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) July 18, 2017


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.)

207 High Point Drive, Building 100, Victor, NY 14564
(Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code    (585) 678-7100

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
 
o
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
o





Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(d)
Election of Director

On July 18, 2017, the Board of Directors of Constellation Brands, Inc. (“Constellation” or the “Company”) was expanded from ten (10) to eleven (11) members, and on that date the Board of Directors filled the additional Board seat by electing Susan Somersille Johnson to serve as a member of the Board of Directors effective as of the close of business on July 18, 2017, and until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until her successor is elected and qualified.

Ms. Johnson, age 51 has, since August 2014, served as Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., a financial services provider. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President of Global Marketing at NCR Corp. from April 2012 to August 2014. She also served as Global Head of Operator Marketing at Nokia and held leadership roles in a number of technology organizations, including Nuance Communications, Fujitsu, and Apple.

The Board considers Ms. Johnson to be an independent director under the Company’s categorical standards of independence and applicable New York Stock Exchange requirements. As a non-management member of the Board, Ms. Johnson will receive the compensation paid to non-management directors for service on the Board and its committees. Specifically, effective July 18, 2017, the cash component of non-management director compensation currently consists of (i)  an annual retainer of $92,500, payable in quarterly installments of $23,125; (ii)  an annual fee of $15,000 (payable in quarterly installments) to the Chair of the Human Resources Committee and to the Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee; and (iii)  an annual fee of $20,000 (payable in quarterly installments) to the Chair of the Audit Committee.

Equity awards are another element of non-management director compensation. Each non-management director currently receives annually, if and as approved by the Board, a stock option grant and a restricted stock or restricted stock unit award. Under Constellation’s current compensation program for non-management directors, (i)  the annual stock option grant shall be equal to the number of option shares for the Company’s Class 1 Common Stock (“Class 1 Stock”) having a grant date fair value, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, of $55,000 and (ii)  the annual restricted stock or restricted stock unit award is not to exceed the number of restricted shares or restricted stock units obtained by dividing $95,000 by the closing price of a share of the Company's Class A Common Stock (“Class A Stock”) on the date of grant. While the Board has the flexibility to determine at the time of each grant the vesting provisions for that grant, historically the stock option awards vest six (6) months following the date of grant and the restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards vest one (1) year following the date of grant. United States resident directors receive restricted stock and non-United States resident directors receive restricted stock units.

As Ms. Johnson was elected within the overall Annual Meeting timeframe, the amount of her annual retainer, annual option grant and restricted stock award is consistent with the amounts to be paid to the other non-management directors who are residents of the United States for service on the Board and its committees. The form of Memorandum regarding the Terms and Conditions of Stock Options for Directors, the form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Directors and the form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Directors are filed herewith respectively, as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

On July 18, 2017, Ms. Johnson (i)  became entitled to an annual retainer in the aggregate amount of $92,500; (ii)  was granted an option to purchase 1,041 shares of Class 1 Stock at an exercise price of $197.18 per share and with an exercise period of January 18, 2018 through July 18, 2027; and (iii)  received an award of 481 restricted shares of Class A Stock. Subject to applicable provisions in the award document, the restricted stock will vest on July 18, 2018. On July 18, 2017, which was the date of the option grant and the restricted stock award, the closing price of the Class A Stock was $197.18 per share.






There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Johnson and any other person pursuant to which she was selected as a director, and there have been no transactions since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, nor are there any currently proposed transactions, regarding Ms. Johnson that are required to be disclosed by Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

(e)
Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers

Adoption of the Constellation Brands Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan as amended and restated July 18, 2017.

As discussed in Item 5.07 below, at a meeting held on July 18, 2017, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment and restatement of the Constellation Brands, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan, as amended and restated, has been adopted by the Company and is effective July 18, 2017. The amendment and restatement of the Plan effected the following modifications:

reapproved the material terms available under the Plan for granting “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for five additional years;
made cash awards available for grant under the Plan, and no further grants will be made under the Annual Management Incentive Plan;
imposed an annual cap of $750,000 on the maximum amount of cash retainers, meeting fees and equity awards available for non-employee director compensation;
made consultants eligible to receive awards under the Plan;
made incentive stock options available for grant under the Plan;
provided that new Plan awards no longer automatically vest upon a change in control;
revised share reserve accounting consistent with market practices;
clarified that dividend equivalents under any award will not become payable prior to vesting;
clarified that reload options are not permitted; and
except in connection with a corporate transaction, prohibited payments in exchange for underwater stock options or stock appreciations rights.

A description of the Plan, as amended and restated, and the actual text of the Plan, are included in the Proxy Statement. A copy of the Plan, as approved by the stockholders and adopted by the Company, is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 5.07
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

(a)    The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Constellation Brands, Inc. was held on July 18, 2017.

(b)    At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company elected Jerry Fowden, Barry A. Fromberg, Robert L. Hanson, Ernesto M. Hernández, James A. Locke III, Daniel J. McCarthy, Richard Sands, Robert Sands, Judy A. Schmeling, and Keith E. Wandell as directors of the Company to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. The other matters considered at the Annual Meeting were a proposal to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2018; a proposal to approve, by an advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated May 25, 2017 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2017 (the “Proxy Statement”); an advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes regarding executive compensation; and a proposal to approve the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan. The final results of voting on each of the matters submitted to a vote of stockholders are as follows:






1.     Election of Directors .

At the Annual Meeting, the holders of 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 Class A Stock and the holders of the Company’s 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 the Class B Stock. The ten directors described above were elected by a plurality of the votes cast, as set forth below:
Nominee
Votes For
Votes Withheld
Broker Non-Votes
 
 
 
 
Directors Elected by the Holders of Class A Stock (voting as a separate class) :
Jerry Fowden
127,698,396
11,204,541
12,706,500
Barry A. Fromberg
91,225,267
47,677,670
12,706,500
Keith E. Wandell
136,236,881
2,666,056
12,706,500
 
 
 
 
Directors Elected by the Holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock (voting together as a single class) :
Robert L. Hanson
365,783,761
2,536,616
15,968,380
Ernesto M. Hernández
365,647,788
2,672,589
15,968,380
James A. Locke III
307,693,979
60,626,398
15,968,380
Daniel J. McCarthy
323,502,759
44,817,618
15,968,380
Richard Sands
357,744,478
10,575,899
15,968,380
Robert Sands
364,159,054
4,161,323
15,968,380
Judy A. Schmeling
328,588,107
39,732,270
15,968,380

2.     Ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2018 .

At the Annual Meeting, the holders of Class A Stock and the holders of 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, ratified the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2018, as set forth below:
Votes For:
382,532,333
Votes Against:
1,435,603
Abstentions:
320,821
Broker Non-Votes:
0

3.     Proposal to approve, by an advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement .

At the Annual Meeting, the holders of Class A Stock and the holders of 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, approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement, as set forth below:
Votes For:
359,685,039
Votes Against:
7,934,251
Abstentions:
701,087
Broker Non-Votes:
15,968,380






4.     Advisory vote on the frequency of future stockholder advisory votes regarding executive compensation .

At the Annual Meeting, the holders of Class A Stock and the holders of Class B Stock, voting together as a single class with holders of Class A Stock having (1) vote per share and holders of Class B Stock having (10) votes per share, voted in favor of conducting a stockholder advisory vote every ONE YEAR to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as set forth below:

One Year:
356,322,097
Two Years:
100,448
Three Years:
11,551,765
Abstentions:
346,067

In light of the foregoing voting results and other factors, the Company’s Board of Directors at its July 18, 2017 meeting determined that the Company will hold an annual advisory vote on the compensation of its named executive officers. Unless the Board of Directors subsequently determines otherwise, the Company will continue to hold annual advisory votes until the next stockholder advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes on the compensation of its named executive officers. The regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission provide that the Company must hold a vote on the frequency of advisory votes on the compensation of its named executive officers at least once every six years.

5.     Proposal to approve the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan .

At the Annual Meeting, the holders of Class A Stock and 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, approved the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan as set forth below:

Votes For:
362,816,105
Votes Against:
5,167,552
Abstentions:
336,720
Broker Non-Votes:
15,968,380


Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure.

On July 20, 2017, Constellation issued a news release, a copy of which release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference, announcing the election of Susan Somersille Johnson as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors effective as of the close of business on July 18, 2017.

References to Constellation’s website in the release do not incorporate by reference the information on such website into this Current Report on Form 8-K, and Constellation disclaims any such incorporation by reference. The information in the news release attached as Exhibit 99.1 is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01 in satisfaction of the public disclosure requirements of Regulation FD. This information is “furnished” and not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is not otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such information may be incorporated by reference in another filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933 only if and to the extent such subsequent filing specifically references the information incorporated by reference herein.







Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits .

The following exhibits are filed or furnished, as appropriate, as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Form of Terms and Conditions Memorandum for Directors with respect to options to purchase Class 1 Stock pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (grants on or after July 18, 2017).
10.2
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Directors with respect to awards of restricted stock pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (awards on or after July 18, 2017).
10.3
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Directors with respect to awards of restricted stock units pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (awards on or after July 18, 2017).
10.4
Constellation Brands, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of July 18, 2017.
99.1
News Release of Constellation Brands, Inc. dated July 20, 2017.






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: July 20, 2017
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
 
 
 
By:
/s/ David Klein
 
 
David Klein
 
 
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer






INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
 
 
(10)
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
 
 
(10.1)
Form of Terms and Conditions Memorandum for Directors with respect to options to purchase Class 1 Stock pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (grants on or after July 18, 2017) (filed herewith). *
(10.2)
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Directors with respect to awards of restricted stock pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (awards on or after July 18, 2017) (filed herewith). *
(10.3)
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Directors with respect to awards of restricted stock units pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (awards on or after July 18, 2017) (filed herewith). *
(10.4)
Constellation Brands, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of July 18, 2017 (filed herewith). *
 
 
(99)
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS
 
 
(99.1)
News Release of Constellation Brands, Inc. dated July 20, 2017 (filed herewith).
 
 

*    Designates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.



Exhibit 10.1


CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


MEMORANDUM

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTIONS
CLASS 1 COMMON STOCK

Name of Participant:
 
 
 
Grant Date:
 
 
 
Number of Shares Granted:
 
 
 
Exercise Price:
 
 
 
Dates Options become exercisable:
 
 
 
Termination Date:
 



The Constellation Brands, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), enables Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) to grant stock options to purchase Class 1 Common Stock, par value US$0.01 per share, of the Company (a “Share” or the “Shares”) to employees and non-employee directors of the Company (each, when granted a stock option, a “Participant”). The stock options represented by this Memorandum and the accompanying award letter (respectively, the “Options” and the Memorandum and accompanying award letter, together, the “Agreement”) are subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in the Agreement. By accepting delivery of the Agreement, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

1. Term of Options . The Options hereby granted on the Grant Date (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement) to purchase up to the Number of Shares Granted (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement) will terminate and expire, to the extent not previously exercised, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the Termination Date (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement), or such earlier date upon which the Options, or portion thereof, terminate or expire pursuant to the terms of the Agreement or the Plan (the “Expiration Date”).

2. Exercise of Options .

(a)    The Options may be exercised, in whole or in part at any time prior to the Expiration Date, according to the percentages and exercise dates (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement) and subject to earlier exercisability as provided in Section 4.

(b)    The Participant can exercise Options by complying with the provisions of the Plan and by following instructions provided in materials distributed by the Company. The Exercise Price (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement), for the number of shares subject to the Option (the “Option Shares”) being purchased and any related withholding tax obligations may be paid by the Participant by (i) delivery of cash, money order or a certified or cashier’s check; (ii) tendering previously acquired Shares or shares of Class A Common Stock, par value US$.01 per share, of the Company (“Class A Shares”), as provided for in the Plan; (iii) delivery of a conversion




notice or other conversion instructions acceptable to the Company irrevocably electing to convert a sufficient number of Shares received under the Option into Class A Shares (“Conversion Shares”) together with delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker or other agent acceptable to the Company to promptly sell the Conversion Shares received and to deliver to the Company the appropriate amount of proceeds; and/or (iv) any other payment method that is established by the Company (which payment method may be restricted or eliminated from time to time by the Company, in its sole discretion).

(c)    The Company will, without transfer or issue tax to the Participant, issue and cause to be delivered to the Participant the number of Option Shares purchased as soon as reasonably practicable after the Participant has appropriately exercised any Options. The Company is not required to issue Shares to the Participant until all obligations to withhold taxes and similar charges have been resolved to the satisfaction of the Company.

3. Clawback . Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, any “clawback” or “recoupment” policy required under applicable law or provided for under Company policy shall automatically apply to this Award.

4. Termination of Relationship . As long as the Participant continues to be a director of the Company, the Options may be exercised once they have vested and prior to their expiration. If the Participant ceases to be a director of the Company as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Options shall all immediately vest. For this purpose, “Disability” means a disability as defined under Treasury regulation section 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i)(A) which generally means that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as solely determined by the Board of Directors. In addition, subject to Section 5 below, Options which have vested prior to the termination of the Participant’s relationship with the Company (or which have vested as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability as set forth above) may be exercised by the Participant, his designated beneficiary or legal representative or permitted transferee within three (3) years after the last day on which the Participant was a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the last day on which the Participant is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company is referred to as the “Termination Date”).

5. Limitations on Exercise Following Termination of Relationship .

(a)    The time period set forth in Section 4 above is subject to the restriction that Options may not be exercised after their Expiration Date.

(b)    The time period set forth in Section 4 above is also subject to the restriction that no Option may be exercised by any person if the Participant’s relationship with the Company has been terminated for Cause, as defined in the Plan.

(c)    Except as otherwise provided by the Committee administering the Plan, (i) the only Options that may be exercised after the Termination Date are those Options that were exercisable by the Participant on the Termination Date; and (ii) any Options which are not exercisable on the Termination Date will automatically terminate on the Termination Date.

(d)    Any Options which are exercisable on the Termination Date, but which are not exercised within the three (3) year period specified in Section 4 above (or sooner as specified in Section 5(a) above), will automatically terminate at the end of that period (or sooner as specified in Section 5(a) above).

6. Adjustments for Certain Events . The number and kind of unexercised Options and the Exercise Price of such Options are subject to adjustment in the event that certain transactions are taken by the Company which affect the Company’s capital stock.

7. Type of Options . The Options are nonqualified stock options granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.




8. No Transfer of Options . Unless transferability is authorized by the Option grant or otherwise permitted by the Committee, Options are not transferable by the Participant other than (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) pursuant to a domestic relations order. Because of laws affecting the transferability of the Option Shares, the Participant should understand the securities laws and other implications of any transfer of Options. Any attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any attachment or similar process upon such Option, shall be null and void and without effect.

9. Address for Notices . All notices to the Company shall be in writing and sent to the Company’s General Counsel at the Company’s corporate headquarters. Notices to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address as from time to time reflected in the Company’s records as the Participant’s address.

10. Transferability of Shares . Following exercise of the Option and issuance of Shares, in the event the Company permits Participant to arrange for sale of Shares through a broker or another designated agent of the Company, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may block any such sale and/or cancel any order to sell placed by the Participant, in each case if the Participant is not then permitted under the Company’s insider trading policy to engage in transactions with respect to securities of the Company. If the Committee determines that the ability of the Participant to sell or transfer Shares is restricted, then the Company may place a restrictive legend or stop transfer notation on any certificate that may be issued to represent such Shares or on its books with respect to such Shares. If a legend or stop transfer notation is placed on any certificate or the Company’s books with respect to the Participant’s Shares, the Participant may only sell such Shares in compliance with such legend or notation.

11. Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this Award contained herein, the Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

12. Governing Law . The Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflict of laws.

13. Captions . Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Agreement.

14. Severability . In the event that any provision in the Agreement, shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

15. Modifications to the Agreement . The Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. The Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not executing the Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to the Agreement can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

16. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan . By accepting this Award, the Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received a right to an equity based award under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of the Plan. The Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Company at any time.

17. Rights as Stockholder . Neither the Participant nor any person claiming under or through the Participant shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Options (whether vested or unvested) unless and until such Options are exercised and the corresponding Shares are issued.



After such issuance, the Participant shall have the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares, if any.

18. Responsibility for Taxes .

(a)    The Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all taxes or other tax related items (“Tax-Related Items”) related to the Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Participant is and remains the Participant’s responsibility. The Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect to the Options, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or exercise of the Options, the issuance of Shares upon exercise of the Options, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of any Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items.

(b)    The Participant agrees as a condition of his or her participation in the Plan to make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to enable it to satisfy any withholding, payment and/or collection requirements associated with the satisfaction of the Tax-Related Items. The withholding obligation shall be satisfied in a manner acceptable to the Company in its sole discretion and may include the following methods: (1) by the Company withholding all applicable amounts from the Participant’s cash compensation due to the Participant, (2) by surrender to the Company by attestation to the ownership of Shares already owned that would satisfy the withholding amount, or by having the Company retain a portion of the Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Options, or (3) by delivery of a conversion notice or conversion instructions acceptable to the Company irrevocably electing to convert a sufficient number of Shares received under the Option into Conversion Shares together with delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker or other agent acceptable to the Company to promptly sell the Conversion Shares received under the Option and to deliver to the Company the appropriate amount of proceeds to satisfy the withholding requirements. To avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates (but not in excess of the maximum amount permitted for tax withholding under applicable law). Furthermore, the Participant agrees to pay the Company any amount the Company may be required to withhold, collect or pay as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan or that cannot be satisfied by deduction from the Participant’s cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan. The Participant acknowledges that he or she may not participate in the Plan unless the tax withholding, payment and/or collection obligations of the Company are satisfied.

19. General Restrictions on Delivery of Shares . The Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any Shares or dividends or distributions relating to such Shares until it has been furnished with such opinions, representations or other documents as it may deem necessary or desirable, in its discretion, to insure compliance with any law or Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction under the Plan or over the Company, the Participant, or the Shares or any interests therein. The Award of Options evidenced by the Agreement is also subject to the condition that, if at any time the Committee administering the Plan shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares (or any capital stock distributed with respect thereto) upon the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or trading market) or under any United States state or Federal law or other applicable Rule, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of the Award of Options evidenced by the Agreement or the issuance, transfer or delivery of the Shares (or the payment of any dividends or other distributions related to the Shares), the Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any Shares or dividends or distributions relating to such Shares unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained to the complete satisfaction of the Committee and free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

20. Authorization to Release and Transfer Necessary Personal Information . The Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, processing, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of his or her personal data by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive



purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that the Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about the Participant including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, email address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number (or any other social or national identification number), salary, nationality, job title, number of Options and/or Option Shares held and the details of all Options or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, exercised, cancelled, vested, unvested or outstanding for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan (the “Data”). The Participant understands that the Data may be transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and that any recipient’s country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than the Participant’s country. The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting human resources. The Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing his or her participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data to a broker or other third party assisting with the administration of Options under the Plan or with whom Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Options or cash from the sale of such Shares may be deposited. Furthermore, the Participant acknowledges and understands that the transfer of the Data to the Company or its Subsidiaries or to any third parties is necessary for his or her participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that the Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that he or she may, at any time, view the Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data, require any necessary amendments to the Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein by contacting human resources in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that withdrawal of consent may affect his or her ability to vest in or realize benefits from the Options, and his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Participant understands that he or she may contact human resources.

21. Acknowledgments . The Participant acknowledges and agrees to the following:

(a)    The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Participant’s participation in the Plan, or the Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. The Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

(b)    The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on participation in the Plan, on the Options and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or other applicable Rule or facilitate the administration of the Plan, and to require the Participants to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

22. No Listing of Option Shares; Conversion . The Company has not listed the Option Shares for trading on the New York Stock Exchange and does not intend to effect such a listing. Pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, Option Shares may be converted into Class A Shares, but only if the Class A Shares received upon the conversion are sold or transferred immediately following the conversion in a market transaction or qualifying private transaction as such terms are defined in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. The Class A Shares into which Option Shares may be converted have been or will, prior to issuance, be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

23. Incorporation of Plan . The Options are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company, upon request, will provide a copy of the Plan to the Participant. To the extent that the terms and conditions of the Documents are inconsistent with the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning given to such terms under the Plan.




24. Applicable Times and Dates . All references to times and dates in the Plan and in documents relating to the Plan refer, respectively, to Eastern Standard Time (or Eastern Daylight Savings Time, as appropriate) in the United States of America and to dates in New York State based on such Eastern Standard Time (or Eastern Daylight Savings Time, as appropriate).

25. Electronic Delivery and Execution . The Participant hereby consents and agrees to electronic delivery of any documents that the Company may elect to deliver (including, but not limited to, plan documents, prospectus and prospectus supplements, grant or award notifications and agreements, account statements, annual and quarterly reports, and all other forms of communications) in connection with this and any other Award made or offered under the Plan. The Participant understands that, unless revoked by the Participant by giving written notice to the Company pursuant to the Plan, this consent will be effective for the duration of the Agreement. The Participant also understands that he or she will have the right at any time to request that the Company deliver written copies of any and all materials referred to above. The Participant hereby consents to any and all procedures the Company has established or may establish for an electronic signature system for delivery and acceptance of any such documents that the Company may elect to deliver, and agree that his or her electronic signature is the same as, and will have the same force and effect as, his or her manual signature. The Participant consents and agrees that any such procedures and delivery may be affected by a third party engaged by the Company to provide administrative services related to the Plan.

26. Code Section 409A . The Options are intended to be exempt from Section 409A and, accordingly, the terms of the Agreement shall be construed to preserve such exemption. To the extent that the Options granted under the Agreement are subject to the requirements of Section 409A, the Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with the intent that the Participant not be subject to tax under Section 409A. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable to any Participant (or any other individual claiming a benefit through the Participant) for any tax, interest, or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect the Participant from the obligation to pay any taxes pursuant to Section 409A, unless otherwise specified.

BY MY ELECTRONIC ELECTION TO ACCEPT THE GRANT OF OPTIONS (WHICH SERVES AS MY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT), I AGREE THAT MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN IS GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN AND THE AGREEMENT.


Exhibit 10.2

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
Pursuant to
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN



Name of Participant:
 

Grant Date:
 

Number of Shares:
 

Vesting Date:
 


This RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) confirms the grant by Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) of shares of restricted stock pursuant to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”). The grant of Restricted Stock represented by this Agreement shall be effective on the Grant Date identified above.

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL OF THE SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON VESTING AND FORFEITURE OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK COVERED BY THE AWARD IS CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 2 AND 3 OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. TO THE EXTENT ANY CAPITALIZED TERMS USED IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT DEFINED HEREIN, THEY WILL HAVE THE MEANING ASCRIBED TO THEM IN THE PLAN.

BY MY ELECTRONIC ELECTION TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK, (WHICH SERVES AS MY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT), I AGREE THAT MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN IS GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN AND THE AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS). IF I FAIL TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS OF THE GRANT DATE SET FORTH ABOVE, THE COMPANY MAY DETERMINE THAT THIS AWARD HAS BEEN FORFEITED.




TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

The Company and the Participant hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Shares . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement), subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, a Number of Shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement), par value $.01 per share (the “Class A Stock”). (The grant of shares of Class A Stock to the Participant, evidenced by this Agreement, is an award of Restricted Stock (as defined in the Plan) and such shares of Restricted Stock are referred to herein as the “Shares”.)

2. Vesting of Shares .

(a) Service . Ownership of 100% of the Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement); provided that the Participant continues as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors until such date.

(b) Death or Disability . If the Participant ceases being a member of the Company’s Board of Directors as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Shares shall immediately vest. For this purpose, “Disability” means a disability as defined under Treasury regulation section 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i)(A) which generally means that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as solely determined by the Board of Directors.

(c)     Termination. If the Board of Directors decides not to nominate the Participant for an additional term as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, unless such decision is for Cause, the Shares shall vest on the date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which directors are elected; provided that the Participant continues as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors until such date.

(d)     Change in Control . If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, then the unvested Shares shall vest immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control.

3. Forfeiture . Shares that do not become vested in accordance with the vesting criteria set forth in Section 2 above (and any dividends or other distributions related to such Shares) shall be forfeited to the Company.

4. Release of Shares . The Shares (and any dividends or other distributions relating to the Shares) shall be held by the Company in a nominee account with the Company’s transfer agent (or such other account as the Company shall determine) for the benefit of the Participant until (a) the Shares become vested in accordance with Section 2 above, and (b) any obligation for withholding taxes under Section 12 has been satisfied with respect to the Shares that have become vested in accordance with Section 2 above (any Shares with respect to which both of these requirements are satisfied are referred to as “Released Shares”, and the date on which both of these requirements are satisfied with respect to Released Shares is referred to as the “Release Date” with respect to such Released Shares). Promptly following the Release Date, but subject to the provisions of Section 9 below, the Company will (1) cause the Released Shares to be electronically transferred to an account in the Participant’s name at the provider administering the Plan as it relates to Restricted Stock (the “Administrator”) or to a book-entry account in




the Participant’s name with the Company’s transfer agent for the Class A Stock, and (2) cause any dividends or other distributions relating to the Released Shares to be paid to the Participant or deposited to an account in the Participant’s name with the Administrator. The Company reserves the right to transfer (or cause its transfer agent to transfer) to its treasury any Shares that are forfeited pursuant to the Agreement or the Plan and to recover and receive any dividends or other distributions relating to such forfeited Shares, in each case free of any claim or right of the Participant.

5. Transferability . The Participant shall have no right to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the Shares in any manner until the Shares have become Released Shares. In the event that the Company permits the Participant to arrange for sales of Shares through the Administrator prior to the Release Date of the Shares (for the purpose of satisfying any payment requirement under Section 12 or otherwise), the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may block any such sale and/or cancel any order to sell placed by the Participant, in each case if the Participant is not then permitted under the Company’s insider trading policy to engage in transactions with respect to securities of the Company. If the Company determines that the ability of the Participant to sell or transfer Released Shares is restricted, then the Company may place a stop transfer notation on its books with respect to such Released Shares and the Participant may only sell such Released Shares in compliance with such notation.

6. Section 83(b) Election . The Participant may elect, within 30 days of the Grant Date pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, to include in his or her gross income the fair market value of the Shares covered by this Agreement in the taxable year of grant. If the Participant makes this election, he shall promptly notify the Company by submitting to the Company a copy of the statement filed with the Internal Revenue Service in which the Participant makes such election.

7. Clawback . Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, any “clawback” or “recoupment” policy required under applicable law or provided for under Company policy shall automatically apply to this Award.

8. General Restrictions on Transfer or Delivery of Shares . The Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any Released Shares or dividends or distributions relating to such Released Shares until it has been furnished with such opinions, representations or other documents as it may deem necessary or desirable, in its discretion, to insure compliance with any law or Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction under the Plan or over the Company, the Participant, or the Shares or any interests therein. This award of Restricted Stock is also subject to the condition that, if at any time the Committee administering the Plan shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares (or any capital stock distributed with respect thereto) upon the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or trading market) or under any United States state or Federal law or other applicable Rule, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of the Award of Restricted Stock evidenced by the Agreement or the issuance, transfer or delivery of the Shares (or the payment of any dividends or other distributions related to the Shares), the Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any Released Shares or dividends or distributions relating to such Released Shares unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained to the complete satisfaction of the Committee and free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

9. Rights as Shareholder . Except for the dividend and distribution restrictions described below, and the transfer and other restrictions set forth elsewhere in this Agreement and in the Plan, the Participant, as beneficial holder of the Shares, shall possess all the rights of a holder of the Company’s




Class A Stock, including voting, dividend and other distribution rights, provided, however, that prior to the Shares becoming Released Shares, the Shares, as well as any dividends or other distributions with respect to the Shares, shall be held in the manner described in Section 4 above. Any dividends or other distributions with respect to the Shares in the form of capital stock shall be treated as Restricted Stock in the same manner as the Shares. If the underlying Shares are forfeited to the Company, then any dividends or other distributions with respect to such Shares, shall be forfeited to the Company.

10. Adjustment of Shares . As provided by the Plan, in the event of any change in the capital stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, or exchange of shares, or rights offering to purchase capital stock at a price substantially below fair market value, or of any similar change affecting the capital stock, the Shares shall be adjusted automatically consistent with such change to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, the Participant hereunder.

11. Address for Notices . All notices to the Company shall be in writing and sent to the Company’s General Counsel at the Company’s corporate headquarters. Notices to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address as from time to time reflected in the Company’s employment records as the Participant’s address.

12. Responsibility for Taxes .

(a)    The Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all taxes or other tax related items (“Tax-Related Items”) related to the Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Participant is and remains the Participant’s responsibility. The Participant further acknowledges that the Company (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect to the Shares, including, but not limited to, the grant or vesting of the Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of any Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items.

(b)    If required to withhold, the Company shall withhold from proceeds of the Shares, otherwise to be delivered to the Participant following vesting in accordance with Section 2, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arrangement (on Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization) unless the use of such withholding method is problematic under applicable tax or securities law or has materially adverse accounting consequences, in which case, the obligation for Tax Related Items may be satisfied by (1) the deduction by the Company of any required withholdings from other cash compensation payable to the Participant or any cash dividends otherwise payable to the Participant or (2) the Participant remitting to the Company the amount needed to satisfy any federal, state or local income taxes, social security taxes, or other employment withholding taxes that may arise or be applicable as the result of a Section 83(b) election, the vesting of the Shares or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Participant shall not be entitled to satisfy any withholding obligations that arise as a result of the Agreement by having Shares withheld by the Company or by delivering to the Company any shares of capital stock of the Company.

13. Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this Award contained herein, the Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.





14. Plan Governs . The Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of the Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.

15. Governing Law . The Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflict of laws.

16. Captions . Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Agreement.

17. Severability . In the event that any provision in the Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

18. Modifications to the Agreement . The Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. The Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not executing the Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to the Agreement can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

19. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan . By accepting this Award, the Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received a right to an equity based award under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of the Plan. The Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Company at any time.

20. Authorization to Release and Transfer Necessary Personal Information . The Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, processing, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of his or her personal data by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that the Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about the Participant including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, email address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number (or any other social or national identification number), salary, nationality, job title, number of Shares held or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, cancelled, vested, unvested or outstanding for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan (the “Data”). The Participant understands that the Data may be transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and that any recipient’s country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than the Participant’s country. The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting human resources. The Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing his or her participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data to a broker or other third party assisting with the administration of Shares under the Plan or with whom Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan or cash from the sale of such Shares may be deposited. Furthermore, the Participant acknowledges and understands that the transfer of the Data to the Company or its Subsidiaries or to any third parties is necessary for his or her participation in the Plan.




The Participant understands that the Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that he or she may, at any time, view the Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data, require any necessary amendments to the Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein by contacting human resources in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that withdrawal of consent may affect his or her ability to realize benefits from the Shares, and his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Participant understands that he or she may contact human resources.

21. Electronic Delivery and Execution . The Participant hereby consents and agrees to electronic delivery of any documents that the Company may elect to deliver (including, but not limited to, plan documents, prospectus and prospectus supplements, grant or award notifications and agreements, account statements, annual and quarterly reports, and all other forms of communications) in connection with this and any other Award made or offered under the Plan. The Participant understands that, unless revoked by the Participant by giving written notice to the Company pursuant to the Plan, this consent will be effective for the duration of the Agreement. The Participant also understands that he or she will have the right at any time to request that the Company deliver written copies of any and all materials referred to above. The Participant hereby consents to any and all procedures the Company has established or may establish for an electronic signature system for delivery and acceptance of any such documents that the Company may elect to deliver, and agree that his or her electronic signature is the same as, and will have the same force and effect as, his or her manual signature. The Participant consents and agrees that any such procedures and delivery may be affected by a third party engaged by the Company to provide administrative services related to the Plan.



Exhibit 10.3

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Name of Participant:
 

Grant Date:
 

Number of Restricted Stock Units:
 

Vesting Dates:
 


Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby awards to the designated participant (“Participant”), Restricted Stock Units under the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The principal features of this Award are set forth above, including the date of grant of the Restricted Stock Units (the “Grant Date”). This Award shall be effective on the Grant Date. The Restricted Stock Units consist of the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (“Shares”) and are subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of the Agreement and the Appendix, if any, (together, the “Agreement”).

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL OF THE SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON VESTING AND FORFEITURE OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS COVERED BY THIS AWARD IS CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 2 THROUGH 7 OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. TO THE EXTENT ANY CAPITALIZED TERMS USED IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT DEFINED HEREIN, THEY WILL HAVE THE MEANING ASCRIBED TO THEM IN THE PLAN.

BY MY ELECTRONIC ELECTION TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS (WHICH SERVES AS MY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT), I AGREE THAT MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN IS GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN AND THE AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE APPENDIX, IF ANY, FOR MY COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE). IF I FAIL TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AWARD WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS OF THE GRANT DATE SET FORTH ABOVE, THE COMPANY MAY DETERMINE THAT THIS AWARD HAS BEEN FORFEITED.




TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

1. Grant . The Company hereby awards to the Participant under the Plan as a separate incentive and not in lieu of any salary or other compensation for his or her services, an Award of Restricted Stock Units as of the Grant Date specified above, subject to all of the terms and conditions in the Agreement and the Plan.

2. Vesting Schedule.

(a)     Service . Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest in accordance with the following vesting schedule: 100% of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the Vesting Date (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement); provided, in each case, that the Participant continues as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors until such date.

(b)     Death or Disability . If the Participant dies or incurs a RSU Disability (as defined below) while serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors prior to the Vesting Date, any Restricted Stock Units that have not vested prior to the date of the Participant’s death or RSU Disability shall immediately vest. “RSU Disability” means a disability as defined under Treasury regulation section 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i)(A) which generally means that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

(c)     Termination. If the Company’s Board of Directors decides not to nominate the Participant for an additional term as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, unless such decision is for Cause, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which directors are elected; provided that the Participant continues as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors until such date.

(d)     Change in Control . The Restricted Stock Units are subject to the following rules in the event the Participant continues to serve as member of the Company’s Board of Directors until the date of a change in control described in this subsection, which rules shall apply in lieu of the default Change in Control provisions under the Plan. Upon the occurrence of an event that: (A) occurs before the Vesting Date; (B) is a Change in Control; and (C) constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the Treasury regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”) (such event shall be referenced as a “RSU Change in Control”), any Restricted Stock Units that have not vested prior to the date of the RSU Change in Control shall immediately vest.

3. Committee Discretion . The Committee, in its absolute discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the unvested Restricted Stock Units at any time; provided that, the time or schedule of any amount to be settled pursuant to the terms of this Agreement that provides for deferral of compensation under Section 409A, may not be accelerated except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A. If so accelerated, such Restricted Stock Units shall be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Committee.

4. Forfeiture . Notwithstanding any default provision in the Plan to the contrary, subject to all applicable laws, if the Participant ceases to be a member of the Company’s Board of Directors for any reason before the occurrence of a vesting event set forth in Section 2 above, any unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited to the Company.





5. Death of Participant . Any distribution or delivery to be made to the Participant under the Agreement shall, if the Participant is then deceased, be made to the Participant’s designated beneficiary, or if either no beneficiary survives the Participant or the Committee does not permit beneficiary designations, to the administrator or executor of the Participant’s estate. Any designation of a beneficiary by the Participant shall be effective only if such designation is made in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee. Any transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.

6. Code Section 409A . Restricted Stock Units are generally intended to be exempt from Section 409A as short-term deferrals and, accordingly, the terms of this Agreement shall be construed to preserve such exemption. To the extent that Restricted Stock Units granted under this Agreement are subject to the requirements of Section 409A, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with the intent that the Participant not be subject to tax under Section 409A. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, shall be liable to any Participant (or any other individual claiming a benefit through the Participant) for any tax, interest, or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect the Participant from the obligation to pay any taxes pursuant to Section 409A, unless otherwise specified.

7. Settlement of Restricted Stock Units .

(a)     Status as a Creditor . Unless and until Restricted Stock Units have vested in accordance with Section 2 above, the Participant will have no settlement right with respect to any Restricted Stock Units. Prior to settlement of any vested Restricted Stock Units, the vested Restricted Stock Units will represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company. The Participant is an unsecured general creditor of the Company, and settlement of Restricted Stock Units is subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors.

(b)     Form and Timing of Settlement . Restricted Stock Units will be settled in the form of Shares upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Section 2 above. Where a fractional Share would be owed to the Participant upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units, the Company may (1) round up the Shares that are payable to the Participant to the nearest whole number, or (2) pay a cash payment equivalent in place of such fractional Share. Upon issuance, Shares will be electronically transferred to an account in the Participant’s name at the provider then administering the Plan as it relates to the Restricted Stock Units. The Shares to be issued upon settlement will be issued as soon as practicable to the Participant following the Vesting Date; provided that such Shares will be issued no later than the date that is two and a half (2.5) months from the end of the later of (1) the Participant’s tax year that includes the Vesting Date, or (2) the Company’s tax year that includes the Vesting Date.

(c)     Clawback . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, any “clawback” or “recoupment” policy required under applicable law or provided for under Company policy shall automatically apply to this Award.

8. Dividend Equivalents .   During the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the date that Shares are issued in settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units, the Participant will accrue dividend equivalents on Restricted Stock Units equal to any cash dividend or cash distribution that would have been paid on the Restricted Stock Unit had that Restricted Stock Unit been an issued and




outstanding Share of Class A Common Stock on the record date for the dividend or distribution.  Such accrued dividend equivalents (1) will vest and become payable upon the same terms and at the same time of settlement as the Restricted Stock Unit to which they relate (and will be payable with respect to any Shares that are issued or that are withheld pursuant to Section 9 in order to satisfy Participant’s Tax-Related Items), (2) will be denominated and payable solely in cash and paid in such manner as the Company deems appropriate, and (3) will not bear or accrue interest.  Dividend equivalent payments, at settlement, will be net of applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and social insurance withholding taxes as provided in Section 9. Upon the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Units, any accrued dividend equivalents attributable to such Restricted Stock Units will also be forfeited.

9. Responsibility for Taxes & Withholding . Regardless of any action the Company takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to the Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Participant (“Tax-Related Items”), the Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains the Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company. The Participant further acknowledges that the Company (1) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect to the Restricted Stock Units, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the issuance of Shares upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such issuance and the receipt of any dividends and/or dividend equivalents; and (2) does not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of any Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if the Participant becomes subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction between the date of grant and the date of any relevant taxable event, the Participant acknowledges that the Company may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, the Participant will pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, the Company will withhold in Shares upon the relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, unless the use of such withholding method is problematic under applicable tax or securities law or has materially adverse accounting consequences, in which case, the obligation for Tax Related Items may be satisfied by the following methods:

(a)    withholding from the Participant’s cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company; or

(b)     withholding from proceeds of the Shares acquired upon vesting/settlement of the Restricted Stock Units either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Participant shall not be entitled to satisfy any Tax-Related Item or withholding obligation that arise as a result of the Agreement by delivering to the Company any shares of capital stock of the Company. To avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates (but not in excess of the maximum amount permitted for tax withholding under applicable law). If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, the Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares attributable to the vested Restricted Stock Units, notwithstanding that a number of Shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items due as a result of any aspect




of the Participant’s participation in the Plan.

The Participant shall pay to the Company any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company may be required to withhold or account for as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan that will not for any reason be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares if the Participant fails to comply with the Participant’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

By accepting this grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Participant expressly consents to the methods of withholding Tax-Related Items by the Company as set forth herein, including the withholding of Shares and the withholding from the Participant’s cash compensation or other amounts payable to the Participant. All other Tax-Related Items related to the Restricted Stock Units and any Shares delivered in satisfaction thereof are the Participant’s sole responsibility.

10. Rights as Stockholder . Neither the Participant nor any person claiming under or through the Participant shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Restricted Stock Units (whether vested or unvested) unless and until such Restricted Stock Units vest and the corresponding Shares are issued. After such issuance, the Participant shall have the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares, if any.

11. Acknowledgments . The Participant acknowledges and agrees to the following:

(a) The Plan is discretionary in nature and the Committee may amend, suspend, or terminate it at any time.

(b) The grant of the Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of the Restricted Stock Units even if the Restricted Stock Units have been granted repeatedly in the past.

(c) All determinations with respect to such future Restricted Stock Units, if any, including but not limited to, the times when the Restricted Stock Units shall be granted or when the Restricted Stock Units shall vest, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee.

(d) The Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary.

(e) The future value of the Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty.

(f) No claim or entitlement to compensation or damages arises from the termination or forfeiture of the Award, termination of the Plan, or diminution in value of the Restricted Stock Units or Shares and the Participant irrevocably releases the Company and its Subsidiaries from any such claim that may arise.

(g) Neither the Plan nor the Restricted Stock Units shall be construed to create an employment relationship where any employment relationship did not otherwise already exist.

(h) The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Participant’s participation in the Plan, or the Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. The Participant is hereby advised to consult




with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

(i) The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on participation in the Plan, on the Restricted Stock Units and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or other applicable Rule or facilitate the administration of the Plan, and to require the Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

12. Changes in Stock . In the event that as a result of a stock dividend, stock split, reclassification, recapitalization, combination of Shares or the adjustment in capital stock of the Company or otherwise, or as a result of a merger, consolidation, spin-off or other reorganization, the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $.01, shall be increased, reduced or otherwise changed, the Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted automatically consistent with such change to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, the Participant hereunder.

13. Address for Notices . All notices to the Company shall be in writing and sent to the Company’s General Counsel at the Company’s corporate headquarters. Notices to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address as from time to time reflected in the Company’s records as the Participant’s address.

14. Transferability . The Participant shall have no right to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock Units in any manner until the Shares are issued to Participant upon settlement. Following settlement and issuance of Shares, in the event the Company permits Participant to arrange for sale of Shares through a broker or another designated agent of the Company, Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may block any such sale and/or cancel any order to sell placed by the Participant, in each case if the Participant is not then permitted under the Company’s insider trading policy to engage in transactions with respect to securities of the Company. If the Committee determines that the ability of the Participant to sell or transfer Shares is restricted, then the Company may notify the Participant in accordance with Section 13 of the Agreement. The Participant may only sell such Shares in compliance with such notification by the Company.

15. Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this Award contained herein, the Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

16. Plan Governs . The Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of the Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.

17. Governing Law . The Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflict of laws.

18. Captions . Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Agreement.





19. Severability . In the event that any provision in the Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

20. Modifications to the Agreement . The Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. The Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not executing the Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to the Agreement can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

21. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan . By accepting this Award, the Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received a right to an equity based award under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of the Plan. The Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Company at any time.

22. Compliance with Laws and Regulations; General Restrictions on Delivery of Shares . The Participant understands that the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units under the Plan and the issuance, transfer, assignment, sale, or other dealings of the Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company (or any Subsidiary) and the Participant with all applicable requirements under the laws and Rules of the country of which the Participant is a resident. Furthermore, the Participant agrees that he or she will not acquire Shares pursuant to the Plan except in compliance with the laws and Rules of the country of which the Participant is a resident.

The Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any Shares, dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions relating to such Shares until it has been furnished with such opinions, representations or other documents as it may deem necessary or desirable, in its discretion, to ensure compliance with any law or Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction under the Plan or over the Company, the Participant, or the Shares or any interests therein. The Award of Restricted Stock Units evidenced by the Agreement is also subject to the condition that, if at any time the Committee administering the Plan shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares (or any capital stock distributed with respect thereto) upon the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or trading market) or under any United States state or federal law or other applicable Rule, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of the Award of Restricted Stock Units evidenced by the Agreement or the issuance, transfer or delivery of the Shares (or the payment of any dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions related to the Shares), the Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any Shares, dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions relating to such Shares unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained to the complete satisfaction of the Committee and free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

23. Authorization to Release and Transfer Necessary Personal Information . The Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, processing, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of his or her personal data by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that the Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about the Participant including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, email address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number (or any other




social or national identification number), salary, nationality, job title, number of Restricted Stock Units and/or Shares held and the details of all Restricted Stock Units or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, cancelled, vested, unvested or outstanding for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan (the “Data”). The Participant understands that the Data may be transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and that any recipient’s country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than the Participant’s country. The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting human resources. The Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing his or her participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data to a broker or other third party assisting with the administration of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan or with whom Shares acquired pursuant to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or cash from the sale of such Shares may be deposited. Furthermore, the Participant acknowledges and understands that the transfer of the Data to the Company or its Subsidiaries or to any third parties is necessary for his or her participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that he or she may, at any time, view the Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data, require any necessary amendments to the Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein by contacting human resources in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that withdrawal of consent may affect his or her ability to vest in or realize benefits from the Restricted Stock Units, and his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Participant understands that he or she may contact human resources.

24. Electronic Delivery and Execution . The Participant hereby consents and agrees to electronic delivery of any documents that the Company may elect to deliver (including, but not limited to, plan documents, prospectus and prospectus supplements, grant or award notifications and agreements, account statements, annual and quarterly reports, and all other forms of communications) in connection with this and any other Award made or offered under the Plan. The Participant understands that, unless revoked by the Participant by giving written notice to the Company pursuant to the Plan, this consent will be effective for the duration of the Agreement. The Participant also understands that he or she will have the right at any time to request that the Company deliver written copies of any and all materials referred to above. The Participant hereby consents to any and all procedures the Company has established or may establish for an electronic signature system for delivery and acceptance of any such documents that the Company may elect to deliver, and agree that his or her electronic signature is the same as, and will have the same force and effect as, his or her manual signature. The Participant consents and agrees that any such procedures and delivery may be affected by a third party engaged by the Company to provide administrative services related to the Plan.

25. Appendix . Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, this Restricted Stock Unit grant and the Shares acquired under the Plan shall be subject to any and all special terms and provisions as set forth in the Appendix, if any, for the Participant’s country of residence (and country of service, if different).



Exhibit 10.4



CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Amended and Restated as of July 18, 2017


This Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (amended and restated as of July 18, 2017) is adopted by the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of Constellation Brands, Inc., acting in its capacity as the Committee under the Plan, subject to the approval of the stockholders of the Company. The Plan amends and restates in its entirety the Constellation Brands, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (amended and restated as of July 27, 2012), as amended, and applies to Awards made on or after July 18, 2017. This amendment and restatement of the Plan shall become effective upon being approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, the Plan shall terminate ten years from the Effective Date. Grants of Awards made under the Plan prior to July 18, 2017 shall be governed by the terms of the Plan in effect as of the date of the Award. Certain capitalized terms used in the Plan are defined in Annex A .

1. PURPOSE

The Plan is designed to assist the Company in attracting and retaining Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants and to provide them additional incentives consistent with the long-term success of the Company’s business.

2. ADMINISTRATION

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided however that the full Board may, in its sole discretion, act at any time as the Committee, and shall do so with respect to grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors. The Committee may take action (including through use of subcommittees) in any manner permitted under its charter, as in effect from time to time. Any action taken by the Committee with respect to the Plan or of any Award Agreement shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Related Entities, Participants, Beneficiaries, permitted transferees under Section 13 of the Plan or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and stockholders.

The Committee shall have final discretion, responsibility and authority to: (a) select Eligible Persons to become Participants; (b) grant Awards; (c) determine at the type, number, and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards; (d) prescribe the form of the Award Agreement representing such Award (which need not be identical for each Participant); (e) amend Award Agreements or accelerate the vesting of Awards; (f) make any amendments to Award Agreements or the Awards which may, without limitation, include any acceleration of vesting or exercisability, waiver of any condition or requirement or taking of other action consistent with the purposes of the Plan; (g) interpret and construe the Plan and Awards and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein; (h) make and amend rules and regulations relating to the Plan and Awards; and (i) provide for forfeiture of outstanding Awards and recapture of realized gains and other realized value in such events as determined by the Committee; and (j) make all other determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and Awards. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. In exercising any discretion granted to the Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent with past practices, or treat any Eligible Person in a manner consistent with the treatment of other Eligible Persons.

Except as specifically provided to the contrary in the Plan, the Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any Related Entity, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, (i) to perform administrative functions, (ii) with respect to Participants not subject to



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Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to perform such other functions as the Committee may determine, and (iii) with respect to Participants subject to Section 16, to perform such other functions of the Committee as the Committee may determine to the extent performance of such functions will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3 otherwise available for transactions by such persons, in each case to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

The Committee, and each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any Executive Officer, other officer or Employee, the Company’s independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee, and any officer or Employee acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

No outstanding Award may be exercised and no payment shall be made pursuant to an Award if the Participant to whom the Award is granted (x) is, or at any time after the Grant Date has been, in competition with the Company or its Related Entities or (y) has been terminated by the Company for Cause. The Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether a Participant’s actions constitute competition with the Company or its Related Entities.

3. ELIGIBILITY

The Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to any Eligible Person, including an Employee, Consultant, or Non-Employee Director; provided, however, that only an Employee (including any officer) of the Company or any Subsidiary may receive an Incentive Stock Option and only a Covered Employee may receive a Cash Incentive Award under the Plan. In addition, current or former employees or non-employee directors of, or consultants to, of an acquired entity are eligible to receive Substitute Awards under the Plan.

4. SHARES AVAILABLE; TYPES OF AWARDS

(a) Share Reserve . Awards may be granted under the Plan with respect to Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 below, the aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for delivery with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan is one-hundred and eight million (108,000,000) Shares (the “Share Reserve”). Subject to such aggregate limit, Awards may be granted in any combination of Shares of Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock. Shares subject to Awards may be authorized and unissued Shares or authorized and issued Shares held in the Company’s treasury or acquired by the Company through repurchases in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from third parties. The Committee may direct that any stock certificate evidencing Shares issued under the Plan must bear a legend setting forth such restrictions on transferability as may apply to the Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 below, the number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options shall be one-hundred and eight million (108,000,000) Shares.

(b) Share Reserve Accounting . The following Shares related to Awards under the Plan may again be available for issuance under the Plan, in addition to the Shares described in Section 4(a) above: (i)  Shares related to Awards paid in cash; (ii)  Shares related to Awards that expire, are forfeited or cancelled or terminate for any other reason without issuance of Shares; and (iii)  any Shares of Restricted Stock that are returned to the Company upon a Participant’s termination of employment. Shares that are used to pay the exercise price of a Stock Option and Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to an Award will not be available for further grants of Awards under the Plan. Dividend equivalents payable in cash will not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. All Shares covered by a SAR, to the extent it is exercised and settled in Shares, will be considered issued or transferred under the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Laws.




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(c) Types of Awards . The Committee may make Awards from time to time in any one or more of the following types singly or in tandem: Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or Cash Incentive Awards.

(d) Individual Limits . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 below, in each fiscal year that ends on or after the Effective Date:

(i) an Eligible Person may not be granted Stock Options and/or SARs relating to more than 1,000,000 Shares;

(ii) an Eligible Person may not be granted Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and/or Performance Shares relating to more than 1,000,000 Shares; and

(iii) the maximum amount that may be earned by an Executive Officer under Cash Incentive Award opportunities granted in that year shall not exceed $10,000,000.

(e) Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit . In addition to any other limitation set forth in this Section 4, in any fiscal year that ends on or after the Effective Date, no Non-Employee Director will be granted cash compensation and equity compensation (under the Plan or any other plan, program or policy of the Company) that, in the aggregate, exceeds $750,000 for such fiscal year. With respect to Awards granted during a fiscal year, the amount to be applied against this limit shall be the Grant Date fair value, as determined by the Company for financial reporting purposes, for such awards. Cash compensation for purposes of this limitation means meeting fees and retainers, even if electively deferred, but shall not include expense reimbursements related to service as a director, allowances for use of company products and charitable matching contributions. For the avoidance of doubt, in a fiscal year in which a Non-Employee Director serves the Company in another capacity (including as an interim officer), the Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit shall not apply to compensatory equity awards granted by the Board to such director in respect of such service as an Employee or consultant.

5. STOCK OPTIONS

The Committee may grant Stock Options to an Eligible Person subject to such terms, conditions and provisions as may be specified by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan and are memorialized in an Award Agreement. Such terms, conditions and provisions include the following:

(a) Identification of Stock Option . Each Stock Option shall be designated in the applicable Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. In the absence of such designation, a Stock Option will be deemed to be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(b) Number of Shares and Class of Common Stock . Each Award Agreement for a Stock Option shall specify the number of Shares and class of Common Stock, Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock, to which it pertains.

(c) Exercise Price . The exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share to which the Stock Option relates on the Grant Date; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Stock Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof within the meaning of Section 424(e) and 424(f), respectively, of the Code, the exercise price per share shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Grant Date and provided, further, that a Stock Option may be granted as a Substitute Award with an exercise price that is lower than the Fair Market Value of a Share to which such Stock Option relates if it is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the applicable provisions of Section 424(a) and Section 409A of the Code.




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(d) Duration of Option . The duration of each Stock Option shall not extend later than ten years after the Grant Date. Stock Options must be exercised on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on their expiration date.

(e) Exercise Terms . Any grant may specify (1)  a waiting period or periods before Stock Options shall become exercisable and (2)  permissible dates or period on or during which Stock Options shall be exercisable, and any grant may provide for earlier exercise of such rights in the event of a termination of employment. Stock Options may be partially exercised from time to time during the period extending from the time they first become exercisable in accordance with the terms of the Award until the expiration of the exercise period specified in the Award Agreement. The Committee may impose such additional or other limitations or conditions on the vesting or exercise of any Stock Option as it deems appropriate.

(f) Method of Exercise and Form of Payment . No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of a Stock Option until payment in full of the exercise price and an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 11. Stock Options that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Stock Option accompanied by payment of the exercise price and the applicable aggregate tax withholding amount. The exercise price shall be payable (i)  in cash, check, and/or Shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value at the time the Stock Option is exercised (including, pursuant to procedures as may be approved by the Committee, by means of attestation of ownership of a sufficient number of Shares of Common Stock in lieu of actual delivery of such shares to the Company); or (ii)  by such other method as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion, including without limitation: (A) in the case of Stock Options relating to Class A Stock, delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker or other agent acceptable to the Company to promptly sell Class A Stock received under the Award and to deliver to the Company the amount of proceeds to pay the exercise price, (B) in the case of Stock Options relating to Class 1 Stock, (x) delivery to the Company’s transfer agent for Class A Stock of any conversion notice or direction necessary to convert Class 1 Stock received under the Award into Class A Stock, and (y) delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker or other agent acceptable to the Company to promptly sell shares of Class A Stock received upon the conversion of the Class 1 Stock received under the Award and to deliver to the Company the amount of proceeds to pay the exercise price, (C) by a “net exercise” method whereby the Company withholds from the delivery of the Shares for which the Stock Option was exercised that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price for the Shares for which the Stock Option was exercised and/or (D) such other method of payment as the Committee in its discretion deems appropriate.

(g) Amended Stock Option . The Committee, in its sole discretion, may authorize the amendment of an outstanding Stock Option that relates to Class A Stock so that such Stock Option, instead, relates to Class 1 Stock. An amendment to an outstanding Stock Option so that it relates to Class 1 Stock instead of Class A Stock shall not constitute a new grant for purposes of Section 5(b), and such Stock Option shall continue to be treated for all purposes as having been granted on the original Grant Date of such Stock Option. The Committee shall have discretion to determine the terms and conditions of such amended Stock Option; provided that such terms and conditions shall, to the extent permissible within the terms and conditions of the Plan, be equivalent to the terms and conditions of the Stock Option prior to the amendment. The exercise price of the amended Stock Option may not be less than the exercise price of the Stock Option prior to the amendment, and the number of Shares that may be purchased under the amended Stock Option may not exceed the number of Shares that could have been purchased under the Stock Option prior to the amendment, in each case subject to the adjustments in Section 16.

(h) Stock Rights Exemption . Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, Non-Qualified Stock Options granted under the Plan are intended to qualify as stock rights exempt from Section 409A of the Code within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5).

(i) $100,000 Annual Limit for ISOs . Notwithstanding any provision in this Section 5, to the extent that the Aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Stock Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceed $100,000, such Stock Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. Stock options



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failing to qualify as Incentive Stock Options for any reason will be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options, rather than being forfeited.

(j) Compliance With Laws, etc . Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise a Stock Option in a manner that the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other Applicable Laws.

6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to an Eligible Person subject to such terms, conditions and provisions as may be specified by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan and are memorialized in an Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Committee in Awards which are in tandem with Stock Options or freestanding. Tandem Awards may be granted at the same time as the grant of the related Stock Option or at any time thereafter prior to the end of the exercise period for the related Stock Option. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall specify whether it relates to Shares of Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock.

(a) Value . The value of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share to which the Stock Appreciation Right relates on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right and the reference amount specified in the Award Agreement, which for each Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with a Stock Option shall be not less than the exercise price of the related Stock Option. The reference amount for each Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share to which the Stock Appreciation Right relates on the Grant Date of the Stock Appreciation Right; provided, further, that an SAR may be granted as a Substitute Award with an reference amount that is lower than the Fair Market Value of a Share to which such SAR relates if it is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner satisfying the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Duration of Stock Appreciation Right . The duration of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be specified, and in no instance shall extend later than ten years after the Grant Date. Each tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall specify the Stock Option to which it is related and the terms and conditions under which exercise or expiration of the related Stock Option will result in automatic expiration of the related Stock Appreciation Right and the terms and conditions on which exercise or expiration of the Stock Appreciation Right will result in automatic expiration of the related Stock Option.

(c) Exercise Terms . Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall become exercisable in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Grant Date. Stock Appreciation Rights may be partially exercised from time to time during the period extending from the time they first become exercisable in accordance with the terms of the Award until the expiration of the exercise period specified in the Award Agreement. Exercise of related Stock Options will cause the immediate automatic expiration of related Stock Appreciation Rights on the terms and conditions specified by the Committee. The Committee may impose in the Award Agreement such additional or other limitations or conditions on the vesting or exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it deems appropriate. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised upon such notice as is required by the Committee and shall be subject to Section 11 below regarding tax withholding requirements.

(d) Stock Rights Exemption . Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, SARs granted under the Plan are intended to qualify as stock rights exempt from Section 409A of the Code within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5).

7. RESTRICTED STOCK

The Committee may grant a Restricted Stock Award to an Eligible Person subject to such terms, conditions and provisions as may be specified by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each grant of



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an Award of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify whether the Shares of Restricted Stock are Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock, the availability of dividends and other distributions with respect to which Shares of Restricted Stock are entitled, the voting rights, if any, associated with such Shares of Restricted Stock, and the conditions that must be satisfied for the Participant to vest in the Participant’s right to the Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no dividends shall be paid to a Participant on Shares of Restricted Stock until and unless the Participant vests in his right to receive such Shares. Restricted Stock Awards may include terms specified by the Committee that make vesting of the Award contingent upon achievement of one or more Performance Goal within or at the end of a Performance Period, and that require the Committee to certify the extent to which any Performance Goal has been satisfied and the number of Shares of Restricted Stock deliverable as a result thereof, prior to the delivery of any such Shares to the Participant.

Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant to be issued, or shall cause Shares to be registered in the name of the Participant and held in book-entry form subject to the Company’s directions, and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i)  an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii)  the appropriate stock power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant shall fail to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank stock power within the amount of time specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 7 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including without limitation the right to vote such Restricted Stock. To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any stock certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.

8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS

The Committee may grant Restricted Stock Units and Performance Share Units to an Eligible Person subject to such terms, conditions and provisions as may be specified by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each grant of an Award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Share Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the terms of the Award, including the performance measures and/or service requirements, if any, applicable to the Award, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. The holder of a Restricted Stock Unit or a Performance Share Unit may receive a payout that is calculated based on the satisfaction of service requirements and/or other terms specified in the Award Agreement. The Committee shall specify in the Award Agreement whether any earned Restricted Stock Units and Performance Share Units shall be paid in the form of Shares or cash (or in a combination thereof).

Performance Share Units may include terms specified by the Committee that make vesting of the Award contingent upon achievement of one or more Performance Goals within or at the end of a Performance Period, and that require the Committee to certify the extent to which any Performance Goal has been satisfied and the number of Shares deliverable as a result thereof, prior to the delivery of any such Shares to the Participant.

If provided by the Committee and to the extent set forth in the Award Agreement, Participants holding Restricted Stock Units or Performance Share Units will be entitled to receive dividend equivalents with respect to dividends declared with respect to the Shares underlying such Awards; provided that no dividend equivalents shall be paid to a Participant on Restricted Stock Units or Performance Share Units until and unless the Participant vests in his right to receive such Shares.




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9. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards to an Eligible Person subject to such terms, conditions and provisions as may be specified by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each grant of an Other Stock-Based Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the terms of the Award. Grants of Other Stock-Based Awards may include terms specified by the Committee that make vesting of the Award contingent upon achievement of one or more Performance Goals within or at the end of a Performance Period, and that require the Committee to certify the extent to which any Performance Goal has been satisfied and the number of Shares deliverable as a result thereof, prior to the delivery of any such Shares to the Participant. An Other Stock-Based Award that has an exercise right may be exercised upon such notice as is required by the Committee to the Company accompanied by payment in full of any exercise price for the Shares or other compensation being acquired in such form as the Committee may provide consistent with the form of payment rules set forth in Section 5(f), together with all applicable withholding taxes as provided in Section 11 of the Plan. If provided by the Committee and to the extent set forth in the Award Agreement, Participants holding Other Stock-Based Awards will be entitled to receive dividend equivalents with respect to dividends declared with respect to the Shares underlying such Awards; provided that no dividend equivalents shall be paid to a Participant on Other Stock-Based Awards until and unless the Participant vests in his right to receive such Shares.

10. CASH INCENTIVE AWARDS

(a) Cash Incentive Awards may be granted only to Covered Employees. The Committee shall select the Performance Goals to be achieved by the Participant, the completion of any specified period of continuous service and the length of the Performance Period. The amount payable shall be expressed in terms of an objective formula or standard which may be based upon the Participant’s base salary or a multiple or percentage thereof, a dollar amount, a percentage of the applicable criteria underlying the specified Performance Goal(s) (or a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount) or otherwise. The foregoing objective formula or standard also may be expressed in the form of a range, pursuant to which the actual amount of a Cash Incentive Award payable under the Plan may vary depending upon the extent to which the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been attained. For the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to the foregoing, the Committee may establish for any Participant a method or formula for determining the maximum amount payable (subject to the maximum specified in Section 4(d)) based on the level of achievement of the applicable Performance Goal(s). Whether the Performance Goals have been achieved shall be determined by the Committee. In all cases the Committee shall have the sole and absolute discretion to reduce the amount of any payment with respect to any Cash Incentive Award that would otherwise be made to any Participant or to decide that no payment shall be made.

(b) At the time the Committee determines a Cash Incentive Award opportunity for a Participant, the Committee shall also establish the payment terms applicable to such Cash Incentive Award. Such terms shall include when such payments will be made; provided, however, that the timing of such payments shall in all instances either (a) satisfy the conditions of an exception from Section 409A of the Code (e.g., the short-term deferrals exception described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4)), or (b) comply with Section 409A of the Code, and provided further, that in the absence of such terms regarding the timing of payments, such payments shall occur no later than the later of (i)  the 15th day of the third month of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant’s right to payment ceased being subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and (ii)  the 15th day of the third month of the Company’s fiscal year following the Company’s fiscal year in which the Participant’s right to payment ceased being subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

11. WITHHOLDING TAXES

Whenever required under Applicable Laws in connection with an Award, the Company shall (and whenever permitted by law in connection with an Award the Company may but is not obligated to) require the Participant to remit to the Company or one of its Related Entities an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and/or local income tax, foreign tax, social charge and employment withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any Shares. To the extent permitted under such rules as the Committee may promulgate from time to time in its sole



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discretion and in compliance with any requirements to avoid violations under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and related rules, a Participant may provide amounts for tax withholding (but not in excess of the maximum amount permitted for tax withholding under Applicable Laws) by delivering Shares then owned by the Participant or having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries and Related Entities shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, Shares, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any other compensation or amounts owing to a Participant (but not including nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A) up to the amount required to satisfy applicable tax withholding requirements.

12. QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE BASED COMPENSATION

(a) The Committee shall have the authority to grant to Covered Employees Awards described in Section 7 through 10 as Qualified Performance Based Compensation. The Committee is not obligated to grant any such Award so that it is exempt from the $1 million deduction on compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Awards that are intended to be Qualified Performance Based Compensation shall be granted by the Committee (or a subcommittee hereof of two or more outside directors) consistent with the terms of this Section 12 and the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) The Committee shall establish the Performance Period and the Performance Goal(s) for Qualified Performance Based Compensation in writing during the Applicable Period with respect to such Award. Performance Goals for Qualified Performance Based Compensation shall be established using one or more Performance Criteria. The Performance Goals established by the Committee may be (but need not be) particular to a Participant and may vary from year to year. Qualified Performance Based Compensation may be provided by either (i) granting Awards with the earned portion of such award subject to attaining Performance Goals or (ii) making the grant of Awards only after one or more Performance Goals have been obtained. The Committee shall designate in writing, in the Award Agreement or otherwise, during the Applicable Period the Performance Goal(s) intended to meet the performance goal requirement under Treas. Reg. Sect. 1.162-27(e)(2).

(c) At the time the Performance Goals are established, the Committee shall provide, in terms of an objective formula or standard, the method of computing the specific amount that will represent the maximum amount of cash or other compensation (including but not limited to equity based awards under Sections 7 through 9 of the Plan) to be provided to the Participant (or, if the equity award was granted within the Applicable Period, the portion of such award that will be earned) if the Performance Goal is attained (the “ Performance Formula ”). The Performance Formula shall be subject to such other special rules and conditions as the Committee may establish within the Applicable Period. For example, the Committee may provide for automatic adjustments (in measures of achievement, amounts payable, or other award terms) to reflect objectively determinable events that may affect Performance Criteria, including but not limited to Extraordinary Items, provided that any such adjustments are established and administered in a manner consistent with the requirements under Section 162(m) for Qualified Performance Based Compensation. Performance Goals (and the underlying Performance Criteria) must be objectively determinable (i.e., such that a third party with knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the Performance Goals have been met), and the achievement of the Performance Goals must be substantially uncertain at the time they are established and any such special rules and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e).

(d) Following the completion of the Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals and any other material terms of the Performance-Based Compensation Award have been achieved for the applicable Performance Period. In no event may the Committee waive achievement of the Performance Goal requirements except in its discretion in the case of the death or disability of the Participant or a Change in Control. The Committee shall not have the discretion to grant or pay Qualified Performance Based Compensation for a Performance Period if and to the extent the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained.




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(e) The Committee may exercise discretion to reduce or eliminate the amount that is earned or payable as Qualified Performance Based Compensation. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may reduce or eliminate any Award otherwise earned based on such factors, which may be objective or subjective, as it deems relevant including, without limitation: (i) performance against other financial or strategic objectives; (ii) its assessment of the Covered Employee’s overall performance for the Performance Period; (iii) prevailing levels of total compensation among similar companies and (iv) individual performance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, negative discretion shall not be exercised after the issuance of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Units or Other Stock Based Awards consistent with applicable requirements for fixed accounting under ASC Topic 718 (or its successor).

13. AWARDS NOT TRANSFERABLE

Unless transferability is otherwise permitted under the Award or as otherwise permitted by the Committee at or following the Grant Date, no Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right is transferable by the Participant other than (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) pursuant to a domestic relations order, or (iii) solely with respect to Stock Options, by gift to family members or by gift or permitted non-cash exchange to entities beneficially owned by family members or other permitted transferees. Awards that have exercise rights shall be exercisable only by the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, or the Participant’s permitted transferees. Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold or otherwise transferred until the ownership vests in the Participant. Unless transferability is otherwise permitted under such conditions and rules adopted by the Committee, Cash Incentive Awards, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Units and Other Stock-Based Awards may not be sold or otherwise transferred.

14. GENERAL RESTRICTION ON ISSUANCE OF SHARES

The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares upon the grant, vesting or exercise of any Award until it has been furnished with such documents as it may deem necessary to insure compliance with any law or rules of the SEC or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction under the Plan. Shares of Class 1 Stock will not be represented by certificates, and shares of Class A Stock may not be represented by certificates. Certificates for shares of Class A Stock, if any, or notices of ownership for Shares delivered upon such grant, vesting or exercise shall bear legends restricting transfer or other restrictions or conditions to the extent required by law or determined by the Committee. Each Award under the Plan is subject to the condition that, if at any time the Committee shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to such Award under any state or federal law or other applicable Rule, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of the granting of such Awards or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, such Awards may not vest or be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

15. OTHER AWARD PROVISIONS

The Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the Grant Date or thereafter (subject to Section 21), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. Subject to Section 12, the Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Applicable Laws, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award. The Committee has the authority to prescribe the rules that apply to an Award upon the termination of a Participant’s employment or Continuous Service, which shall be memorialized in the Participant’s original or amended Award Agreement or similar document.




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16. ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS

(a) In the event of any change in the capital stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split up, combination, or exchange of shares, or rights offering to purchase capital stock at a price substantially below Fair Market Value, or of any similar change affecting the capital stock, the number and kind of shares authorized under Section 4 for the Plan (including, to the extent permitted by Section 162(m), the limits in Section 4 on Awards to any Participant in any fiscal year), the number and kind of shares which thereafter are subject to an Award under the Plan, the Performance Goals applicable to an Award, and the number and kind of unexercised Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and the price per share shall be adjusted automatically consistent with such change to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants in the Plan. No fractional shares of Stock that results from an adjustment under this Section 16 shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

(b) In the event of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below), the Committee, as constituted before such transaction, is hereby authorized, and has sole discretion, as to any Award, either at the time such Award is made hereunder or any time thereafter, to take any one or more of the following actions, which need not be uniform as to all Participants:

(i) cause any such Award then outstanding to be assumed or replaced by the successor corporation (if any), which assumption or replacement will be binding on all Participants, or the successor corporation may substitute equivalent awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards and Section 22 below);

(ii) provide that Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date of such transaction shall be cancelled and terminated without payment if the Fair Market Value of one share as of the date of the Change in Control is less than the per share Stock Option exercise price or Stock Appreciation Right reference amount; or

(iii) provide that each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right then outstanding shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the Participant, and/or that each Participant shall receive, with respect to each Share subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Share immediately prior to the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction over the exercise price per Share of such Stock Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right (such amount to be payable in cash, in one or more kinds of stock or property (including the stock or property, if any, payable in the transaction, if applicable) or in a combination thereof, in such manner as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine is appropriate).

For avoidance of doubt, this Section 16(b) shall permit the Committee to impose terms and conditions on amounts payable to Participants as apply to payments to stockholders in a Corporate Transaction, including but not limited to escrow restrictions.

In the event such successor corporation (if any) fails to assume or substitute Awards pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, all Awards will expire on such transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Board shall determine subject to Section 22 below (regarding Change in Control Vesting).

For purposes of this Section 16(b), a “Corporate Transaction” means a (i) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation of the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed or replaced by



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the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on all Participants), (iii) the consummation of a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but after which the stockholders of the Company (other than any stockholder which merges (or which owns or controls another corporation which merges) with the Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other equity interests in the Company, (iv) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (v) the consummation of any other transaction which qualifies as a corporate transaction under Section 424(a) of the Code wherein the stockholders of the Company give up all of their equity interest in the Company (except for the acquisition, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of the Company from or by the stockholders of the Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that an Award is subject to Section 409A and a Corporate Transaction would result in a change in the payment timing of an outstanding Award, a transaction described in (ii) through (v) above must also qualify as a change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporations assets, as the case may be, within the meaning of Section 409A.

17. LIMITATION ON RIGHTS CONFERRED UNDER THE PLAN.

Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or services of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Related Entity to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s Continuous Service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred Shares in accordance with the terms of an Award.

18. EFFECT OF THE SALE OF A RELATED ENTITY

A sale or other disposition of a Related Entity that is not a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company shall not constitute a Change in Control. Except as other determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, a Participant who is employed by any such Related Entity shall be deemed to have terminated employment and to no longer be in Continuous Service for purposes of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement and the unvested portion of the Award at the time of such sale or other disposition shall immediately be forfeited.

19. SECTION 162(m) CONDITIONS

It is the intent of the Company that all Awards that are intended to constitute Qualified Performance Based Compensation under Section 162(m) be granted and interpreted in a manner to satisfy all applicable requirements of Section 162(m). Any provision, application or interpretation of the Plan inconsistent with this intent to satisfy the standards in Section 162(m) shall be disregarded. If changes are made to Section 162(m) to permit greater flexibility with respect to any Award under the Plan, the Committee may make any adjustments it deems appropriate.

Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or the Committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify for the performance based compensation exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code.

20. SECTION 409A CONDITIONS

With respect to Awards that are subject to Section 409A, the Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A and the Plan and provisions of such Awards shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. To the extent that the Committee determines that the Plan or any Section 409A Award fails to comply with the requirements of Section 409A, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan or in any Award, the Committee reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan and/or amend, restructure,



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terminate or replace the Award, without the consent of the Participant, to cause the Award to either not be subject to Section 409A or to comply with the applicable provisions of such section. By way of example, the following rules shall apply:

Any provision of the Plan that would conflict with the requirements of a Section 409A Award shall not apply to a Section 409A Award.

Any adjustment or modification to an Award shall be made in compliance with Section 409A (e.g., any adjustment to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right under Section 21) shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.

For Section 409A Awards, all rights to amend, terminate or modify the Plan or any Award are subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A.

For Section 409A Awards, any payment or distribution that is triggered upon termination or cessation of employment or a comparable event shall be interpreted consistent with the definition of “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

Any assumption or substitution of Section 409A Awards, pursuant to Section 22 shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.

With respect to amounts payable under a Section 409A Award, in the event that a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A, any amount that is payable in connection with the Participant’s separation from service shall not be paid prior to the date which is six months after the date the Participant separates from service (or, if earlier, the date the Participant dies). A Participant who is subject to the restriction described in the previous sentence shall be paid on the first day of the seventh month after the Participant’s separation from service an amount equal to the benefit that the Participant would have received during such six month period absent the restriction.

While the Company intends for Awards to either be exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A, neither the Company nor the Committee shall be liable to any person for the tax consequences of any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A or any other tax consequences relating to Awards under the Plan.

21. AMENDMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS

(a) The Plan and any Award Agreement (for outstanding Awards) may be amended, modified or terminated by the Committee at any time and all Awards shall be subject to the Plan, as amended from time to time, except that the Committee may not, without approval of the Participant to whom the Award was granted or his legal representative or permitted transferee materially and adversely affect the rights of such person under such Award Agreement unless such action is required to comply with Applicable Laws. No amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall be effective without stockholder approval if such approval is required under Applicable Laws, including but not limited to the provisions of the Plan that are subject to the stockholder approval requirements under Section 162(m).

(b) No Repricing . Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares): (i) the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or the reference amount of SARs, (ii) outstanding Stock Options or SARs may not be cancelled in exchange for cash, other awards, or Stock Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Stock Options or SARs, and (iii) the Company may not repurchase Options or SARs for value (in cash, substitutions, cash buyouts, or otherwise) from a Participant if the current Fair Market Value of the class of Company Stock underlying the



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Stock Option or SAR is lower than the exercise price per share of the Option or SAR. This paragraph may not be amended, altered or repealed by the Board or the Committee without approval of the stockholders of the Company.

(c) No Reloads . No Stock Options or SARs granted under the Plan shall contain any provision entitling a Participant to the automatic grant of additional Stock Options or SARs in connection with the exercise of the original Stock Options or SARs.

(d) Tolling . Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, if the exercise of a Stock Option or SAR following the termination of a Participant’s termination of employment (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant's death or disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of Shares would violate requirements under Applicable Laws, then such Stock Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) thirty days after its exercise would not violate such requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Stock Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. This Section 21(d) shall be interpreted consistent with not having an extension for purposes of Section 409A with respect to Stock Options or SARs intended to qualify under the stock rights exemption within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5).

(e) Automatic Exercise . The Committee may from time to time, in its sole discretion, provide for and establish procedures with respect to the automatic exercise of Stock Options or SARs that are vested and unexercised as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the date that such Stock Options or SARs would otherwise terminate under the applicable Award Agreement. Any automatic exercise covered by any such procedures shall be accomplished using a net exercise whereby the Company issues to the Participant Shares equal to the number of Shares covered by the Stock Options or SARs reduced by the smallest number of whole Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value that is equal to or exceeds the aggregate exercise price of the Stock Option; or reference amount of the SARs as applicable and the Company shall pay the Participant cash equal to excess, if any, of the aggregate Fair Market Value of such shares over the aggregate exercise price or reference amount, as applicable. In no event shall the Company or its Related Entities or their respective employees or agents be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in any way related to any use of any automatic exercise procedures.

(f) Non-Exempt Employees . No Stock Option or SAR granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act shall be first exercisable for any Shares until at least six (6) months following the Grant Date. The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or SAR will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.

22. CHANGE IN CONTROL VESTING

The Committee has the authority to prescribe the rules that apply to an Award upon a Change in Control, which shall be memorialized in the Participant’s original or amended Award Agreement or similar document. In the event that the Award Agreement does not prescribe such rules, the following rules will apply. In the event of a Change in Control:

(a) If the continuing entity after a Change in Control fails to assume or replace an Award with a new award of equivalent value and substantially equivalent terms, such Award shall become vested on the date of the Change of Control; provided, however, that in the case of such an Award that is subject to attaining one or more Performance Goals, the vesting shall be based upon the extent to which performance metrics were actually achieved as of such Change in Control, or if achievement of any performance metric cannot be determined as of such Change in Control, as though such performance metric had been achieved at target.

(b) If the continuing entity assumes or replaces an Award that is settled in Shares and subject to vesting conditions based upon continued employment with the Company or its Affiliates without regard to the attainment of any Performance Goals with a new award of equivalent value and substantially equivalent terms, the vesting schedule of the assumed or replaced Award shall vest in accordance with the original vesting schedule set forth in the Award Agreement, and shall not accelerate, and the unvested portion of such Award and shall be immediately



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forfeited upon any subsequent termination of Participant’s employment; provided, however that any such Award shall become fully vested and transferable upon the termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the Change in Control Protection Period (as defined below).

(c) If the continuing entity assumes or replaces an Award that is settled in Shares and subject to the attainment of one or more Performance Goals with a new award of equivalent value and substantially equivalent terms based upon the performance metrics actually achieved as of such Change in Control, or if achievement of any performance metric cannot be determined as of such Change in Control, as though such performance metric had been achieved at target, the vesting schedule of the assumed or replaced Award shall become solely time-based and vest in accordance with the original vesting schedule set forth in the Award Agreement, and shall not accelerate, and the unvested portion of such Award and shall be immediately forfeited upon any subsequent termination of Participant’s employment; provided, however that any such Award shall become fully vested and transferable upon the termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the Change in Control Protection Period.

(d) If the continuing entity assumes or replaces a Cash Incentive Award with a new award of equivalent value and substantially equivalent terms, payment shall be made based on the extent to which Performance Goals were met and any continuing employment requirement shall be waived in the case of a Participant whose employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the Change in Control Protection Period.

For purposes of this Section and unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the term “Change in Control Protection Period” shall mean the twenty four-month period following a Change in Control.

23. CLAWBACK

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, any “clawback” or “recoupment” policy required under Applicable Law or provided for under Company policy shall automatically apply to the Award, regardless of whether such provision is included in the Award Agreement or any other document.

24. CHOICE OF FORUM

(a) The Company and each Participant, as a condition to such Participant’s participation in the Plan, hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court located in Rochester, New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to or concerning the Plan. The Company and each Participant, as a condition to such Participant’s participation in the Plan, acknowledge that the forum designated by this Section 24 has a reasonable relationship to the Plan and to the relationship between such Participant and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will preclude the Company from bringing any action or proceeding in any other court for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of Section 24.

(b) The agreement by the Company and each Participant as to forum is independent of the law that may be applied in the action, and the Company and each Participant, as a condition to such Participant’s participation in the Plan, (i) agree to such forum even if the forum may under applicable law choose to apply non-forum law, (ii) hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which the Company or such Participant now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any court referred to in Section 24, (iii) undertake not to commence any action arising out of or relating to or concerning the Plan in any forum other than the forum described in this Section 24 and (iv) agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a final and non-appealable judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court will be conclusive and binding upon the Company and each Participant.

(c) Each Participant, as a condition to such Participant’s participation in the Plan, hereby irrevocably appoints the General Counsel of Constellation Brands, Inc. as such Participant’s agent for service of process in



15


connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to or concerning the Plan, who will promptly advise such Participant of any such service of process.

(d) Each Participant, as a condition to such Participant’s participation in the Plan, agrees to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, a dispute, controversy or claim described in Section 24, except that a Participant may disclose information concerning such dispute, controversy or claim to the court that is considering such dispute, controversy or claim or to such Participant’s legal counsel (provided that such counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of the dispute, controversy or claim).

25. SUBSTITUTE AWARDS

Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the terms of Substitute Awards may vary from the terms set forth in the Plan to the extent the Committee deems appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the acquired entity’s awards in substitution for which they are granted and to preserve the economic value of all or a portion of such acquired entity’s awards at such price as the Committee determines necessary to achieve preservation of economic value.

26. PARTICIPANTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

The Committee shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans, in each case which may differ from the terms specified in the Plan, as may be necessary or desirable, after consideration of the Applicable Laws of foreign countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries may operate, to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the Plan.

27. DEFERRED PAYMENTS

Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may determine that all or a portion of any Award to a Participant, whether it is to be paid in cash, Shares or a combination thereof, shall be deferred or may, in its sole discretion, approve deferral elections made by Participants. Deferrals shall be for such periods and upon such terms as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, which terms shall be designed to comply with Section 409A.

28.    GOVERNING LAW

The Plan and any Award made pursuant to it shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware.



Dated: July 18, 2017
 
 
 
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Dan Towner
 
 
Dan Towner
 
Title:
Vice President, Compensation & Human Resources Information Systems
 
 
 
Date of Stockholder Approval:
 
July 18, 2017






16




ANNEX A
TO
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS


Capitalized terms used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth below:

Applicable Laws means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and the related issuance of Shares under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and, only to the extent applicable with respect to an Award or Awards, the tax, securities, exchange control or other regulatory laws of any jurisdictions other than the United States where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan. Reference to a section of an Applicable Law or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

“Applicable Period” means, with respect to any Performance Period, a period commencing on or before the first day of such Performance Period and ending no later than the earlier of: (i) the 90th day of such Performance Period, or (ii) the date on which 25% of such Performance Period has been completed. Any action required under the Plan to be taken within the period specified in the previous sentence may be taken at a later date with respect to Participants who are not Covered Employees and with respect to Covered Employees if permitted by Section 162(m).

“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or a Cash Incentive Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the terms of an Award will be memorialized and set forth in an Award Agreement.

“Award Agreement” means an agreement, certificate or other form of writing approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. An Award Agreement may be in paper or electronic medium and, if approved by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.

Cash Incentive Award ” means a cash bonus opportunity awarded under Section 10 of the Plan pursuant to which a Participant may become entitled to receive an amount denominated in dollars or another currency based on the satisfaction of such performance or vesting criteria as are specified in the Award Agreement, or, if no Award Agreement is entered into with respect to the Cash Incentive Award, other documents evidencing the Award or the program under which the Award is made.

“Cause” means, solely for the purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, gross negligence or willful misconduct or commission of a felony or an act of moral turpitude determined by the Committee to be detrimental to the best interests of the Company or, if the Participant is subject to a written agreement with the Company, “cause” shall have the meaning set forth in that agreement.

“Change in Control” means, unless the Committee specifies otherwise in an Award Agreement:

(a)    there shall be consummated




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(i)    any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which any Shares are to be converted into cash, securities or other property, provided that the consolidation or merger is not with a corporation which was a direct or indirect wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Parent or one of its Subsidiaries immediately before the consolidation or merger; or

(ii)    any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or

(b)    the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(c)    any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) other than any of the Permitted Holders shall become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d‑3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the voting control of the Company’s then outstanding common stock, provided that such person shall not be a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Company immediately before it becomes such 35% beneficial owner of voting control; or

(d)    individuals who constitute the Incumbent Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors (for this purpose “Incumbent Board” means at any time those persons who are then members of the Board of Directors of the Company and who either (i) are members of the Company’s Board of Directors on the date hereof, or (ii) have been elected, or have been nominated for election by the Company’s stockholders, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board at the time of such election or nomination (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director without objection to such nomination)).

“Class A Stock” means the class A common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

“Class 1 Stock” means the class 1 common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Common Stock” means the Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock.

“Company” means Constellation Brands, Inc. and its Subsidiaries, except where the context indicates that only the Parent is intended.

“Committee” means the committee appointed from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors to administer the Plan, and if no committee is appointed, the Committee shall be the Human Resources Committee.

“Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company as an independent contractor to render bona fide services to such entity (other than in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction or to promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities).

“Continuous Service” means uninterrupted provision of services to the Company in any capacity of Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Consultant. Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, in any capacity of Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave. A leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of determining the continued vesting of an Award (as differentiated from the use of Continuous Service as a trigger for the termination or forfeiture of the Award) only to the extent provided in the



18


Company's leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by Applicable Laws.

“Covered Employee” means an employee who is a “covered employee” as such term is defined under Section 162(m) and such additional employees as the Committee may treat as being subject to the rules that apply to “covered employees” under Section 162(m).

Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 above.

“Eligible Person” means each Executive Officer and other officers, Non-Employee Directors and Employees of the Company or of any Related Entity, and Consultants with the Company or any Related Entity. An Employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.

“Employee” means any individual designated as an employee on the payroll records of the Company or a Related Entity, including (i) employees who are also directors and (ii) prospective employees, but conditioned on their commencement of employment.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Executive Officer ” means an executive officer of the Company as defined under the Exchange Act.

“Extraordinary Items” means (a) items presented as such (or other comparable terms) on the Company’s audited financial statements, (b) extraordinary, unusual, transition, one-time and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss (including, but not limited to, charges for reorganizing and restructuring, discontinued operations and asset write-downs), (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, corporate tax rates, accounting principles, or other Applicable Laws affecting reported results, (d) the effects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs or similar significant transactions (including, without limitation, gains or losses on the disposition of a business or business segment or arising from the sale of assets outside the ordinary course of business or reorganization or restructuring programs), (e) events of an “unusual nature” or of a type that indicates “infrequency of occurrence,” as described in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 225-20 (or any successor pronouncement thereto), (f) exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings; (g) foreign exchange gains and losses; (h) discontinued operations and nonrecurring charges; (i) stock split, recapitalization, split-up, or similar change, (j) share repurchases; (k) a change in the Company’s fiscal year; or (l) litigation or claim judgments or settlements. To qualify as an Extraordinary Item, the item must be identified in the audited financial statements and notes thereto or in the “management’s discussion and analysis” section of the financial statements in a period report filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

“Fair Market Value” of a Share means (a) with respect to a Share of Class A Stock, the closing price of the Class A Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or other national stock exchange on which the Class A Stock is actively traded for the date as reported in the Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition or such other standard reference service as the Committee may select, and (b) with respect to a Share of Class 1 Stock, (i) the closing price of the Class A Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or other national stock exchange on which the Class A Stock is actively traded for the date as reported in the Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition or such other standard reference service as the Committee may select, or (ii) if the Committee shall determine that the fair market value of a share of Class A Stock is not a reasonable proxy for the fair market value of a share of Class 1 Stock, such fair market value as shall be determined by the Committee or calculated in accordance with one or more methodologies established by the Committee as such methodologies may be modified or adjusted from time to time by the Committee.

“Grant Date” means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant of an award shall become effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto.




19


“Good Reason” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, as applied to a Participant who is an Employee: (a) to the extent defined in an Employee’s employment agreement, the term “Good Reason” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the employment agreement with respect to such Employee, and (b) in the case of any Employee not covered by clause (a) above, the term “Good Reason” means that the Employee terminates his or her employment upon 30 days’ notice to the Company given within 90 days following the occurrence of any of the following events without his or her consent, each of which shall constitute a “Good Reason” for such termination; provided that the following events shall not constitute “Good Reason” if the event is remedied by the Company within 30 days after receipt of notice given by the Employee to the Company specifying the event: (i) the Company acts to materially reduce the Employee’s employment band or materially reduce the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; (ii) the Company materially reduces the amount of the Employee’s base salary, and not of other similarly situated Participants; (iii) the Company relocates Participant’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles; or (iv) the Company materially breaches an employment agreement or an Award Agreement with the Employee. With respect to a Participant who is not an Employee, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the applicable Award Agreement and, in the absence of the definition of such term in such agreement, the provisions in Section 22 relating to “Good Reason” shall not be applicable to such Participant’s Award evidenced by such agreement.

“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISOs” means any Stock Option that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service and, if the context permits, the courts interpreting the Code.

“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means a Stock Option that is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

“Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan which is subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the Award and the Plan.

“Parent” means Constellation Brands, Inc.

“Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.




20


“Performance Criteria” means one or more of the following performance criteria for a Performance Period selected by the Committee with respect to an Award that is intended to constitute Qualified Performance Based Compensation.

Ÿ Sales Growth or Net Sales Growth
Ÿ Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Ÿ Net Sales
Ÿ Return on Capital
Ÿ Assets or Asset Productivity
Ÿ Return on Equity
Ÿ Operating Expenses / Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Ÿ Cost of Goods Sold / Cost of Product Sold
Ÿ Cost reductions or cost control
Ÿ Return on Invested Capital
Ÿ Gross Margin or Gross Profit
Ÿ Return on Assets / Return on Net Assets
Ÿ Brand Contribution / Contribution after Marketing
Ÿ Capital Expenditures / Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Ÿ Operating Income or Net Operating Income
Ÿ Net Increase in Cash or Cash Equivalents
Ÿ Operating Margins / Sales
Ÿ Stock Price
Ÿ Return on Operating Revenue
Ÿ Market share (volume or value-based)
Ÿ Earnings Before Interest and Taxes
Ÿ Total Stockholder Return
Ÿ Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
Ÿ Stockholder Value Added / Economic Value Added
Ÿ Income Before Income Taxes / Profit Before Tax
Ÿ Strategic Business Objectives, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures
Ÿ Net Income
Ÿ Units produced, sold or depleted
Ÿ Earnings Per Share
Ÿ Customer service level
Ÿ Cash Flow or Free Cash Flow
Ÿ Debt Ratio or Debt-to-Equity Ratio
Ÿ Working Capital or any of its components (Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Accounts Payable)
Ÿ New Sales or Depletions or new product introductions
Ÿ New product introductions or launches
 

“Performance Formula” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12(c) of the Plan.

“Performance Goal” means one or more specific objective goal or goals (which may be cumulative or alternative) that are timely set in writing by the Committee for each Participant for the applicable Performance Period with respect to any one or more of the Performance Criteria. Performance Criteria within a Performance Goal may be: (a) established on a corporate, divisional, business unit or consolidated basis, (b) measured on an absolute basis or relative basis (e.g., passage of time (such as a year over year growth), as a relative comparison to a peer group, industry index, broad-based index, etc.), (c) calculated on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, (d) calculated on a per share basis, (e) calculated on a GAAP or non-GAAP basis, and/or (f) calculated for all or a portion of a single year or calculated over multiple years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Performance Goal for with respect to an Award that is not intended to constitute Qualified Performance Based Compensation need not be based on one or more Performance Criteria.

“Performance Period” means the fiscal year or years or other period established by the Committee with respect to which a Performance Goal is set by the Committee.

Performance Share Unit ” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan whose value is denominated in Shares and is earned by satisfaction of specified Performance Goals and such other terms and conditions that the Committee may specify.




21


Permitted Holders ” means, unless the Committee specifies otherwise in an Award Agreement, (a) Marilyn Sands, her descendants (whether by blood or adoption), her descendants’ spouses, her siblings, the descendants of her siblings (whether by blood or adoption), Hudson Ansley, Lindsay Caleo, William Caleo, Courtney Winslow, or Andrew Stern, or the estate of any of the foregoing individuals, or The Sands Family Foundation, Inc., (b) trusts which are for the benefit of any combination of the individuals and foundation described in clause (a), or any trust for the benefit of any such trust, or (c) partnerships, limited liability companies or any other entities which are controlled by any combination of the individuals described in clause (a) or the estate of any such individuals, The Sands Family Foundation, Inc., a trust referred to in the foregoing clause (b), or an entity that satisfies the conditions of this clause (c).

“Plan” means the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time.

“Qualified Performance Based Compensation” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e) but shall not include Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

“Related Entity” means any Parent, Subsidiary, and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity designated by the Committee in which the Company or a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, holds a substantial ownership interest.

“Restricted Stock” means Shares granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan which are subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the Award.

“Restricted Stock Units” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan whose value is denominated in Shares and is earned by satisfaction of specified service requirements and such other terms and conditions that the Committee may specify.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.

“Section 409A Award” means an Award that is subject to and intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

“Section 162(m)” means Section 162(m) of the Code.

Shares ” means shares of Class A Stock or Class 1 Stock and, with respect to any particular Award, means the shares of Class A Stock or shares of Class 1 Stock to which such Award relates.

Share Reserve ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) above.

Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with a related Stock Option, designated as a Stock Appreciation Right and granted pursuant to the terms of Section 6 of the Plan which is subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the Award and the Plan.

“Stock Option” means any Non-Qualified Stock Option or Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan which is subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the Award and the Plan.

“Subsidiaries” means (a) all corporations of which at least fifty percent of the voting stock is owned by the Company directly or through one or more corporations at least fifty percent of whose voting stock is so owned, and (b) partnerships or other entities in which the Company has, either directly or indirectly, at least a fifty percent interest in the capital or profits.



22



“Substitute Awards ” means any Awards granted to an Eligible Person in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, either awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.






Exhibit 99.1
IMAGE.JPG
NEWS RELEASE

CONTACTS
 
 
Media
Mike McGrew: 773-251-4934
Alicia Nestle: 585-678-7835
 
Investor Relations
Patty Yahn-Urlaub: 585-678-7483
Bob Czudak: 585-678-7170

Constellation Brands Elects Susan Somersille Johnson
of SunTrust Banks, Inc. to its Board of Directors

VICTOR, N.Y., July 20, 2017 – Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today that its board of directors increased the size of the board from 10 to 11 members. In addition, the board elected Susan Somersille Johnson, corporate executive vice president and chief marketing officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., to serve as a member of the board, effective as of the close of business on July 18, 2017.
“We’re pleased to welcome Susan to the board of directors,” said Constellation’s Chairman of the Board Richard Sands. “Susan’s deep understanding of brand strategy and marketing, as well as her passion for technology, will make a great addition to Constellation as we continue to build on the existing strengths of our board and the company’s leadership position in total beverage alcohol.”
Since August 2014, Johnson has served as corporate executive vice president and chief marketing officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., one of the nation’s largest and strongest financial services companies, where she oversees the company’s brand strategy, corporate and line of business marketing operations, and serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
“I’m excited to join the board of one of the most dynamic and successful total beverage alcohol companies in the U.S.,” said Johnson. “I have tremendous respect for Richard and Rob Sands and the company they have built. I look forward to sharing and contributing ideas from my own experiences, and collaborating with and learning from the other board members.”
Prior to SunTrust, Johnson led global marketing for NCR Corporation, a world leader in consumer transaction technologies, where she successfully developed a marketing strategy that revitalized and repositioned the brand. She held positions in customer marketing at Nokia, product planning and management at Nuance Communications, and enterprise and retail product marketing at Fujitsu. Johnson began her career with Apple as a product manager where she developed the pricing strategy for new products in Japan.





In 2017, Johnson was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise Magazine, which honors female African-American C-Suite executives from the top 1,000 publicly traded U.S. corporations. She serves on the Board of Directors of Wise Individualized Student Experience (WISE) Services, which partners with high schools throughout the country to prepare students of all ability levels to succeed beyond high school by developing real world skills.
Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
About Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a Fortune 500® company, is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, Italy and Canada. Constellation is the No. 3 beer company in the U.S. with high-end, iconic imported brands such as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra and Pacifico. The company’s beer portfolio also includes Ballast Point, one of the most awarded craft brewers in the U.S. In addition, Constellation is the world leader in premium wine, selling great brands that people love, including Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Mark West, Franciscan Estate, Ruffino and The Prisoner. The company’s premium spirits brands include SVEDKA Vodka, Casa Noble Tequila and High West Whiskey.
Based in Victor, N.Y., the company believes that industry leadership involves a commitment to brand building, our trade partners, the environment, our investors and to consumers around the world who choose our products when celebrating big moments or enjoying quiet ones. Founded in 1945, Constellation has grown to become a significant player in the beverage alcohol industry with more than 100 brands in its portfolio, about 40 facilities and approximately 9,000 talented employees. We express our company vision: to elevate life with every glass raised. To learn more, visit www.cbrands.com.

# # #
Constellation Brands Elects
New Board Member
SUSANSOMERSILLEJOHNSON.JPG

Susan Somersille Johnson
SunTrust Banks, Inc.