity in the underlying assets of Crown Imports by $13.6 million due to the difference in the carrying amounts of the indefinite-lived intangible assets contributed to Crown Imports by each party. The Company received $59.4 million and $76.5 million of cash distributions from Crown Imports for the three months ended May 31, 2011, and May 31, 2010, respectively, all of which represent distributions of earnings.

          Constellation Beers provides certain administrative services to Crown Imports. Amounts related to the performance of these services for the three months ended May 31, 2011, and May 31, 2010, were not material. In addition, as of May 31, 2011, and February 28, 2011, amounts receivable from Crown Imports were not material.

          The following table presents summarized financial information for the Company’s Crown Imports equity method investment. The amounts shown represent 100% of this equity method investments’ results of operations.

		Crown
		Imports
(in millions)
For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2011
Net sales		$	677.5
Gross profit		$	199.6
Income from continuing operations		$	119.6
Net income		$	119.6
For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2010
Net sales		$	621.5
Gross profit		$	176.2
Income from continuing operations		$	108.5
Net income		$	108.5

          Other:

          In connection with the Company’s December 2004 investment in Ruffino S.r.l. (“Ruffino”), the Company granted separate irrevocable and unconditional options to the two other shareholders of Ruffino to put to the Company all of the ownership interests held by these shareholders for a price as calculated in the joint venture agreement. Each option was exercisable during the period starting from January 1, 2010, and ending on December 31, 2010. For the year ended February 28, 2010, in connection with the notification by the 9.9% shareholder of Ruffino to exercise its option to put its entire equity interest in Ruffino to the Company for the specified minimum value of €23.5 million, the Company recognized a loss of $34.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 on the contractual obligation created by this notification. In May 2010, the Company settled this put option through a cash payment of €23.5 million ($29.6 million) to the 9.9% shareholder of Ruffino, thereby increasing the Company’s equity interest in Ruffino from 40.0% to 49.9%. In December 2010, the Company received notification from the 50.1% shareholder of Ruffino that it was exercising its option to put its entire equity interest in Ruffino to the Company for €55.9 million. Prior to this notification, the Company had initiated arbitration proceedings against the 50.1% shareholder alleging various matters which should affect the validity of the put option. However, subsequent to the initiation of the arbitration proceedings, the Company began discussions with the 50.1% shareholder on a framework for settlement of all legal actions. The framework of the settlement would include the Company’s purchase of the 50.1% shareholder’s entire equity interest in Ruffino on revised terms to be agreed upon by both parties. As a result, the Company recognized a loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 of €43.4 million ($60.0 million) on the contingent obligation. During the three months ended May 31, 2011, the Company recognized a net foreign currency loss of $2.2 million on the contractual obligation recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 in connection with the potential settlement created by the notification by the 50.1% shareholder of Ruffino to exercise the option to put its entire equity interest in Ruffino to the Company. This loss is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of May 31, 2011, and February 28, 2011, the Company’s investment in Ruffino was $9.3 million and $7.4 million, respectively.

          Investment in Accolade –

          In connection with the Company’s CWAE Divestiture, the Company retained a 19.9% interest in Accolade, its previously owned Australian and U.K. business, which consists of equity securities and available-for-sale debt securities. The investment in the equity securities is accounted for under the cost method. Accordingly, the Company recognizes earnings only upon the receipt of a dividend from Accolade. Dividends received in excess of net accumulated earnings since the date of investment are considered a return of investment and are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the investment. No dividends were received for the three months ended May 31, 2011. The available-for-sale debt securities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis with unrealized holding gains and losses, including foreign currency gains and losses, reported in AOCI until realized. Interest income is recognized based on the interest rate implicit in the available-for-sale debt securities’ fair value and is reported in interest expense, net, on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Interest income recognized in connection with the available-for-sale debt securities was not material for the three months ended May 31, 2011. The available-for-sale debt securities have a contractual maturity of twelve years from the date of issuance and can be settled, at the option of the issuer, in cash, equity shares of the issuer, or a combination thereof.