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)   April 28, 2014

    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):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

(e) Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

At a meeting held on April 28, 2014, the Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) took the following actions with regard to certain compensatory arrangements for certain of the Company’s senior management personnel, including its Executive Officers.

Approval of New Annual Base Salaries

The Committee set new annual base salaries for the Company’s Executive Officers, which salaries will take effect on June 1, 2014. The following table sets forth the new annual base salary levels of those Executive Officers identified below:

 

Name and Position    New Annual
Base Salary 		 

Richard Sands,

Chairman of the Board

     $1,231,200   

Robert Sands,

President and Chief

Executive Officer

     $1,255,700   

Robert Ryder,

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

     $615,900   

John A. (Jay) Wright,

Executive Vice President and

President, Wine & Spirits Division

     $612,200   

Stock Option Awards

The Committee granted options to purchase shares of the Company’s Class 1 Common Stock under the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Plan”) to certain of the Company’s management personnel, including certain of its Executive Officers, subject to the Terms and Conditions Memorandum with respect to the Stock Plan, the form of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The following table sets forth information regarding grants to those Executive Officers identified below:

 

     

Name

 

  

Number of Stock Options  (1)

 

  

Exercise Price Per Share  (2)

 

 

Richard Sands

   105,200    $ 79.61
     

Robert Sands

   72,010    $ 79.61

 

Robert Ryder

   23,620    $ 79.61
     

John A. (Jay) Wright

   23,470    $ 79.61

 

(1) Each of the options granted has a 10-year term, subject to earlier termination upon the occurrence of certain events related to termination of employment. One-fourth of the options become exercisable on each of the following anniversary dates: April 28, 2015, April 28, 2016, April 28, 2017 and April 28, 2018 provided that the option holder remains in continuous employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries until that date. The options can vest at an earlier date upon the Retirement (as that term is defined in the Terms and Conditions Memorandum) at any time on or after November 1, 2014, death, or Disability (as that term is defined in the Terms and Conditions Memorandum) of the recipient of the grant. Under the terms of the Stock Plan, options become fully exercisable immediately in the event of a Change in Control (as that term is defined in the Stock Plan).

(2) The exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (into which, subject to certain requirements, shares of the Company’s Class 1 Common Stock are convertible on a one-for-one basis) on the New York Stock Exchange on April 28, 2014.

Restricted Stock Unit Grants

The Committee granted restricted stock units under the Stock Plan to certain of the Company’s management personnel, including certain of its Executive Officers, subject to the provisions of Restricted Stock Unit Agreements, the form of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference. The restricted stock units entitle the grantee to receive a single share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock for each restricted stock unit granted under the Stock Plan. On April 28, 2014, which was the date of the restricted stock unit grants, the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock was $79.61 per share. The following table sets forth information regarding grants to those Executive Officers identified below:

 

   
Name    Number of Units  (1)

 

Robert Sands

  

13,590

   

Robert Ryder

   4,460

 

John A. (Jay) Wright

   4,430

 

(1) Unvested restricted stock units under each of the grants are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events related to termination of employment. One-fourth of the awarded units vest on each of the following dates: May 1, 2015, May 1, 2016, May 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018 provided that the recipient of the grant remains in continuous employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries until that date. The grants can vest at an earlier date upon the Retirement (as that term is defined in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement) at any time on or after November 1, 2014, death, or RSU Disability (as that term is defined in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement) of the recipient of the award. Under the terms of the Stock Plan, grants become fully vested in the event of a RSU Change in Control (as that term is defined in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement).

Performance Share Unit Awards

The Committee awarded performance share units to be settled in the Company’s Class A Common Stock under the Stock Plan to certain of the Company’s management personnel, including certain of its Executive Officers, subject to the provisions of Performance Share Unit Agreements, the form of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference. The number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the performance share units will depend upon the Company’s Relative Total Stockholder Return (as that term is defined in the Performance Share Unit Agreement) during the period from March 1, 2014 through February 28, 2017. On April 28, 2014, which was the date of the performance share unit awards, the closing price of the

Company’s Class A Common Stock was $79.61 per share. The following table sets forth information regarding target awards to those Executive Officers identified below:

 

Name    Target Number
of Units  (1)

 

Robert Sands

   13,590
   

Robert Ryder

   4,460

 

John A. (Jay) Wright

   4,430

 

(1) Unvested performance share units are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events related to termination of employment. A participant may vest in his right to receive the applicable number of performance share units if he remains in continuous employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries until May 1, 2017. The participant will only vest in his right to receive the performance share units if the Company achieves certain Relative Total Stockholder Return results as set forth in the Performance Share Unit Agreement. In the event a recipient of an award retires (as the term “Retirement” is defined in the Performance Share Unit Agreement) at any time on or after November 1, 2014 and prior to May 1, 2017, vested awards are payable on a pro rata basis (as set forth in the Performance Share Unit Agreement) and settled between May 1, 2017 and May 15, 2017 (consistent with the settlement date for participants with continuing employment). Target awards can vest at an earlier date upon the death or PSU Disability (as that term is defined in the Performance Share Unit Agreement) of the recipient of the award or in the event of a PSU Change in Control (as that term is defined in the Performance Share Unit Agreement).

 

Item 9.01.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

Not applicable.

 

  (b) Pro forma financial information.

Not applicable.

 

  (c) Shell company transactions.

Not applicable.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

    

Exhibit No.

  

Description

   10.1    Form of Terms and Conditions of Stock Options – U.S. Memorandum with respect to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.
   10.2    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with respect to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.
   10.3    Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with respect to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 1, 2014

    CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.  
    By:  

/s/ Robert Ryder

 
      Robert Ryder  
     

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

(1)

  UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
  Not Applicable.

(2)

  PLAN OF ACQUISITION, REORGANIZATION, ARRANGEMENT, LIQUIDATION OR SUCCESSION
  Not Applicable.

(3)

  ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
  Not Applicable.

(4)

  INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES
  Not Applicable.

(7)

  CORRESPONDENCE FROM AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT REGARDING NON-RELIANCE ON A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AUDIT REPORT OR COMPLETED INTERIM REVIEW
  Not Applicable.

(10)

  MATERIAL CONTRACTS

(10.1)

  Form of Terms and Conditions of Stock Options – U.S. Memorandum with respect to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed herewith.) *

(10.2)

  Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with respect to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed herewith.) *

(10.3)

  Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with respect to the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed herewith.) *

(14)

  CODE OF ETHICS
  Not Applicable.

(16)

  LETTER RE CHANGE IN CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
  Not Applicable.

(17)

  CORRESPONDENCE ON DEPARTURE OF DIRECTOR
  Not Applicable.

 

(20)

  OTHER DOCUMENTS OR STATEMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS
  Not Applicable.

(23)

  CONSENTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
  Not Applicable.

(24)

  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  Not Applicable.

(99)

  ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS
  Not Applicable.

(100)

  XBRL-RELATED DOCUMENTS
  Not Applicable.

(101)

  INTERACTIVE DATA FILE
  Not Applicable.

* Designates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO

MEMORANDUM

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTIONS – U.S.

CLASS 1 COMMON STOCK

[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 $.01 per share, of the Company (a “Share” or the “Shares”) to employees and non-employee directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Plan) (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.

 

1. Term of Options . The Options hereby granted on                      (the “Date of Grant”) to                      to purchase up to                      Shares will terminate and expire, to the extent not previously exercised, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on                      , 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 set forth in the following vesting schedule: 25% of the shares subject to the Options (the “Option Shares”) shall become exercisable on                      ; an additional 25% of the Option Shares shall become exercisable on                      ; an additional 25% of the Option Shares shall become exercisable on                      ; and the remaining balance of the Option Shares shall become exercisable on                      . No Options may be exercisable after the Expiration Date.

 

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  (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, $              per share (the “Exercise Price”), for the number of 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 $.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 or the Participant’s Employer (as defined in Section 3 below) 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 have been resolved to the satisfaction of the Company or the Employer.

 

  (d) Clawback . If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to include an additional “clawback” or “recoupment” provision to outstanding awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision shall also apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Date of Grant and the Company shall notify the Participant of such additional provision.

 

3. Termination of Relationship .

 

  (a) Acceleration upon Termination of Relationship.   Subject to Section 3(c)(iii) below, if a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the “Employer”) for reasons of Retirement (as defined below) at any time on or after November 1, 20__, Disability (as defined below) or death, all the unvested Option Shares shall become immediately vested and exercisable on the date of Retirement, date of Disability or date of death. For purposes of the Agreement:

 

  (i) “Retirement” means the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than Cause, death or disability (including but not limited to a Disability) on or after the date the Participant attains Retirement Eligibility with respect to this Award;

 

  (ii) “Retirement Eligibility” with respect to this Award means a Participant attaining age sixty (60) and completing ten (10) Full Years of continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

3

 

  (iii) “Full Year” means a twelve-month period beginning on the date of the Participant’s commencement of service for the Company or a Subsidiary and each anniversary thereof; and

 

  (iv) “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.

The Participant’s continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

  (b) Duration of Exercise Following Termination of Relationship.   Subject to Section 3(c) below, Options which have vested prior to the date that the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries may be exercised as follows:

 

  (i) within ninety (90) days after the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries is referred to as the “Termination Date”), except as otherwise provided in Subsections 3(b)(ii), (iii) and (iv) below;

 

  (ii) if the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries as a result of the Participant’s Retirement, within three (3) years after the date of Retirement;

 

  (iii) if the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries as a result of a Disability, within three (3) years after the date of Disability; or

 

  (iv) if the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries as a result of death, within three (3) years after the date of death by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, legal representative or permitted transferee.

 

  (c) Limitations on Exercise Following Termination of Relationship .

 

  (i) The time periods set forth in Section 3(b) above are subject to the restriction that Options may not be exercised after their Expiration Date.

 

  (ii) The time periods set forth in Section 3(b) are also subject to the restriction that no Option may be exercised by any person if the Participant (A) is, or at any time after the date of grant has been, in competition with the Company or its affiliates, or (B) has been terminated by the Company or its Subsidiaries for Cause, as defined in the Plan.

 

  (iii)

Except as otherwise provided by the Committee administering the Plan or by an employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or its

 

4

 

  Subsidiaries, (A) the only Options that may be exercised after the Termination Date, date of Retirement, date of Disability or date of death (as applicable, the “Event Date”) are those Options that were exercisable by the Participant on the Event Date; and (B) any Options which are not exercisable on the Event Date will automatically terminate on the Event Date.

 

  (iv) Any Options which are exercisable on the Event Date, but which are not exercised within the applicable period specified in Section 3(b) above, will automatically terminate at the end of that applicable period.

 

  (v) The Participant ceases to be employed with the Company or its Subsidiaries on the date that the entity employing the Participant ceases to be a Subsidiary, or, if earlier, the later of (A) the date that is the last day of any statutory notice of termination period applicable to the Participant pursuant to applicable employment standards legislation (but only if the Participant is entitled to such a notice under applicable employment standards legislation), and (B) the date that is designated by the Company or any Subsidiary as the last day of the Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, and the date that the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries specifically does not mean the date on which any period of reasonable notice that the Company or any Subsidiary may be required at law to provide to the Participant expires.

 

  (vi) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an authorized leave of absence pursuant to a written agreement or other leave entitling the Participant to reemployment in a comparable position by law or Rule shall not constitute a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan unless the Participant does not return at or before the end of the authorized leave or within the period for which re-employment is guaranteed by law or Rule.

 

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

 

5. 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 (a) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or (b) 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, hypothetication, 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.

 

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.

 

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7. 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.

 

8. 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.

 

9. 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.

 

10. 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.

 

11. 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.

 

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

 

13. 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.

 

14. 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.

 

15.

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

 

6

 

  Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Company at any time.

 

16. 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.

 

17. 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).

 

18. Responsibility for Taxes .  Regardless of any action the Company or any of its Subsidiaries takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, 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 or any of its Subsidiaries. The Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (a) 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 (b) 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 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 Company and/or its Subsidiaries may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

 

19. Withholding .  The Participant agrees as a condition of his or her participation in the Plan to make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including the Employer) to enable it to satisfy all 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:

 

  (a) by the Company or the Employer withholding all applicable amounts from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation due to the Participant,

 

  (b) by surrender to the Company by attestation to the ownership of Shares already owned that would satisfy the withholding amount, or

 

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  (c) by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Options a number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value that would satisfy the withholding amount, provided, however, that in no event may the number of Shares withheld in the case of this clause (c) exceed the applicable statutory minimum withholding rates.

Furthermore, the Participant agrees to pay the Company or the Employer any amount the Company or the Employer 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 wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or the Employer 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 or the Employer are satisfied.

 

20. 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.

 

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

 

  (a) Nothing in the Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or the Subsidiary, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate the employment of the Participant under applicable law.

 

  (b) The transfer of the employment of the Participant between the Company and any one of its Subsidiaries (or between Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed a termination of service.

 

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  (c) Nothing herein contained shall affect the Participant’s right to participate in and receive benefits under and in accordance with the then current provisions of any pension, insurance or other Participant welfare plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

  (d) 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.

 

  (e) 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. 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.

 

24.

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

 

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  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 UNIT AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Name of Participant:

Date of Grant:

Number of Units:

Value of Each Unit on Date of Grant:

Initial Vesting Date: [Vesting Date]

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. 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.

 

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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 Date of Grant 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: 25% of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the Initial Vesting Date specified above (the “Initial Vesting Date”); an additional 25% of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the first anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date; an additional 25% of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the second anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date; and the remaining balance of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the third anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date (the “Final Vesting Date”); provided, in each case, that the Participant remains in continuous employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries until such date.

(b)     Death or Disability .  If the Participant dies or incurs a RSU Disability (as defined below) while employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries prior to the Final 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)     Change in Control .  The Restricted Stock Units are subject to the following rules in the event the Participant remains in continuous employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries 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 Final 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 (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.

(d)     Retirement .  Subject to the requirements of Section 7(c), if the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to the Final Vesting Date as a result of the Participant’s Retirement at any time on or after November 1, 20__, any Restricted Stock Units that have not vested prior to the date of the Participant’s Retirement shall immediately vest on such Retirement. For purposes of this Agreement:

(i)    “Retirement” means the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than Cause, death or disability (including but not limited to a RSU Disability) on or after the date the Participant attains Retirement Eligibility with respect to this Award;

 

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(ii)    “Retirement Eligibility” with respect to this Award means a Participant attaining age sixty (60) and completing ten (10) Full Years of continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(iii)    “Full Year” means a twelve-month period beginning on the date of the Participant’s commencement of service for the Company or a Subsidiary and each anniversary thereof.

The Participant’s continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion (subject to Section 6 and other applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”), to the extent applicable).

(e)     Leave of Absence . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required under Section 409A, an authorized leave of absence pursuant to a written agreement or other leave entitling the Participant to reemployment in a comparable position by law or Rule shall not constitute a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan and shall not interrupt the Participant’s continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries unless the Participant does not return at or before the end of the authorized leave or within the period for which re-employment is guaranteed by law or Rule.

(f)    Each date on which the Restricted Share Units (or portion thereof) vest in accordance with this Agreement shall be considered a “Vesting Date”.

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 the 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 employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries for any reason (including, but without limitation, an event that results in the entity employing the Participant to cease to be the Company or a Subsidiary) 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 .   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any delivery of Shares to the Participant is made upon, or as a result of the Participant’s termination of employment (other than as a result of death), and the Participant is a “specified employee” (as that term is defined under Section 409A) at the time the Participant becomes entitled to delivery of such Shares, and provided further that the delivery of such Shares does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Section 409A, then no such delivery of such Shares shall be made to the Participant under this Agreement until the date that is the earlier to occur of: (i) the Participant’s death, or

 

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(ii) six (6) months and one (1) day following the Participant’s termination of employment (the “Delay Period”). For purposes of applying the provisions of Section 409A, each group of 25% of the total Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder that would normally vest on the Initial Vesting Date and each anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date thereafter under Section 2(a) shall be treated as a separate payment. For purposes of this Agreement, to the extent the Restricted Stock Units (or applicable portion thereof) are subject to the provision of Section 409A, the terms “ceases to be employed”, “termination of employment” and variations thereof, as used in this Agreement, are intended to mean a termination of employment that constitutes a “separation from service” under 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 Sections 2 and, if applicable, 6 above. Fractional Shares will not be issued upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units. Where a fractional Share would be owed to the Participant upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units, a cash payment equivalent will be paid in place of any 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. Subject to Section 7(c), the Shares to be issued upon settlement will be issued as soon as practicable to the Participant following each Vesting Date; provided that:

(i)    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 (i) the Participant’s tax year that includes the Vesting Date, or (ii) the Company’s tax year that includes the Vesting Date; and

(ii)    for any Restricted Stock Units for which the Vesting Date is after the date the Participant attains Retirement Eligibility and which would constitute a “deferral of compensation” under Section 409A, Shares will be issued:

(A)    on the applicable Vesting Date, as described in 2(a);

(B)    on the thirtieth (30th) day following the Participant’s termination of employment as a result of Retirement, on or after November 1, 20__, subject to the Delay Period (as described in Section 6) and the release (as described in Section 7(c)) to the extent applicable;

 

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(C)    within thirty (30) days following a RSU Change in Control with respect to Restricted Stock Units that vest as a result of a RSU Change in Control; or

(D)    in the event of a Participant’s death or RSU Disability, within thirty (30) days of the date of death or RSU Disability.

(c)     Execution of Separation Agreement and Release.   The Company may require, in its sole discretion, that Shares to be delivered as a result of the Participant’s Retirement shall only be delivered if the Participant executes and delivers to the Company, a full general release, in a form acceptable to the Company, releasing all claims, known or unknown, that the Participant may have through the date of such release against the Company or its affiliates and such release becoming legally effective and not subject to revocation within thirty (30) days following the Participant’s termination of employment. To the extent applicable, if the requirements of the preceding sentence have not been met, the Participant will not be entitled to receive any Shares under any Restricted Stock Unit that would otherwise vest as a result of the Participant’s Retirement. The provisions of this Section 7(c) shall not affect the timing of the issuance of Shares provided under Section 7(b)(ii)(B).

(d)     Clawback . If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to include an additional “clawback” or “recoupment” provision to outstanding awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision shall also apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Date of Grant.

8.     Tax Liability & Withholding . The Company or one of its Subsidiaries shall assess and withhold any federal, state or local income taxes, social security taxes, or other employment withholding taxes that may arise or be applicable in connection with the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including, without limitation, any tax liability associated with the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or sale of the underlying Shares (the “Tax Liability”). These requirements may change from time to time as laws or interpretations change. Regardless of the Company’s or the Subsidiary’s actions in this regard, the Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Tax Liability shall be the Participant’s sole responsibility and liability.

The Participant acknowledges that the Company’s obligation to issue or deliver Shares shall be subject to satisfaction of the Tax Liability. Unless otherwise determined by the Company, withholding obligations shall be satisfied by having the Company or one of its Subsidiaries withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Participant upon settlement of the vested Restricted Stock Units; provided that amounts withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligations. Such withheld Shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value as of the date the withholding obligations are satisfied. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries may also satisfy the Tax Liability by deduction from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or the Subsidiary. If the Company or a Subsidiary does not elect to have withholding obligations satisfied by either withholding Shares or by deduction from the Participant’s wages or other compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or the Subsidiary, the Participant agrees to pay the Company or the Subsidiary the amount of the Tax Liability in cash (or by check) as directed by the Company or the Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Participant shall not be entitled to satisfy any Tax Liability or withholding obligations that arise as a result of this Agreement by delivering to the Company any shares of capital stock of the Company.

9.     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

 

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stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares, if any.

10.     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)    Nothing in the Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or the Subsidiary, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate the employment of the Participant under applicable law.

(i)    The transfer of the employment of the Participant between the Company and any one of its Subsidiaries (or between Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed a termination of service.

(j)    Nothing herein contained shall affect the Participant’s right to participate in and receive benefits under and in accordance with the then current provisions of any pension, insurance or other Participant welfare plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(k)    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.

(l)    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.

 

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11.     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.

12.     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.

13.     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 12 of the Agreement. The Participant may only sell such Shares in compliance with such notification by the Company.

14.     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.

15.     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.

16.     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.

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

18.     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.

19.     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.

20.     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,

 

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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.

21.     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 as may be applicable to the Participant. 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 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 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 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.

22.     Authorization to Release and Transfer Necessary Personal Information .   The Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, processing and transfer of personal data. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold certain personal information about the Participant, including the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number or other employee identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all options or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, purchased, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for the purpose of managing and administering the Plan (“ Data ”). The Company and its related entities may transfer Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of the Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its related entities may each further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company or any such related entity in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Participant acknowledges that the transferors and transferees of such Data may be located anywhere in the world and hereby authorizes each of them to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any transfer of such Data as may be required for the administration of the Plan and/or the subsequent holding of Shares on the Participant’s behalf to a broker or to other third party with whom the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares acquired under the Plan (whether pursuant to the Award or otherwise). 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 his or her human resources representative.

 

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23.     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

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Name of Participant:

Date of Grant:

Target Number of Performance Share Units:

Value of Each Unit on Date of Grant:

Service Vesting Date:         [Vesting Date]

Constellation Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby awards to the designated participant (“Participant”), the opportunity to receive the Performance Share Units described herein under the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Performance Share Units consist of the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (“Shares”). Generally, the Participant will not receive any Performance Share Units unless specified service and performance requirements are satisfied. This Performance Share Unit Agreement is subject to the attached Terms and Conditions of Performance Share Unit Agreement (collectively with this document, this “Agreement”) and terms of the Plan.

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL OF THE SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON VESTING AND FORFEITURE OF THE PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS COVERED BY THIS AWARD IS CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 2 THROUGH 8 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 PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS (WHICH SERVES AS MY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF THIS AGREEMENT), I AGREE THAT MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN IS GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN AND THIS AGREEMENT. IF I FAIL TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AWARD WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS OF THE DATE OF GRANT SET FORTH ABOVE, THE COMPANY MAY DETERMINE THAT THIS AWARD HAS BEEN FORFEITED.

 

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT

1.         Summary .   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 the opportunity to receive Performance Share Units, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Agreement and the Plan. Generally, the Participant will not receive any Performance Share Units unless the specified service and performance requirements set forth herein are satisfied.

2.         Vesting in Performance Share Units .

(a)         Performance and service vesting requirements .   Except as otherwise provided in Section 2(b), both performance and service vesting requirements must be satisfied before the Participant can earn Performance Share Units under this Agreement. With certain exceptions noted below, the Participant will vest in his/her right to receive Performance Share Units under this Agreement if the Participant remains in continuous employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries until the Service Vesting Date (as set forth on the first page of this Agreement) and the Company achieves the “Relative Total Stockholder Return” targets specified in Schedule A. If the Participant remains in continuous employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries until the Service Vesting Date, the Participant shall vest in his/her right to receive a number of Performance Share Units based on the performance matrix set forth in Schedule A. Schedule A sets forth how the number of the Participant’s vested Performance Share Units is calculated.

(b)         Special Vesting Rules .

(i)         Death or PSU Disability .   If the Participant dies or incurs a PSU Disability (as defined below) while employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries prior to the Service Vesting Date, the Participant shall vest in a number of Performance Share Units equal to the number of the Participant’s Target Number of Performance Share Units, provided that such Performance Share Units were not previously forfeited. A “PSU Disability” is 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. Any Performance Share Units that do not vest under this provision shall be forfeited upon the Participant’s death or PSU Disability.

(ii)         PSU Change in Control .   The Performance Share Units are subject to the following rules in the event the Participant remains in continuous employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries 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 Service 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”) (a “PSU Change in Control”), the Participant shall vest in a number of Performance Share Units equal to the number of the Participant’s Target Number of Performance Share Units;

 

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provided that such Performance Share Units were not previously forfeited. Any Performance Share Units that do not vest upon a PSU Change in Control shall be forfeited upon the PSU Change of Control.

(iii)       Retirement .   Subject to the requirements of Section 8(d), if the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to the Service Vesting Date as a result of the Participant’s Retirement at any time on or after November 1, 20__, the Participant shall be deemed to have met the service vesting requirements under this Agreement and shall be eligible to receive a number of Performance Share Units equal to (X) multiplied by (Y), where: (X) equals the a number of Performance Share Units to which the Participant would be entitled based on actual performance during the Valuation Period as described in the performance matrix set forth in Schedule A; and (Y) is a ratio, the numerator of which equals the number of days the Participant remained in continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the Valuation Period as described in the performance matrix set forth in Schedule A (“Performance Start Date”) until Retirement, and the denominator of which equals the number of days from the Performance Start Date through the end of the Valuation Period as described in the performance matrix set forth in Schedule A. For purposes of this Agreement:

(1)         “Retirement” means the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than Cause, death or disability (including but not limited to a PSU Disability) on or after the date the Participant attains Retirement Eligibility with respect to this Award;

(2)        “Retirement Eligibility” with respect to this Award means a Participant attaining age sixty (60) and completing ten (10) Full Years of continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(3)        “Full Year” means a twelve-month period beginning on the date of the Participant’s commencement of service for the Company or a Subsidiary and each anniversary thereof.

The Participant’s continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion (subject to Section 7 and other applicable requirements of Section 409A, to the extent applicable).

(iv)         Other Termination .   In the event that the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries prior to the Service Vesting Date or, if earlier, the date of a PSU Change in Control for any reason other than death or Retirement, the Participant shall forfeit his/her right to all unvested and unpaid Performance Share Units. The Participant will cease to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries if the Participant is employed by an entity that ceases to be a Subsidiary.

(v)          Leave of Absence .   Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required under Section 409A, an authorized leave of absence pursuant to a written agreement or other leave entitling the Participant to re-employment in a comparable position by law or Rule shall not constitute a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan and shall not interrupt

 

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the Participant’s continuous employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries unless the Participant does not return at or before the end of the authorized leave or within the period for which re-employment is guaranteed by law or Rule.

3.         Time and Form of Payment .   Payouts of vested Performance Share Units shall be made in the form of shares of the Company’s Class A Stock. Each Performance Share Unit awarded under this Agreement consists of the right to receive one share of Class A Stock. Vested Performance Share Units shall be paid as follows:

(a)         Payments for Reasons other than Death, PSU Disability and PSU Change of Control .   The Participant’s vested Performance Share Units under Sections 2(a) and 2(b)(iii), as applicable, shall be paid on or after May 1, 20__ but no later than May 15, 20__, but payment shall only be made after the Committee completes the written certification set forth in Section 6(d) below with respect to this Award and subject to Section 8(d) (if applicable).

(b)         Death or PSU Disability .   If the Participant dies or incurs a PSU Disability while employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries prior to the Service Vesting Date, the Participant’s vested Performance Share Units shall be paid within thirty (30) days following the date of the Participant’s death or PSU Disability.

(c)         PSU Change in Control .   Upon the occurrence of an event that is a PSU Change in Control, the Participant’s vested Performance Share Units shall be paid on or within thirty (30) days following the date of such PSU Change in Control.

4.         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 Performance Share 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 the deferral of compensation under Section 409A, may not be accelerated except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A. The Committee has complete and full discretionary authority to make all decisions and determinations under this Agreement, and all decisions and determinations by the Committee will be final and binding upon all persons, including, but not limited to, the Participant and his/her personal representatives, heirs and assigns.

5.         Death of Participant .   Any distribution or delivery to be made to the Participant under this Agreement shall, if the Participant is then deceased, be made to the Participant’s designated beneficiary, or if no beneficiary survives the Participant, the Participant does not designate any beneficiary 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 such permitted transferee upon the Participant’s death 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.

 

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6.         Code Section 162(m) .   This Award is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the provisions of this Award shall be interpreted and administered consistently with that intent. In that light, the following rules shall apply to the award:

(a)         The Committee shall establish the performance targets and terms of this Agreement within 90 days of the commencement of the Company’s 20__ fiscal year. The satisfaction of the performance targets for paying Performance Share Units shall be substantially uncertain at the time they are established.

(b)         The amount of Performance Share Units that vest shall be computed under an objective formula and the Committee shall have no discretionary authority to increase the amount of the Performance Share Units that vest or alter the methodology for calculating the Performance Share Units that vest, except as permitted by Code Section 162(m) and the Plan.

(c)         The maximum aggregate number of Shares underlying the Awards of Performance Share Units (together with any Restricted Stock Units) granted under the Plan to any one Participant during any fiscal year of the Company cannot exceed 2,000,000 Shares.

(d)         Before any Performance Share Units are paid to the Participant, the Committee will certify, in writing, the Company’s satisfaction of the pre-established performance target and the number of Performance Share Units payable to the Participant.

7.         Code Section 409A .   Performance Share 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 Performance Share 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.

8.         Settlement of Performance Share Units .

(a)         Status as a Creditor .   Unless and until Performance Share Units have vested in accordance with Section 2 above and become payable under Section 3 above, the Participant will have no settlement right with respect to any Performance Share Units. Prior to settlement of any vested Performance Share Units, the vested Performance Share 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 Performance Share Units is subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors.

(b)         Form of Settlement .   Performance Share Units will be settled in the form of Shares of Class A Stock. Fractional Shares will not be issued upon the vesting of Performance Share Units. In the event that a fractional Share is owed to the Participant, instead

 

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of paying such fractional Share, the Company shall round up the Shares that are payable to the Participant to the nearest whole number. 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 Performance Share Units.

(c)         Clawback .   If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to include an additional “clawback” or “recoupment” provision to outstanding awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision shall automatically apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Date of Grant.

(d)         Execution of Separation Agreement and Release .   The Company may require, in its sole discretion, that Shares to be delivered as a result of the Participant’s Retirement, if any, shall only be delivered if the Participant executes and delivers to the Company, a full general release, in a form acceptable to the Company, releasing all claims, known or unknown, that the Participant may have through the date of such release against the Company or its affiliates and such release becoming legally effective and not subject to revocation within thirty (30) days following the Participant’s termination of employment. To the extent applicable, if the requirements of the preceding sentence have not been met, the participant will not be entitled to receive any Shares under any Performance Share Units that would otherwise vest as a result of the Participant’s Retirement. The provisions of this Section 8(d) shall not affect the timing of the issuance of Shares provided under Section 3(a).

9.         Tax Liability and Withholding .   The Company or one of its Subsidiaries shall assess and withhold any federal, state or local income taxes, social security taxes, or other employment withholding taxes that may arise or be applicable in connection with the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including, without limitation, any tax liability associated with the grant or vesting of the Performance Share Units or sale of the underlying Shares (the “Tax Liability”). These requirements may change from time to time as laws or interpretations change. Regardless of the Company’s or the Subsidiary’s actions in this regard, the Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Tax Liability shall be the Participant’s sole responsibility and liability.

The Participant acknowledges that the Company’s obligation to issue or deliver Shares shall be subject to satisfaction of the Tax Liability. Unless otherwise determined by the Company, withholding obligations shall be satisfied by having the Company or one of its Subsidiaries withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Participant upon settlement of the vested Performance Share Units; provided that amounts withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligations. Such withheld Shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value as of the date the withholding obligations are satisfied. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries may also satisfy the Tax Liability by deduction from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or the Subsidiary. If the Company or a Subsidiary does not elect to have withholding obligations satisfied by either withholding Shares or by deduction from the Participant’s wages or other compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or the Subsidiary, the Participant agrees to pay the Company or the Subsidiary the amount of the Tax Liability in cash (or by check) as directed by the Company or the Subsidiary. Notwithstanding

 

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anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Participant shall not be entitled to satisfy any Tax Liability or withholding obligations that arise as a result of this Agreement by delivering to the Company any shares of capital stock of the Company.

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 Performance Share Units (whether vested or unvested) or underlying Shares unless and until such Performance Share 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 Performance Share Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Performance Share Units, or benefits in lieu of the Performance Share Units, even if the Performance Share Units have been granted repeatedly in the past.

(c)         All determinations with respect to future Performance Share Units, if any, including, but not limited to, the times when Performance Share Units shall be granted or when Performance Share 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 Performance Share 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 Performance Share Units shall be construed to create an employment relationship where any employment relationship did not otherwise already exist.

(h)         Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or the Subsidiary, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate the employment of the Participant under applicable law.

(i)         The transfer of the employment of the Participant between the Company and any one of its Subsidiaries (or between Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed a termination of service.

 

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(j)         Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the Participant’s right to participate in and receive benefits under and in accordance with the then current provisions of any pension, insurance or other employee welfare plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary in which the Participant is entitled to participate.

(k)         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.

(l)         The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on participation in the Plan, on the Performance Share 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 laws and Rules 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 Stock shall be increased, reduced or otherwise changed, the Performance Share 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 employment records as the Participant’s address.

14.         Transferability .   The Participant shall have no right to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the Performance Share Units in any manner. Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred or encumbered only after they are issued to the Participant upon settlement. Following the settlement and issuance of Shares, in the event the Company permits the Participant to arrange for a 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 notify the Participant in accordance with Section 13 of this Agreement. The Participant may only sell such Shares in compliance with such notification from the Company.

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

 

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16.         Plan Governs .   This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.

17.         Governing Law .   This 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 this Agreement.

19.         Severability .   In the event that any provision in this 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 this Agreement.

20.         Modifications to this Agreement .   This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. The Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not executing this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this 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 a Performance Share Unit 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 Performance Share 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 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 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 Performance Share Units evidenced by this 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

 

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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 Performance Share Units evidenced by this 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.

23.         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 this 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 agrees 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 effected by a third party engaged by the Company to provide administrative services related to the Plan.

24.         Authorization to Release and Transfer Necessary Personal Information .   The Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, processing and transfer of personal data. The Company, and its Subsidiaries hold certain personal information about the Participant, including the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number or other employee identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all options or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, purchased, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for the purpose of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”). The Company and its related entities may transfer Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of the Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its related entities may each further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company or any such related entity in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Participant acknowledges that the transferors and transferees of such Data may be located anywhere in the world and hereby authorizes each of them to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any transfer of such Data as may be required for the administration of the Plan and/or the subsequent holding of Shares on the Participant’s behalf to a broker or to other third party with whom the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares acquired under the Plan (whether pursuant to the Award or otherwise). The Participant further acknowledges that withdrawal of consent may affect his or her ability to vest in or realize benefits from the Performance Share Units, and his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of refusal

 

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to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her human resources representative.

 

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SCHEDULE A

The number of Performance Share Units to which the Participant will be entitled if the Participant satisfies the applicable service requirements will be calculated by the Committee based on the Company’s “Relative Total Stockholder Return” (as defined below). Specifically, the Committee shall calculate the number of vested Performance Share Units for the Participant if the Participant satisfies the applicable service requirements by multiplying the Participant’s Target Number of Performance Share Units by the applicable percentage determined as set forth below based on the Company’s Relative Total Stockholder Return results for the specified period. As noted in the Terms and Conditions to this Agreement, special rules apply under certain circumstances, such as death, PSU Disability, PSU Change in Control and Retirement.

The following table shall apply for calculating this Award:

Relative Total Stockholder Return Over the Company’s 20    - 20     Fiscal Years

 

25 th Percentile

 

33.3 ths Percentile

 

50 th Percentile

 

62.5 ths Percentile

 

75 th Percentile

25%   50%   100%   150%   200%

The maximum percentage by which the Participant’s Target Number of Performance Share Units is multiplied cannot exceed 200%, and no Performance Share Units shall vest unless the Company’s Relative Total Stockholder Return performance for the specified period is equal to or greater than the level required to earn an award of 25% of the Participant’s Target Number of Performance Share Units.

If the Company’s Relative Total Stockholder Return performance falls between designated levels of performance set forth in the above table, the percentage by which the Participant’s Target Number of Performance Share Units is multiplied will be calculated by linear interpolation.

Relative Total Stockholder Return shall mean the percentile ranking of the Company’s Total Stockholder Return (as defined below) measured relative to each company in the Comparator Group’s Comparator Total Stockholder Return (as defined below) during the period from March 1, 20__ through February __, 20__ (the “Valuation Period”). The Comparator Group shall consist of those companies that are included in the S&P 500 Index during both the last ten (10) trading days of the Company’s 20__ fiscal year (ending February __, 20__) and the last ten (10) trading days of the Company’s 20__ fiscal year (ending February __, 20__) and only relates to the class of stock included in that index.

The percentile ranking of the Company’s Relative Total Stockholder Return shall be that fraction which is calculated by dividing the number of companies in the Comparator Group whose Comparator Total Stockholder Return performance is exceeded by the Company (based on the Total Stockholder Return) by the total number of companies in the Comparator Group.

Except as noted in this Schedule A, no adjustments for Extraordinary Items shall be made when calculating Relative Total Stockholder Return.

 

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Total Stockholder Return shall mean the percentage rate of growth during the Valuation Period of an investment of $1,000 in shares of Class A Common Stock on the first day of the Valuation Period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends paid during the Valuation Period and adjusted in an equitable manner for any material stock splits, reverse stock splits or similar transactions.

Comparator Total Stockholder Return for an applicable company in the Comparator Group shall mean the percentage rate of growth during the Valuation Period of an investment of $1,000 in shares of the common stock of the applicable company in the Comparator Group on the first day of the Valuation Period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends paid during the Valuation Period and adjusted in an equitable manner for any material stock splits, reverse stock splits or similar transactions.

Total Stockholder Return for the Company or any applicable company in the Comparator Group shall be measured based on the average Fair Market Value of the applicable share of stock for the last ten (10) trading days prior to the commencement of the Company’s 20__ fiscal year on March 1, 20__ as compared to the average Fair Market Value of the same shares for the last ten (10) trading days of the Company’s 20__ fiscal year ending on February __, 20__. The Fair Market Value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock or of a share of the common stock of a company in the Comparator Group shall mean the closing price of a share of that stock on the New York Stock Exchange or other national stock exchange on which that stock is actively traded for that date as reported in the Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition or such other standard reference service as the Committee may select.