Constellation Brands 10-Q 2024-11-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended November 30, 2024

or

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-08495

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

50 East Broad Street, Rochester, New York 14614

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(585) 678-7100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

There were 180,704,555 shares of Class A Common Stock and 25,777 shares of Class 1 Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. For further information regarding such forward-looking statements, risks, and uncertainties, please see “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” under MD&A.

Defined Terms

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “CBI,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to Constellation Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We use terms in this Form 10-Q and in our Notes that are specific to us or are abbreviations that may not be commonly known or used.

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

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Introduction

This MD&A provides additional information on our businesses, current developments, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations. It should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and with our consolidated financial statements and notes included in our 2024 Annual Report. This MD&A is organized as follows:

Overview. This section provides a general description of our business, which we believe is important in understanding the results of our operations, financial condition, and potential future trends.

Strategy. This section provides a description of our strategy and a discussion of a recent development and significant divestitures, acquisitions, and investments.

Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations presented on a business segment basis for the three months ended November 30, 2024, and November 30, 2023, and nine months ended November 30, 2024, and November 30, 2023. In addition, a brief description of significant transactions and other items that affect the comparability of the results is provided.

Liquidity and capital resources. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows, outstanding debt, and liquidity position. Included in the analysis of outstanding debt is a discussion of the financial capacity available to fund our on-going operations and future commitments, as well as a discussion of other financing arrangements.

Overview

We are an international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy with powerful, consumer-connected, high-quality brands like Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Robert Mondavi Winery, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, The Prisoner Wine Company, High West, Casa Noble, and Mi CAMPO. In the U.S., we are one of the top growth contributors at retail among beverage alcohol suppliers. We are the second-largest beer company in the U.S. and continue to strengthen our leadership position as the #1 share gainer in the high-end beer segment and the overall U.S. beer market. In Fiscal 2024, Modelo Especial became the #1 beer brand in the U.S. beer market in dollar sales and continues to hold that position. Within wine and spirits, we have reshaped our brand portfolio to a higher-end focused business and continue our efforts to expand our supply channels through DTC and international markets. The strength of our brands makes us a supplier of choice to many of our consumers and our customers, which include wholesale distributors, retailers, and on-premise locations. We conduct our business through entities we wholly own as well as through a variety of joint ventures and other entities.

Our internal management financial reporting consists of two business divisions: (i) Beer and (ii) Wine and Spirits and we report our operating results in three segments: (i) Beer, (ii) Wine and Spirits, and (iii) Corporate

Operations and Other. In the Beer segment, our portfolio consists of high-end imported beer brands and ABAs. We have an exclusive perpetual brand license to produce our Mexican beer portfolio and to import, market, and sell such portfolio in the U.S. In the Wine and Spirits segment, we sell a portfolio that includes higher-end wine brands complemented by certain higher-end spirits brands. Amounts included in the Corporate Operations and Other segment consist of costs of corporate development, corporate finance, corporate strategy, executive management, growth, human resources, internal audit, investor relations, IT, legal, and public relations, as well as our Canopy investment and investments made through our corporate venture capital function. All costs included in the Corporate Operations and Other segment are general costs that are applicable to the consolidated group and are, therefore, not allocated to the other reportable segments. All costs reported within the Corporate Operations and Other segment are not included in our CODM’s evaluation of the operating income (loss) performance of the other reportable segments. The business segments reflect how our operations are managed, how resources are allocated, how operating performance is evaluated by senior management, and the structure of our internal financial reporting.

Goodwill impairment

As of August 31, 2024, in connection with negative trends within our Wine and Spirits business primarily attributable to our U.S. wholesale market, driven by declines in both the overall wine market and in our mainstream and premium wine brands, management updated its Fiscal 2025 outlook for this reporting unit. Based on the aforementioned factors, we performed an interim quantitative assessment for goodwill impairment which indicated that the carrying value of the Wine and Spirits reporting unit exceeded its estimated fair value, resulting in a $2,250.0 million goodwill impairment. This loss from impairment was included in goodwill impairment within our consolidated results for Nine Months 2025. See Notes 4, 5, and 9 for further discussion.

Strategy

Business strategy

Our overall strategic vision is to consistently deliver industry-leading total stockholder returns over the long-term through a focus on these key pillars:

• continue building strong brands people love with advantaged routes to market;

• build a culture that is consumer-obsessed and leverages robust innovation capabilities to stay on the forefront of consumer trends;

• deploy capital in line with disciplined and balanced priorities;

• deliver on impactful ESG initiatives that we believe are not only good business, but also good for the world; and

• empower the whole enterprise to achieve best-in-class operational efficiency.

We will continue to strive for success by ensuring consumer-led decision making drives all aspects of our business; building a diverse talent pipeline with best-in-class people development; investing in infrastructure that supports and enables our business, including data systems and architecture; and exemplifying intentional and proactive fiscal management. We place focus on positioning our portfolio on higher-margin, higher-growth categories of the beverage alcohol industry to align with consumer-led premiumization, product, and purchasing trends, which we anticipate will continue to drive faster relative growth rates across beer, wine, and spirits. To continue capitalizing on consumer-led premiumization trends, become more competitive, and grow our business, we have employed a strategy dedicated to organic growth and supplemented by targeted investments and acquisitions. We also believe a key component to driving faster relative growth rates is to invest and strengthen our position within the DTC and 3-tier eCommerce channels. We intend for our multi-year Digital Business Acceleration initiative to enable us to drive results by enhancing our technology capabilities in key areas. In Fiscal 2025, we continue to focus on end-to-end digital supply chain planning, logistics, and procurement, as well as introducing a new focus area, revenue growth management. Additionally, we believe our continued focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet provides a solid financial foundation to support our broader strategic initiatives.

Our business strate

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As a result of our global operating, investment, acquisition, divestiture, and financing activities, we are exposed to market risk associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to these risks, we periodically purchase and/or sell derivative instruments including foreign currency forward and option contracts, commodity swap contracts, interest rate swap contracts, and Pre-issuance hedge contracts. We use derivative instruments to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility resulting from shifts in market rates, as well as to hedge economic exposures. We do not enter into derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Foreign currency and commodity price risk

Foreign currency derivative instruments are or may be used to hedge existing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, forecasted foreign currency denominated sales/purchases to/from third parties as well as intercompany sales/purchases, intercompany principal and interest payments, and in connection with investments, acquisitions, or divestitures outside the U.S. As of November 30, 2024, we had exposures to foreign currency risk primarily related to the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar, euro, and New Zealand dollar. Approximately 100% of our balance sheet exposures and 92% of our forecasted transactional exposures for the remaining three months of Fiscal 2025 were hedged as of November 30, 2024.

Commodity derivative instruments are or may be used to hedge forecasted commodity purchases from third parties as either economic hedges or accounting hedges. As of November 30, 2024, exposures to commodity price risk which we are currently hedging include aluminum, corn, diesel fuel, and natural gas prices. Approximately 88% of our forecasted transactional exposures for the remaining three months of Fiscal 2025 were hedged as of November 30, 2024.

We have performed a sensitivity analysis to estimate our exposure to market risk of foreign exchange rates and commodity prices reflecting the impact of a hypothetical 10% adverse change in the applicable market. The volatility of the applicable rates and prices is dependent on many factors which cannot be forecasted with reliable accuracy. Gains or losses from the revaluation or settlement of the related underlying positions would substantially offset such gains or losses on the derivative instruments. The aggregate notional value, estimated fair value, and sensitivity analysis for our open foreign currency and commodity derivative instruments are summarized as follows:

Interest rate risk

The estimated fair value of our fixed interest rate debt is subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and foreign currency risk. In addition, we also have variable interest rate debt outstanding (primarily SOFR-based), certain of which includes a fixed margin subject to the same risks identified for our fixed interest rate debt.

As of November 30, 2024, and November 30, 2023, we had $75.0 million and $125.0 million, respectively, of outstanding cash flow designated, Pre-issuance hedge contracts designed to minimize interest rate volatility on our future debt issuances. There were no cash flow designated or undesignated interest rate swap contracts outstanding as of November 30, 2024, or November 30, 2023.

We have performed a sensitivity analysis to estimate our exposure to market risk of interest rates reflecting the impact of a hypothetical 1% increase in the prevailing interest rates. The volatility of the applicable rates is dependent on many factors which cannot be forecasted with reliable accuracy.

The aggregate notional value, estimated fair value, and sensitivity analysis for our outstanding fixed-rate debt, including current maturities, are summarized as follows:

A 1% hypothetical change in the prevailing interest rates would have increased interest expense on our variable interest rate debt by $3.7 million and $6.7 million for the nine months ended November 30, 2024, and November 30, 2023, respectively.

For additional discussion on our market risk, refer to Notes 3 and 4.

Disclosure controls and procedures

Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, that the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal control over financial reporting

In connection with the foregoing evaluation by our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, no changes were identified in the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2024, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

I****tem 1. Legal Proceedings.

For information regarding Legal Proceedings, see Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

In addition to information discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed in the 2024 Annual Report. The risk factors associated with our business have not materially changed compared to the risk factors disclosed in the 2024 Annual Report except for the updated risk factor below. The risk factor described below and the additional risks described in the 2024 Annual Report are not the only risks we face. Additional factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial could materially affect our business, liquidity, financial condition, and/or results of operations in future periods. The following risk factor is organized under a relevant heading; however, it may be relevant to other headings as well.

Strategic Risks

Dependence upon trademarks and proprietary rights, failure to protect our intellectual property rights

Our future success depends significantly on our ability to protect our current and future brands and products and to defend our intellectual property rights. We have been granted numerous trademark registrations and use certain trademarks under license covering our brands and products, and we have filed, and expect to continue to file or have filed on our behalf, trademark applications seeking to protect newly developed brands and products. We cannot be sure that trademark registrations will be issued with respect to any of such trademark applications. We could also, by omission, fail to timely renew or protect a trademark and our competitors could challenge, invalidate, or circumvent any existing or future trademarks issued to, or licensed by, us.

Our subsidiaries CB Brand Strategies, LLC, Crown Imports LLC, and Compañía Cervecera de Coahuila, S. de R.L. de C.V. were named as defendants in a lawsuit originally filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 15, 2021, and most recently amended in March 2022, by Cervecería Modelo de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. and Trademarks Grupo Modelo, S. de R.L. de C.V. The plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that our sub-license of the trademarks for our Mexican beer brands should not permit us to use the Corona brand name on our Corona Hard Seltzer or the Modelo brand name on our Modelo Ranch Water. At a trial in March 2023, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in our favor on all counts in the plaintiffs’ complaint, and the court entered judgment dismissing the complaint. In May 2023, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In March 2024, the Second Circuit issued an order affirming the judgment of the district court. Plaintiffs did not petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a Writ of Certiorari prior to the June 24, 2024 deadline. Consequently, the district court’s judgment dismissing this case is final and no longer subject to appeal.

We have been and may continue to be subject to other litigation related to our trademarks and intellectual property rights. Litigation is inherently unpredictable and subject to substantial uncertainties and unfavorable developments and resolutions could occur. A substantial adverse judgment or other unfavorable resolution of these matters or our failure to otherwise protect our intellectual property rights as well as the costs associated with such activities could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition, and/or results of operations.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

(1)In January 2021, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $2.0 billion of our publicly traded common stock under the 2021 Authorization. The Board of Directors did not specify a date upon which the 2021 Authorization would expire. Share repurchases for the periods included herein were effected through open market transactions and exclude the impact of Federal excise tax owed pursuant to the IRA. In November 2024, we utilized the remaining $11.9 million available under the 2021 Authorization to repurchase 50,740 shares of Class A Stock excluding the impact of Federal excise tax owed pursuant to the IRA, through open market transactions, thereby completing the 2021 Authorization.

(2)In November 2023, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized an additional repurchase of up to $2.0 billion of our publicly traded common stock under the 2023 Authorization. The Board of Directors did not specify a date upon which the 2023 Authorization would expire. Share repurchases for the periods included herein were effected through open market transactions and exclude the impact of Federal excise tax owed pursuant to the IRA.

10b5-1 Trading Plans

On November 14, 2024, William A. Newlands, our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors, adopted a 10b5-1 Trading Plan that provides for the potential sale of (i) 100% of the Net Shares Received upon the vesting of 12,772 restricted stock units and up to 19,670 performance stock units in May 2025, and (ii) the exercise and sale of up to 75,608 stock options, in each case in amounts and subject to certain price limitations set forth in the plan. The 19,670 performance stock units reflect a payout at the maximum level for this award; however, any actual payout of shares may be less than this amount and will be based on the level of achievement of the performance criteria associated with the award. The 10b5-1 Trading Plan was adopted during an open insider trading window, and no sales will commence under the plan until completion of the required cooling off period. The 10b5-1 Trading Plan terminates on November 11, 2025, unless terminated sooner in accordance with its terms.

During the three months ended November 30, 2024, none of our other directors or officers (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f)) adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

The Company agrees, upon request of the SEC, to furnish copies of each instrument that defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company or its subsidiaries that is not filed herewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) because the total amount of long-term debt authorized under such instrument does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

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, thereunto duly authorized.