SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
SANDS RICHARD

(Last) (First) (Middle)
C/O CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
370 WOODCLIFF DRIVE, SUITE 300

(Street)
FAIRPORT NY 14450

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. [ STZ/STZ.B ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director X 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Chairman of Board
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/01/2008
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common Stock 12/28/2007 G V 7,800 D $0 2,162,842(1) D
Class A Common Stock 04/01/2008 A 58,300 A $0 2,221,142 D
Class A Common Stock 15,720(2) I by Spouse
Class A Common Stock 6,700(2) I By Spouse as custodian for daughter under UTMA
Class A Common Stock 6,700(2) I by Spouse as custodian for son under UTMA
Class A Common Stock 768(3) I by Partnership(4)
Class A Common Stock 471,608(3) I by Partnership(5)
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $19.12 04/01/2008 A 437,000 04/01/2009(6) 04/01/2018 Class 1 Common Stock 437,000 $0 437,000 D
Class B (convertible) Common Stock (7) (7) (7) Class A Common Stock 3,908,232 3,908,232(9)(8) D
Class B (convertible) Common Stock (7) (7) (7) Class A Common Stock 2,000,000 2,000,000(9) I by GRAT-II
Class B (convertible) Common Stock (7) (7) (7) Class A Common Stock 1,350,000 1,350,000(2) I by Trust(10)
Class B (convertible) Common Stock (7) (7) (7) Class A Common Stock 147,432 147,432(3) I by Trust(11)
Class B (convertible) Common Stock (7) (7) (7) Class A Common Stock 5,431,712 5,431,712(3) I by Partnership(5)
Class B (convertible) Common Stock (7) (7) (7) Class A Common Stock 667,368 667,368(3) I by Partnership(4)
Explanation of Responses:
1. 1,433,336 of these shares were previously reported as indirectly owned as a remainder interest after a life estate of Marilyn Sands. On November 18, 2007, the life estate of Marilyn Sands lapsed and ownership of such shares fully vested in the reporting person.
2. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to securities held in this manner, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.
3. Except to the extent that the reporting person has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in securities owned by the applicable trust, partnership or limited liability company, the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to securities held in this manner. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.
4. Held by M, L, R & R ("MLR&R"), a general partnership of which the reporting person is a general partner and in which he has a pecuniary interest. The reporting person is a beneficiary and trustee of The Marvin Sands Master Trust, which is also a partner in MLR&R.
5. Held by CWC Partnership I, a general partnership of which the reporting person is a managing partner and in which he has a pecuniary interest.
6. This option becomes exercisable at the rate of 25% per year beginning on the date specified.
7. Shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer on a one-to-one basis at any time at the option of the holder. The ticker symbol for Class B Common Stock is STZ.B.
8. Reflects a change in the form of beneficial ownership of 556,166 shares changed from indirect to direct. These 556,166 shares, which were previously reported as indirectly owned by the reporting person through a qualified grantor retained annuity trust for which he serves as trustee ("GRAT-I"), were transferred by GRAT-I to him in January 2008 in satisfaction of the final annuity payment obligation under the terms of GRAT-I.
9. In May 2007, the reporting person's form of beneficial ownership of 2,000,0000 shares changed from direct to indirect as a result of his transfer of these 2,000,000 directly owned shares to a qualified grantor retained annuity trust for he serves as trustee ("GRAT-II").
10. Held by the Richard Sands Heir's Trust, for which the reporting person serves as trustee.
11. Held by the reporting person as trustee of The Marvin Sands Master Trust.
Remarks:
H. Elaine Ziakas For: Richard Sands 04/03/2008
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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