Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

(X)         QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009

OR

 

(   )         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 1-8940

Altria Group, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Virginia    13-3260245

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

6601 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia

  

23230

(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

   (804) 274-2200

 

 

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

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 is required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ        No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).  Yes ¨        No ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer þ

 

Accelerated filer ¨

 

Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) ¨

 

Smaller reporting company ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨        No þ

At July 20, 2009, there were 2,071,359,145 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share.


Table of Contents

ALTRIA GROUP, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page No.

PART I -

    

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

    

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

  
    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at
June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008

   3 – 4
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   5
    

Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   6
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’
Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 and the
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

   7
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   8 – 9
    

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   10 – 71

Item 2.

    

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations

   72 – 110

Item 4.

    

Controls and Procedures

   111

PART II -

    

OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

    

Legal Proceedings

   112

Item 1A.

    

Risk Factors

   112

Item 2.

    

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   112

Item 4.

    

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   113

Item 6.

    

Exhibits

   114

Signature

        115

 

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Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item  1. Financial Statements.

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008

ASSETS

     

Consumer products

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 544    $ 7,916

Receivables (less allowances of

  $2 in 2009 and $3 in 2008)

     101      44

Inventories:

     

Leaf tobacco

     908      727

Other raw materials

     183      145

Work in process

     250      9

Finished product

     540      188
             
     1,881      1,069

Deferred income taxes

     1,561      1,690

Other current assets

     795      357
             

Total current assets

     4,882      11,076

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

     6,081      5,344

Less accumulated depreciation

     3,257      3,145
             
     2,824      2,199

Goodwill

     4,998      77

Other intangible assets, net

     12,149      3,039

Investment in SABMiller

     4,780      4,261

Other assets

     1,138      1,080
             

Total consumer products assets

     30,771      21,732

Financial services

     

Finance assets, net

     5,031      5,451

Other assets

     27      32
             

Total financial services assets

     5,058      5,483
             

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 35,829    $ 27,215
             

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Continued

-3-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)

(in millions of dollars, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

LIABILITIES

    

Consumer products

    

Short-term borrowings

   $ 393      $ -   

Current portion of long-term debt

     775        135   

Accounts payable

     293        510   

Accrued liabilities:

    

Marketing

     465        374   

Taxes, except income taxes

     686        98   

Employment costs

     150        248   

Settlement charges

     2,208        3,984   

Other

     1,340        1,128   

Dividends payable

     667        665   
                

Total current liabilities

     6,977        7,142   

Long-term debt

     11,184        6,839   

Deferred income taxes

     3,971        351   

Accrued pension costs

     1,592        1,393   

Accrued postretirement health care costs

     2,352        2,208   

Other liabilities

     1,246        1,208   
                

Total consumer products liabilities

     27,322        19,141   

Financial services

    

Debt

     500        500   

Deferred income taxes

     4,220        4,644   

Other liabilities

     410        102   
                

Total financial services liabilities

     5,130        5,246   
                

Total liabilities

     32,452        24,387   
                

Contingencies (Note 14)

    

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

     32     

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share
(2,805,961,317 shares issued)

     935        935   

Additional paid-in capital

     6,082        6,350   

Earnings reinvested in the business

     22,404        22,131   

Accumulated other comprehensive losses

     (2,015     (2,181
                
     27,406        27,235   

Less cost of repurchased stock
(734,700,625 shares in 2009 and 744,589,733 shares in 2008)

     (24,063     (24,407
                

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

     3,343        2,828   

Noncontrolling interests

     2     
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     3,345        2,828   
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 35,829      $ 27,215   
                

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

-4-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(in millions of dollars, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008

Net revenues

   $ 11,242    $ 9,464

Cost of sales

     3,908      4,055

Excise taxes on products

     2,836      1,681
             

Gross profit

     4,498      3,728

Marketing, administration and research costs

     1,455      1,297

Exit costs

     166      277

Gain on sale of corporate headquarters building

        (404)

Amortization of intangibles

     9      3
             

Operating income

     2,868      2,555

Interest and other debt expense, net

     623      2

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

        393

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

     (323)      (290)
             

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes

     2,568      2,450

Provision for income taxes

     968      906
             

Earnings from continuing operations

     1,600      1,544

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

        1,901
             

Net earnings

     1,600      3,445

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (1)      (61)
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 1,599    $ 3,384
             

Amounts attributable to Altria Group, Inc. stockholders:

     

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 1,599    $ 1,544

Earnings from discontinued operations

        1,840
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 1,599    $ 3,384
             

Per share data:

     

Basic earnings per share:

     

Continuing operations

   $ 0.77    $ 0.74

Discontinued operations

        0.88
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 0.77    $ 1.62
             

Diluted earnings per share:

     

Continuing operations

   $ 0.77    $ 0.73

Discontinued operations

        0.88
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 0.77    $ 1.61
             

Dividends declared

   $ 0.64    $ 1.04
             

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(in millions of dollars, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008

Net revenues

   $ 6,719    $ 5,054

Cost of sales

     2,138      2,168

Excise taxes on products

     2,125      875
             

Gross profit

     2,456      2,011

Marketing, administration and research costs

     738      649

Exit costs

     38      19

Amortization of intangibles

     3      1
             

Operating income

     1,677      1,342

Interest and other debt expense, net

     287      18

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

     (217)      (147)
             

Earnings before income taxes

     1,607      1,471

Provision for income taxes

     596      541
             

Net earnings

     1,011      930

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (1)   
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 1,010    $ 930
             

Per share data:

     

Basic earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 0.49    $ 0.45
             

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $ 0.49    $ 0.45
             

Dividends declared

   $ 0.32    $ 0.29
             

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 and

the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

(in millions of dollars, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

    Attributable to Altria Group, Inc.     Non-
controlling
Interests
    Total Stock-
holders’
Equity
 
    Common
Stock
  Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Earnings
Reinvested

in the
Business
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehen-
sive Earnings
(Losses)
    Cost of
Repurchased
Stock
    Compre-
hensive
Earnings
     

Balances, January 1, 2008

  $ 935   $ 6,884      $ 34,426      $ 111      $ (23,454   $ -      $ 418      $ 19,320   

Comprehensive earnings:

               

Net earnings

        4,930            4,930        61        4,991   

Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of income taxes:

               

Currency translation adjustments

          233          233        7        240   

Change in net loss and prior service cost

          (1,385       (1,385       (1,385

Change in fair value of derivatives accounted for as hedges

          (177       (177       (177

Ownership share of SABMiller other comprehensive losses

          (308       (308       (308
                                 

Total other comprehensive (losses) earnings

              (1,637     7        (1,630
                                 

Total comprehensive earnings(1)

              3,293        68        3,361   
                                 

Exercise of stock options and other stock award activity

      (534         213            (321

Cash dividends declared ($1.68 per share)

        (3,505             (3,505

Stock repurchased

            (1,166         (1,166

Payments/other related to noncontrolling interests

                (130     (130

Spin-off of Philip Morris International Inc.

        (13,720     (655         (356     (14,731
                                                       

Balances, December 31, 2008

    935     6,350        22,131        (2,181     (24,407       -        2,828   

Comprehensive earnings:

               

Net earnings

        1,599            1,599        1        1,600   

Other comprehensive earnings, net of income taxes:

               

Currency translation adjustments

          1          1          1   

Change in net loss and prior service cost

          39          39          39   

Ownership share of SABMiller other comprehensive earnings

          126          126          126   
                                 

Total other comprehensive earnings

              166        -        166   
                                 

Total comprehensive earnings(1)

              1,765        1       1,766   
                                 

Exercise of stock options and other stock award activity

      (268         344            76   

Cash dividends declared ($0.64 per share)

        (1,326             (1,326

Other

                1        1   
                                                       

Balances, June 30, 2009

  $ 935   $ 6,082      $ 22,404      $ (2,015   $ (24,063     $ 2      $ 3,345   
                                                       

 

(1)

Total comprehensive earnings were $1,167 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, which consisted of total comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. and noncontrolling interests of $1,166 million and $1 million, respectively. Total comprehensive earnings were $846 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, all of which was comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. Total comprehensive earnings were $3,646 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, which consisted of total comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. and noncontrolling interests of $3,578 million and $68 million, respectively.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in millions of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
       2009         2008    

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Earnings from continuing operations - Consumer products

   $ 1,481      $ 1,488   

                     - Financial services

     119        56   

Earnings from discontinued operations

       1,901   
                

Net earnings

     1,600        3,445   

Impact of earnings from discontinued operations

       (1,901

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings attributable to Altria

    Group, Inc. to operating cash flows:

    

Consumer products

    

Depreciation and amortization

     147        110   

Deferred income tax provision

     336        91   

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

     (323     (290

Exit costs, net of cash paid

     (12     145   

Gain on sale of corporate headquarters building

       (404

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

       393   

Cash effects of changes, net of the effects

  from acquired and divested companies:

    

Receivables, net

     (11     (69

Inventories

     (16     115   

Accounts payable

     (58     (156

Income taxes

     (103     (163

Accrued liabilities and other current assets

     337        (184

Accrued settlement charges

     (1,780     (1,577

Pension plan contributions

     (30     (17

Pension provisions and postretirement, net

     135        78   

Other

     147        (10

Financial services

    

Deferred income tax benefit

     (424     (119

Other

     190        67   
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities,

    continuing operations

     135        (446

Net cash provided by operating activities,

    discontinued operations

       1,666   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     135        1,220   
                

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Continued

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Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

(in millions of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008  

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Consumer products

    

Capital expenditures

   $ (112   $ (85

Acquisition of UST LLC, net of acquired cash

     (10,244  

Proceeds from sale of corporate headquarters building

       525   

Other

     (48     110   

Financial services

    

Investments in finance assets

     (9  

Proceeds from finance assets

     553        148   
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities,
continuing operations

     (9,860     698   

Net cash used in investing activities,
discontinued operations

       (317
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (9,860     381   
                

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Consumer products

    

Net issuance of short-term borrowings

     188        1,711   

Long-term debt issued

     4,221     

Long-term debt repaid

     (375     (3,814

Repurchase of Altria Group, Inc. common stock

       (1,166

Dividends paid on Altria Group, Inc. common stock

     (1,324     (3,168

Issuance of Altria Group, Inc. common stock

     51        72   

Philip Morris International Inc. dividends paid to Altria Group, Inc.

       3,019   

Financing fees and debt issuance costs

     (132  

Tender and consent fees related to the early extinguishment of debt

       (371

Changes in amounts due to/from Philip Morris International Inc.

       (721

Other

     (276     (241
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities,
continuing operations

     2,353        (4,679

Net cash used in financing activities,
discontinued operations

       (1,648
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     2,353        (6,327
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and
cash equivalents:

    

Discontinued operations

     -        (126
                

Cash and cash equivalents, continuing operations:

    

Decrease

     (7,372     (4,427

Balance at beginning of period

     7,916        4,842   
                

Balance at end of period

   $ 544      $ 415   
                

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1.  Background and Basis of Presentation:

Background

At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. (“PM USA”), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smokeless products in the United States; UST LLC (“UST”), which through its subsidiaries is engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless products and wine; and John Middleton Co. (“Middleton”), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco. Philip Morris Capital Corporation (“PMCC”), another wholly-owned subsidiary, maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. held a 27.4% economic and voting interest in SABMiller plc (“SABMiller”) at June 30, 2009. Altria Group, Inc.’s access to the operating cash flows of its subsidiaries consists principally of cash received from the payment of dividends by its subsidiaries.

As discussed in Note 2. UST Acquisition, on January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding common stock of UST, whose direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (“USSTC”) and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (“Ste. Michelle”). As a result of the acquisition, UST has become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc.

On March 28, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. distributed all of its interest in Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) to Altria Group, Inc.’s stockholders in a tax-free distribution. Altria Group, Inc. has reflected the results of PMI prior to the distribution date as discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

In March 2008, Altria Group, Inc. sold its corporate headquarters building in New York City for $525 million and recorded a pre-tax gain of $404 million.

During the second quarter of 2008, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 53.5 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.2 billion, or an average price of $21.81 per share. In January 2009, Altria Group, Inc. suspended its $4.0 billion (2008 to 2010) share repurchase program, which is at the discretion of its Board of Directors.

Basis of Presentation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Altria Group, Inc. are unaudited. It is the opinion of Altria Group, Inc.’s management that all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim results presented have been reflected therein. All such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. Net revenues and net earnings for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. As part of the preparation of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements, Altria Group, Inc. performed an evaluation of subsequent events occurring after the condensed consolidated balance sheet date of June 30, 2009, through July 31, 2009, the date the interim condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which appear in Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report to Stockholders and which are incorporated by reference into Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Balance sheet accounts are segregated by two broad types of businesses. Consumer products assets and liabilities are classified as either current or non-current, whereas financial services assets and liabilities are unclassified, in accordance with respective industry practices.

Beginning with the first quarter of 2009, Altria Group, Inc. revised its reportable segments to reflect the change in the way in which Altria Group, Inc.’s management reviews the business as a result of the acquisition of UST. Altria Group, Inc.’s segments, which are reflected in these financial statements, are cigarettes, smokeless products, cigars, wine, and financial services.

As disclosed in Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, during the fourth quarter of 2008 Altria Group, Inc. identified that it had not recorded its share of other comprehensive earnings or losses of SABMiller. As a result, total comprehensive earnings for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008, which were previously understated by $110 million and overstated by $86 million, respectively, were corrected. There was no impact to reported earnings from continuing operations, net earnings, net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc., earnings per share or cash flows.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation, due to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements” (“SFAS 160”), which requires transactions between an entity and a noncontrolling interest to be accounted for as equity transactions.

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 2.  UST Acquisition:

On January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding common stock of UST, in exchange for $69.50 in cash for each share of UST common stock. Additionally, each employee stock option of UST that was outstanding and unexercised was cancelled in exchange for the right to receive the difference between the exercise price for such option and $69.50. The transaction was valued at approximately $11.7 billion, which represented a purchase price of $10.4 billion and included the assumption of approximately $1.3 billion of debt, which together with acquisition-related costs and payments of approximately $0.6 billion (consisting primarily of financing fees, the funding of UST’s non-qualified pension plans, investment banking fees and the early retirement of UST’s revolving credit facility), represent a total cash outlay of approximately $11 billion.

In connection with the acquisition of UST, Altria Group, Inc. had in place a 364-day term bridge loan facility (the “Bridge Facility”). On January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. borrowed the entire available amount of $4.3 billion under the Bridge Facility, which was used along with available cash of $6.7 billion, representing the net proceeds from the issuances of senior unsecured long-term notes in November and December 2008, to fund the acquisition of UST. As discussed in Note 8. Debt, in February 2009, Altria Group, Inc. issued $4.2 billion of senior unsecured long-term notes. The net proceeds from the issuance of these notes, along with available cash, were used to prepay all of the outstanding borrowings under the Bridge Facility. Upon such prepayment, the Bridge Facility was terminated.

UST’s financial position and results of operations have been consolidated with Altria Group, Inc. as of January 6, 2009. The following unaudited supplemental pro forma data present consolidated information of Altria Group, Inc. as if the acquisition of UST had been consummated on January 1, 2008. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what actually would have occurred if the acquisition and related borrowings had been consummated on January 1, 2008.

 

     Pro Forma
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2008
   Pro Forma
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2008
     (in millions, except per share data)

Net revenues

   $ 10,443    $ 5,560

Earnings from continuing operations

   $   1,270    $    864

Net earnings

   $   3,171    $    864

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $   3,109    $    863

Per share data:

     

Basic earnings per share:

     

Continuing operations

   $     0.60    $    0.41

Discontinued operations

           0.88   
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $     1.48    $    0.41
             

Diluted earnings per share:

     

Continuing operations

   $     0.60    $    0.41

Discontinued operations

           0.88   
             

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

   $     1.48    $    0.41
             

Pro forma results of Altria Group, Inc., for the six months ended June 30, 2009 assuming the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2009, would not be materially different from the actual results reported for the six months ended June 30, 2009.

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The pro forma amounts reflect the application of the following adjustments as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2008:

 

   

additional depreciation and amortization expense that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets had been applied from January 1, 2008;

 

   

additional interest expense and financing fees that would have been incurred assuming all borrowing arrangements used to fund the acquisition had been in place as of January 1, 2008;

 

   

restructuring costs incurred to restructure and integrate UST operations;

 

   

transaction costs associated with the acquisition; and

 

   

increased cost of sales, reflecting the fair value adjustment of UST’s inventory sold during the period.

The following amounts represent the preliminary estimates of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the UST acquisition, and are subject to revisions when appraisals are finalized, which is expected to occur during 2009 (in millions):

 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 163   

Inventories

     796   

Property, plant and equipment

     688   

Other intangible assets:

  

Non-amortizable trademarks

     9,059   

Amortizable (20-year life)

     60   

Short-term borrowings

     (205

Current portion of long-term debt

     (240

Long-term debt

     (900

Deferred income taxes

     (3,359

Other assets and liabilities, net

     (540

Noncontrolling interests

     (36
        

Total identifiable net assets

     5,486   

Total purchase price

     10,407   
        

Goodwill

   $ 4,921   
        

The excess in the purchase price paid by Altria Group, Inc. over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in the acquisition of UST primarily reflects the value of adding USSTC and its subsidiaries to Altria Group, Inc.’s family of tobacco operating companies (PM USA and Middleton), with leading brands in cigarettes, smokeless products and machine-made large cigars. The acquisition is anticipated to generate approximately $300 million in annual synergies by 2011, driven primarily by reduced selling, general and administrative, and corporate expenses. None of the goodwill or other intangible assets will be deductible for tax purposes.

The assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests of UST have been measured in accordance with SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” as of the acquisition date. For purposes of

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

measuring the fair value, where applicable, Altria Group, Inc. has used the guidance in SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which establishes a framework for measuring fair values. In valuing trademarks, Altria Group, Inc. estimated the fair value using a discounted cash flow methodology. Liabilities arising from contingencies were evaluated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Position No. FAS 141(R)-1, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies” (“FSP FAS 141(R)-1”), resulting in no material contingent liabilities being recognized as of the acquisition date because the acquisition date fair value of such contingencies cannot be determined, and the contingencies are not both probable and reasonably estimable. Additionally, costs incurred to effect the acquisition, as well as costs to restructure UST, are being recognized as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred. Altria Group, Inc. expects to incur approximately $0.5 billion (which is $0.1 billion lower than the previous estimate of $0.6 billion) in acquisition-related charges as well as restructuring and integration costs. For the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. incurred acquisition-related charges, as well as restructuring and integration costs, consisting of the following:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2009
  For the Three Months Ended
June 30, 2009
    (in millions)

Exit costs

  $  125   $  22

Integration costs

        30       14

Inventory adjustments

        23         6

Structuring and arrangement fees

        88         1

Transaction costs

        60  
       

Total

  $  326   $  43
       

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 3.  Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs:

Pre-tax exit, implementation and integration costs for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 consisted of the following (in millions):

 

     For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
          Implementation    Integration     
    

Exit Costs

     Costs        Costs     

Total

Cigarettes

   $ 34    $ 50    $ -    $ 84

Smokeless products

     123         28      151

Cigars

           7      7

Wine

     2         2      4

General corporate

     7            7
                           

Total

   $ 166    $ 50    $ 37    $ 253
                           
     For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
          Implementation    Integration     
     Exit Costs      Costs        Costs      Total

Cigarettes

   $ 29    $ 32    $ -    $ 61

Cigars

           3      3

General corporate

     248            248
                           

Total

   $ 277    $ 32    $ 3    $ 312
                           
     For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
          Implementation    Integration     
    

Exit Costs

     Costs        Costs     

Total

Cigarettes

   $ 15    $ 32    $ -    $ 47

Smokeless products

     22         13      35

Cigars

           4      4

Wine

           1      1

General corporate

     1            1
                           

Total

   $ 38    $ 32    $ 18    $ 88
                           
     For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008
          Implementation    Integration     
     Exit Costs      Costs        Costs      Total

Cigarettes

   $ 18    $ 17    $ -    $ 35

Cigars

           1      1

General corporate

     1            1
                           

Total

   $ 19    $ 17    $ 1    $ 37
                           

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The movement in the severance liability and details of exit costs for Altria Group, Inc. for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was as follows:

 

     Severance     Other     Total  
             (in millions)  

Severance liability balance, January 1, 2009

   $ 348      $ -      $ 348   

Charges

     112        54        166   

Cash spent

     (133     (45     (178

Liability recorded in pension and

  postretirement plans, and other

     (1     (9     (10
                        

Severance liability balance, June 30, 2009

   $ 326      $ -      $ 326   
                        

Other charges in the table above primarily represent other employee termination benefits including pension and postretirement.

Integration and Restructuring Program:

In December 2008, Altria Group, Inc. initiated a company-wide integration and restructuring program, pursuant to which, over the next two years, Altria Group, Inc. will restructure its corporate, manufacturing, and sales and marketing functions as it completes the integration of UST into its operations and continues to focus on optimizing company-wide cost structures in light of ongoing declines in U.S. cigarette volumes, including the projected impact of the federal excise tax (“FET”) increase enacted in the first quarter of 2009.

As a result of this program, Altria Group, Inc. expects to incur total pre-tax charges of approximately $270 million in 2009. These charges are primarily related to employee separation costs, lease exit costs, relocation of employees, and other costs related to the integration of UST operations. Substantially all of these charges will result in cash expenditures.

For the six months ended June 30, 2009, the cigarettes segment, smokeless products segment, wine segment and Altria Group, Inc. reported pre-tax charges for this program of $2 million, $151 million, $4 million and $6 million, respectively, which included exit costs of $133 million and integration costs of $30 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, the smokeless products segment, wine segment and Altria Group, Inc. reported pre-tax charges for this program of $35 million, $1 million and $1 million, respectively, which included exit costs of $23 million and integration costs of $14 million.

The pre-tax integration costs were included in marketing, administrative and research costs in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009. Total pre-tax charges incurred since the inception of the program were $289 million. Pre-tax charges of approximately $107 million are expected for the remainder of 2009 for the program. Cash payments related to the program of $103 million and $87 million were made during the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, for a total of $103 million since inception.

Headquarters Relocation:

During 2008, in connection with the spin-off of PMI, which included the relocation of Altria Group, Inc.’s corporate headquarters functions to Richmond, Virginia, Altria Group, Inc. restructured its corporate headquarters. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, pre-tax charges of $1 million were incurred for this program. Pre-tax charges for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008 were $193 million and $1 million, respectively, for this program. Total pre-tax charges incurred since the inception of this restructuring were $220 million as of June 30, 2009. These charges consist primarily of employee separation costs. Substantially all of the charges resulted in cash expenditures. Cash payments related to

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

this restructuring of $36 million and $8 million were made during the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, for a total of $172 million since inception.

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, corporate exit costs also included $55 million of investment banking and legal fees associated with the PMI spin-off.

Manufacturing Optimization Program:

On April 22, 2009, PM USA announced that it would cease production at its Cabarrus, North Carolina cigarette manufacturing facility and complete the consolidation of manufacturing capacity into its Richmond, Virginia facility by the end of July 2009. Production in fact ceased on July 29, 2009. PM USA took this action to address ongoing cigarette volume declines including the projected impact of the recently enacted FET increase. PM USA expects to complete the de-commissioning of the Cabarrus facility during 2010.

As a result of this program, from 2007 through 2010, PM USA expects to incur total pre-tax charges of approximately $785 million, which is higher than the previous estimate of $670 million due to production ceasing in July 2009. These pre-tax charges consist of employee separation costs of $353 million, accelerated depreciation of $284 million and other charges of $148 million, primarily related to the relocation of employees and equipment, net of estimated gains on sales of land and buildings. Approximately $400 million, about 50%, of the total pre-tax charges will result in cash expenditures.

PM USA recorded pre-tax charges for this program as follows:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
   For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (in millions)

Exit costs

   $ 32    $ 29    $ 15    $ 18

Implementation costs

     50      32      32      17
                           

Total

   $ 82    $ 61    $ 47    $ 35
                           

Pre-tax implementation costs related to this program were primarily related to accelerated depreciation and were included in cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Total pre-tax charges incurred since the inception of the program were $571 million. Pre-tax charges of approximately $175 million are expected during the remainder of 2009 for the program. Cash payments related to the program of $74 million and $38 million were made during the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, for a total of $170 million since inception.

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 4.  Benefit Plans:

Altria Group, Inc. sponsors noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all employees, except that as of January 1, 2008, new employees (excluding participants in UST plans) are not eligible to participate in the defined benefit plans, but instead are eligible for a company match in a defined contribution plan. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide health care and other benefits to substantially all retired employees. In connection with the acquisition of UST, Altria Group, Inc. recorded net liabilities for UST’s defined benefit pension plans and liabilities for UST’s postretirement healthcare plans of $351 million and $85 million, respectively, at January 6, 2009.

Pension Plans

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (in millions)  

Service cost

   $ 50      $ 50      $ 25      $ 25   

Interest cost

     173        153        86        76   

Expected return on plan assets

     (212     (210     (106     (105

Amortization:

        

Net loss

     55        34        28        17   

Prior service cost

     6        4        3        2   

Other

     (9     38        3        2   
                                

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 63      $ 69      $ 39      $ 17   
                                

“Other” pension (gain)/cost of $(9) million and $38 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, primarily reflects termination benefits related to restructuring programs, which in 2009 were more than offset by curtailment gains related to the restructuring of UST’s operations subsequent to the acquisition (see Note 3. Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs). The curtailment of UST’s pension plans resulted in a decrease of $34 million to accrued pension costs, which is reflected in the June 30, 2009 condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Employer Contributions

Altria Group, Inc. presently makes, and plans to make, contributions, to the extent that they are tax deductible and to pay benefits that relate to plans for salaried employees that cannot be funded under Internal Revenue Service regulations. Employer contributions of $30 million were made to Altria Group, Inc.’s pension plans during the six months ended June 30, 2009. Currently, Altria Group, Inc. anticipates additional employer contributions during the remainder of 2009 of approximately $22 million to its pension plans, which includes approximately $9 million related to UST plans, based on current tax law. However, these estimates are subject to change as a result of changes in tax and other benefit laws, as well as asset performance significantly above or below the assumed long-term rate of return on pension assets, or changes in interest rates.

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Postretirement Benefit Plans

Net postretirement health care costs consisted of the following:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (in millions)  

Service cost

   $ 20      $ 19      $ 10      $ 9   

Interest cost

     73        58        37        29   

Amortization:

        

Net loss

     20        13        10        7   

Prior service credit

     (4     (4     (2     (2

Other

     19        8        1     
                                

Net postretirement health care costs

   $ 128      $ 94      $ 56      $ 43   
                                

“Other” postretirement cost of $19 million and $8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, primarily reflects termination benefits related to restructuring programs, in addition to curtailment losses in 2009 related to the restructuring of UST’s operations subsequent to the acquisition (see Note 3. Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs). The curtailment of UST’s postretirement plans resulted in an increase in accrued postretirement health care costs of $6 million, which is reflected in the June 30, 2009 condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 5.  Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net:

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net, by segment were as follows (in millions):

 

     Goodwill    Other Intangible Assets, net
     June 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008
   June 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Cigarettes

   $ -    $ -    $ 278    $ 283

Smokeless products

     4,859         8,846   

Cigars

     77      77      2,753      2,756

Wine

     62         272   
                           

Total

   $ 4,998    $ 77    $ 12,149    $ 3,039
                           
Intangible assets were as follows (in millions):            
     June 30, 2009    December 31, 2008
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization

Non-amortizable intangible assets

   $ 11,701       $ 2,642   

Amortizable intangible assets

     464    $ 16      404    $ 7
                           

Total intangible assets

   $ 12,165    $ 16    $ 3,046    $ 7
                           

Non-amortizable intangible assets substantially consist of trademarks from the January 2009 acquisition of UST ($9.1 billion) and the December 2007 acquisition of Middleton ($2.6 billion). Amortizable intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships and certain cigarette trademarks. Pre-tax amortization expense for intangible assets during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, was $9 million and $3 million, respectively, and during the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, was $3 million and $1 million, respectively. Annual amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be approximately $20 million, assuming no additional transactions occur that require the amortization of intangible assets.

Goodwill relates to the January 2009 acquisition of UST and the December 2007 acquisition of Middleton. The change in goodwill and gross carrying amount of other intangible assets from December 31, 2008 to June 30, 2009, is as follows (in millions):

 

     Goodwill    Other
Intangible

Assets

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 77    $ 3,046

Changes due to:

     

Acquisition of UST

     4,921      9,119
             

Balance at June 30, 2009

   $ 4,998    $ 12,165
             

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 6.  Earnings from Equity Investment in SABMiller:

Earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in SABMiller consisted of the following:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
   For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (in millions)

Equity earnings

   $ 148    $ 290    $ 42    $ 147

Gains on issuances of common stock by SABMiller

     175         175   
                           
   $ 323    $ 290    $ 217    $ 147
                           

Altria Group, Inc.’s equity earnings for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009 from its equity investment in SABMiller included pre-tax intangible asset impairment charges of $112 million. In addition, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-6, “Equity Method Investment Accounting Considerations,” Altria Group, Inc.’s second quarter 2009 earnings from its equity investment in SABMiller included pre-tax gains of $175 million due primarily to the issuance of 60 million shares of common stock by SABMiller in connection with its acquisition of the remaining noncontrolling interest in its Polish subsidiary.

Note 7.  Divestitures:

As discussed in Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation, on March 28, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. distributed all of its interest in PMI to Altria Group, Inc. stockholders in a tax-free distribution.

Summarized financial information for discontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was as follows (in millions):

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2008
 

Net revenues

   $ 15,376   
        

Earnings before income taxes

   $ 2,701   

Provision for income taxes

     (800
        

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     1,901   

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (61
        

Earnings from discontinued operations

   $ 1,840   
        

 

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 8.  Debt:

At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. had in place a multi-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) in the amount of $3.4 billion, which expires April 15, 2010. The Revolving Facility is used to support the issuance of commercial paper to fund short-term cash needs. In June 2009, Altria Group, Inc. amended its Revolving Facility in order to terminate the $108 million commitment of Aurora Bank FSB (formerly known as Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB) (“Aurora”). Aurora’s commitment was terminated without a ratable termination or reduction of the commitments of the other lenders.

At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. had $393 million of consumer products commercial paper outstanding, thereby effectively reducing the amount available under the Revolving Facility to approximately $3.0 billion. The commercial paper of Altria Group, Inc. and borrowings under the Revolving Facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PM USA (see Note 16. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information).

Altria Group, Inc. expects to replace its Revolving Facility prior to its expiration in amounts and maturities based on market conditions at the time. Altria Group, Inc. believes it has adequate liquidity and access to financial resources to meet its anticipated obligations in the foreseeable future.

A subsidiary of PM USA repaid a $135 million term loan that matured in May 2009.

At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, Altria Group, Inc.’s long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

     June 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
     (in millions)  

Consumer products:

    

Notes, 5.75% to 10.20% (average interest
rate 9.1%), due through 2039

   $ 11,917      $ 6,797   

Debenture, 7.75% due 2027

     42        42   

Other

       135   
                
     11,959        6,974   

Less current portion of long-term debt

     (775     (135
                
   $ 11,184      $ 6,839   
                

Financial services:

    

Eurodollar bonds, 7.50%, due 2009

   $ 500      $ 500   
                

Altria Group, Inc. Senior Notes:

Altria Group, Inc. issued the following notes in February 2009:

 

   

$525 million at 7.75%, due 2014, interest payable semi-annually;

 

   

$2.2 billion at 9.25%, due 2019, interest payable semi-annually; and

 

   

$1.5 billion at 10.20%, due 2039, interest payable semi-annually.

The net proceeds from the issuance of these notes, along with available cash, were used to prepay all of the outstanding borrowings under the Bridge Facility (see Note 2. UST Acquisition). Upon such prepayment, the Bridge Facility was terminated. During the first quarter of 2009, Altria Group, Inc. incurred structuring

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

and arrangement fees of $87 million related to the Bridge Facility. This amount is included in interest and other debt expense, net, in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The notes are Altria Group, Inc.’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Altria Group, Inc.’s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The interest rate payable on each series of notes is subject to adjustment from time to time if the rating assigned to the notes of such series by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”) is downgraded (or subsequently upgraded) as and to the extent set forth in the terms of the notes. Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Altria Group, Inc. and (ii) the notes ceasing to be rated investment grade by each of Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) within a specified time period, Altria Group, Inc. will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes of each series at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such series, plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase as and to the extent set forth in the terms of the notes.

The obligations of Altria Group, Inc. under the notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PM USA (see Note 16. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information).

UST Debt:

At June 30, 2009, UST’s senior debt consisted of the following:

 

   

$600 million senior notes at 6.625%, due 2012, interest payable semi-annually; and

 

   

$300 million senior notes at 5.75%, due 2018, interest payable semi-annually.

UST senior notes of $200 million and $40 million matured and were repaid in June 2009. In addition, UST’s revolving credit facility was prepaid and terminated on January 6, 2009.

The UST notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of UST’s existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. With respect to the $300 million senior notes, upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of UST and (ii) these notes ceasing to be rated investment grade by each of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s within a specified time period, UST would be required to make an offer to purchase these notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such series, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase as and to the extent set forth in the terms of these notes.

Financial Services Debt:

Financial services debt of $500 million matured and was repaid in July 2009.

Fair Value of Debt:

The aggregate fair value, based substantially on readily available quoted market prices, of Altria Group, Inc.’s total debt at June 30, 2009 was $14.3 billion, as compared with its carrying value of $12.9 billion. The aggregate fair value, based on market quotes, of Altria Group, Inc.’s total debt at December 31, 2008, was $8.6 billion, as compared with its carrying value of $7.5 billion.

Tender Offer for Altria Group, Inc. Notes:

In connection with the spin-off of PMI, in the first quarter of 2008, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiary, Altria Finance (Cayman Islands) Ltd., completed tender offers to purchase for cash $2.3 billion of notes and

 

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debentures denominated in U.S. dollars, and €373 million in euro-denominated bonds, equivalent to $568 million in U.S. dollars.

As a result of the tender offers and consent solicitations, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a pre-tax loss of $393 million, which included tender and consent fees of $371 million, on the early extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2008.

 

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Note 9.  Financial Instruments:

At June 30, 2009, UST had various forward foreign exchange contracts, primarily in connection with anticipated oak barrel purchases for Ste. Michelle’s wine operations. These contracts, which are not material and will expire in 2009, were designated as effective cash flow hedges. During the second quarter of 2009, UST’s interest rate swap contract which was designated as an effective cash flow hedge expired in conjunction with the maturity of UST’s $40 million senior notes.

During the first quarter of 2008, Altria Group, Inc. purchased forward foreign exchange contracts to mitigate its exposure to changes in exchange rates from its euro-denominated debt. While these forward exchange contracts were effective as economic hedges, they did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and, therefore, $21 million of gains for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and $15 million of losses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 relating to these contracts were reported in interest and other debt expense, net, in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statement of earnings. These contracts and the related debt matured in the second quarter of 2008.

Within currency translation adjustments during the six months ended June 30, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. recorded losses, net of income taxes, of $85 million, which represented effective hedges of net investments. The accumulated losses recorded as net investment hedges of foreign operations were recognized and recorded in connection with the PMI distribution.

Hedging activity affected accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of income taxes, as follows:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
       2009      2008       2009      2008  
     (in millions)  

Loss at beginning of period

   $     -    $ (5   $ -    $ (4

Derivative losses transferred to earnings

        93           4   

Change in fair value

        (270     

PMI spin-off

        182        
                              

At end of period

   $ -    $ -      $ -    $ -   
                              

 

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Note 10.  Earnings Per Share:

Effective January 1, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. adopted FASB Staff Position Emerging Issues Task Force 03-6-1 “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities,” (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”). FSP EITF 03-6-1 states that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities and therefore are included in the earnings per share (“EPS”) calculation pursuant to the two class method.

The calculations of basic and diluted EPS reflect the adoption of this method and accordingly, prior period calculations have been adjusted retrospectively.

Basic and diluted EPS from continuing and discontinued operations were calculated using the following:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (in millions)  

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 1,599      $ 1,544      $ 1,010      $ 930   

Earnings from discontinued operations

       1,840       
                                

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

     1,599        3,384        1,010        930   

Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings
attributable to unvested restricted and
deferred shares

     (6     (9     (4     (2
                                

Earnings for basic EPS

     1,593        3,375        1,006        928   

Add: Undistributed earnings attributable to
unvested restricted and deferred shares

     1        4        1        1   

Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to
unvested restricted and deferred shares

     (1     (4     (1     (1
                                

Earnings for diluted EPS

   $ 1,593      $ 3,375      $ 1,006      $ 928   
                                

Weighted average shares for basic EPS

     2,062        2,091        2,064        2,075   

Add: Incremental shares from stock options

     6        10        5        10   
                                

Weighted average shares for diluted EPS

     2,068        2,101        2,069        2,085   
                                

For the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009 computations, 1.0 million and 0.7 million stock options, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares for diluted EPS because their effects were antidilutive. For the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008 computations, there were no antidilutive stock options.

 

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Note 11.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Losses):

The following table sets forth the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses) (in millions):

 

     Currency
Translation
Adjustments
    Changes in Net
Loss and Prior
Service Cost
    Changes in
Fair Value of

Derivatives
Accounted for
as Hedges
    Ownership of
SABMiller’s
Other
Comprehensive

Earnings
(Losses)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

Earnings
(Losses)
 

Balances, January 1, 2008

   $ 728      $ (960   $ (5   $ 348      $ 111   

Period Change

     233        (1,385     (177     (308     (1,637

Spin-off of Philip Morris
International Inc.

     (961     124        182          (655
                                        

Balances, December 31, 2008

     -        (2,221     -        40        (2,181

Period Change

     1       39          126        166   
                                        

Balances, June 30, 2009

   $ 1      $ (2,182   $ -      $ 166      $ (2,015
                                        

 

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Note 12.  Segment Reporting:

As discussed in Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation, beginning with the first quarter of 2009, Altria Group, Inc. revised its reportable segments. Altria Group, Inc.’s reportable segments are cigarettes, smokeless products, cigars, wine, and financial services.

Altria Group, Inc.’s management reviews operating companies income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Operating companies income for the segments excludes corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles. Interest and other debt expense, net (consumer products), and provision for income taxes are centrally managed at the corporate level and, accordingly, such items are not presented by segment since they are excluded from the measure of segment profitability reviewed by Altria Group, Inc.’s management. Information about total assets by segment is not disclosed because such information is not reported to or used by Altria Group, Inc.’s chief operating decision maker. Segment goodwill and other intangibles, net are disclosed in Note 5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net.

Segment data were as follows:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
       2009         2008         2009         2008    
     (in millions)  

Net revenues:

        

Cigarettes

   $ 9,920      $ 9,149      $ 6,024      $ 4,916   

Smokeless products

     671          373     

Cigars

     233        192        118        101   

Wine

     169          94     

Financial services

     249        123        110        37   
                                

Net revenues

   $ 11,242      $ 9,464      $ 6,719      $ 5,054   
                                

Earnings from continuing operations
before income taxes:

        

Operating companies income:

        

Cigarettes

   $ 2,569      $ 2,377      $ 1,426      $ 1,337   

Smokeless products

     175          177     

Cigars

     90        91        36        50   

Wine

     10          9     

Financial services

     203        104        83        30   

Amortization of intangibles

     (9     (3     (3     (1

Gain on sale of corporate headquarters
building

       404       

General corporate expenses

     (103     (170     (50     (73

UST transaction costs

     (60      

Corporate exit costs

     (7     (248     (1     (1
                                

Operating income

     2,868        2,555        1,677        1,342   

Interest and other debt expense, net

     (623     (2     (287     (18

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

       (393    

Earnings from equity investment in
SABMiller

     323        290        217        147   
                                

Earnings from continuing
operations before income taxes

   $ 2,568      $ 2,450      $ 1,607      $ 1,471   
                                

 

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Items affecting the comparability of net revenues and operating companies income for the segments were as follows:

 

 

Acquisition of UST – In January 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired UST, the results of which are reflected in the smokeless products and wine segments (see Note 2. UST Acquisition).

 

 

UST Inventory Adjustment – In connection with the acquisition of UST, Altria Group, Inc.’s cost of sales included the following amounts relating to the fair value purchase accounting adjustment of UST’s inventory at the acquisition date that was sold during the periods:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2009
  For the Three Months Ended
June 30, 2009
    (in millions)

Smokeless products

  $ 13   $ 1

Wine

    10     5
           

Total

  $ 23   $ 6
           

 

 

Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs – See Note 3. Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs for a breakdown of these costs by segment.

 

 

Sales to PMI – Subsequent to the PMI spin-off, during the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008, PM USA recorded net revenues of $110 million and $107 million respectively, from contract volume manufactured for PMI under an agreement that terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008. For periods prior to the PMI spin-off, PM USA did not record contract volume manufactured for PMI in net revenues, but recorded the related profit, which was immaterial for the six months ended June 30, 2008, in marketing, administration and research costs. These amounts are reflected in the cigarettes segment.

Note 13.  Income Taxes:

The income tax rate of 37.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2009 increased 0.7 percentage points from 37.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2008, due primarily to certain costs incurred in 2009 related to the acquisition of UST that are not deductible for tax purposes.

 

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Note 14.  Contingencies:

Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various United States and foreign jurisdictions against Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including PM USA and UST and its subsidiaries, as well as their respective indemnitees. Various types of claims are raised in these proceedings, including product liability, consumer protection, antitrust, tax, contraband shipments, patent infringement, employment matters, claims for contribution and claims of distributors.

Litigation is subject to uncertainty and it is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending or future cases. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related or other litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Damages claimed in some tobacco-related and other litigation are or can be significant and, in certain cases, range in the billions of dollars. The variability in pleadings in multiple jurisdictions, together with the actual experience of management in litigating claims demonstrate that the monetary relief that may be specified in a lawsuit bears little relevance to the ultimate outcome.

Although PM USA has historically been able to obtain required bonds or relief from bonding requirements in order to prevent plaintiffs from seeking to collect judgments while adverse verdicts have been appealed, there remains a risk that such relief may not be obtainable in all cases. This risk has been substantially reduced given that 43 states now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all.

Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries record provisions in the consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, except as discussed elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-Q: (i) management has concluded that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; (ii) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of any of the pending tobacco-related cases; and (iii) accordingly, management has not provided any amounts in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any. Legal defense costs are expensed as incurred.

Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries have achieved substantial success in managing litigation. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to uncertainty and significant challenges remain. It is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc., or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. Altria Group, Inc. and each of its subsidiaries named as a defendant believe, and each has been so advised by counsel handling the respective cases, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. Each of the companies has defended, and will continue to defend, vigorously against litigation challenges. However, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria Group, Inc. to do so.

Overview of Altria Group, Inc. and/or PM USA Tobacco-Related Litigation

Types and Number of Cases

Claims related to tobacco products generally fall within the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs; (ii) smoking and health cases primarily alleging personal injury or seeking court-supervised programs for ongoing medical monitoring and purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs, including cases in which the aggregated claims of a

 

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number of individual plaintiffs are to be tried in a single proceeding; (iii) health care cost recovery cases brought by governmental (both domestic and foreign) and non-governmental plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for health care expenditures allegedly caused by cigarette smoking and/or disgorgement of profits; (iv) class action suits alleging that the uses of the terms “Lights” and “Ultra Lights” constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices, common law fraud, or violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”); and (v) other tobacco-related litigation described below. Plaintiffs’ theories of recovery and the defenses raised in pending smoking and health, health care cost recovery and “Lights/Ultra Lights” cases are discussed below.

The table below lists the number of certain tobacco-related cases pending in the United States against PM USA and, in some instances, Altria Group, Inc. as of July 27, 2009, August 1, 2008 and August 1, 2007.

 

     Number of
Cases
Pending as of
July 27,

2009
   Number of
Cases
Pending as of
August 1,
2008
   Number of
Cases

Pending as of
August 1,
2007

Type of Case

        

Individual Smoking and Health Cases (1)

   96    99    195

Smoking and Health Class Actions and
Aggregated Claims Litigation (2)

   7    9    10

Health Care Cost Recovery Actions

   3    3    3

“Lights/Ultra Lights” Class Actions

   29    17    17

Tobacco Price Cases

   2    2    2

 

  (1)

Does not include 2,617 cases brought by flight attendants seeking compensatory damages for personal injuries allegedly caused by exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (“ETS”). The flight attendants allege that they are members of an ETS smoking and health class action, which was settled in 1997. The terms of the court-approved settlement in that case allow class members to file individual lawsuits seeking compensatory damages, but prohibit them from seeking punitive damages. Also, does not include eight individual smoking and health cases brought against certain retailers that are indemnitees of PM USA. Additionally, does not include approximately 3,308 individual smoking and health cases (3,258 state court cases and 50 federal court cases) brought by or on behalf of approximately 9,063 plaintiffs in Florida (5,146 state court plaintiffs and 3,917 federal court plaintiffs) following the decertification of the Engle case discussed below. It is possible that some of these cases are duplicates and additional cases have been filed but not yet recorded on the courts’ dockets.

 

  (2)

Includes as one case the 728 civil actions (of which 414 are actions against PM USA) that are proposed to be tried in a single proceeding in West Virginia. Middleton and USSTC were named as defendants in this action but they, along with other non-cigarette manufacturers, have been severed from this case. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled that the United States Constitution does not preclude a trial in two phases in this case. Issues related to defendants’ conduct, plaintiffs’ entitlement to punitive damages and a punitive damages multiplier, if any, would be determined in the first phase. The second phase would consist of individual trials to determine liability, if any, and compensatory damages. In November 2007, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals denied defendants’ renewed motion for review of the trial plan. In December 2007, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was

 

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denied in February 2008. The first phase of the trial is scheduled for February 1, 2010.

International Tobacco-Related Cases

As of July 27, 2009, PM USA is a named defendant in a “Lights” class action in Israel and a health care cost recovery action in Israel. PM USA is a named defendant in two health care cost recovery actions in Canada, one of which also names Altria Group, Inc. as a defendant. PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are also named defendants in four smoking and health class action lawsuits filed in various Canadian provinces.

Pending and Upcoming Trials

As of July 27, 2009, 18 Engle-progeny cases against PM USA are set for trial in 2009 (12 of the 18 cases have scheduled 2009 trial dates). In addition, there are currently 2 individual smoking and health cases scheduled for trial in 2009. Cases against other tobacco companies are also scheduled for trial through the end of 2009. Trial dates are subject to change.

Trial Results

Since January 1999, verdicts have been returned in 50 smoking and health, “Lights/Ultra Lights” and health care cost recovery cases in which PM USA was a defendant. Verdicts in favor of PM USA and other defendants were returned in 31 of the 50 cases. These 31 cases were tried in California (5), Florida (11), Mississippi (1), Missouri (2), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (2), and West Virginia (1). A motion for a new trial was granted in one of the cases in Florida.

Of the 19 cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs, eight have reached final resolution and one case (Williams – see below) has reached partial final resolution. A verdict against defendants in one health care cost recovery case has been reversed and all claims were dismissed with prejudice. In addition, a verdict against defendants in a purported “Lights” class action in Illinois (Price) was reversed and the case was dismissed with prejudice in December 2006. In December 2008, the plaintiff in Price filed a motion with the state trial court to vacate the judgment dismissing this case in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good (see below for a discussion of developments in Good and Price). After exhausting all appeals, PM USA has paid judgments totaling $106.0 million and interest totaling $63.8 million.

The chart below lists the verdicts and post-trial developments in the ten pending cases that have gone to trial since January 1999 in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs.

 

Date              

  

Location of     

Court/

Name of

Plaintiff

   Type of
Case            
  

Verdict

      

Post-Trial Developments

   

February
2009

  

Florida/

Hess

  

Engle
progeny

  

In February 2009, a Broward County jury in the Hess trial found in favor of plaintiffs and against PM USA. The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. On

    

PM USA noticed an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal on July 2, 2009 and posted a $7.3 million appeal bond.

 

 

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Date              

  

Location of    

Court/

Name of

Plaintiff

  

Type of

Case            

  

Verdict

    

Post-Trial Developments

        

June 8, 2009, the trial court entered final judgment and awarded plaintiff $1,260,000 in actual damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The judgment reduced the jury’s $3 million award of compensatory damages due to the jury allocating 58% of Mr. Hess’s injuries to Mr. Hess. Hess was the first case to be tried by an Engle class member since the Florida Supreme Court Engle ruling.

         

May 2007

  

California/ Whiteley

  

Individual
Smoking
and
Health

  

Approximately $2.5 million in compensatory damages against PM USA and the other defendant in the case, as well as $250,000 in punitive damages against the other defendant in the case.

       

In October 2007, in a limited retrial on the issue of punitive damages, the jury found that plaintiffs are not entitled to punitive damages against PM USA. In November, the trial court entered final judgment and PM USA filed a motion for a new trial and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The trial court rejected these motions in January 2008. In March 2008, PM USA noticed an appeal to the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District and in May 2008, posted a $2.2 million appeal bond. Oral argument is scheduled for August 10, 2009.

 

August

2006

  

District of

Columbia/ United

States of

America

  

Health

Care Cost
Recovery

  

Finding that defendants, including Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA, violated the civil provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). No monetary damages were assessed, but the court made specific findings and issued injunctions. See Federal Government’s Lawsuit below.

       

See Federal Government’s Lawsuit below.

 

 

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Date              

  

Location of    
Court/

Name of

Plaintiff

  

Type of

Case            

  

Verdict

    

Post-Trial Developments

 

March

2005

  

 

New York/

Rose

  

 

Individual Smoking
and Health

  

 

$3.42 million in compensatory damages against two defendants, including PM USA, and $17.1 million in punitive damages against PM USA.

      

In April 2008, an intermediate New York appellate court reversed the verdict and vacated the compensatory and punitive damages awards against PM USA. In December 2008, the New York Court of Appeals affirmed the appellate court decision. In January 2009, plaintiffs filed a petition with the New York Court of Appeals requesting that the court either vacate its earlier decision and reinstate the jury verdict or remand the case to the trial court for a new trial. The New York Court of Appeals denied plaintiffs’ motion in March 2009. Plaintiffs have filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.

 

May

2004

  

Louisiana/ Scott

  

Smoking
and
Health
Class
Action

  

Approximately $590 million against all defendants, including PM USA, jointly and severally, to fund a 10-year smoking cessation program.

      

See Scott Class Action below.

 

October

2002

  

California/
Bullock

  

Individual
Smoking
and Health

  

$850,000 in compensatory damages and $28 billion in punitive damages against PM USA.

      

In December 2002, the trial court reduced the punitive damages award to $28 million. In April 2006, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the $28 million punitive damages award. In January 2008, the California Court of Appeal reversed the judgment with respect to the $28 million punitive damages award, affirmed the judgment in all other respects, and remanded the case to the trial court to conduct a new trial on the amount of punitive damages. In April 2008, the California Supreme Court denied PM

 

 

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Date              

  

Location of    

Court/

Name of

Plaintiff

  

Type of

Case            

  

Verdict

  

Post-Trial Developments

             

USA’s petition for review. See discussion (1) below.

 

June

2002

  

Florida/

Lukacs

  

Individual Smoking
and Health

  

$37.5 million in compensatory damages against all defendants, including PM USA.

    

In March 2003, the trial court reduced the damages award to $24.8 million. PM USA’s share of the damages award is approximately $6 million. In January 2007, defendants petitioned the trial court to set aside the jury’s verdict and dismiss plaintiffs’ punitive damages claim. In August 2008, the trial court granted plaintiffs’ motion for entry of judgment and ordered compensatory damages of $24.8 million plus interest from the date of the verdict. In August 2008, PM USA filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied. Final judgment was entered in November 2008, awarding plaintiffs actual damages of $24.8 million, plus interest from the date of the verdict. Defendants filed a notice of appeal in December 2008 and posted an appeal bond of $30.3 million.

 

March

2002

  

Oregon/
Schwarz

  

Individual
Smoking
and

Health

  

$168,500 in compensatory damages and $150 million in punitive damages against PM USA.

    

In May 2002, the trial court reduced the punitive damages award to $100 million. In May 2006, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed the compensatory damages verdict, reversed the award of punitive damages and remanded the case to the trial court for a second trial to determine the amount of punitive damages, if any. In June 2006, plaintiff petitioned the Oregon Supreme Court to review the portion of the Court

 

 

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Date              

  

Location of    

Court/

Name of

Plaintiff

  

Type of

Case            

  

Verdict

  

Post-Trial Developments

             

 

of Appeals’ decision reversing and remanding the case for a new trial on punitive damages. The Oregon Supreme Court held this petition in abeyance until the United States Supreme Court decided the Williams case described in (2) below. On May 14, 2009, the Oregon Supreme Court issued an order granting plaintiff’s petition for review.

 

July
2000

  

Florida/
Engle

  

Smoking
and

Health
Class
Action

  

$145 billion in punitive damages against all defendants, including $74 billion against PM USA.

    

See Engle Class Action below.

 

March

1999

  

Oregon/ Williams

  

Individual
Smoking
and

Health

  

$800,000 in compensatory damages (capped statutorily at $500,000), $21,500 in medical expenses and $79.5 million in punitive damages against PM USA.

    

See discussion (2) below.

 

 

(1)

Bullock: In August 2006, the California Supreme Court denied plaintiffs’ petition to overturn the trial court’s reduction of the punitive damages award and granted PM USA’s petition for review challenging the punitive damages award. The court granted review of the case on a “grant and hold” basis under which further action by the court was deferred pending the United States Supreme Court’s 2007 decision on punitive damages in the Williams case described below. In February 2007, the United States Supreme Court vacated the punitive damages judgment in Williams and remanded the case to the Oregon Supreme Court for proceedings consistent with its decision. Parties to the appeal in Bullock requested that the court establish a briefing schedule on the merits of the pending appeal. In May 2007, the California Supreme Court transferred the case to the Second District of the California Court of Appeal with directions that the court vacate its 2006 decision and reconsider the case in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Williams. In January 2008, the California Court of Appeal reversed the judgment with respect to the $28 million punitive damages award, affirmed the judgment in all other respects, and remanded the case to the trial court to conduct a new trial on the amount of punitive damages. In March 2008, plaintiffs and PM USA appealed to the California Supreme Court. In April 2008, the California Supreme Court denied both petitions for review. In July 2008, $43.3 million of escrow funds were returned to PM USA. The case was remanded to the superior court for a new trial on the amount of punitive damages, if any. The limited retrial commenced on June 10, 2009. PM USA has recorded a provision of approximately $1.6 million for compensatory damages, costs and interest.

 

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(2)

Williams: The trial court reduced the punitive damages award to $32 million, and PM USA and plaintiff appealed. In June 2002, the Oregon Court of Appeals reinstated the $79.5 million punitive damages award. Following the Oregon Supreme Court’s refusal to hear PM USA’s appeal, PM USA recorded a provision of $32 million and petitioned the United States Supreme Court for further review (PM USA later recorded additional provisions of approximately $29 million related primarily to accrued interest). In October 2003, the United States Supreme Court set aside the Oregon appellate court’s ruling and directed the Oregon court to reconsider the case in light of the 2003 State Farm decision by the United States Supreme Court, which limited punitive damages. In June 2004, the Oregon Court of Appeals reinstated the $79.5 million punitive damages award. In February 2006, the Oregon Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals’ decision. The United States Supreme Court granted PM USA’s petition for writ of certiorari in May 2006. In February 2007, the United States Supreme Court vacated the $79.5 million punitive damages award, holding that the United States Constitution prohibits basing punitive damages awards on harm to non-parties. The Court also found that states must assure that appropriate procedures are in place so that juries are provided with proper legal guidance as to the constitutional limitations on awards of punitive damages. Accordingly, the Court remanded the case to the Oregon Supreme Court for further proceedings consistent with this decision. In January 2008, the Oregon Supreme Court affirmed the Oregon Court of Appeals’ June 2004 decision, which in turn, upheld the jury’s compensatory damage award and reinstated the jury’s award of $79.5 million in punitive damages. In March 2008, PM USA filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was granted in June 2008. In March 2009, the United States Supreme Court dismissed the writ of certiorari as being improvidently granted. Subsequent to the United States Supreme Court’s dismissal, PM USA paid $61.1 million to the plaintiffs, representing the compensatory damages award, forty percent of the punitive damages award and accrued interest. Oregon state law requires that sixty percent of any punitive damages award be paid to the state. However, PM USA believes that, as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”), it is not liable for the sixty percent that would be paid to the state. Oregon and PM USA are parties to a proceeding in Oregon state court that seeks a determination of PM USA’s liability for that sixty percent. If PM USA prevails, its obligation to pay punitive damages will be limited to the forty percent previously paid to the plaintiff. The court has consolidated that MSA proceeding with Williams, where plaintiff seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the Oregon statute apportioning the punitive damages award and claims that any punitive damages award released by the state reverts to plaintiff.

Security for Judgments

To obtain stays of judgments pending current appeals, as of June 30, 2009, PM USA has posted various forms of security totaling approximately $88 million, the majority of which has been collateralized with cash deposits that are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Engle Class Action

In July 2000, in the second phase of the Engle smoking and health class action in Florida, a jury returned a verdict assessing punitive damages totaling approximately $145 billion against various defendants, including $74 billion against PM USA. Following entry of judgment, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $100 million and appealed.

In May 2001, the trial court approved a stipulation providing that execution of the punitive damages component of the Engle judgment will remain stayed against PM USA and the other participating defendants through the completion of all judicial review. As a result of the stipulation, PM USA placed $500 million into a separate interest-bearing escrow account that, regardless of the outcome of the judicial review, will be paid to the court and the court will determine how to allocate or distribute it consistent with Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. In July 2001, PM USA also placed $1.2 billion into an interest-bearing escrow account, which was returned to PM

 

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USA in December 2007. In addition, the $100 million bond related to the case has been discharged. In connection with the stipulation, PM USA recorded a $500 million pre-tax charge in its consolidated statement of earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2001. In May 2003, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal reversed the judgment entered by the trial court and instructed the trial court to order the decertification of the class. Plaintiffs petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for further review.

In July 2006, the Florida Supreme Court ordered that the punitive damages award be vacated, that the class approved by the trial court be decertified, and that members of the decertified class could file individual actions against defendants within one year of issuance of the mandate. The court further declared the following Phase I findings are entitled to res judicata effect in such individual actions brought within one year of the issuance of the mandate: (i) that smoking causes various diseases; (ii) that nicotine in cigarettes is addictive; (iii) that defendants’ cigarettes were defective and unreasonably dangerous; (iv) that defendants concealed or omitted material information not otherwise known or available knowing that the material was false or misleading or failed to disclose a material fact concerning the health effects or addictive nature of smoking; (v) that defendants agreed to misrepresent information regarding the health effects or addictive nature of cigarettes with the intention of causing the public to rely on this information to their detriment; (vi) that defendants agreed to conceal or omit information regarding the health effects of cigarettes or their addictive nature with the intention that smokers would rely on the information to their detriment; (vii) that all defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that were defective; and (viii) that defendants were negligent. The court also reinstated compensatory damage awards totaling approximately $6.9 million to two individual plaintiffs and found that a third plaintiff’s claim was barred by the statute of limitations. In February 2008, PM USA paid a total of $2,964,685, which represents its share of compensatory damages and interest to the two individual plaintiffs identified in the Florida Supreme Court’s order.

In August 2006, PM USA sought rehearing from the Florida Supreme Court on parts of its July 2006 opinion, including the ruling (described above) that certain jury findings have res judicata effect in subsequent individual trials timely brought by Engle class members. The rehearing motion also asked, among other things, that legal errors that were raised but not expressly ruled upon in the Third District Court of Appeal or in the Florida Supreme Court now be addressed. Plaintiffs also filed a motion for rehearing in August 2006 seeking clarification of the applicability of the statute of limitations to non-members of the decertified class. In December 2006, the Florida Supreme Court refused to revise its July 2006 ruling, except that it revised the set of Phase I findings entitled to res judicata effect by excluding finding (v) listed above (relating to agreement to misrepresent information), and added the finding that defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that, at the time of sale or supply, did not conform to the representations of fact made by defendants. In January 2007, the Florida Supreme Court issued the mandate from its revised opinion. Defendants then filed a motion with the Florida Third District Court of Appeal requesting that the court address legal errors that were previously raised by defendants but have not yet been addressed either by the Third District Court of Appeal or by the Florida Supreme Court. In February 2007, the Third District Court of Appeal denied defendants’ motion. In May 2007, defendants’ motion for a partial stay of the mandate pending the completion of appellate review was denied by the Third District Court of Appeal. In May 2007, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. In October 2007, the United States Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition. In November 2007, the United States Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition for rehearing from the denial of their petition for writ of certiorari.

The deadline for filing Engle-progeny cases, as required by the Florida Supreme Court’s decision, expired in January 2008. As of July 27, 2009, approximately 3,308 cases (3,258 state court cases and 50 federal court cases) were pending against PM USA or Altria Group, Inc. asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 9,063 plaintiffs (5,146 state court plaintiffs and 3,917 federal court plaintiffs). It is possible that some of these cases are duplicates and additional cases have been filed but not yet recorded on the courts’ dockets. Some of these cases have been removed from various Florida state courts to the federal district courts in Florida, while others were filed in federal court. In July 2007, PM USA and other defendants requested that

 

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the multi-district litigation panel order the transfer of all such cases pending in the federal courts, as well as any other Engle-progeny cases that may be filed, to the Middle District of Florida for pretrial coordination. The panel denied this request in December 2007. In October 2007, attorneys for plaintiffs filed a motion to consolidate all pending and future cases filed in the state trial court in Hillsborough County. The court denied this motion in November 2007. In February 2008, the trial court decertified the class except for purposes of the May 2001 bond stipulation, and formally vacated the punitive damage award pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court’s mandate. In April 2008, the trial court ruled that certain defendants, including PM USA, lacked standing with respect to allocation of the funds escrowed under the May 2001 bond stipulation and will receive no credit at this time from the $500 million paid by PM USA against any future punitive damages awards in cases brought by former Engle class members.

In May 2008, the trial court, among other things, decertified the limited class maintained for purposes of the May 2001 bond stipulation and, in July 2008, severed the remaining plaintiffs’ claims except for those of Howard Engle. The only remaining plaintiff in the Engle case, Howard Engle, voluntarily dismissed his claims with prejudice. In July 2008, attorneys for a putative former Engle class member petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to permit members of the Engle class additional time to file individual lawsuits. The Florida Supreme Court denied this petition in January 2009.

Three federal district courts (in the Merlob, Brown and Burr cases) have ruled that the findings in the first phase of the Engle proceedings cannot be used to satisfy elements of plaintiffs’ claims, and two of those rulings (Brown and Burr) have been certified by the trial court for interlocutory review. The certification in both cases has been granted by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the appeals have been consolidated. Argument is scheduled for September 17, 2009. In February 2009, the appeal in Burr was dismissed for lack of prosecution. Engle-progeny cases pending in the federal district courts in the Middle District of Florida asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 4,000 plaintiffs have been stayed pending interlocutory review by the Eleventh Circuit. Several state trial court judges have issued contrary rulings that allowed plaintiffs to use the Engle findings to establish elements of their claims and required certain defenses to be stricken.

In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200 million bond cap that applies to all Engle-progeny lawsuits in the aggregate and establishes individual bond caps for individual Engle-progeny cases in amounts that vary depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time. The legislation, which became effective in June 2009, applies to judgments entered after the effective date and remains in effect until December 31, 2012.

As of July 27, 2009, three Engle-progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the Florida Supreme Court Engle decision. One verdict (see Hess description in the table above) was returned in favor of plaintiffs and two verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA (Gelep and Kalyvas). The plaintiffs in Gelep have appealed the defense verdict. Engle-progeny trial results are included in the totals provided in Trial Results above.

Scott Class Action

In July 2003, following the first phase of the trial in the Scott class action, in which plaintiffs sought creation of a fund to pay for medical monitoring and smoking cessation programs, a Louisiana jury returned a verdict in favor of defendants, including PM USA, in connection with plaintiffs’ medical monitoring claims, but also found that plaintiffs could benefit from smoking cessation assistance. The jury also found that cigarettes as designed are not defective but that the defendants failed to disclose all they knew about smoking and diseases and marketed their products to minors. In May 2004, in the second phase of the trial, the jury awarded plaintiffs

 

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approximately $590 million against all defendants jointly and severally, to fund a 10-year smoking cessation program.

In June 2004, the court entered judgment, which awarded plaintiffs the approximately $590 million jury award plus prejudgment interest accruing from the date the suit commenced. PM USA’s share of the jury award and prejudgment interest has not been allocated. Defendants, including PM USA, appealed. Pursuant to a stipulation of the parties, the trial court entered an order setting the amount of the bond at $50 million for all defendants in accordance with an article of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, and a Louisiana statute (the “bond cap law”), fixing the amount of security in civil cases involving a signatory to the MSA. Under the terms of the stipulation, plaintiffs reserve the right to contest, at a later date, the sufficiency or amount of the bond on any grounds including the applicability or constitutionality of the bond cap law. In September 2004, defendants collectively posted a bond in the amount of $50 million.

In February 2007, the Louisiana Court of Appeal issued a ruling on defendants’ appeal that, among other things: affirmed class certification but limited the scope of the class; struck certain of the categories of damages included in the judgment, reducing the amount of the award by approximately $312 million; vacated the award of prejudgment interest, which totaled approximately $444 million as of February 15, 2007; and ruled that the only class members who are eligible to participate in the smoking cessation program are those who began smoking before, and whose claims accrued by, September 1, 1988. As a result, the Louisiana Court of Appeal remanded the case for proceedings consistent with its opinion, including further reduction of the amount of the award based on the size of the new class. In March 2007, the Louisiana Court of Appeal rejected defendants’ motion for rehearing and clarification. In January 2008, the Louisiana Supreme Court denied plaintiffs’ and defendants’ petitions for writ of certiorari. Following the Louisiana Supreme Court’s denial of defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari, PM USA recorded a provision of $26 million in connection with the case and has recorded additional provisions of approximately $4 million related to accrued interest. In March 2008, plaintiffs filed a motion to execute the approximately $279 million judgment plus post-judgment interest or, in the alternative, for an order to the parties to submit revised damages figures. Defendants filed a motion to have judgment entered in favor of defendants based on accrual of all class member claims after September 1, 1988 or, in the alternative, for the entry of a case management order. In April 2008, the Louisiana Supreme Court denied defendants’ motion to stay proceedings and the defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. In June 2008, the United States Supreme Court denied the defendant’s petition. Plaintiffs filed a motion to enter judgment in the amount of approximately $280 million (subsequently changed to approximately $264 million) and defendants filed a motion to enter judgment in their favor dismissing the case entirely or, alternatively, to enter a case management order for a new trial. In July 2008, the trial court entered an Amended Judgment and Reasons for Judgment denying both motions, but ordering defendants to deposit into the registry of the court the sum of $263,532,762 plus post-judgment interest of approximately $102 million (as of June 30, 2009) while stating, however, that the judgment award “may be satisfied with something less than a full cash payment now” and that the court would “favorably consider” returning unused funds annually to defendants if monies allocated for that year were not fully expended.

In September 2008, defendants filed an application for writ of mandamus or supervisory writ to secure the right to appeal with the Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court, in November 2008, granted the defendants’ writ and directed the trial court to enter an order permitting the appeal and to set the appeal bond in accordance with Louisiana law. In December 2008, plaintiffs’ supervisory writ petition to the Louisiana Supreme Court was denied and the trial court entered an order permitting the appeal and approving a $50 million bond for all defendants in accordance with the Louisiana “bond cap law” discussed above. In April 2009, plaintiffs filed a cross-appeal seeking to reinstate the June 2004 judgment and to award the medical monitoring rejected by the jury. Argument before the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, is scheduled for September 1, 2009.

 

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Smoking and Health Litigation

Overview

Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in smoking and health cases are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, nuisance, breach of express and implied warranties, breach of special duty, conspiracy, concert of action, violations of deceptive trade practice laws and consumer protection statutes, and claims under the federal and state anti-racketeering statutes. Plaintiffs in the smoking and health actions seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, treble/multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, creation of medical monitoring and smoking cessation funds, disgorgement of profits, and injunctive and equitable relief. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, statutes of limitations and preemption by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act.

In July 2008, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department in Fabiano, an individual personal injury case, held that plaintiffs’ punitive damages claim was barred by the MSA (as defined below) based on principles of res judicata because the New York Attorney General had already litigated the punitive damages claim on behalf of all New York residents. In August 2008, plaintiffs filed a motion for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeals. The motion was denied in November 2008.

Smoking and Health Class Actions

Since the dismissal in May 1996 of a purported nationwide class action brought on behalf of allegedly addicted smokers, plaintiffs have filed numerous putative smoking and health class action suits in various state and federal courts. In general, these cases purport to be brought on behalf of residents of a particular state or states (although a few cases purport to be nationwide in scope) and raise addiction claims and, in many cases, claims of physical injury as well.

Class certification has been denied or reversed by courts in 57 smoking and health class actions involving PM USA in Arkansas (1), the District of Columbia (2), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nevada (29), New Jersey (6), New York (2), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Puerto Rico (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (1) and Wisconsin (1). A class remains certified in the Scott class action discussed above.

Two purported class actions pending against PM USA have been brought in New York (Caronia, filed in January 2006 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York) and Massachusetts (Donovan, filed in December 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts) on behalf of each state’s respective residents who: are age 50 or older; have smoked the Marlboro brand for 20 pack-years or more; and have neither been diagnosed with lung cancer nor are under investigation by a physician for suspected lung cancer. Plaintiffs in these cases seek to impose liability under various product-based causes of action and the creation of a court-supervised program providing members of the purported class Low Dose CT Scanning in order to identify and diagnose lung cancer. Neither claim seeks punitive damages. Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and defendant’s motion for summary judgment are pending in Caronia. Defendants’ motions for summary judgment and judgment on the pleadings and plaintiffs’ motion for class certification are pending in Donovan. In Donovan, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts heard arguments on June 9, 2009 on the questions certified to it by the district court regarding medical monitoring and statute of limitations issues.

In November 2008, a purported class action naming PM USA, Altria Group, Inc. and the other major cigarette manufacturers as defendants was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on behalf of a purported class of cigarette smokers who seek medical monitoring (Peoples). Plaintiffs allege that

 

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the tobacco companies conspired to convince the National Cancer Institute (“NCI”) to not recommend spiral CT scans to screen for lung cancer and plaintiffs assert claims based on defendants’ purported violations of RICO. The complaint identifies the purported class as all residents of the State of Georgia who, by virtue of their age and history of smoking cigarettes, are at increased risk for developing lung cancer; are 50 years of age or older; have cigarette smoking histories of 20 pack-years or more; and are covered by an insurance company, Medicare, Medicaid or a third party medical payor. Plaintiffs seek relief in the form of the creation of a fund for medical monitoring and punitive damages. In February 2009, defendants filed a motion to dismiss. A similar purported class action (Jackson) was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on May 1, 2009. Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA are named as defendants.

In July 2009, PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. were named as defendants, along with other cigarette manufacturers, in four actions filed in various Canadian provinces which seek certification of a multi-jurisdictional opt-out class action or, in the alternative, of an opt-in class action restricted to the residents of the Province of Saskatchewan. Plaintiffs seek class certification on behalf of individuals who were alive on the date the cases were filed and who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, heart disease or cancer after having smoked a minimum of 25,000 cigarettes manufactured by the defendants. See “Guarantees” for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation

Overview

In health care cost recovery litigation, governmental entities and non-governmental plaintiffs seek reimbursement of health care cost expenditures allegedly caused by tobacco products and, in some cases, of future expenditures and damages as well. Relief sought by some but not all plaintiffs includes punitive damages, multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, injunctions prohibiting alleged marketing and sales to minors, disclosure of research, disgorgement of profits, funding of anti-smoking programs, additional disclosure of nicotine yields, and payment of attorney and expert witness fees.

The claims asserted include the claim that cigarette manufacturers were “unjustly enriched” by plaintiffs’ payment of health care costs allegedly attributable to smoking, as well as claims of indemnity, negligence, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranty, violation of a voluntary undertaking or special duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, public nuisance, claims under federal and state statutes governing consumer fraud, antitrust, deceptive trade practices and false advertising, and claims under federal and state anti-racketeering statutes.

Defenses raised include lack of proximate cause, remoteness of injury, failure to state a valid claim, lack of benefit, adequate remedy at law, “unclean hands” (namely, that plaintiffs cannot obtain equitable relief because they participated in, and benefited from, the sale of cigarettes), lack of antitrust standing and injury, federal preemption, lack of statutory authority to bring suit, and statutes of limitations. In addition, defendants argue that they should be entitled to “set off” any alleged damages to the extent the plaintiffs benefit economically from the sale of cigarettes through the receipt of excise taxes or otherwise. Defendants also argue that these cases are improper because plaintiffs must proceed under principles of subrogation and assignment. Under traditional theories of recovery, a payor of medical costs (such as an insurer) can seek recovery of health care costs from a third party solely by “standing in the shoes” of the injured party. Defendants argue that plaintiffs should be required to bring any actions as subrogees of individual health care recipients and should be subject to all defenses available against the injured party.

Although there have been some decisions to the contrary, most judicial decisions have dismissed all or most health care cost recovery claims against cigarette manufacturers. Nine federal circuit courts of appeals and six

 

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state appellate courts, relying primarily on grounds that plaintiffs’ claims were too remote, have ordered or affirmed dismissals of health care cost recovery actions. The United States Supreme Court has refused to consider plaintiffs’ appeals from the cases decided by five circuit courts of appeals.

In March 1999, in the first health care cost recovery case to go to trial, an Ohio jury returned a verdict in favor of defendants on all counts. In addition, a $17.8 million verdict against defendants (including $6.8 million against PM USA) was reversed in a health care cost recovery case in New York, and all claims were dismissed with prejudice in February 2005 (Blue Cross/Blue Shield). On June 30, 2009, the trial court denied two of defendants’ motions for summary judgment in a health care cost recovery case brought by the City of St. Louis, Missouri and approximately 40 Missouri hospitals, in which PM USA, USSTC and Altria Group, Inc. are defendants. Trial is scheduled to begin on June 7, 2010.

Individuals and associations have also sued in purported class actions or as private attorneys general under the Medicare as Secondary Payer (“MSP”) provisions of the Social Security Act to recover from defendants Medicare expenditures allegedly incurred for the treatment of smoking-related diseases. Cases brought in New York (Mason), Florida (Glover) and Massachusetts (United Seniors Association) have been dismissed by federal courts. In April 2008, an action, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, et al. v. Philip Morris USA, et al. (“National Committee I”), was brought under the Medicare as Secondary Payer statute in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of and for Miami County, Florida, but was dismissed voluntarily in May 2008. The action purported to be brought on behalf of Medicare to recover an unspecified amount of damages equal to double the amount paid by Medicare for smoking-related health care services provided from April 19, 2002 to the present.

In May 2008, an action, National Committee to Preserve Social Security, et al. v. Philip Morris USA, et al., was brought under the Medicare as Secondary Payer statute in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. This action was brought by the same plaintiffs as National Committee I and similarly purports to be brought on behalf of Medicare to recover an unspecified amount of damages equal to double the amount paid by Medicare for smoking-related health care services provided from May 21, 2002 to the present. In July 2008, defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims and plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment. In March 2009, the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs noticed an appeal on May 20, 2009 after the district court denied their motion for reconsideration.

In addition to the cases brought in the United States, health care cost recovery actions have also been brought against tobacco industry participants, including PM USA, in Israel (1), the Marshall Islands (1 dismissed), and Canada (2) and other entities have stated that they are considering filing such actions. In September 2005, in the first of the two health care recovery cases filed in Canada, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that legislation passed in British Columbia permitting the lawsuit is constitutional, and, as a result, the case, which had previously been dismissed by the trial court, was permitted to proceed. PM USA’s and other defendants’ challenge to the British Columbia court’s exercise of jurisdiction was rejected by the Court of Appeals of British Columbia and, in April 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada denied review of that decision. During 2008, the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, proclaimed into law previously adopted legislation allowing reimbursement claims to be brought against cigarette manufacturers, and it filed suit shortly thereafter. Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA are named as defendants in New Brunswick’s case. Several other provinces in Canada have enacted similar legislation or are in the process of enacting similar legislation. See “Guarantees” for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

 

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Settlements of Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation

In November 1998, PM USA and certain other United States tobacco product manufacturers entered into the MSA with 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas to settle asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and other claims. PM USA and certain other United States tobacco product manufacturers had previously settled similar claims brought by Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota (together with the MSA, the “State Settlement Agreements”). The State Settlement Agreements require that the original participating manufacturers make substantial annual payments of $9.4 billion each year (excluding future annual payments, if any, under the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust discussed below), subject to adjustments for several factors, including inflation, market share and industry volume. In addition, the original participating manufacturers are required to pay settling plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, subject to an annual cap of $500 million. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2009, the aggregate amount recorded in cost of sales with respect to the State Settlement Agreements and the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (“FETRA”) was approximately $2.5 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively.

The State Settlement Agreements also include provisions relating to advertising and marketing restrictions, public disclosure of certain industry documents, limitations on challenges to certain tobacco control and underage use laws, restrictions on lobbying activities and other provisions.

Possible Adjustments in MSA Payments for 2003 to 2008

Pursuant to the provisions of the MSA, domestic tobacco product manufacturers, including PM USA, who are original signatories to the MSA (the “Original Participating Manufacturers” or “OPMs”) are participating in proceedings that may result in downward adjustments to the amounts paid by the OPMs and the other MSA-participating manufacturers to the states and territories that are parties to the MSA for each of the years 2003 to 2008. The proceedings relate to an MSA payment adjustment (the “NPM Adjustment”) based on the collective loss of market share for the relevant year by all participating manufacturers who are subject to the payment obligations and marketing restrictions of the MSA to non-participating manufacturers (“NPMs”) who are not subject to such obligations and restrictions.

As part of these proceedings, an independent economic consulting firm jointly selected by the MSA parties or otherwise selected pursuant to the MSA’s provisions is required to determine whether the disadvantages of the MSA were a “significant factor” contributing to the collective loss of market share for the year in question. If the firm determines that the disadvantages of the MSA were such a “significant factor,” each state may avoid a downward adjustment to its share of the participating manufacturers’ annual payments for that year by establishing that it diligently enforced a qualifying escrow statute during the entirety of that year. Any potential downward adjustment would then be reallocated to those states that do not establish such diligent enforcement. PM USA believes that the MSA’s arbitration clause requires a state to submit its claim to have diligently enforced a qualifying escrow statute to binding arbitration before a panel of three former federal judges in the manner provided for in the MSA. A number of states have taken the position that this claim should be decided in state court on a state-by-state basis.

In March 2006, an independent economic consulting firm determined that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the year 2003. In February 2007, this same firm determined that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the year 2004. In February 2008, the same economic consulting firm determined that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the year 2005. A different economic consulting firm was selected to make the “significant factor” determination regarding the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the year 2006. In March 2009, this firm determined that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the participating

 

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manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the year 2006. Following the firm’s determination for 2006, the OPMs and the states agreed that the states will not contest that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the years 2007 and 2008 (and 2009, if the participating manufacturers collectively sustain a sufficient loss of market share for that year as well). Accordingly, the OPMs and the states have agreed that no “significant factor” determination by the firm will be necessary with respect to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Following the economic consulting firm’s determination with respect to 2003, thirty-eight states filed declaratory judgment actions in state courts seeking a declaration that the state diligently enforced its escrow statute during 2003. The OPMs and other MSA-participating manufacturers have responded to these actions by filing motions to compel arbitration in accordance with the terms of the MSA, including filing motions to compel arbitration in eleven MSA states and territories that have not filed declaratory judgment actions. Courts in all forty-six MSA states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have ruled that the question of whether a state diligently enforced its escrow statute during 2003 is subject to arbitration. One of these rulings remains subject to appeal, and several others may be subject to further review following conclusion of the arbitration. PM USA, the other OPMs and approximately twenty-five other MSA-participating manufacturers have entered into an agreement regarding arbitration with over forty MSA states concerning the 2003 NPM Adjustment, including the states’ claims of diligent enforcement for 2003. The agreement provides for selection of the arbitration panel for the 2003 NPM Adjustment beginning by October 1, 2009 and for the arbitration then to proceed. The agreement further provides for a partial liability reduction for the 2003 NPM Adjustment for states that entered into the agreement by January 30, 2009 and are determined in the arbitration not to have diligently enforced a qualifying escrow statute during 2003. Based on the number of states that entered into the agreement by January 30, 2009 (forty-five), the partial liability reduction for those states is 20%. The partial liability reduction would reduce the amount of PM USA’s 2003 NPM Adjustment by up to a corresponding percentage.

The availability and the precise amount of any NPM Adjustment for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 will not be finally determined until 2010 or thereafter. There is no certainty that the OPMs and other MSA-participating manufacturers will ultimately receive any adjustment as a result of these proceedings. If the OPMs do receive such an adjustment through these proceedings, the adjustment would be allocated among the OPMs pursuant to the MSA’s provisions, and PM USA’s share would likely be applied as a credit against one or several future MSA payments.

National Grower Settlement Trust

As part of the MSA, the settling defendants committed to work cooperatively with the tobacco-growing states to address concerns about the potential adverse economic impact of the MSA on tobacco growers and quota holders. To that end, in 1999, four of the major domestic tobacco product manufacturers, including PM USA, established the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust (“NTGST”), a trust fund to provide aid to tobacco growers and quota holders. The trust was to be funded by these four manufacturers over 12 years with payments, prior to application of various adjustments, scheduled to total $5.15 billion. Provisions of the NTGST allowed for offsets to the extent that industry-funded payments were made for the benefit of growers or quota holders as part of a legislated end to the federal tobacco quota and price support program.

In October 2004, FETRA was signed into law. FETRA provides for the elimination of the federal tobacco quota and price support program through an industry-funded buy-out of tobacco growers and quota holders. The cost of the buy-out, which is estimated at approximately $9.5 billion, is being paid over 10 years by manufacturers and importers of each kind of tobacco product. The cost is being allocated based on the relative market shares of manufacturers and importers of each kind of tobacco product. The quota buy-out payments offset already scheduled payments to the NTGST. However, two of the grower states, Maryland and Pennsylvania, have filed claims in the North Carolina state courts, asserting that the companies which established the NTGST (including PM USA) must continue making payments under the NTGST through 2010 for the benefit of Maryland and

 

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Pennsylvania growers (such continuing payments would represent slightly more than one percent of the originally scheduled payments that would have been due to the NTGST for the years 2005 through 2010) notwithstanding the offsets resulting from the FETRA payments. The North Carolina trial court held in favor of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the companies (including PM USA) appealed. The North Carolina Court of Appeals, in December 2008, reversed the trial court ruling. In January 2009, Maryland and Pennsylvania filed a notice of appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court. In addition to the approximately $9.5 billion cost of the buy-out, FETRA also obligated manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to cover any losses (up to $500 million) that the government incurred on the disposition of tobacco pool stock accumulated under the previous tobacco price support program. PM USA, Middleton and USSTC are subject to the requirements of FETRA. Altria Group, Inc. does not currently anticipate that the quota buy-out will have a material adverse impact on its consolidated results in 2009 and beyond.

Other MSA-Related Litigation

PM USA was named as a defendant in an action brought in October 2008 in federal court in Kentucky by an MSA participating manufacturer that is not an OPM. Other defendants include various other participating manufacturers and the Attorneys General of all 52 states and territories that are parties to the MSA. The plaintiff alleged that certain of the MSA’s payment provisions discriminate against it in favor of certain other participating manufacturers in violation of the federal antitrust laws and the United States Constitution. The plaintiff also sought injunctive relief, alteration of certain MSA payment provisions as applied to it, treble damages under the federal antitrust laws, and/or rescission of its joinder in the MSA. The plaintiff also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining the states from enforcing the allegedly discriminatory payment provisions against it during the pendency of action. In November 2008, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on various grounds and, in January 2009, the court dismissed the complaint and denied plaintiff’s request for preliminary injunctive relief.

In December 2008, PM USA was named as a defendant in an action seeking declaratory relief under the MSA. The action was filed in California state court by the same MSA participating manufacturer that filed the Kentucky action discussed in the preceding paragraph. Other defendants include the State of California and various other participating manufacturers. The plaintiff is seeking a declaratory judgment that its proposed amended adherence agreement with California and other states that are parties to the MSA is consistent with provisions in the MSA, and that the MSA’s limited most favored nations provision does not apply to the proposed agreement. Plaintiff seeks no damages in this action. Defendants have moved for summary judgment.

Without naming PM USA or any other private party as a defendant, manufacturers that have elected not to sign the MSA (“NPMs”) and/or their distributors or customers have filed several legal challenges to the MSA and related legislation. New York state officials are defendants in a lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in which cigarette importers allege that the MSA and/or related legislation violates federal antitrust laws and the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. In a separate proceeding pending in the same court, plaintiffs assert the same theories against not only New York officials but also the Attorneys General for thirty other states. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has held that the allegations in both actions, if proven, establish a basis for relief on antitrust and Commerce Clause grounds and that the trial courts in New York have personal jurisdiction sufficient to enjoin other states’ officials from enforcing their MSA-related legislation. On remand in those two actions, one trial court has granted summary judgment for the New York officials and lifted a preliminary injunction against New York officials’ enforcement against plaintiffs of the state’s “allocable share” amendment to the MSA’s Model Escrow Statute; the other trial court has held that plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on the merits. The former decision is on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

 

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In another action, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a trial court’s dismissal of challenges to MSA-related legislation in Louisiana under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. On remand, the trial court has granted summary judgment for the Louisiana Attorney General. This decision is on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In another challenge to Louisiana’s participation in the MSA and Louisiana’s MSA-related legislation, summary judgment motions are under submission. Another proceeding has been initiated before an international arbitration tribunal under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement. A hearing on the merits that was scheduled for June 2009 has been continued. An appeal from trial court decisions holding that plaintiffs have failed to make allegations establishing a claim for relief is pending with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The United States Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Ninth Circuits have affirmed the dismissals in two similar challenges. In July 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed dismissals and summary judgment orders in two cases emanating from Kansas and Oklahoma, and in doing so rejected antitrust and constitutional challenges to the allocable share amendment legislation in those states.

Federal Government’s Lawsuit

In 1999, the United States government filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against various cigarette manufacturers, including PM USA, and others, including Altria Group, Inc. asserting claims under three federal statutes, namely the Medical Care Recovery Act (“MCRA”), the MSP provisions of the Social Security Act and the civil provisions of RICO. Trial of the case ended in June 2005. The lawsuit sought to recover an unspecified amount of health care costs for tobacco-related illnesses allegedly caused by defendants’ fraudulent and tortious conduct and paid for by the government under various federal health care programs, including Medicare, military and veterans’ health benefits programs, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The complaint alleged that such costs total more than $20 billion annually. It also sought what it alleged to be equitable and declaratory relief, including disgorgement of profits which arose from defendants’ allegedly tortious conduct, an injunction prohibiting certain actions by the defendants, and a declaration that the defendants are liable for the federal government’s future costs of providing health care resulting from defendants’ alleged past tortious and wrongful conduct. In September 2000, the trial court dismissed the government’s MCRA and MSP claims, but permitted discovery to proceed on the government’s claims for relief under the civil provisions of RICO.

The government alleged that disgorgement by defendants of approximately $280 billion is an appropriate remedy. In May 2004, the trial court issued an order denying defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment limiting the disgorgement remedy. In February 2005, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that disgorgement is not a remedy available to the government under the civil provisions of RICO and entered summary judgment in favor of defendants with respect to the disgorgement claim. In April 2005, the Court of Appeals denied the government’s motion for rehearing. In July 2005, the government petitioned the United States Supreme Court for further review of the Court of Appeals’ ruling that disgorgement is not an available remedy, and in October 2005, the Supreme Court denied the petition.

In June 2005, the government filed with the trial court its proposed final judgment seeking remedies of approximately $14 billion, including $10 billion over a five-year period to fund a national smoking cessation program and $4 billion over a ten-year period to fund a public education and counter-marketing campaign. Further, the government’s proposed remedy would have required defendants to pay additional monies to these programs if targeted reductions in the smoking rate of those under 21 are not achieved according to a prescribed timetable. The government’s proposed remedies also included a series of measures and restrictions applicable to cigarette business operations—including, but not limited to, restrictions on advertising and marketing, potential measures with respect to certain price promotional activities and research and development, disclosure

 

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requirements for certain confidential data and implementation of a monitoring system with potential broad powers over cigarette operations.

In August 2006, the federal trial court entered judgment in favor of the government. The court held that certain defendants, including Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA, violated RICO and engaged in 7 of the 8 “sub-schemes” to defraud that the government had alleged. Specifically, the court found that:

 

   

defendants falsely denied, distorted and minimized the significant adverse health consequences of smoking;

 

   

defendants hid from the public that cigarette smoking and nicotine are addictive;

 

   

defendants falsely denied that they control the level of nicotine delivered to create and sustain addiction;

 

   

defendants falsely marketed and promoted “low tar/light” cigarettes as less harmful than full-flavor cigarettes;

 

   

defendants falsely denied that they intentionally marketed to youth;

 

   

defendants publicly and falsely denied that ETS is hazardous to non-smokers; and

 

   

defendants suppressed scientific research.

The court did not impose monetary penalties on the defendants, but ordered the following relief: (i) an injunction against “committing any act of racketeering” relating to the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, health consequences or sale of cigarettes in the United States; (ii) an injunction against participating directly or indirectly in the management or control of the Council for Tobacco Research, the Tobacco Institute, or the Center for Indoor Air Research, or any successor or affiliated entities of each; (iii) an injunction against “making, or causing to be made in any way, any material false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation or engaging in any public relations or marketing endeavor that is disseminated to the United States public and that misrepresents or suppresses information concerning cigarettes”; (iv) an injunction against conveying any express or implied health message through use of descriptors on cigarette packaging or in cigarette advertising or promotional material, including “lights,” “ultra lights” and “low tar,” which the court found could cause consumers to believe one cigarette brand is less hazardous than another brand; (v) the issuance of “corrective statements” in various media regarding the adverse health effects of smoking, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine, the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking “low tar” or “light” cigarettes, defendants’ manipulation of cigarette design to ensure optimum nicotine delivery and the adverse health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; (vi) the disclosure on defendants’ public document websites and in the Minnesota document repository of all documents produced to the government in the lawsuit or produced in any future court or administrative action concerning smoking and health until 2021, with certain additional requirements as to documents withheld from production under a claim of privilege or confidentiality; (vii) the disclosure of disaggregated marketing data to the government in the same form and on the same schedule as defendants now follow in disclosing such data to the FTC for a period of ten years; (viii) certain restrictions on the sale or transfer by defendants of any cigarette brands, brand names, formulas or cigarette businesses within the United States; and (ix) payment of the government’s costs in bringing the action.

In September 2006, defendants filed notices of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In September 2006, the trial court denied defendants’ motion to stay the judgment pending defendants’ appeals, and defendants then filed an emergency motion with the Court of Appeals to stay enforcement of the judgment pending their appeals. In October 2006, the government filed a notice of appeal in

 

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which it appealed the denial of certain remedies, including the disgorgement of profits and the cessation remedies it had sought. In October 2006, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals granted defendants’ motion and stayed the trial court’s judgment pending its review of the decision. Certain defendants, including PM USA and Altria Group, Inc., filed a motion to clarify the trial court’s August 2006 Final Judgment and Remedial Order. In March 2007, the trial court denied in part and granted in part defendants’ post-trial motion for clarification of portions of the court’s remedial order.

On May 22, 2009, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a per curiam decision largely affirming the trial court’s judgment against defendants and in favor of the government.

Although the panel largely affirmed the remedial order that was issued by the trial court, it vacated the following aspects of the order:

 

   

its application to defendants’ subsidiaries;

 

   

the prohibition on the use of express or implied health messages or health descriptors, but only to the extent of extraterritorial application;

 

   

its point-of-sale display provisions; and

 

   

its application to Brown & Williamson Holdings.

The Court of Appeals panel remanded the case for the trial court to reconsider these four aspects of the injunction and to reformulate its remedial order accordingly.

Furthermore, the Court of Appeals panel rejected all of the government’s and intervenor’s cross appeal arguments and refused to broaden the remedial order entered by the trial court. The Court of Appeals panel also left undisturbed its prior holding that the government cannot obtain disgorgement as a permissible remedy under RICO.

Defendants expect to file petitions for a rehearing before the panel and for a rehearing by the entire Court of Appeals. The trial court’s judgment and remedial orders remain stayed. Defendants further expect to file a motion to vacate portions of the trial court’s judgment on the grounds of mootness because of the passage of legislation granting FDA broad authority over the regulation of tobacco products.

“Lights/Ultra Lights” Cases

Overview

Plaintiffs in these class actions (some of which have not been certified as such), allege, among other things, that the uses of the terms “Lights” and/or “Ultra Lights” constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices, common law fraud, or RICO violations, and seek injunctive and equitable relief, including restitution and, in certain cases, punitive damages. These class actions have been brought against PM USA and, in certain instances, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries, on behalf of individuals who purchased and consumed various brands of cigarettes, including Marlboro Lights, Marlboro Ultra Lights, Virginia Slims Lights and Superslims, Merit Lights and Cambridge Lights. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of misrepresentation, lack of causation, injury, and damages, the statute of limitations, express preemption by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (“FCLAA”) and implied preemption by the policies and directives of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), non-liability under state statutory provisions exempting conduct that complies with federal regulatory directives, and the First Amendment. As of July 27, 2009, twenty-nine cases are pending as follows: Arkansas (3), California (1), Colorado (1), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Illinois (4), Maine (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), Missouri (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New

 

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Mexico (1), New York (3), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), Texas (1) and West Virginia (2). In addition, a purported “Lights” class action is pending against PM USA in Israel. Other entities have stated that they are considering filing such actions against Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA.

Developments Since December 2008 Good Decision

Since the December 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Good, ten new “Lights” class actions have been served upon PM USA and Altria Group, Inc., one in Illinois state court (Biundo, formerly Goins), one in Florida federal court (Boyd), one in Colorado federal court (Fray), one in Texas federal court (Salazar), one in California federal court (Tyrer), one in Mississippi federal court (Mirick), one in Arkansas federal court (Williams), two in New York federal court (Domaingue and Tang) and one in Tennessee federal court (Alcorn). The Biundo (formerly Goins) action was subsequently removed to federal court and, on May 12, 2009, plaintiff’s motion to amend the complaint was granted after the claims of the initial class representative were dismissed without prejudice. In addition, plaintiffs, in a case filed in state court in Illinois (Cleary), amended their complaint to assert claims on behalf of an additional sub-class of smokers of “Lights” cigarettes. The case was removed to federal court in March 2009, and the district court denied plaintiffs’ motion to remand in an order dated May 4, 2009. On July 1, 2009, the district court dismissed plaintiffs’ “Lights” claims against one defendant and denied plaintiffs’ request to remand the remaining case to state court. The July 1, 2009 order also noted that other defendants, including PM USA, have moved for dismissal of the “Lights” claims asserted against them. That motion is pending.

In April 2009, a petition was filed with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPMDL”) seeking to transfer to, and consolidate pretrial proceedings in, the following “Lights” and other cases in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York or, alternatively, the Southern District of Florida: Tyrer, Fray, Boyd, Biundo (formerly Goins), Cleary, Good, Schwab, Caronia, Tang, Domaingue and Salazar. Stays have been issued in many of these “Lights” cases. Additional federal “Lights” cases may be included in this matter.

The Good Case

In May 2006, a federal trial court in Maine granted PM USA’s motion for summary judgment in Good, a purported “Lights” class action, on the grounds that plaintiffs’ claims are preempted by the FCLAA and dismissed the case. In August 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated the district court’s grant of PM USA’s motion for summary judgment on federal preemption grounds and remanded the case to district court. The district court stayed the case pending the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was granted in January 2008. The case was stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision. In December 2008, the United States Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs’ claims are not barred by federal preemption. Although the Court rejected the argument that the FTC’s actions were so extensive with respect to the descriptors that the state law claims were barred as a matter of federal law, the Court’s decision was limited: it did not address the ultimate merits of plaintiffs’ claim, the viability of the action as a class action, or other state law issues. In February 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit remanded Good to the district court for further proceedings. Stays entered in various “Lights” cases pending Good have been lifted.

“Lights” Cases Dismissed, Not Certified or Ordered De-Certified

To date, 13 courts in 14 cases have refused to certify class actions, dismissed class action allegations, reversed prior class certification decisions or have entered judgment in favor of PM USA. Trial courts in Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and New Jersey have refused to certify a class, an appellate court in Florida has overturned class certification by a trial court, the Ohio Supreme Court has overturned class certifications in the Marrone and Phillips cases (on May 20, 2009, the trial court denied the

 

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Marrone and Phillips plaintiffs’ motions for leave to amend their complaints to assert class action claims), a trial court in Tennessee has dismissed the plaintiffs’ class action allegations, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has dismissed a purported “Lights” class action brought in Louisiana federal court (Sullivan) on the grounds that plaintiffs’ claims were preempted by the FCLAA, plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed an action in a federal trial court in Michigan after the court dismissed claims asserted under the Michigan Unfair Trade and Consumer Protection Act, and the Supreme Court of Illinois has overturned a judgment in favor of a plaintiff class in the Price case (see the Price case below for further discussion). In September 2006, the trial court in Schwab denied defendants’ summary judgment motions and granted plaintiffs’ motion for certification of a nationwide class of all United States residents that purchased cigarettes in the United States that were labeled “Light” or “Lights.” In April 2008, the Second Circuit overturned the trial court’s class certification decision. An intermediate appellate court in Oregon and the Supreme Court in Washington have denied plaintiffs’ motions for interlocutory review of the trial courts’ refusals to certify a class. In the Oregon case (Pearson), in February 2007, PM USA filed a motion for summary judgment based on federal preemption and the Oregon statutory exemption. In September 2007, the District Court granted PM USA’s motion based on express preemption under the FCLAA, and plaintiffs appealed this dismissal to the Oregon Court of Appeals. In February 2008, the parties filed a joint motion to hold the appeal in abeyance pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good, which motion was denied. Plaintiffs in the case in Washington voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice. Plaintiffs in the New Mexico case (Mulford) renewed their motion for class certification, which motion was denied by the federal district court in March 2009, with leave to file a new motion for class certification. Plaintiffs in the Florida case (Hines) petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for further review, and in January 2008, the Florida Supreme Court denied this petition. In February 2009, the plaintiffs’ class action allegations in the Tennessee case (McClure) were dismissed with prejudice. In Cleary discussed above, PM USA has moved to dismiss the “Lights” claims made against it (USSTC is also a defendant in Cleary with respect to non-“Lights” claims).

The Price Case

Trial in the Price case commenced in state court in Illinois in January 2003, and in March 2003, the judge found in favor of the plaintiff class and awarded $7.1 billion in compensatory damages and $3 billion in punitive damages against PM USA. In connection with the judgment, PM USA deposited into escrow various forms of collateral, including cash and negotiable instruments. In December 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court issued its judgment, reversing the trial court’s judgment in favor of the plaintiffs and directing the trial court to dismiss the case. In May 2006, the Illinois Supreme Court denied plaintiffs’ motion for re-hearing, in November 2006, the United States Supreme Court denied plaintiffs’ petition for writ of certiorari and, in December 2006, the Circuit Court of Madison County enforced the Illinois Supreme Court’s mandate and dismissed the case with prejudice. In January 2007, plaintiffs filed a motion to vacate or withhold judgment based upon the United States Supreme Court’s grant of the petition for writ of certiorari in Watson (described below). In May 2007, PM USA filed applications for a writ of mandamus or a supervisory order with the Illinois Supreme Court seeking an order compelling the lower courts to deny plaintiffs’ motion to vacate and/or withhold judgment. In August 2007, the Illinois Supreme Court granted PM USA’s motion for supervisory order and the trial court dismissed plaintiff’s motion to vacate or withhold judgment. The collateral that PM USA deposited into escrow after the initial 2003 judgment has since been released and returned to PM USA.

In December 2008, plaintiffs filed with the trial court a petition for relief from the final judgment that was entered in favor of PM USA. Specifically, plaintiffs sought to vacate the 2005 Illinois Supreme Court judgment, contending that the United States Supreme Court’s December 2008 decision in Good demonstrated that the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision was “inaccurate.” PM USA filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ petition and, in February 2009, the trial court granted PM USA’s motion. In March 2009, the Price plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal with the Fifth Judicial District of the Appellate Court of Illinois.

 

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In June 2009, plaintiffs in an individual smoker lawsuit (Kelly) brought on behalf of an alleged smoker of “Lights” cigarettes in Madison County, Illinois state court filed a motion seeking a declaration that (1) their claims under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act are not barred by the exemption in that statute based on their assertion that the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision in Price is no longer good law in light of the decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in Good and Watson, and (2) their claims are not preempted in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Good.

Trial Court Class Certifications

Trial courts have certified classes against PM USA in Massachusetts (Aspinall), Minnesota (Curtis), and Missouri (Craft). PM USA has appealed or otherwise challenged these class certification orders. Developments in these cases include:

Aspinall: In August 2004, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the class certification order. In August 2006, the trial court denied PM USA’s motion for summary judgment and granted plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the defenses of federal preemption and a state law exemption to Massachusetts’ consumer protection statute. On motion of the parties, the trial court subsequently reported its decision to deny summary judgment to the appeals court for review and stayed further proceedings pending completion of the appellate review. Motions for direct appellate review with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court were granted in April 2007 and oral arguments were heard in January 2008. In December 2008, subsequent to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an order requesting that the parties advise the court within 30 days whether the Good decision is dispositive of federal preemption issues pending on appeal. In January 2009, PM USA notified the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that Good is dispositive of the federal preemption issues on appeal, but requested further briefing on the state law statutory exemption issue. In March 2009, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the order denying summary judgment to PM USA and granting the plaintiffs’ cross-motion.

Curtis: In April 2005, the Minnesota Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition for interlocutory review of the trial court’s class certification order. Plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment in February 2009, claiming collateral estoppel from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice (see Federal Government’s Lawsuit described above). The court has set a trial date of October 25, 2010.

Craft: In August 2005, a Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the class certification order. The court has set a trial date of January 11, 2011 which could be advanced to June 2010. Plaintiffs have moved for reconsideration of the period during which potential class members can qualify to become part of the class to expand it from 1998 – 2005 to 1971 – 2005.

In addition to these cases, in June 2007, the United States Supreme Court reversed the lower court rulings in the Watson case that denied plaintiffs’ motion to have the case heard in a state, as opposed to federal, trial court. The Supreme Court rejected defendant’s contention that the case must be tried in federal court under the “federal officer” statute. The case has been remanded to the state trial court in Arkansas. In December 2005, in the Miner case, which was pending at that time in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, plaintiffs moved for certification of a class composed of individuals who purchased Marlboro Lights or Cambridge Lights brands in Arkansas, California, Colorado, and Michigan. PM USA’s motion for summary judgment based on preemption and the Arkansas statutory exemption is pending. Following the filing of this motion, plaintiffs moved to voluntarily dismiss Miner without prejudice, which PM USA opposed. The court then stayed the case pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision on a petition for writ of certiorari in Watson. In July 2007, the case was remanded to a state trial court in Arkansas. In August 2007, plaintiffs renewed their motion for class certification. In October 2007, the court denied PM USA’s motion to dismiss on procedural grounds and the court entered a case management order.

 

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Certain Other Tobacco-Related Litigation

Tobacco Price Cases: As of July 27, 2009, two separate cases were pending, one in Kansas and one in New Mexico, in which plaintiffs allege that defendants, including PM USA, conspired to fix cigarette prices in violation of antitrust laws. Altria Group, Inc. is a defendant in the case in Kansas. Plaintiffs’ motions for class certification have been granted in both cases. In June 2006, defendants’ motion for summary judgment was granted in the New Mexico case. In November 2008, the New Mexico Court of Appeals reversed the trial court decision granting summary judgment as to certain defendants, including PM USA. In February 2009, the New Mexico Supreme Court granted the petition for writ of certiorari filed by PM USA and the other defendants. The case in Kansas is pending; there is no trial date.

Cases Under the California Business and Professions Code: In June 1997, a lawsuit (Brown) was filed in California state court alleging that domestic cigarette manufacturers, including PM USA and others, have violated California Business and Professions Code Sections 17200 and 17500 regarding unfair, unlawful and fraudulent business practices. Class certification was granted as to plaintiffs’ claims that class members are entitled to reimbursement of the costs of cigarettes purchased during the class periods and injunctive relief. In September 2004, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to plaintiffs’ claims attacking defendants’ cigarette advertising and promotion and denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ claims based on allegedly false affirmative statements. Plaintiffs’ motion for rehearing was denied. In March 2005, the court granted defendants’ motion to decertify the class based on a California law, which inter alia limits the ability to bring a lawsuit to only those plaintiffs who have “suffered injury in fact” and “lost money or property” as a result of defendant’s alleged statutory violations (“Proposition 64”). In two July 2006 opinions, the California Supreme Court held Proposition 64 applicable to pending cases (the “Proposition 64 Cases”). Plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the order that decertified the class was denied, and plaintiffs appealed. In September 2006, an intermediate appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order decertifying the class. On May 18, 2009, the California Supreme Court reversed the trial court decision that was affirmed by the appellate court and remanded the case to the trial court. Defendants filed a rehearing petition on June 2, 2009.

In May 2004, a lawsuit (Gurevitch) was filed in California state court on behalf of a purported class of all California residents who purchased the Merit brand of cigarettes since July 2000 to the present alleging that defendants, including PM USA, violated California’s Business and Professions Code Sections 17200 and 17500 regarding unfair, unlawful and fraudulent business practices, including false and misleading advertising. The complaint also alleges violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, disgorgement, restitution, and attorneys’ fees. In July 2005, defendants’ motion to dismiss was granted; however, plaintiffs’ motion for leave to amend the complaint was also granted, and plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in September 2005. In October 2005, the court stayed this action pending the California Supreme Court’s rulings in the Proposition 64 Cases. In September 2006, the stay was lifted and defendants filed their demurrer to plaintiffs’ amended complaint. In March 2007, the court, without ruling on the demurrer, again stayed the action pending rulings from the California Supreme Court in another case involving Proposition 64 (Brown, described above) that is relevant to PM USA’s demurrer. PM USA anticipates reactivation of this case based on the California Supreme Court’s May 18, 2009 decision in Brown.

In September 2005, a purported class action lawsuit (Reynolds) was filed by a California consumer against PM USA alleging that PM USA violated certain California consumer protection laws in connection with the alleged expiration of Marlboro Miles’ proofs of purchase, which could be used in accordance with the terms and conditions of certain time-limited promotions to acquire merchandise from Marlboro catalogues. PM USA’s motion to dismiss the case was denied in March 2006. In September 2006, PM USA filed a motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s claims for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In October 2006, PM USA filed a second summary judgment motion seeking dismissal of plaintiff’s claims under certain California consumer protection statutes. In June 2007, the court denied PM USA’s motions for

 

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summary judgment. On June 2, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, on interlocutory review of the trial court’s orders, reversed the denial of PM USA’s motion to dismiss and remanded the case. On June 25, 2009, plaintiff voluntarily dismissed all claims with prejudice.

Ignition Propensity Cases: PM USA is currently a defendant in five wrongful death actions in which plaintiffs contend that fires caused by cigarettes led to other individuals’ deaths. In one case pending in Massachusetts state court (Sarro), PM USA’s motion to dismiss is pending. In a Kentucky state court case (Walker), the court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims in February 2009 and plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal. The three remaining actions are Green and Hallmark (each filed in April 2009 in Alabama state court), and Kerr (filed in Mississippi state court in February 2009 and removed by PM USA to Mississippi federal court on July 17, 2009).

UST Litigation

Types of Cases

Claims related to smokeless tobacco products generally fall within the following categories:

First, UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries has been named in certain health care cost reimbursement/third-party recoupment/class action litigation against the major domestic cigarette companies and others seeking damages and other relief. The complaints in these cases on their face predominantly relate to the usage of cigarettes; within that context, certain complaints contain a few allegations relating specifically to smokeless tobacco products. These actions are in varying stages of pretrial activities.

Second, UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries has been named in certain actions in West Virginia brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs against cigarette manufacturers, smokeless tobacco manufacturers, and other organizations seeking damages and other relief in connection with injuries allegedly sustained as a result of tobacco usage, including smokeless tobacco products. Included among the plaintiffs are five individuals alleging use of USSTC’s smokeless tobacco products and alleging the types of injuries claimed to be associated with the use of smokeless tobacco products. While certain of these actions had not been consolidated for pretrial and trial proceedings, USSTC, along with other non-cigarette manufacturers, has remained severed from such proceedings since December 3, 2001.

Third, UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries has been named in a number of other individual tobacco and health suits. Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in these cases are based on various theories of recovery, such as negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, addiction, and breach of consumer protection statutes. Plaintiffs seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, and certain equitable relief, including but not limited to disgorgement. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of causation, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, and statutes of limitations. USSTC is currently named in an action in Florida (Vassallo) and in an action in Connecticut (Hill). The Hill case is set for trial on February 9, 2010.

Antitrust Litigation

Following a previous antitrust action brought against UST by a competitor, Conwood Company L.P., UST was named as a defendant in certain actions brought by indirect purchasers (consumers) in a number of jurisdictions. As indirect purchasers of UST’s smokeless tobacco products during various periods of time ranging from January 1990 to the date of certification or potential certification of the proposed classes, plaintiffs in those actions allege, individually and on behalf of putative class members in a particular state or individually and on behalf of class members in the applicable states, that UST has violated the antitrust laws, unfair and deceptive trade practices statutes and/or common law of those states. In connection with these actions, plaintiffs sought to

 

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recover compensatory and statutory damages in an amount not to exceed $75,000 per purported class member or per class member, and certain other relief. The indirect purchaser actions, as filed, were similar in all material respects.

The indirect purchaser actions have been resolved in almost all jurisdictions.

In September 2007, UST entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve the California class action. In March 2008, the California Superior Court, San Francisco, entered an order granting final approval of the California settlement, entering judgment and dismissing all claims against the settling defendants with prejudice. The court also granted plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. A Notice of Appeal from the judgment and order granting final approval of the settlement, and order granting plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees was filed by an individual class member in April 2008. The California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, dismissed this appeal in February 2009, pursuant to the stipulation of the parties.

In January 2008, UST entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve the New Hampshire action. In July 2008, the court entered a final judgment granting final approval of the settlement, including attorneys’ fees and costs, and dismissing the action with prejudice. A Notice of Appeal was filed by an individual class member in August 2008. In April 2009, the New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed the trial court order and final judgment approving the class action settlement in this indirect purchaser antitrust case. On May 14, 2009, the New Hampshire Supreme Court modified the final judgment to extend the deadline until December 31, 2009, for class members to submit claims.

In the indirect purchaser action pending in federal court in Pennsylvania, plaintiffs filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice in April 2009.

In April 2009, UST entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve the Massachusetts action. The proposed settlement received preliminary court approval on May 22, 2009. The hearing on final approval is scheduled for October 23, 2009.

Pursuant to the settlements in all jurisdictions except California and the proposed settlement in Massachusetts, adult consumers received or will receive coupons redeemable on future purchases of UST’s moist smokeless tobacco products, and UST agreed to pay all related administrative costs and plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees. The California and proposed Massachusetts settlements are for cash only and do not involve distribution of coupons.

In connection with the settlement of the Kansas, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin actions, UST has recognized a liability reflecting the costs attributable to coupons previously distributed to Kansas, New York and Wisconsin class members, and coupons expected to be distributed to New Hampshire class members, which will be redeemable on future purchases of UST’s moist smokeless tobacco products, as well as plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and other administrative costs of the settlement. In connection with the proposed Massachusetts settlement, which is still subject to final court approval, UST has recognized a liability for the total amount of the proposed cash settlement.

As of June 30, 2009, the liability associated with UST’s estimated costs to resolve all indirect purchaser actions was $16 million.

Other Litigation

In September 2008, plaintiffs filed a purported class action on behalf of a purported class of UST stockholders in Superior Court in Connecticut to enjoin the proposed acquisition of UST by Altria Group, Inc., alleging, among other things, that UST and/or nine of its directors had violated their fiduciary duties by agreeing to the terms of the acquisition and that Altria Group, Inc. had aided and abetted in the alleged violation. In October

 

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2008, plaintiffs amended the complaint to add allegations concerning UST’s definitive proxy statement and certain benefits payable to UST’s officers in connection with the transaction. The amended complaint also included aiding and abetting claims against UST. In December 2008, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to settle this lawsuit and resolve all claims. The settlement amount was immaterial. The process for obtaining court approval is on-going.

Certain Other Actions

IRS Challenges to PMCC Leases: The IRS concluded its examination of Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated tax returns for the years 1996 through 1999, and issued a final Revenue Agent’s Report (“RAR”) in March 2006. The RAR disallowed benefits pertaining to certain PMCC leveraged lease transactions for the years 1996 through 1999. Altria Group, Inc. agreed with all conclusions of the RAR, with the exception of the disallowance of benefits pertaining to several PMCC leveraged lease transactions for the years 1996 through 1999. Altria Group, Inc. contests approximately $150 million of tax and net interest assessed and paid with regard to them. The IRS may in the future challenge and disallow more of PMCC’s leveraged lease benefits based on Revenue Rulings, an IRS Notice and subsequent case law addressing specific types of leveraged leases (lease-in/lease-out (“LILO”) and sale-in/lease-out (“SILO”) transactions).

In October 2006, Altria Group, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to claim refunds on a portion of these tax payments and associated interest for the years 1996 and 1997. On July 9, 2009, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the IRS. Altria Group, Inc. intends to file post-trial motions and, if necessary, to seek appellate review.

In March 2008, Altria Group, Inc. filed a second complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking a refund of the tax payments and associated interest for the years 1998 and 1999 attributable to the disallowance of benefits claimed in those years with respect to the leases subject to the recent jury verdict and with respect to certain other leases entered into in 1998 and 1999.

The IRS has indicated that it intends to issue an RAR regarding its audit of Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated tax returns for the 2000 – 2003 years within the next six months. Based on Notices of Proposed Adjustments received by Altria Group, Inc., we expect that this RAR will challenge and disallow tax benefits claimed by Altria Group, Inc. with respect to the leases subject to the recent jury verdict plus other PMCC leveraged lease transactions characterized by the IRS as LILOs and SILOs, including benefits claimed from LILO and SILO transactions entered into during both the 1996 – 1999 years and the 2000 – 2003 years. The total disallowance for 2000 – 2003 for these leases in federal income tax and related interest would be approximately $1.0 billion. Altria Group, Inc. plans to contest proposed leveraged lease adjustments contained in any RAR.

If the tax benefits for the transactions entered into from 1996 to 2003 were similarly disallowed for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2009, the disallowance for such period for these leases in federal income tax and related interest would be approximately $900 million, taking into account federal income tax paid or payable on gains associated with sales of leased assets during that period. The payment, if any, of such amount would depend upon the timing and outcome of future IRS audits and any related administrative challenges or litigation.

LILO and SILO transactions represent approximately 36% of the Net Finance Assets of PMCC’s lease portfolio. PMCC entered into no LILO or SILO transactions after 2003.

Altria Group, Inc. considered these matters in its treatment of FASB Interpretation No. 48 and FASB Staff Position No. FAS 13-2. Should Altria Group, Inc. not prevail in these matters, Altria Group, Inc. may have to accelerate the payment of significant amounts of federal income tax, pay associated interest costs and significantly lower its earnings to reflect the recalculation of the income from the affected leveraged leases,

 

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which could have a material effect on the earnings and cash flows of Altria Group, Inc. in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year.

Kraft Thrift Plan Case: Four participants in the Kraft Foods Global, Inc. Thrift Plan (“Kraft Thrift Plan”), a defined contribution plan, filed a class action complaint on behalf of all participants and beneficiaries of the Kraft Thrift Plan in July 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging breach of fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”). Named defendants in this action include Altria Corporate Services, Inc. (now Altria Client Services Inc.) and certain company committees that allegedly had a relationship to the Kraft Thrift Plan. Plaintiffs request, among other remedies, that defendants restore to the Kraft Thrift Plan all losses improperly incurred. The Altria Group, Inc. defendants deny any violation of ERISA or other unlawful conduct and intend to defend the case vigorously. Under the terms of a Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and Kraft, Altria Client Services Inc. and related defendants may be entitled to indemnity against any liabilities incurred in connection with this case.

Environmental Regulation

Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (and former subsidiaries) are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise related to environmental protection, including, in the United States: The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (commonly known as “Superfund”), which can impose joint and several liability on each responsible party. Subsidiaries (and former subsidiaries) of Altria Group, Inc. are involved in several matters subjecting them to potential costs of remediation and natural resource damages under Superfund or other laws and regulations. Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries expect to continue to make capital and other expenditures in connection with environmental laws and regulations. Although it is not possible to predict precise levels of environmental-related expenditures, compliance with such laws and regulations, including the payment of any remediation costs or damages and the making of such expenditures, has not had, and is not expected to have, a material adverse effect on Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated results of operations, capital expenditures, financial position, earnings or competitive position.

Guarantees

At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. had a $12 million third-party guarantee, related to a divestiture, which was recorded as a liability on its condensed consolidated balance sheet. This guarantee has no specified expiration date. Altria Group, Inc. is required to perform under this guarantee in the event that a third party fails to make contractual payments. In the ordinary course of business, certain subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. have agreed to indemnify a limited number of third parties in the event of future litigation. At June 30, 2009, subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. were also contingently liable for $25 million of guarantees related to their own performance, consisting primarily of surety bonds. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s liquidity.

Under the terms of a distribution agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI, entered into as a result of the PMI spin-off, liabilities concerning tobacco products will be allocated based in substantial part on the manufacturer. PMI will indemnify Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PMI or contract manufactured for PMI by PM USA, and PM USA will indemnify PMI for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PM USA, excluding tobacco products contract manufactured for PMI. Altria Group, Inc. does not have a related liability recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2009 as the fair value of this indemnification is insignificant.

 

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As more fully discussed in Note 16. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities and borrowings under the Revolving Facility and its commercial paper program.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

In September 2007, UST completed the acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars through one of its consolidated subsidiaries, Michelle-Antinori, LLC (“Michelle-Antinori”), in which UST holds an 85% ownership interest with a 15% noncontrolling interest held by Antinori California (“Antinori”). In connection with the acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, UST entered into a put arrangement with Antinori. The put arrangement, as later amended, provides Antinori with the right to require UST to purchase its 15% ownership interest in Michelle-Antinori at a price equal to Antinori’s initial investment of $27 million. The put arrangement becomes exercisable beginning September 11, 2010. As of June 30, 2009, the redemption value of the put arrangement did not exceed the noncontrolling interest balance. Therefore, no adjustment to the value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest was recognized in the condensed consolidated balance sheet for the put arrangement.

The noncontrolling interest put arrangement is accounted for as mandatorily redeemable securities because redemption is outside of the control of UST. As such, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is reported in the mezzanine equity section in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2009.

 

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Note 15. Recent Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted:

In December 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets” (“FSP FAS 132(R)-1”). FSP FAS 132(R)-1 will expand the disclosures regarding investments held by employer defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans, with the purpose of providing additional information related to the valuation methodologies for these assets similar to SFAS 157. Additionally, FSP FAS 132(R)-1 will require disclosures on how investment allocation decisions are made as well as significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. FSP FAS 132(R)-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Altria Group, Inc. will amend its annual disclosures accordingly.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162” (“SFAS 168”). SFAS 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM as the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities. Rules and interpretative releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. SFAS 168 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. SFAS 168 will not have a material impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements when adopted.

 

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Note 16. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information:

PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under the Revolving Facility and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program (the “Guarantees”). Pursuant to the Guarantees, PM USA fully and unconditionally guarantees, as primary obligor, the payment and performance of Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under the guaranteed debt instruments (the “Obligations”).

The Guarantees provide that PM USA fully and unconditionally guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of the Obligations. The liability of PM USA under the Guarantees is absolute and unconditional irrespective of: any lack of validity, enforceability or genuineness of any provision of any agreement or instrument relating thereto; any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any agreement or instrument relating thereto; any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations; or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Altria Group, Inc. or PM USA.

The obligations of PM USA under the Guarantees are limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of PM USA that are relevant under Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to the Guarantees, result in PM USA’s obligations under the Guarantees not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. For this purpose, “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

PM USA will be unconditionally released and discharged from its obligations under each of the Guarantees upon the earliest to occur of:

 

   

the date, if any, on which PM USA consolidates with or merges into Altria Group, Inc. or any successor;

 

   

the date, if any, on which Altria Group, Inc. or any successor consolidates with or merges into PM USA;

 

   

the payment in full of the Obligations pertaining to such Guarantee; or

 

   

the rating of Altria Group, Inc.’s long-term senior unsecured debt by Standard & Poor’s of A or higher.

At June 30, 2009, the respective principal wholly-owned subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA were not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their common stock.

The following sets forth the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, condensed consolidating statements of earnings for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, and condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 for Altria Group, Inc., PM USA and Altria Group, Inc.’s other subsidiaries that are not guarantors of Altria Group, Inc.’s debt instruments (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) (in millions of dollars). The financial information is based on Altria Group, Inc.’s understanding of the SEC interpretation and application of Rule 3-10 of the SEC Regulation S-X.

 

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The financial information may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations or financial position had PM USA and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries operated as independent entities. Altria Group, Inc. accounts for investments in these subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting.

 

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

June 30, 2009

 

    

Altria
Group, Inc.

  

PM USA

  

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

   Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
   

Consolidated

ASSETS

             

Consumer products

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 524    $ -    $ 20    $ -      $ 544

Receivables, net

     5      34      62        101

Inventories:

             

Leaf tobacco

        576      332        908

Other raw materials

        150      33        183

Work in process

        11      239        250

Finished product

        312      228        540
                                   
        1,049      832        1,881

Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

     699      3,237      785      (4,721  

Deferred income taxes

     58      1,404      99        1,561

Other current assets

     454      53      288        795
                                   

Total current assets

     1,740      5,777      2,086      (4,721     4,882

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

     2      4,800      1,279        6,081

Less accumulated depreciation

     1      2,907      349        3,257
                                   
     1      1,893      930        2,824

Goodwill

           4,998        4,998

Other intangible assets, net

        278      11,871        12,149

Investment in SABMiller

     4,780              4,780

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

     6,160            (6,160  

Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

     8,000            (8,000  

Other assets

     775      143      220        1,138
                                   

Total consumer products assets

     21,456      8,091      20,105      (18,881     30,771

Financial services

             

Finance assets, net

           5,031        5,031

Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

           1,189      (1,189  

Other assets

           27        27
                                   

Total financial services assets

           6,247      (1,189     5,058
                                   

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 21,456    $ 8,091    $ 26,352    $ (20,070   $ 35,829
                                   

 

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Continued)

June 30, 2009

 

   

Altria
Group, Inc.

   

PM USA

   

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
   

Consolidated

 

LIABILITIES

         

Consumer products

         

Short-term borrowings

  $ 393      $ -      $ -      $ -      $ 393   

Current portion of long-term debt

    775              775   

Accounts payable

    8        172        113          293   

Accrued liabilities:

         

Marketing

      475        (10       465   

Taxes, except income taxes

      659        27          686   

Employment costs

    23        21        106          150   

Settlement charges

      2,204        4          2,208   

Other

    285        602        453          1,340   

Dividends payable

    667              667   

Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

    3,339        277        2,294        (5,910  
                                       

Total current liabilities

    5,490        4,410        2,987        (5,910     6,977   

Long-term debt

    10,286          898          11,184   

Deferred income taxes

    1,486        54        2,431          3,971   

Accrued pension costs

    214          1,378          1,592   

Accrued postretirement health care costs

      1,528        824          2,352   

Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

        8,000        (8,000  

Other liabilities

    637        426        183          1,246   
                                       

Total consumer products liabilities

    18,113        6,418        16,701        (13,910     27,322   

Financial services

         

Debt

        500          500   

Deferred income taxes

        4,220          4,220   

Other liabilities

        410          410   
                                       

Total financial services liabilities

        5,130          5,130   
                                       

Total liabilities

    18,113        6,418        21,831        (13,910     32,452   
                                       

Contingencies

         

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

        32          32   

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

         

Common stock

    935          9        (9     935   

Additional paid-in capital

    6,082        408        6,349        (6,757     6,082   

Earnings reinvested in the business

    22,404        1,580        (120     (1,460     22,404   

Accumulated other comprehensive losses

    (2,015     (315     (1,751     2,066        (2,015
                                       
    27,406        1,673        4,487        (6,160     27,406   

Less cost of repurchased stock

    (24,063           (24,063
                                       

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

    3,343        1,673        4,487        (6,160     3,343   

Noncontrolling interests

        2          2   
                                       

Total stockholders’ equity

    3,343        1,673        4,489        (6,160     3,345   
                                       

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  $ 21,456      $ 8,091      $ 26,352      $ (20,070   $ 35,829   
                                       

 

-63-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

December 31, 2008

 

    

Altria
Group, Inc.

  

PM USA

  

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

   Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
   

Consolidated

 

ASSETS

             

Consumer products

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,910    $ 1    $ 5    $ -      $ 7,916    

Receivables, net

     2      21      21        44   

Inventories:

             

Leaf tobacco

        710      17        727   

Other raw materials

        139      6        145   

Work in process

        7      2        9   

Finished product

        184      4        188   
                                     
        1,040      29        1,069   

Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

     293      3,078      466      (3,837  

Deferred income taxes

     58      1,574      58        1,690   

Other current assets

     192      82      83        357   
                                     

Total current assets

     8,455      5,796      662      (3,837     11,076   

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

     2      4,792      550        5,344   

Less accumulated depreciation

     1      2,851      293        3,145   
                                     
     1      1,941      257        2,199   

Goodwill

           77        77   

Other intangible assets, net

        283      2,756        3,039   

Investment in SABMiller

     4,261              4,261   

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

     1,349            (1,349  

Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

     2,000            (2,000  

Other assets

     688      286      106        1,080   
                                     

Total consumer products assets

     16,754      8,306      3,858      (7,186     21,732   

Financial services

             

Finance assets, net

           5,451        5,451   

Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

           761      (761  

Other assets

           32        32   
                                     

Total financial services assets

           6,244      (761     5,483   
                                     

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 16,754    $ 8,306    $ 10,102    $ (7,947   $ 27,215   
                                     

 

-64-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Continued)

December 31, 2008

 

   

Altria
Group, Inc.

   

PM USA

   

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
   

Consolidated

 

LIABILITIES

         

Consumer products

         

Current portion of long-term debt

  $ -      $ 135      $ -      $ -      $ 135   

Accounts payable

    72        282        156          510   

Accrued liabilities:

         

Marketing

      373        1          374   

Taxes, except income taxes

      94        4          98   

Employment costs

    27        48        173          248   

Settlement charges

      3,984            3,984   

Other

    206        681        241          1,128   

Dividends payable

    665              665   

Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

    3,925        348        325        (4,598  
                                       

Total current liabilities

    4,895        5,945        900        (4,598     7,142   

Long-term debt

    6,839              6,839   

Deferred income taxes

    1,295        (509     (435       351   

Accrued pension costs

    228        425        740          1,393   

Accrued postretirement health care costs

      1,700        508          2,208   

Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

        2,000        (2,000  

Other liabilities

    669        447        92          1,208   
                                       

Total consumer products liabilities

    13,926        8,008        3,805        (6,598     19,141   

Financial services

         

Debt

        500          500   

Deferred income taxes

        4,644          4,644   

Other liabilities

        102          102   
                                       

Total financial services liabilities

        5,246          5,246   
                                       

Total liabilities

    13,926        8,008        9,051        (6,598     24,387   
                                       

Contingencies

         

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

         

Common stock

    935          9        (9     935   

Additional paid-in capital

    6,350        412        1,938        (2,350     6,350   

Earnings reinvested in the business

    22,131        1,215        (119     (1,096     22,131   

Accumulated other comprehensive losses

    (2,181     (1,329     (777     2,106        (2,181
                                       
    27,235        298        1,051        (1,349     27,235   

Less cost of repurchased stock

    (24,407           (24,407
                                       

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

    2,828        298        1,051        (1,349     2,828   

Noncontrolling interests

         
                                       

Total stockholders’ equity

    2,828        298        1,051        (1,349     2,828   
                                       

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  $ 16,754      $ 8,306      $ 10,102      $ (7,947   $ 27,215   
                                       

 

-65-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

 

   

Altria
Group, Inc.

   

PM USA

   

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
   

Consolidated

 

Net revenues

  $ -      $ 9,923      $ 1,319      $ -      $ 11,242   

Cost of sales

      3,603        305          3,908   

Excise taxes on products

      2,732        104          2,836   
                                       

Gross profit

      3,588        910          4,498   

Marketing, administration and research costs

    121        1,030        304          1,455   

Exit costs

      34        132          166   

Amortization of intangibles

      5        4          9   
                                       

Operating (expense) income

    (121     2,519        470          2,868   

Interest and other debt expense (income), net

    317        (3     309          623   

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

    (323           (323
                                       

(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries

    (115     2,522        161          2,568   

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

    (68     957        79          968   

Equity earnings of subsidiaries

    1,647            (1,647  
                                       

Net earnings

    1,600        1,565        82        (1,647     1,600   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

        (1       (1
                                       

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

  $ 1,600      $ 1,565      $ 81      $ (1,647   $ 1,599   
                                       

 

-66-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

 

   

Altria
Group, Inc.

   

PM USA

   

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
   

Consolidated

 

Net revenues

  $ -      $ 9,149      $ 315      $ -      $ 9,464   

Cost of sales

      4,004        51          4,055   

Excise taxes on products

      1,650        31          1,681   
                                       

Gross profit

      3,495        233          3,728   

Marketing, administration and research costs

    89        1,127        81          1,297   

Exit costs

    74        29        174          277   

(Gain) loss on sale of corporate headquarters
building

    (407       3          (404

Amortization of intangibles

        3          3   
                                       

Operating income (expense)

    244        2,339        (28       2,555   

Interest and other debt expense (income), net

    136        (237     103          2   

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

    386          7          393   

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

    (290           (290
                                       

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
before income taxes and equity earnings of
subsidiaries

    12        2,576        (138       2,450   

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

    (22     967        (39       906   

Equity earnings of subsidiaries

    3,350            (3,350  
                                       

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

    3,384        1,609        (99     (3,350     1,544   

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of
income taxes

        1,901          1,901   
                                       

Net earnings

    3,384        1,609        1,802        (3,350     3,445   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

        (61       (61
                                       

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

  $ 3,384      $ 1,609      $ 1,741      $ (3,350   $ 3,384   
                                       

 

-67-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009

 

    Altria
Group, Inc.
    PM USA   Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
    Consolidated  

Net revenues

  $ -      $ 6,025   $ 694      $ -      $ 6,719   

Cost of sales

      1,983     155          2,138   

Excise taxes on products

      2,052     73          2,125   
                                     

Gross profit

      1,990     466          2,456   

Marketing, administration and research costs

    18        555     165          738   

Exit costs

      15     23          38   

Amortization of intangibles

      2     1          3   
                                     

Operating (expense) income

    (18     1,418     277          1,677   

Interest and other debt expense, net

    130          157          287   

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

    (217           (217
                                     

Earnings before income taxes and equity
earnings of subsidiaries

    69        1,418     120          1,607   

Provision for income taxes

    7        532     57          596   

Equity earnings of subsidiaries

    949            (949  
                                     

Net earnings

    1,011        886     63        (949     1,011   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

        (1       (1
                                     

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

  $ 1,011      $ 886   $ 62      $ (949   $ 1,010   
                                     

 

-68-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

 

    Altria
Group, Inc.
    PM USA     Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
  Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
    Consolidated  

Net revenues

  $ -      $ 4,916      $ 138   $ -      $ 5,054   

Cost of sales

      2,142        26       2,168   

Excise taxes on products

      859        16       875   
                                     

Gross profit

      1,915        96       2,011   

Marketing, administration and research costs

    46        581        22       649   

Exit costs

      18        1       19   

Amortization of intangibles

        1       1   
                                     

Operating (expense) income

    (46     1,316        72       1,342   

Interest and other debt expense (income), net

    52        (104     70       18   

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller

    (147           (147
                                     

Earnings before income taxes and equity
earnings of subsidiaries

    49        1,420        2       1,471   

Provision for income taxes

    6        533        2       541   

Equity earnings of subsidiaries

    887            (887  
                                     

Net earnings

    930        887          (887     930   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

         
                                     

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.

  $ 930      $ 887      $ -   $ (887   $ 930   
                                     

 

-69-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

 

   

Altria
Group, Inc.

   

PM USA

   

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
 

Consolidated

 

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING
ACTIVITIES

         

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  $ (406   $ 705      $ (164   $ -   $ 135   
                                     

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

         

Consumer products

         

Capital expenditures

      (75     (37       (112

Acquisition of UST LLC, net of acquired cash

        (10,244       (10,244

Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

    (6,000       6,000       

Other

      (5     (43       (48

Financial services

         

Investment in finance assets

        (9       (9

Proceeds from finance assets

        553          553   
                                     

Net cash used in investing activities

    (6,000     (80     (3,780       (9,860
                                     

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  

       

Consumer products

         

Net issuance of short-term borrowings

    393          (205       188   

Long-term debt issued

    4,221              4,221   

Long-term debt repaid

      (135     (240       (375

Dividends paid on Altria Group, Inc. common stock

    (1,324           (1,324

Issuance of Altria Group, Inc. common stock

    51              51   

Financing fees and debt issuance costs

    (132           (132

Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

    (5,485     827        4,658       

Cash dividends received from/(paid by) subsidiaries

    1,282        (1,200     (82    

Other

    14        (118     (172       (276
                                     

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (980     (626     3,959          2,353   
                                     

Cash and cash equivalents:

         

(Decrease) increase

    (7,386     (1     15        -     (7,372

Balance at beginning of period

    7,910        1        5          7,916   
                                     

Balance at end of period

  $ 524      $ -      $ 20      $ -   $ 544   
                                     

 

-70-


Table of Contents

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

 

   

Altria
Group, Inc.

   

PM USA

   

Non-

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

    Total
Consolidating
Adjustments
 

Consolidated

 

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING

ACTIVITIES

         

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities,
continuing operations

  $ (535   $ 186      $ (97   $ -   $ (446

Net cash provided by operating activities, discontinued
operations

        1,666          1,666   
                                     

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (535     186        1,569        -     1,220   
                                     

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

  

       

Consumer products

         

Capital expenditures

      (77     (8       (85

Proceeds from sale of corporate headquarters building

    525              525   

Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries

    (7,558     6,000        1,558       

Other

      2        108          110   

Financial services

         

Proceeds from finance assets

        148          148   
                                     

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities,
continuing operations

    (7,033     5,925        1,806          698   

Net cash used in investing activities, discontinued
operations

        (317       (317
                                     

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

    (7,033     5,925        1,489          381   
                                     

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  

       

Consumer products

         

Net issuance of short-term borrowings

    1,711              1,711   

Long-term debt repaid

    (2,256       (1,558       (3,814

Repurchase of Altria Group, Inc. common stock

    (1,166           (1,166

Dividends paid on Altria Group, Inc. common stock

    (3,168           (3,168

Issuance of Altria Group, Inc. common stock

    72              72   

Philip Morris International Inc. dividends paid to

Altria Group, Inc.

    3,019              3,019   

Tender and consent fees related to the early extinguishment of

debt

    (368       (3       (371

Changes in amounts due to/from Philip Morris International Inc.

    (721           (721

Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and

subsidiaries

    (2,030     2,008        22       

Cash dividends received from/(paid by) subsidiaries

    8,012        (7,965     (47    

Other

    40        (154     (127       (241
                                     

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities,
continuing operations

    3,145        (6,111     (1,713       (4,679

Net cash used in financing activities, discontinued
operations

        (1,648       (1,648
                                     

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    3,145        (6,111     (3,361       (6,327
                                     

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash

equivalents:

         

Discontinued operations

        (126       (126
                                     

Cash and cash equivalents, continuing operations:

         

Decrease

    (4,423     -        (4     -     (4,427

Balance at beginning of period

    4,835        1        6          4,842   
                                     

Balance at end of period

  $ 412      $ 1      $ 2      $ -   $ 415   
                                     

 

-71-


Table of Contents

Item 2.

  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  

Description of the Company

At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. (“PM USA”), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smokeless products in the United States; UST LLC (“UST”), which through its subsidiaries is engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless products and wine; and John Middleton Co. (“Middleton”), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco. Philip Morris Capital Corporation (“PMCC”), another wholly-owned subsidiary, maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. held a 27.4% economic and voting interest in SABMiller plc (“SABMiller”) at June 30, 2009. Altria Group, Inc.’s access to the operating cash flows of its subsidiaries consists principally of cash received from the payment of dividends by its subsidiaries.

As discussed in Note 2. UST Acquisition to the condensed consolidated financial statements (“Note 2”), on January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding common stock of UST, whose direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (“USSTC”) and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (“Ste. Michelle”). As a result of the acquisition, UST has become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc.

Beginning with the first quarter of 2009, Altria Group, Inc. revised its reportable segments to reflect the change in the way in which Altria Group, Inc.’s management reviews the business as a result of the acquisition of UST. At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc.’s reportable segments were cigarettes, smokeless products, cigars, wine, and financial services.

On March 28, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. distributed all of its interest in Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) to Altria Group, Inc.’s stockholders in a tax-free distribution. Altria Group, Inc. has reflected the results of PMI prior to the distribution date as discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

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Executive Summary

The following executive summary is intended to provide significant highlights of the Discussion and Analysis that follows.

During the first six months of 2009, Altria Group, Inc. completed the acquisition of UST and began to integrate it into its family of companies. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. issued $4.2 billion of long-term notes and completed all long-term financing related to the acquisition of UST.

Consolidated Operating Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 – The changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s earnings from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) from continuing operations attributable to Altria Group, Inc. for the six months ended June 30, 2009, from the six months ended June 30, 2008, were due primarily to the following (in millions, except per share data):

 

     Earnings from
Continuing
Operations
   

Diluted EPS

from

Continuing
Operations

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2008

   $ 1,544      $ 0.73   

2008 Exit, implementation and integration costs

     196        0.09   

2008 Gain on sale of corporate headquarters building

     (263     (0.12

2008 Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     256        0.12   
                

Subtotal 2008 items

     189        0.09   
                

2009 Exit, implementation and integration costs

     (162     (0.08

2009 UST acquisition-related costs

     (121     (0.06

2009 SABMiller intangible asset impairments

     (73     (0.04

2009 SABMiller gains on issuances of common stock

     114        0.06   
                

Subtotal 2009 items

     (242     (0.12
                

Change in tax rate

     (3  

Fewer shares outstanding

       0.01   

Operations

     111        0.06   
                

For the six months ended June 30, 2009

   $ 1,599      $ 0.77   
                

See discussion of events affecting the comparability of statement of earnings amounts in the Consolidated Operating Results section of the following Discussion and Analysis.

Shares Outstanding – Fewer shares outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the prior year period were due primarily to shares repurchased by Altria Group, Inc. during the second quarter of 2008 under its share repurchase program, which was suspended in January 2009.

Operations – The increase of $111 million shown in the table above was due primarily to the following:

 

   

Acquisition of UST, which is reflected in the smokeless products and wine segments (see Note 2);

 

   

Higher income from cigarettes and financial services; and

 

   

Lower general corporate expenses;

partially offset by:

 

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Higher interest and other debt expense, net, due to the issuance of senior unsecured long-term notes in November and December 2008, and February 2009 to finance the acquisition of UST.

Consolidated Operating Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 – The changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s net earnings and diluted EPS attributable to Altria Group, Inc. for the three months ended June 30, 2009, from the three months ended June 30, 2008, were due primarily to the following (in millions, except per share data):

 

     Net Earnings    

Diluted EPS

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2008

   $ 930      $ 0.45   

2008 Exit, implementation and integration costs

     24        0.01   
                

2009 Exit, implementation and integration costs

     (57     (0.03

2009 UST acquisition-related costs

     (4  

2009 SABMiller intangible asset impairments

     (73     (0.04

2009 SABMiller gains on issuances of common stock

     114        0.06   
                

Subtotal 2009 items

     (20     (0.01
                

Change in tax rate

     (6  

Operations

     82        0.04   
                

For the three months ended June 30, 2009

   $ 1,010      $ 0.49   
                

See discussion of events affecting the comparability of statement of earnings amounts in the Consolidated Operating Results section of the following Discussion and Analysis.

Operations – The increase of $82 million shown in the table above was due primarily to the following:

 

   

Acquisition of UST, which is reflected in the smokeless products and wine segments (see Note 2);

 

   

Higher income from cigarettes and financial services; and

 

   

Lower general corporate expenses;

partially offset by:

 

   

Higher interest and other debt expense, net, due to the issuance of senior unsecured long-term notes in November and December 2008, and February 2009 to finance the acquisition of UST.

For further details, see the Consolidated Operating Results and Operating Results by Business Segment sections of the following Discussion and Analysis.

 

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2009 Forecasted Results – In July 2009, Altria Group, Inc. raised its 2009 full-year guidance for reported diluted EPS from continuing operations from a range of $1.47 to $1.52 to a range of $1.51 to $1.56, reflecting higher projected earnings from continuing operations as well as a $0.02 net gain in SABMiller related items. This revised forecast includes estimated net charges of $0.21 per share as detailed in the table below, as compared with 2008 full-year reported diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.48, which includes $0.17 per share of net charges as detailed in the table below. Anticipated 2009 full-year adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, which exclude the net charges in the table below, represent a growth rate of 4% to 7% over 2008 full-year adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations. The 2009 forecast reflects higher tobacco excise taxes, investment spending on smokeless tobacco brands, ongoing cost reduction initiatives, increased pension expenses and no share repurchases. The factors described in the Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results section of the following Discussion and Analysis represent continuing risks to this forecast.

Net Charges Included in Reported Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations

 

     2009     2008  

Exit, integration and implementation costs

   $ 0.17      $ 0.15   

Gain on sale of corporate headquarters building

       (0.12

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

       0.12   

Tax items

       (0.03

UST acquisition-related costs

     0.06        0.02   

SABMiller gains on issuances of common stock

     (0.06  

SABMiller intangible asset impairments

     0.04        0.03   
                
   $ 0.21      $ 0.17   
                

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations is a financial measure that is not consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Certain income and expense items that management believes are not part of underlying operations are excluded from adjusted diluted EPS because such items can obscure underlying business trends. Management believes it is appropriate to disclose this non-GAAP financial measure to help investors analyze underlying business performance and trends. This adjusted measure is regularly provided to management for use in the evaluation of segment performance and allocation of resources. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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Discussion and Analysis

Consolidated Operating Results

See pages 107-110 for a discussion of Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results.

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
       2009         2008         2009         2008    
     (in millions)  

Net revenues:

        

Cigarettes

   $ 9,920      $ 9,149      $ 6,024      $ 4,916   

Smokeless products

     671          373     

Cigars

     233        192        118        101   

Wine

     169          94     

Financial services

     249        123        110        37   
                                

Net revenues

   $ 11,242      $ 9,464      $ 6,719      $ 5,054   
                                

Excise taxes on products:

        

Cigarettes

   $ 2,732      $ 1,650      $ 2,052      $ 859   

Smokeless products

     36          24     

Cigars

     60        31        44        16   

Wine

     8          5     
                                

Excise taxes on products

   $ 2,836      $ 1,681      $ 2,125      $ 875   
                                

Operating income:

        

Operating companies income:

        

Cigarettes

   $ 2,569      $ 2,377      $ 1,426      $ 1,337   

Smokeless products

     175          177     

Cigars

     90        91        36        50   

Wine

     10          9     

Financial services

     203        104        83        30   

Amortization of intangibles

     (9     (3     (3     (1

Gain on sale of corporate headquarters
building

       404       

General corporate expenses

     (103     (170     (50     (73

UST transaction costs

     (60      

Corporate exit costs

     (7     (248     (1     (1
                                

Operating income

   $ 2,868      $ 2,555      $ 1,677      $ 1,342   
                                

 

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As discussed in Note 12. Segment Reporting to the condensed consolidated financial statements, management reviews operating companies income, which is defined as operating income before general corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles, to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Management believes it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze the business performance and trends of the various business segments.

The following events that occurred during the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, affected the comparability of statement of earnings amounts.

 

 

Acquisition of UST – In January 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired UST, the results of which are reflected in the smokeless products and wine segments (see Note 2).

 

 

Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs – For the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, pre-tax exit, implementation and integration costs consisted of the following (in millions):

 

     For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
    

Exit Costs

   Implementation
  Costs  
   Integration
  Costs  
   Total

Cigarettes

   $ 34    $ 50    $ -    $ 84

Smokeless products

     123         28      151

Cigars

           7      7

Wine

     2         2      4

General corporate

     7            7
                           

Total

   $ 166    $ 50    $ 37    $ 253
                           

 

     For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
     Exit Costs    Implementation
  Costs  
   Integration
  Costs  
   Total

Cigarettes

   $ 29    $ 32    $ -    $ 61

Cigars

           3      3

General corporate

     248            248
                           

Total

   $ 277    $ 32    $ 3    $ 312
                           

 

     For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
    

Exit Costs

   Implementation
  Costs  
   Integration
  Costs  
   Total

Cigarettes

   $ 15    $ 32    $ -    $ 47

Smokeless products

     22         13      35

Cigars

           4      4

Wine

           1      1

General corporate

     1            1
                           

Total

   $ 38    $ 32    $ 18    $ 88
                           

 

     For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008
     Exit Costs    Implementation
  Costs  
   Integration
  Costs  
   Total

Cigarettes

   $ 18    $ 17    $ -    $ 35

Cigars

           1      1

General corporate

     1            1
                           

Total

   $ 19    $ 17    $ 1    $ 37
                           

For further details on exit, implementation and integration costs, see Note 3. Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs to the condensed consolidated financial statements (“Note 3”).

 

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Altria Group, Inc. continues to have company-wide cost management programs, which include the restructuring programs discussed in Note 3. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. achieved $165 million and $25 million, respectively, in cost savings for a total cost savings of $805 million since January 1, 2007. Altria Group, Inc. expects to achieve approximately $695 million in additional cost savings by 2011, for total cost reductions of $1.5 billion versus 2006, as shown in the table below.

 

    Cost Reduction Initiatives
    Cost Savings Achieved        
   

For the Years Ended
December 31,
  2007 and 2008  

  For the Six
Months Ended
June 30,

  2009  
  Additional
Cost
Savings
Expected by
    2011    
  Total
Cost
Savings
Expected
    (in millions)

Corporate expense and selling,
general and administrative

  $ 640   $ 165   $ 507   $ 1,312

Manufacturing optimization
program

        188     188
                       

Total cost reduction initiatives

  $ 640   $ 165   $ 695   $ 1,500
                       

Altria Group, Inc. expects to generate an estimated $300 million in UST integration cost savings by 2011. These integration cost savings are included in the “Corporate expense and selling, general and administrative” line item above.

The manufacturing optimization program is expected to entail capital expenditures of approximately $230 million. Capital expenditures for the program of $52 million and $27 million were made during the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, for a total of $173 million since inception.

 

 

UST Acquisition-Related Costs – In connection with the acquisition of UST, Altria Group, Inc. incurred pre-tax charges consisting of the following:

 

  ¡  

Transaction costs of $60 million, incurred in the first quarter of 2009, which consisted primarily of investment banking and legal fees. These amounts are included in marketing, administration and research costs on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

 

  ¡  

Increased cost of sales as shown in the table below, relating to the fair value purchase accounting adjustment of UST’s inventory at the acquisition date that was sold during the periods:

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2009
   For the Three Months Ended
June 30, 2009
     (in millions)

Smokeless products

   $ 13    $ 1

Wine

     10      5
             

Total

   $ 23    $ 6
             

 

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  ¡  

Structuring and arrangement fees of $87 million incurred in the first quarter of 2009, for borrowings under a 364-day term bridge loan facility (the “Bridge Facility”), which was terminated in February 2009, upon the issuance of $4.2 billion of senior unsecured long-term notes. These amounts are included in interest and other debt expense, net on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

 

 

SABMiller Intangible Asset Impairments – Altria Group, Inc.’s second quarter 2009 earnings from its equity investment in SABMiller included pre-tax intangible asset impairment charges of $112 million.

 

 

SABMiller Gains on Issuances of Common Stock – In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-6, “Equity Method Investment Accounting Considerations,” Altria Group, Inc.’s second quarter 2009 earnings from its equity investment in SABMiller included pre-tax gains of $175 million due primarily to the issuance of 60 million shares of common stock by SABMiller in connection with its acquisition of the remaining minority interest in its Polish subsidiary.

 

 

Income Taxes – The income tax rate of 37.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2009 increased 0.7 percentage points from 37.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2008, due primarily to certain costs incurred in 2009 related to the acquisition of UST that are not deductible for tax purposes.

 

 

Sales to PMI – Subsequent to the PMI spin-off, during the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008, PM USA recorded net revenues of $110 million and $107 million respectively, from contract volume manufactured for PMI under an agreement that terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008. For periods prior to the PMI spin-off, PM USA did not record contract volume manufactured for PMI in net revenues, but recorded the related profit which was immaterial, for the six months ended June 30, 2008, in marketing, administration and research costs. These amounts are reflected in the cigarettes segment.

 

 

Gain on Sale of Corporate Headquarters Building – In March 2008, Altria Group, Inc. sold its corporate headquarters building in New York City for $525 million and recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of $404 million.

 

 

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt – In connection with the spin-off of PMI, in the first quarter of 2008, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a pre-tax loss of $393 million on the early extinguishment of debt. See Note 8. Debt to the condensed consolidated financial statements (“Note 8”) for further details.

 

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Consolidated Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

The following discussion compares consolidated operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2009, with the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $1,778 million (18.8%), due primarily to higher revenues from the cigarettes, financial services and cigars segments, and the acquisition of UST. Cigarettes and cigars revenues increased, reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the federal excise tax (“FET”) increase, partially offset by lower volume. In addition, 2008 net revenues included contract volume manufactured for PMI under an agreement that terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Excise taxes on products increased $1,155 million (68.7%), due primarily to the impact of the April 1, 2009 FET increase and the acquisition of UST, partially offset by lower volume in the cigarettes segment.

Cost of sales decreased $147 million (3.6%), due primarily to lower cigarettes volume and the termination of contract volume manufactured for PMI, partially offset by the acquisition of UST, and higher leaf and material costs.

Marketing, administration and research costs increased $158 million (12.2%), due primarily to the acquisition of UST (including transaction and integration costs), partially offset by lower marketing, research and general corporate expenses. The lower general corporate expenses reflect the cost reduction initiatives discussed above.

Operating income increased $313 million (12.3%), due primarily to higher operating results from the cigarettes and financial services segments, operating results from UST in 2009, lower general corporate expenses, and 2008 charges related to the corporate headquarters relocation, partially offset by the 2008 gain on the sale of the corporate headquarters building and 2009 expenses related to the acquisition of UST.

Interest and other debt expense, net, increased $621 million (100+%), due primarily to the issuance of senior unsecured long-term notes in November and December 2008, and February 2009 to finance the UST acquisition.

Earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in SABMiller increased $33 million (11.4%), due primarily to pre-tax gains of $175 million resulting from the issuances of common stock by SABMiller, partially offset by pre-tax intangible asset impairment charges of $112 million.

Altria Group, Inc.’s income tax rate increased 0.7 percentage points to 37.7%, due primarily to certain costs incurred in 2009 related to the acquisition of UST that are not deductible for tax purposes.

Earnings from continuing operations of $1,600 million increased $56 million (3.6%), due primarily to higher operating income, higher earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in SABMiller and the 2008 loss on early extinguishment of debt, partially offset by higher interest expense. Diluted and basic EPS from continuing operations of $0.77, increased by 5.5% and 4.1%, respectively.

Earnings from discontinued operations decreased $1,901 million due to the spin-off of PMI in the first quarter of 2008.

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $1,599 million decreased $1,785 million (52.7%). Diluted and basic EPS from net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $0.77, decreased by 52.2% and 52.5%, respectively. These decreases reflect the spin-off of PMI in the first quarter of 2008.

 

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Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009

The following discussion compares consolidated operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2009, with the three months ended June 30, 2008.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $1,665 million (32.9%), due primarily to higher revenues from the cigarettes, financial services and cigars segments, and the acquisition of UST. Cigarettes and cigars revenues increased, reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the FET increase, partially offset by lower volume. In addition, 2008 net revenues included revenues from contract volume manufactured for PMI under an agreement that terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Excise taxes on products increased $1,250 million (100+%), due primarily to the impact of the April 1, 2009 FET increase and the acquisition of UST, partially offset by lower volume in the cigarettes segment.

Cost of sales decreased $30 million (1.4%), due primarily to lower cigarettes volume and the termination of contract volume manufactured for PMI, partially offset by the acquisition of UST, and higher leaf and material costs.

Marketing, administration and research costs increased $89 million (13.7%), due primarily to the acquisition of UST (including integration costs), partially offset by lower general corporate expenses. The lower general corporate expenses reflect the cost reduction initiatives discussed above.

Operating income increased $335 million (25.0%), due primarily to operating results from UST in 2009, higher operating results from the cigarettes and financial services segments, and lower general corporate expenses.

Interest and other debt expense, net, increased $269 million (100+%), due primarily to the issuance of senior unsecured long-term notes in November and December 2008, and February 2009 to finance the UST acquisition.

Earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in SABMiller increased $70 million (47.6%), due primarily to pre-tax gains of $175 million resulting from the issuances of common stock by SABMiller, partially offset by pre-tax intangible asset impairment charges of $112 million.

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $1,010 million increased $80 million (8.6%), due primarily to higher operating income and higher earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in SABMiller, partially offset by higher interest expense. Diluted and basic EPS from net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $0.49, each increased by 8.9%.

 

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Operating Results by Business Segment

Tobacco Space

Business Environment

Taxes, Legislation, Regulation and Other Matters Regarding Tobacco and Tobacco Use

The United States tobacco industry faces a number of challenges that may adversely affect the business and sales volume of our tobacco subsidiaries and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position. These challenges, which are discussed below and in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results, include:

 

   

pending and threatened litigation and bonding requirements as discussed in Note 14. Contingencies to the condensed consolidated financial statements (“Note 14.”);

 

   

competitive disadvantages related to cigarette price increases attributable to the settlement of certain litigation;

 

   

actual and proposed excise tax increases as well as changes in tax structures and tax stamping requirements;

 

   

restrictions imposed by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act enacted in June 2009, and restrictions that may be imposed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) under this regulatory legislation and other actual and proposed restrictions affecting tobacco product manufacturing, marketing, advertising and sales;

 

   

the sale of counterfeit tobacco products by third parties;

 

   

the sale of tobacco products by third parties over the Internet and by other means designed to avoid the collection of applicable taxes;

 

   

price gaps and changes in price gaps between premium and lowest price brands;

 

   

diversion into one market of products intended for sale in another;

 

   

the potential assertion of claims and other issues relating to contraband shipments of tobacco products;

 

   

governmental investigations;

 

   

governmental and private bans and restrictions on tobacco use;

 

   

governmental restrictions on the sale of tobacco products by certain retail establishments and the sale of tobacco products in certain packing sizes;

 

   

the diminishing prevalence of cigarette smoking and increased efforts by tobacco control advocates to further restrict tobacco use;

 

   

governmental requirements setting ignition propensity standards for cigarettes;

 

   

potential adverse changes in tobacco price, availability and quality; and

 

   

other actual and proposed tobacco product legislation and regulation.

 

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In the ordinary course of business, our tobacco subsidiaries are subject to many influences that can impact the timing of sales to customers, including the timing of holidays and other annual or special events, the timing of promotions, customer incentive programs and customer inventory programs, as well as the actual or speculated timing of pricing actions and tax-driven price increases.

Excise Taxes: Tobacco products are subject to substantial excise taxes in the United States. Significant increases in tobacco-related taxes or fees have been proposed or enacted and are likely to continue to be proposed or enacted at the federal, state and local levels within the United States.

In April 2009, the FET on cigarettes increased from 39 cents per pack to approximately $1.01 per pack; on snuff from 58.5 cents per pound to $1.51 per pound; and on large cigars from 20.72% of the manufacturer’s price (capped at 4.875 cents per cigar) to 52.75% of manufacturer’s price (capped at 40.26 cents per cigar). The legislation enacting this FET increase included a floor stock tax provision on tobacco products other than large cigars.

State and local excise taxes have increased substantially over the past decade, far outpacing the rate of inflation. For example, between the end of 1998 and the end of 2008, the weighted year-end average state and certain local cigarette excise taxes increased from $0.36 to $1.12 per pack. As of July 27, 2009, eleven states and Puerto Rico have enacted cigarette excise tax increases in 2009, which, when implemented, will increase the weighted average state excise tax to $1.24 per pack. State and local excise taxes on smokeless tobacco products have likewise increased over the past years.

Tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on sales of tobacco products by our tobacco subsidiaries, due to lower consumption levels and to a potential shift in consumer purchases from the premium to the non-premium or discount segments or to other low-priced or low-taxed tobacco products or to counterfeit and contraband products.

A majority of states currently tax moist smokeless tobacco products using an ad valorem method, which is calculated as a percentage of wholesale price. This ad valorem method results in more tax being paid on premium products than is paid on lower-priced products of equal weight. Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries support legislation to convert ad valorem taxes on moist smokeless tobacco to a weight-based methodology because, unlike the ad valorem tax, a weight-based tax results in cans of equal weight paying the same tax. Eighteen states have adopted a weight-based tax methodology for moist smokeless tobacco.

FDA Regulation: On June 22, 2009, the President signed into law legislation (HR1256) that provides the FDA with broad authority to regulate the design, manufacture, packaging, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products and disclosures of related information. The law also grants the FDA authority to extend the application of this law, by regulation, to other tobacco products, including cigars. Among other measures, this law:

 

   

provides the FDA with authority to regulate nicotine yields and to reduce or eliminate harmful smoke constituents or harmful ingredients or other components of tobacco products;

 

   

bans descriptors such as “light” and “low tar,” unless expressly authorized by the FDA;

 

   

requires complete ingredient disclosure to the FDA and more limited public ingredient disclosure;

 

   

requires FDA authorization of any express or implied claims that a tobacco product is or may be less harmful than other tobacco products;

 

   

prohibits cigarettes with characterizing flavors other than menthol and tobacco (a scientific advisory committee will study the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health);

 

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authorizes regulations for imposing manufacturing standards for tobacco products and provides the FDA authority to inspect tobacco product manufacturing and other facilities;

 

   

establishes a framework for prior FDA authorization before the introduction of certain new or modified tobacco products;

 

   

provides the FDA the authority to impose product standards that are appropriate for the protection of the public health through a regulatory process including, among other possibilities, restrictions on ingredients, constituents or other properties, performance or design criteria and testing, measurement and reporting requirements;

 

   

imposes new restrictions on the sale and distribution of tobacco products; and

 

   

changes the language of the current cigarette and smokeless tobacco product health warnings, enlarges their size, requires the development by the FDA of graphic warnings for cigarette packages, and grants the FDA authority to require new warnings.

This law imposes on manufacturers reporting obligations relating to knowledge of contraband activity and also grants the FDA the authority to impose certain other recordkeeping and reporting obligations to address counterfeit and contraband tobacco products.

The law imposes on tobacco product manufacturers fees to pay for the cost of regulation and other matters. The cost of the FDA user fee is allocated first among tobacco product categories subject to FDA regulation according to a formula set out in the legislation, and then among manufacturers within each respective class based on their relative market share. The anticipated impact of the user fee on Altria Group, Inc. is discussed in Debt and Liquidity. In addition, compliance with the law’s regulatory requirements will result in additional costs for our tobacco businesses. The amount of those additional compliance and related costs is unknown and depends substantially on the nature of the requirements imposed by the FDA under the new statute. Those compliance and other related costs, however, could be substantial.

This law imposes significant new restrictions on the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. For example, subject to further amendment by the FDA and constitutional or other legal challenge, the statute requires the re-promulgation by the FDA of certain advertising and promotion restrictions that were previously adopted by the FDA in 1996 (these previous restrictions were never imposed on tobacco product manufacturers due to successful litigation challenges). These 1996 regulations extended significantly beyond the restrictions agreed upon by participating manufacturers in connection with the state settlement agreements discussed below.

The implementation of this law will take place over time. Some provisions took effect when the President signed the bill into law. Others, however, will not take effect for some time. Several areas require the FDA to take action through rulemaking, which generally involves consideration of public comment and, for some issues, scientific review.

Regulations imposed by the FDA could adversely impact the business and sales volume of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco businesses in a number of different ways. For example, FDA’s regulatory actions could impact the consumer acceptability of tobacco products, limit consumer choices, restrict communications to adult consumers, create a competitive advantage or disadvantage for certain tobacco companies, or significantly increase the cost of doing business.

FDA regulation, including the failure to comply with FDA regulatory requirements, even by inadvertence, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operation of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

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The World Health Organization’s (“WHO’s”) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the “FCTC”): The FCTC entered into force in February 2005. As of July 27, 2009, 166 countries, as well as the European Community, have become parties to the FCTC. While the United States is a signatory of the FCTC, it is not currently a party to the agreement, as the agreement has not been submitted to, or ratified by, the United States Senate. The FCTC is the first international public health treaty and its objective is to establish a global agenda for tobacco regulation with the purpose of reducing initiation of tobacco use and encouraging cessation. The treaty recommends (and in certain instances, requires) signatory nations to enact legislation that would, among other things:

 

   

establish specific actions to prevent youth tobacco product use;

 

   

restrict or eliminate all tobacco product advertising, marketing, promotion and sponsorship;

 

   

initiate public education campaigns to inform the public about the health consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and the benefits of quitting;

 

   

implement regulations imposing product testing, disclosure and performance standards;

 

   

impose health warning requirements on packaging;

 

   

adopt measures that would eliminate tobacco product smuggling and counterfeit tobacco products;

 

   

restrict smoking in public places;

 

   

implement fiscal policies (tax and price increases);

 

   

adopt and implement measures that ensure that descriptive terms do not create the false impression that one brand of tobacco product is safer than another;

 

   

phase out duty-free tobacco product sales;

 

   

encourage litigation against tobacco product manufacturers; and

 

   

adopt and implement guidelines for “testing and measuring the contents and emissions of tobacco products.”

In addition, there are a number of proposals currently under consideration by the governing body of the FCTC, some of which call for substantial restrictions on the manufacture and marketing of tobacco products. It is not possible to predict the outcome of the measures under consideration or the impact of any such measures or FCTC recommendations or requirements on legislation or regulation in the United States, whether or not the United States becomes a party to the FCTC, though FCTC action could influence the FDA as it implements and enforces its statutory authority.

Laws Addressing Certain Characterizing Flavors: In a number of states and localities, legislation has been proposed which would prohibit the sale of certain tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors. The proposed legislation varies in terms of the type of tobacco products subject to prohibition, the conditions under which the sale of such products would be prohibited, and exceptions to the prohibitions. To date, Maine and New Jersey are the only states in which such a prohibition has been enacted. The provisions of the Maine law, which affect cigarette and cigar products, took effect in July 2009, and covered products may be granted exemptions under that state’s law. The New Jersey law became effective in January 2009; it prohibits the sale or marketing of cigarettes with characterizing flavors other than tobacco, menthol and clove. PM USA does not currently manufacture or market cigarettes with a characterizing flavor other than menthol or tobacco,

 

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which are permitted under the Maine and New Jersey laws, as well as the FDA legislation referenced above. Middleton has submitted filings for certain brand styles in Maine, stating that its products are not subject to the state’s prohibition or, in any event, should be exempted. As of July 27, 2009, the Attorney General of Maine has confirmed that one of Middleton’s brand styles is not subject to the prohibition. Middleton is awaiting discussions on applications for other brand styles. In addition, the New York City Council is also considering legislation banning the sale of tobacco products with a characterizing flavor other than menthol or mint. Whether other states or localities will enact legislation in this area, and the precise nature of such legislation if enacted, cannot be predicted.

Tar and Nicotine Test Methods and Brand Descriptors: In the past, a number of public health organizations determined that the existing standardized machine-based methods for measuring tar and nicotine yields in cigarettes did not provide useful information about tar and nicotine deliveries and that such results were misleading to smokers. For example, in the 2001 publication of Monograph 13, the United States National Cancer Institute (“NCI”) concluded that measurements based on the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) standardized method “do not offer smokers meaningful information on the amount of tar and nicotine they will receive from a cigarette” or “on the relative amounts of tar and nicotine exposure likely to be received from smoking different brands of cigarettes.” Thereafter, the FTC stated that it would work with the NCI to determine what changes should be made to its testing method to “correct the limitations” identified in Monograph 13. In 2002, PM USA petitioned the FTC to promulgate new rules governing the use of existing standardized machine-based methodologies for measuring tar and nicotine yields and descriptors. That petition remains pending. In November 2008, the FTC issued a notice rescinding its 1966 guidance that set forth the FTC’s former position that it is generally not a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act to make factual statements of the tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes when statements of such yields are supported by the FTC’s standardized measurement method.

In addition, the WHO has concluded that these standardized measurements are “seriously flawed” and that measurements based upon the current standardized methodology “are misleading and should not be displayed.” The International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) established a working group, chaired by the WHO, to propose a new measurement method that would more accurately reflect human smoking behavior. PM USA has supported the concept of supplementing the ISO test method with a more intensive method, which PM USA believes would better illustrate the wide variability in the delivery of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide, depending on how an individual smokes a cigarette. The working group has issued a final report proposing two alternative measurement methods. Currently, ISO is in the process of deciding whether to begin further development of the two methods or to wait for additional guidance from the FCTC’s governing body.

In light of public health concerns about the limitations of current machine measurement methodologies, governments and public health organizations have increasingly challenged the use of cigarette descriptors — such as “light,” “mild,” and “low tar” — that are based in part on measurements produced by those methods. For example, as noted above, the FDA law bans descriptors such as “light” and “low tar” (unless expressly authorized by the FDA). In addition, as discussed in Note 14., on May 22, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit largely affirmed the judgment of a federal trial court in favor of the United States government in its lawsuit against various cigarette manufacturers and others, including PM USA and Altria Group, Inc., including that portion of the judgment that enjoined the defendants from using brand descriptors such as “lights,” “ultra lights” and “low tar” (except to the extent such injunction applied extraterritorially).

Tobacco Quota Buy-Out: In October 2004, the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (“FETRA”) was signed into law. FETRA eliminated the federal tobacco quota and price support program through an industry-funded buy-out of tobacco growers and quota holders. The cost of the buy-out is approximately $9.5 billion and is being paid over 10 years by manufacturers and importers of each kind of tobacco product. The cost is being allocated based on the relative market shares of manufacturers and importers of each kind of tobacco product. The quota buy-out payments will offset already scheduled payments to the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust (the “NTGST”), a trust fund established in 1999 by the major domestic tobacco product manufacturers to provide aid to tobacco growers and quota holders. For a discussion of the NTGST,

 

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see Note 14. Manufacturers and importers of tobacco products were also obligated to cover any losses (up to $500 million) that the government incurred on the disposition of the tobacco pool stock accumulated under the previous tobacco price support program, which disposition is complete. PM USA, Middleton and UST’s subsidiary, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (“USSTC”), are subject to the requirements of FETRA. We do not anticipate that the quota buy-out will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results in 2009 and beyond.

Health Effects of Tobacco Consumption and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (“ETS”): It is the policy of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries to defer to the judgment of public health authorities as to the content of warnings in advertisements and on product packaging regarding the health effects of tobacco consumption, addiction and exposure to ETS. Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries believe that the public should be guided by the messages of the United States Surgeon General and public health authorities worldwide in making decisions concerning the use of tobacco products. PM USA and Middleton have established websites that include, among other things, the views of public health authorities on tobacco consumption, disease causation in tobacco consumers, addiction and ETS. These sites advise tobacco consumers and those considering tobacco consumption to rely on the messages of public health authorities in making all tobacco-related decisions. In connection with its integration into the Altria Group, Inc. family of companies, USSTC has established a website with comparable information.

Reports with respect to the health effects of cigarette smoking have been publicized for many years, including in a June 2006 United States Surgeon General report on ETS entitled “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke.” Many jurisdictions within the United States have restricted smoking in public places. The pace and scope of public smoking bans have increased significantly. Some public health groups have called for, and some jurisdictions have adopted or proposed, bans on smoking in outdoor places, in private apartments and in cars with minors in them. It is not possible to predict the results of ongoing scientific research or the types of future scientific research into the health risks of tobacco exposure. Although most regulation of ETS exposure to date has been done at the state or local level through bans in public establishments, the State of California has been particularly active in evaluating the health risks of ETS exposure. Currently, the California Air Resources Board under its toxic air contaminant program and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment under California Proposition 65 are developing programs to regulate ETS exposures in California. Those programs have not yet been fully developed and there is no specific timeframe for them to be completed.

Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity Legislation: Legislation or regulation requiring cigarettes to meet reduced ignition propensity standards (first adopted by New York state in 2004) has been adopted in all states except Wyoming. Once implemented, these ignition propensity standards will cover nearly all of PM USA cigarette volume. PM USA is presently developing plans for converting all cigarette production to cigarettes meeting reduced ignition propensity standards.

PM USA continues to support the enactment of federal legislation mandating a uniform and technically feasible national standard for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes that would preempt state standards that are different from the federal standard.

Illicit Trade: Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries support appropriate regulations and enforcement measures to prevent illicit trade in tobacco products. For example, PM USA is engaged in a number of initiatives to help prevent contraband trade in cigarettes, including: enforcement of PM USA wholesale and retail trade policies on trade in contraband cigarettes and Internet/remote sales; engagement with and support of law enforcement and regulatory agencies; litigation to protect the company’s trademarks; and support for a variety of federal and state legislative initiatives. PM USA’s legislative initiatives to address contraband trade in cigarettes are designed to protect the legitimate channels of distribution, impose more stringent penalties for the violation of illegal trade laws and provide additional tools for law enforcement. Regulatory measures and related governmental actions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trade of tobacco products are being considered by a number of jurisdictions. For example, one bill that the United States House of Representatives has passed in 2009 would address illegal Internet sales by, among other things, imposing a

 

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series of restrictions and requirements on the delivery and sale of such products and would make such products non-mailable to consumers through the United States Postal Service.

State Settlement Agreements: As discussed in Note 14., during 1997 and 1998, PM USA and other major domestic tobacco product manufacturers entered into agreements with states and various United States jurisdictions settling asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and other claims (collectively, the “State Settlement Agreements”). These settlements require participating manufacturers to make substantial annual payments. The settlements also place numerous restrictions on participating manufacturers’ business operations, including prohibitions and restrictions on the advertising and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Among these are prohibitions of outdoor and transit brand advertising, payments for product placement, and free sampling (except in adult-only facilities). Restrictions are also placed on the use of brand name sponsorships and brand name non-tobacco products. The State Settlement Agreements also place prohibitions on targeting youth and the use of cartoon characters. In addition, the State Settlement Agreements require companies to affirm corporate principles directed at reducing underage use of cigarettes; impose requirements regarding lobbying activities; mandate public disclosure of certain industry documents; limit the industry’s ability to challenge certain tobacco control and underage use laws; and provide for the dissolution of certain tobacco-related organizations and place restrictions on the establishment of any replacement organizations.

In November 1998, USSTC entered into the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (the “STMSA”) with the attorneys general of various states and United States territories to resolve the remaining health care cost reimbursement cases initiated against USSTC. The STMSA required USSTC to adopt various marketing and advertising restrictions and make certain payments over a minimum of ten years for programs to reduce youth consumption of tobacco and combat youth substance abuse and for enforcement purposes. USSTC is the only smokeless tobacco manufacturer to sign the STMSA.

Other Legislation or Governmental Initiatives: In addition to the actions discussed above, other regulatory initiatives affecting the tobacco industry have been adopted or are being considered at the federal level and in a number of state and local jurisdictions. For example, in recent years, legislation has been introduced or enacted at the state or local level to subject tobacco products to various reporting requirements and performance standards; establish educational campaigns relating to tobacco consumption or tobacco control programs, or provide additional funding for governmental tobacco control activities; restrict the sale of tobacco products in certain retail establishments and the sale of tobacco products in certain packing sizes; require tax stamping of moist smokeless tobacco products; require the use of state tax stamps using data encryption technology; and further restrict the sale, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

It is not possible to predict what, if any, additional legislation, regulation or other governmental action will be enacted or implemented relating to the manufacturing, advertising, sale or use of tobacco products, or the tobacco industry generally. It is possible, however, that legislation, regulation or other governmental action could be enacted or implemented in the United States that might materially adversely affect the business and volume of our tobacco subsidiaries and our consolidated results of operations and cash flows.

Governmental Investigations: From time to time, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries cannot predict whether new investigations may be commenced.

Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality: Shifts in crops driven by economic conditions and adverse weather patterns, government mandated prices and production control programs may increase or decrease the cost or reduce the quality of tobacco and other agricultural products used to manufacture our products. As with other agriculture commodities, the price of tobacco leaf can be influenced by economic conditions and imbalances in supply and demand and crop quality and availability can be influenced by variations in weather patterns. Tobacco production in certain countries is subject to a variety of controls, including governmental mandated prices and production control programs. Changes in the patterns of demand for agricultural products and the cost of tobacco production could cause tobacco leaf prices to increase and could result in farmers growing less

 

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tobacco. Any significant change in the price of tobacco leaf, quality and availability could affect our tobacco subsidiaries’ profitability and business.

Operating Results – Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

The following discussion compares tobacco space operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2009, with the six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

     For the Six Months Ended June 30,
     Net Revenues    Operating
Companies Income
     2009    2008    2009    2008
    

(in millions)

Cigarettes

   $ 9,920    $ 9,149    $ 2,569    $ 2,377

Smokeless products

     671         175   

Cigars

     233      192      90      91
                           

Total tobacco space

   $ 10,824    $ 9,341    $ 2,834    $ 2,468
                           

Cigarettes segment. Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $771 million (8.4%), reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the FET increase ($2,025 million), partially offset by lower volume ($1,250 million). Net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 included contract volume manufactured for PMI of $110 million.

Operating companies income increased $192 million (8.1%), due primarily to higher list prices ($887 million), and lower marketing, administration and research costs ($101 million), partially offset by lower volume ($657 million), higher leaf and material costs ($123 million) and higher exit and implementation costs ($23 million) primarily related to the previously announced closure of the Cabarrus, North Carolina cigarette manufacturing facility.

PM USA’s domestic cigarette shipment volume of 75.0 billion units was 10.4% lower than the prior-year period, but was estimated to be down approximately 9% when adjusted for changes in trade inventories and calendar differences. Total cigarette industry volume was down an estimated 7% in the first six months of 2009 when adjusted for trade inventory changes and calendar differences. The difference in PM USA’s volume decline rate versus the total cigarette industry is due primarily to volume lost during the period of FET-related price gap dislocation as some competitors chose to spend into the tax increase, driving a widening of the price gap between Marlboro and the lowest priced brand. In addition, PM USA experienced share losses on unsupported brands due to higher retail prices. In the premium segment, PM USA’s shipment volume decreased 10.0%. Marlboro shipment volume decreased 6.2 billion units (8.9%) to 63.7 billion units. In the discount segment, PM USA’s shipment volume decreased 15.2%. Basic shipment volume decreased 1.2 billion units (19.3%) to 4.9 billion units.

 

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The following table summarizes cigarettes segment volume performance by brand, which includes units sold as well as promotional units, but excludes Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, Overseas Military, Philip Morris Duty Free Inc. and 2008 contract manufacturing for PMI, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008
   (in billion units)

Marlboro

   63.7    69.9

Parliament

   2.0    2.6

Virginia Slims

   2.7    3.1

Basic

   4.9    6.1

Other

   1.7    2.0
         

Total cigarettes

   75.0    83.7
         

For the first six months of 2009, Marlboro’s retail share was unchanged versus the prior-year period. PM USA’s promotional spending on a per pack basis was essentially the same in the first and second quarters of 2009.

Effective in the first quarter of 2009, cigarettes segment retail share results are based on a retail tracking service, the Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”)/Capstone Integrated Retail Panel, which is a tracking service that uses a sample of stores to project market share performance in retail stores selling cigarettes. This panel was not designed to capture sales through other channels, including the Internet and direct mail. This service was developed to provide a comprehensive measure of market share in retail outlets selling cigarettes similar to the previous service by updating the sample and methodology. Market share data for 2008 have been restated to reflect this tracking service. The following table summarizes PM USA’s retail share performance based on the retail tracking service:

 

     Retail Share
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Marlboro

   41.9   41.9

Parliament

   1.7      1.9   

Virginia Slims

   1.9      2.0   

Basic

   3.5      3.9   

Other

   1.2      1.4   
            

Total cigarettes

   50.2   51.1
            

Effective March 9, 2009, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, Basic and L&M by $0.71 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price on all of its other premium brands by $0.81 per pack.

Effective February 9, 2009, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, Basic and L&M by $0.09 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price on all of its other premium brands by $0.18 per pack.

Effective December 29, 2008, PM USA increased its wholesale promotional allowance on L&M by $0.29 per pack, from $0.26 to $0.55.

 

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Effective December 15, 2008, PM USA reduced its wholesale promotional allowance on Marlboro and Basic by $0.05 per pack, from $0.26 to $0.21, and raised the list price on its other brands, except for L&M, by $0.05 per pack.

Effective May 5, 2008, PM USA reduced its wholesale promotional allowances on Marlboro, Basic and L&M by $0.09 per pack, from $0.35 to $0.26, and eliminated the $0.20 per pack wholesale promotional allowances on Parliament. In addition, PM USA increased the list price on its other brands by $0.09 per pack.

Effective January 7, 2008, PM USA reduced its wholesale promotional allowances on Parliament by $0.15 per pack from $0.35 to $0.20, and eliminated the $0.20 per pack wholesale promotional allowances on Virginia Slims.

 

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Smokeless products segment. Altria Group, Inc. acquired UST and its smokeless tobacco business, USSTC, on January 6, 2009. As a result, USSTC’s financial results from January 6 through June 30, 2009 are included in Altria Group, Inc.’s 2009 year-to-date consolidated and segment results. The smokeless products segment also includes PM USA’s Marlboro smokeless products.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, were $671 million. Operating companies income was $175 million. Results were negatively impacted by costs related primarily to the acquisition of UST, consisting of employee separation costs ($123 million), integration costs ($28 million) and inventory adjustments ($13 million), as well as costs associated with Marlboro smokeless products, and actions taken to enhance the value equation on USSTC’s moist smokeless tobacco (MST) brands. In February 2009, a special price promotion was implemented in the southeast region to address Copenhagen’s and Skoal’s value equation. In March 2009, USSTC announced a national wholesale incentive program that lowered the list price of some of USSTC’s brands, including Copenhagen and Skoal, by $0.62 per can, effective March 29, 2009.

USSTC’s domestic shipment volume for the period January 6 through June 30, 2009 was 306.7 million cans. Including the volume of 10.9 million cans shipped from January 1 through January 5, 2009, which was prior to the acquisition of UST, total volume for the full six months ended June 30, 2009 was 317.6 million cans. MST shipment volume for the full six month period was 4.3% lower than the prior-year period, but was estimated to be down approximately 2% when adjusted for trade inventory changes related primarily to the FET increase, the discontinuation of multi-pack deals and the discontinuation of its Rooster brand. USSTC believes that the long-term growth rate for the MST industry volume remains 6% to 7%.

The following table summarizes USSTC’s MST volume performance by brand (full six month results), which includes cans sold as well as promotional units, and excludes international volume:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008
     (cans in millions)

Copenhagen

   134.9    140.2

Skoal

   131.8    137.2

Red Seal/Other

     50.9      54.5
         

Total MST

   317.6    331.9
         

 

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Cigars segment. Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $41 million (21.4%), reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the FET increase ($55 million), partially offset by lower volume ($14 million).

Operating companies income decreased $1 million (1.1%), due primarily to lower volume ($16 million), higher marketing, administration and research costs ($6 million), and higher integration costs ($4 million), mostly offset by higher pricing.

Middleton’s cigar shipment volume decreased 7.8% versus the prior-year period to 615 million units. Volume results in the six-month period were estimated to have grown moderately when adjusted for changes in trade inventories, calendar differences and the timing of promotional shipments. Middleton believes that the long-term growth rate for total machine-made large cigars industry volume remains 3% to 4%; however, the industry growth rate may have slowed in the second quarter.

The following table summarizes volume for cigars:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008
     (units in millions)

Black & Mild

   599    647

Other

     16      20
         

Total cigars

   615    667
         

Middleton achieved a 29.8% retail share of the machine-made large cigars segment in the first half of 2009, up 1.7 share points versus the prior-year period. Black & Mild’s retail share increased 1.9 share points versus the prior-year period to 29.2% of the machine-made large cigar segment. Effective with the first quarter of 2009, cigar retail share results are based on a retail tracking service provided by IRI, InfoScan Cigar Database for Food, Drug, Mass Merchandisers (excluding Wal-Mart) and Convenience trade classes, which tracks machine-made large cigar market share performance. This service was developed to provide a representation of retail business performance in key trade channels. Market share data for 2008 have been restated to reflect this service.

The following table summarizes retail share performance for cigars:

 

     Retail Share
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009   2008

Black & Mild

   29.2%   27.3%

Other

     0.6        0.8   
        

Total cigars

   29.8%   28.1%
        

During the six months ended June 30, 2009, Middleton executed the following pricing actions:

 

   

Effective March 4, 2009, Middleton executed various list price increases across substantially all of its brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.40 per five-pack;

 

   

Effective February 11, 2009, Middleton increased the list price on all of its brands by approximately $0.20 per five-pack; and

 

   

Effective January 28, 2009, Middleton increased the list price on substantially all of its brands by $0.08 per five-pack.

 

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Operating Results – Three Months Ended June 30, 2009

The following discussion compares tobacco space operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2009, with the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

     For the Three Months Ended June 30,
     Net Revenues    Operating
Companies Income
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (in millions)

Cigarettes

   $ 6,024    $ 4,916    $ 1,426    $ 1,337

Smokeless products

     373         177   

Cigars

     118      101      36      50
                           

Total tobacco space

   $ 6,515    $ 5,017    $ 1,639    $ 1,387
                           

Cigarettes segment. Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $1,108 million (22.5%), reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the FET increase ($1,618 million), partially offset by lower volume ($508 million). Net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2008 included contract volume manufactured for PMI of $107 million.

Operating companies income increased $89 million (6.7%), due primarily to higher list prices ($514 million), and lower marketing, administration and research costs ($17 million), partially offset by lower volume ($230 million), higher leaf and material costs ($96 million), higher promotional allowances ($86 million) and higher exit and implementation costs ($12 million) primarily related to the previously announced closure of the Cabarrus, North Carolina cigarette manufacturing facility.

In the first quarter of 2009, PM USA’s shipment volume was negatively impacted as wholesalers and retailers depleted their inventories of PM USA’s brands in anticipation of the FET increase. In the second quarter of 2009, the trade rebuilt their inventories of PM USA’s brands, though not back to their prior levels. PM USA’s second quarter domestic cigarette shipment volume of 40.6 billion units was 6.8% lower than the prior-year period, but was estimated to be down approximately 12% when adjusted for changes in trade inventories. Total cigarette industry volume was down an estimated 8% in the second quarter of 2009 when adjusted for trade inventory changes. The difference in PM USA’s volume decline rate versus the total cigarette industry is due primarily to volume lost during the period of FET-related price gap dislocation and share losses on unsupported brands due to higher retail prices. In the premium segment, PM USA’s shipment volume decreased 6.5%. Marlboro shipment volume decreased 2.1 billion units (5.7%) to 34.6 billion units. In the discount segment, PM USA’s shipment volume decreased 10.8%. Basic shipment volume decreased 0.5 billion units (16.5%) to 2.5 billion units.

 

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The following table summarizes cigarettes segment volume performance by brand, which includes units sold as well as promotional units, but excludes Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, Overseas Military, Philip Morris Duty Free Inc. and 2008 contract manufacturing for PMI, for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008
     (in billion units)

Marlboro

   34.6    36.7

Parliament

     1.1      1.3

Virginia Slims

     1.5      1.6

Basic

     2.5      3.0

Other

     0.9      1.0
         

Total cigarettes

   40.6    43.6
         

Marlboro’s retail share declined 0.6 share points in the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to increased competitive promotional activity in April and May, which widened the price gap between Marlboro and the lowest priced brands to about 50%. During April and May, the discount category’s retail share grew to 27.5%. As the quarter progressed, the price gaps closed to 40% by early June as the lowest priced brands’ retail prices increased. The closure of these price gaps, and changes to PM USA’s promotional programs in June, resulted in Marlboro sequentially gaining share throughout the month. Marlboro’s retail share at the end of June was the same as its share in the first quarter of 2009 at 42.4%. At the beginning of June, the discount category’s retail share reached 28.0% and ended the month at 26.8%.

Marlboro Menthol’s retail share increased 0.4 share points to 5.6% in the second quarter of 2009. Additionally, at the end of the second quarter, PM USA began shipping a new menthol line extension, Marlboro Blend No. 54.

The following table summarizes PM USA’s retail share performance based on the retail tracking service IRI/Capstone Integrated Retail Panel that Altria Group, Inc. began using in the first quarter of 2009. Market share data for 2008 have been restated to reflect this service:

 

     Retail Share
For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009   2008

Marlboro

       41.2%       41.8%

Parliament

     1.7     1.9

Virginia Slims

     1.8     2.0

Basic

     3.5     3.9

Other

     1.3     1.4
        

Total cigarettes

       49.5%       51.0%
        

 

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Smokeless products segment. Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, were $373 million. Operating companies income was $177 million. Results were negatively impacted by costs related primarily to the acquisition of UST, consisting of employee separation costs ($22 million), integration costs ($13 million) and inventory adjustments ($1 million), and actions taken to enhance the value equation on USSTC’s MST brands.

USSTC’s second-quarter domestic MST shipment volume of 166.1 million cans was 3.4% lower than the prior-year period, but was estimated to be essentially flat when adjusted for trade inventory changes, the discontinuation of multi-pack deals and the discontinuation of its Rooster brand. The trade reduced inventory levels on USSTC’s products as the company transitioned from multi-pack deals to everyday low pricing, eliminating the need for promotional inventory.

The following table summarizes USSTC’s MST volume performance by brand, which includes cans sold as well as promotional units, and excludes international volume:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008
     (cans in millions)

Copenhagen

     71.1      71.7

Skoal

     70.3      71.4

Red Seal/Other

     24.7      28.9
         

Total MST

   166.1    172.0
         

USSTC’s total MST retail share in the second quarter of 2009 was down 1.1 share points versus the first quarter of 2009, primarily driven by USSTC’s discount brand portfolio, which declined 0.9 share points. USSTC enhanced the value equation on Copenhagen and Skoal with a list price reduction of $0.62 cents per can that was effective on March 29, 2009. USSTC’s premium retail share stabilized as it began and ended the second quarter of 2009 at the same level. Additionally, USSTC’s premium revenue share increased 6.6 share points versus the first quarter of 2009 as the company eliminated multi-pack deals. The following table summarizes MST sequential retail share performance (full quarterly results, excluding international volume), based on data from the retail tracking service provided by IRI, InfoScan Moist Smokeless Tobacco Database for Food, Drug, Mass Merchandisers (excluding Wal-Mart) and Convenience trade classes, which tracks MST market share performance. First quarter 2009 retail share results from the IRI InfoScan service have been restated, due to IRI’s standard practice of periodically refreshing their syndicated services.

 

     Retail Share
For the Three Months Ended
     June 30, 2009   March 31, 2009

Copenhagen

   23.6%   24.0%

Skoal

   25.0      24.8   
        

Premium MST

   48.6      48.8   

Red Seal/Other

     7.5        8.4   
        

Total MST

   56.1%   57.2%
        

 

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Cigars segment. Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $17 million (16.8%), reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the FET increase ($41 million), partially offset by lower volume ($24 million).

Operating companies income decreased $14 million (28.0%), due to lower volume ($23 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($9 million).

In the second quarter of 2009, the cigars segment business results were impacted by the April 1, 2009 FET increase. Unlike cigarettes and MST, there was no floor tax associated with the FET increase for machine-made large cigars, and the trade accumulated inventories during the first quarter of 2009 in advance of the FET increase. In the second quarter, the trade fully depleted this FET-related inventory. Additionally, the trade further reduced inventories in the second quarter as Middleton migrated to the Altria Sales & Distribution system, which benefited the trade by significantly reducing order delivery times.

For the three months ended June 30, 2009, Middleton’s cigar shipment volume declined 23.8% versus the prior-year period to 270 million units. Volume results for the three months ended June 30, 2009 were estimated to have grown moderately when adjusted for changes in trade inventories and the timing of promotional shipments.

The following table summarizes volume for cigars:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008
     (units in millions)

Black & Mild

   263    344

Other

       7      11
         

Total cigars

   270    355
         

Middleton achieved a 31.0% retail share of the machine-made large cigars segment for the three months ended June 30, 2009, up 2.6 share points versus the prior-year period. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, Black & Mild’s retail share increased 2.7 share points versus the prior-year period to 30.4% of the machine-made large cigar segment. Cigar retail share results are based on the retail tracking service provided by IRI, InfoScan Cigar Database for Food, Drug, Mass Merchandisers (excluding Wal-Mart) and Convenience trade classes, which tracks machine-made large cigar market share performance, that Altria Group, Inc. began using in the first quarter of 2009. Market share data for 2008 have been restated to reflect this tracking service.

In the second quarter of 2009, Middleton announced two new line extensions that it plans to ship to wholesale in the third quarter of 2009, Black & Mild Wood Tip Wine and a new non-tipped cigar product, Black & Mild Cigarillo, which will be test-marketed in the state of Georgia.

The following table summarizes retail share performance for cigars:

 

     Retail Share
For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009   2008

Black & Mild

   30.4%   27.7%

Other

     0.6        0.7   
        

Total cigars

   31.0%   28.4%
        

 

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Wine segment

Business Environment

Ste. Michelle has a leadership position in Washington state wines, primarily Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest, and owns wineries in or distributes wines from several other wine regions. Ste. Michelle also owns Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Conn Creek in Napa Valley and Erath in Oregon. Ste. Michelle also distributes Antinori wines in the United States. A key element of Ste. Michelle’s strategy is expanded domestic distribution of its wines, especially in certain account categories such as restaurants, wholesale clubs, supermarkets, wine shops and mass merchandisers.

Ste. Michelle’s business is subject to significant competition, including competition from many larger, well-established domestic and international companies as well as from many smaller wine producers. Wine segment competition is primarily based on quality, price, consumer and trade wine tastings, competitive wine judging, third-party acclaim and advertising.

Federal, state and local governmental agencies regulate the alcohol beverage industry through various means, including licensing requirements, pricing, labeling and advertising restrictions, and distribution and production policies. Further regulatory restrictions or additional excise or other taxes on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages may have an adverse effect on Ste. Michelle’s wine business.

Operating Results

Altria Group, Inc. acquired UST and its premium wine business, Ste. Michelle, on January 6, 2009. As a result, Ste. Michelle’s financial results from January 6 through June 30, 2009 are included in Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated and segment results for the six months ended June 30, 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, net revenues for the wine segment were $169 million. Operating companies income was $10 million, which included pre-tax charges of $14 million related to the UST acquisition, consisting of inventory adjustments, exit and integration costs. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, net revenues for the wine segment were $94 million. Operating companies income was $9 million, which included pre-tax charges of $6 million related to the UST acquisition, consisting of inventory adjustments and integration costs.

For the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, Ste. Michelle’s wine shipment volume of 2.6 million cases and 1.4 million cases, respectively, was 4.2% and 1.5% lower than the prior-year periods. Several factors negatively impacted Ste. Michelle shipment volume in the first six months of 2009. Ste. Michelle suspended shipments during the first week of January 2009 to take inventory prior to the closing of the UST acquisition. In addition, wholesalers purchased wine in advance of this suspension, and also further depleted their Ste. Michelle inventories in the first quarter of 2009. During the second quarter of 2009 wholesalers continued to reduce their wine inventories. Ste. Michelle’s volume from wholesale to retail increased approximately 5% in the second quarter and first half of 2009, due primarily to higher off-premise channel volume that includes supermarkets and liquor stores, partially offset by lower on-premise channel volume that includes restaurants and bars. Ste. Michelle’s retail volume, as measured by Nielsen Total Wine Database – U.S. Food & Drug, increased approximately 12% in the second quarter and first half of 2009 versus the prior-year periods.

 

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The following tables summarize Ste. Michelle’s domestic case volume performance by brand:

 

     Shipment Volume
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
   Shipment Volume
For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (cases in thousands)

Chateau Ste. Michelle

      875       840       505       442

Columbia Crest

      886       981       483       535

Other

      856       911       450       484
                   

Total wine

   2,617    2,732    1,438    1,461
                   

 

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Financial services segment

Business Environment

In 2003, PMCC shifted its strategic focus and is no longer making new investments but is instead focused on managing its existing portfolio of finance assets in order to maximize gains and generate cash flow from asset sales and related activities. Accordingly, PMCC’s operating companies income will fluctuate over time as investments mature or are sold. During the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009, PMCC received proceeds of $553 million and $89 million, respectively, and recorded gains of $202 million and $89 million, respectively, in operating companies income from asset sales. During the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008, PMCC received proceeds of $148 million and $26 million, respectively, and recorded gains of $54 million and $9 million, respectively, in operating companies income from asset sales.

On June 1, 2009, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. PMCC leases various types of automotive manufacturing equipment to GM under leases, which expire from 2012 through 2023. Automotive equipment under lease to GM represented approximately 4% of PMCC’s portfolio of finance assets as of June 30, 2009. As a result of the bankruptcy filing, PMCC has ceased recording income on these leases. Should a lease rejection or foreclosure occur, it would result in the write-off of the finance asset balance against PMCC’s allowance for losses. A foreclosure would also result in an acceleration of deferred tax payments on these leases. All other PMCC lessees are current on their lease obligations.

The activity in the allowance for losses on finance assets for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 was as follows (in millions):

 

     For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009     2008

Balance at beginning of the year

   $ 304      $ 204

Increase to provision

     15        -

Amounts written-off

     (4  
              

Balance at June 30

   $ 315      $ 204
              

During the first six months of 2009, PMCC increased the allowance for losses by $15 million. PMCC has assessed its allowance for losses for its entire portfolio, including its exposure to GM, and believes that the allowance for losses of $315 million is adequate. During the second half of 2008, PMCC increased its allowance for losses by $100 million primarily as a result of credit rating downgrades of certain lessees and financial market conditions. PMCC continues to monitor economic and credit conditions, and may have to increase its allowance for losses if such conditions worsen.

PMCC’s portfolio remains diversified by lessee, industry segment and asset type. As of June 30, 2009, 73% of PMCC’s lessees were investment grade as defined by Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s. Excluding aircraft lease investments, 86% of PMCC’s lessees were investment grade.

PMCC has one remaining transaction with indirect exposure to Ambac Assurance Corporation, a credit support provider whose credit rating has been downgraded, the risk of which is mitigated by the underlying strength of the lessee and the quality of the leased asset.

As discussed in Note 14, the Internal Revenue Service has disallowed benefits pertaining to several PMCC leveraged lease transactions for the years 1996 through 1999, and indicated its intent to disallow these and other transactions for the years 2000 through 2003.

 

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Operating Results

 

         2009            2008    
     (in millions)

Net revenues:

     

Six months ended June 30,

   $ 249    $ 123
             

Three months ended June 30,

   $ 110    $ 37
             

Operating companies income:

     

Six months ended June 30,

   $ 203    $ 104
             

Three months ended June 30,

   $ 83    $ 30
             

PMCC’s net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $126 million (100+%) from the comparable period in 2008, due primarily to higher gains on asset sales. Net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2009, increased $73 million (100+%) from the comparable period in 2008, due primarily to higher gains on asset sales.

PMCC’s operating companies income for the six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $99 million (95.2%) from the comparable period in 2008, due primarily to higher gains on asset sales, partially offset by lower lease revenues and a $15 million increase to the allowance for losses. PMCC’s operating companies income for the three months ended June 30, 2009, increased $53 million (100+%) from the comparable period in 2008, due primarily to higher gains on asset sales, partially offset by a $15 million increase to the allowance for losses.

 

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Financial Review

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations

During the first six months of 2009, net cash provided by operating activities on a continuing operations basis was $135 million, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $446 million during the first six months of 2008. The change was due primarily to the timing of payments related to accrued liabilities.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations

Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries from time to time consider acquisitions as part of their adjacency strategy as evidenced by the acquisition of UST on January 6, 2009. For further discussion see Note 2.

During the first six months of 2009, net cash used in investing activities on a continuing operations basis was $9.9 billion, compared with net cash provided of $698 million during the first six months of 2008. This change was due primarily to the acquisition of UST in January 2009.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations

During the first six months of 2009, net cash provided by financing activities on a continuing operations basis was $2.4 billion compared with net cash used of $4.7 billion during the first six months of 2008. This change was due primarily to the following:

 

   

$4.2 billion issuance of long-term notes in 2009, the proceeds of which were used to prepay all of the outstanding borrowings under the Bridge Facility that was used in part to fund the acquisition of UST in January 2009;

 

   

lower dividends paid on Altria Group, Inc. common stock during 2009 as a result of the PMI spin-off;

 

   

cash used in 2008 to repurchase common stock under the share repurchase program which was suspended in January 2009;

 

   

debt tender offers during the first quarter of 2008 which resulted in the repayment of debt as well as the payment of tender and consent fees; and

 

   

a payment of $449 million to PMI during the first six months of 2008 as a result of the spin-off related modifications to Altria Group, Inc. stock awards;

partially offset by:

 

   

dividends received from PMI during the first quarter of 2008; and

 

   

$1.3 billion decrease in net commercial paper issuances.

 

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Debt and Liquidity

Credit Ratings – At June 30, 2009, the credit ratings and outlook for Altria Group, Inc.’s indebtedness by major credit rating agencies were:

 

     Short-term    Long-term     
    

Debt

  

Debt

  

Outlook

Moody’s

   P-2    Baa1    Negative

Standard & Poor’s

   A-2    BBB    Stable

Fitch

   F-2      BBB+    Stable

Credit Lines – At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. had in place a multi-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) in the amount of $3.4 billion, which expires April 15, 2010. Altria Group, Inc. expects to replace its Revolving Facility prior to its expiration in amounts and maturities based on market conditions at that time. The Revolving Facility requires Altria Group, Inc. to maintain a ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to interest expense (as defined in the Revolving Facility) of not less than 4.0 to 1.0 and requires the maintenance of a ratio of debt to EBITDA (as defined in the Revolving Facility) of not more than 3.0 to 1.0. At June 30, 2009, the ratios of EBITDA to interest expense, and debt to EBITDA, calculated in accordance with the agreement, were 7.3 to 1.0 and 2.1 to 1.0, respectively. Altria Group, Inc. expects to continue to meet its covenants associated with its Revolving Facility.

The Revolving Facility is used to support the issuance of commercial paper to fund short-term cash needs. At June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. had $393 million of consumer products commercial paper outstanding, thereby effectively reducing the amount available under the Revolving Facility to approximately $3.0 billion at June 30, 2009. The commercial paper of Altria Group, Inc. and borrowings under the Revolving Facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PM USA (see Note 16. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information to the condensed consolidating financial statements (“Note 16”)). Pricing under the Revolving Facility is modified in the event of a change in Altria Group, Inc.’s credit rating. The Revolving Facility does not include any other rating triggers, nor does it contain any provisions that could require the posting of collateral.

Financial Market Environment – Events over the past year, including failures and near failures of a number of large financial service companies, have increased the volatility of the capital markets. Altria Group, Inc. continues to monitor the credit quality of its bank group and is not aware of any potential non-performing credit provider in that group, other than as noted in the following paragraph. Altria Group, Inc. believes the lenders in its bank group will be willing and able to advance funds in accordance with their legal obligations.

In June 2009, Altria Group, Inc. amended its Revolving Facility in order to terminate the $108 million commitment of Aurora Bank FSB (formerly known as Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB) (“Aurora”). Aurora’s commitment was terminated without a ratable termination or reduction of the commitments of the other lenders.

Despite adverse financial market conditions, Altria Group, Inc. believes it has adequate liquidity, financial resources and access to additional financial resources to meet its anticipated obligations in the foreseeable future.

Debt – Altria Group, Inc.’s total debt (consumer products and financial services) was $12.9 billion and $7.5 billion at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Total financial services debt of $500 million matured in July 2009 and was repaid. Total consumer products debt was $12.4 billion and $7.0 billion at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. As discussed in Note 8, the increase in total consumer products debt relates to the February 2009 issuance of $4.2 billion of long-term notes, the recording of UST’s debt, and the net issuance of $393 million of commercial paper, partially offset by repayments.

 

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Guarantees and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest – As discussed in Note 14, Altria Group, Inc. had guarantees (including third-party guarantees) and a redeemable noncontrolling interest outstanding at June 30, 2009. In addition, as discussed in Note 16, PM USA has issued guarantees related to Altria Group, Inc.’s indebtedness.

Payments Under State Settlement and Other Tobacco Agreements, and FDA Regulation – As discussed previously and in Note 14, PM USA has entered into State Settlement Agreements with the states and territories of the United States and also entered into a trust agreement to provide certain aid to U.S. tobacco growers and quota holders, but PM USA’s obligations under this trust have now been eliminated by the obligations imposed on PM USA by FETRA. USSTC and Middleton are also subject to obligations imposed by FETRA. In addition, in June 2009, Altria Group, Inc. became subject to quarterly user fees imposed by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA fees”) as a result of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The State Settlement Agreements, FETRA, and the FDA fees call for payments that are based on variable factors, such as volume, market shares and inflation, depending on the subject payment. Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries account for the cost of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA fees as a component of cost of sales. As a result of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA fees, Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries recorded charges to cost of sales of $2,509 million and $2,720 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $1,358 million and $1,420 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Based on current agreements, 2008 market share and the last five-year compounded annual industry volume decline rate, the estimated amounts that Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries may charge to cost of sales for these payments will be approximately as follows (in billions):

 

2009

   $5.5

2010

     5.6

2011

     5.6

2012

     5.7

2013

     5.7

Thereafter

     5.4 annually

The estimated amounts due under the State Settlement Agreements and FETRA charged to cost of sales in each of the years above would generally be paid in the following year. The amounts charged to cost of sales for the FDA fees are paid in the quarter in which the fees are incurred. As previously stated, the payments due under the terms of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA fees are subject to adjustment for several factors, including volume, inflation and certain contingent events and, in general, are allocated based on each manufacturer’s market share. The amounts shown in the table above are estimates, and actual amounts will differ as underlying assumptions differ from actual future results. See Note 14 for a discussion of proceedings that may result in a downward adjustment of amounts paid under State Settlement Agreements for the years 2003 to 2008.

Litigation Escrow Deposits – With respect to certain adverse verdicts currently on appeal, as of June 30, 2009, PM USA has posted various forms of security totaling approximately $88 million, the majority of which have been collateralized with cash deposits, to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. These cash deposits are included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Although litigation is subject to uncertainty and could result in material adverse consequences for the financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of PM USA, UST or Altria Group, Inc. in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year, management expects cash flow from operations, together with its Revolving Facility, to provide sufficient liquidity to meet the ongoing needs of the business.

 

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Grape and Tobacco Commitments – Certain subsidiaries of UST have entered into purchase obligations primarily for grapes and leaf tobacco. Purchase obligations are commitments that are either noncancelable or cancelable only under certain predefined conditions.

Such subsidiaries are obligated to make additional payments in the upcoming year of approximately $66 million for leaf tobacco to be used in the production of smokeless tobacco products. The majority of the contractual obligations to purchase leaf tobacco for smokeless tobacco products are expected to be fulfilled by the end of 2009.

Purchase commitments under contracts to purchase grapes for periods beyond one year are subject to variability resulting from potential changes in market price indices. Such subsidiaries are obligated to make future payments of approximately $716 million, of which $91 million is payable in 2009, for purchases and processing of grapes for use in the production of wine, based on estimated yields and market conditions.

Leases – PMCC’s investment in leases is included in the line item finance assets, net, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. At June 30, 2009, PMCC’s net finance receivable of $5.0 billion in leveraged leases, which is included in finance assets, net on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheet, consists of rents receivable ($15.2 billion) and the residual value of assets under lease ($1.4 billion), reduced by third-party nonrecourse debt ($9.7 billion) and unearned income ($1.9 billion). The repayment of the nonrecourse debt is collateralized by lease payments receivable and the leased property, and is nonrecourse to the general assets of PMCC. The third-party nonrecourse debt has been offset against the related rents receivable and has been presented on a net basis. Finance assets, net, at June 30, 2009, also include net finance receivables for direct finance leases ($0.3 billion) and an allowance for losses ($0.3 billion).

Equity and Dividends

On January 27, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. issued 2.8 million shares of restricted stock to eligible employees. Restrictions on these shares lapse in the first quarter of 2012. The market value per share was $16.85 on the date of grant. In addition, on January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. issued 1.8 million shares of restricted stock to certain UST employees. Restrictions on 0.1 million and 1.7 million of these shares lapse in the first quarter of 2010 and 2011, respectively. However, if such UST employees are involuntarily terminated, the restricted shares automatically vest. The market value per share was $15.32 on the date of grant.

During the six months ended June 30, 2009, 1.8 million shares of restricted stock and 0.7 million shares of deferred stock vested. The total fair value of restricted and deferred stock vested during the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $42 million. The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of these awards was $48.19 (reflects historical market prices which are not adjusted to reflect the Kraft Foods Inc. spin-off in March 2007 and the PMI spin-off in March 2008).

Dividends paid in the first six months of 2009 and 2008 were approximately $1.3 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively, a decrease of 58.2%, primarily reflecting an adjusted dividend rate in 2009, as a result of the PMI spin-off. Following the PMI spin-off, Altria Group, Inc. lowered its dividend so that holders of both Altria Group, Inc. and PMI shares would receive initially in the aggregate, the same dividends paid by Altria Group, Inc. prior to the PMI spin-off. The present annualized dividend rate is $1.28 per Altria Group, Inc. common share. Payments of dividends remain subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.

In January 2009, Altria Group, Inc. suspended its $4.0 billion (2008 to 2010) share repurchase program in order to preserve financial flexibility and to provide Altria Group, Inc. the opportunity to monitor economic impacts on its business and protect its investment grade credit rating. Altria Group, Inc. intends to evaluate the share repurchase program in early 2010. Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase program is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

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Market Risk

Derivative financial instruments are used by Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries principally to reduce exposures to market risks resulting from fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange rates by creating offsetting exposures. Altria Group, Inc. is not a party to leveraged derivatives and, by policy, does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. Financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a specified level of effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period. Altria Group, Inc. formally documents the nature and relationships between the hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objectives, strategies for undertaking the various hedge transactions and method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Additionally, for hedges of forecasted transactions, the significant characteristics and expected terms of the forecasted transaction must be specifically identified, and it must be probable that each forecasted transaction will occur. If it were deemed probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur, the gain or loss would be recognized in earnings currently. See Note 9. Financial Instruments to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of derivative financial instruments used by Altria Group, Inc.

New Accounting Standards

See Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation, Note 2, Note 6. Earnings from Equity Investment in SABMiller, Note 10. Earnings per Share and Note 15. Recent Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of new accounting standards.

Contingencies

See Note 14 for a discussion of contingencies.

 

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Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

We* may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in filings with the SEC, in reports to security holders and in press releases and investor webcasts. You can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as “strategy,” “expects,” “continues,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “targets” and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements and whether to invest in or remain invested in Altria Group, Inc.’s securities. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by us; any such statement is qualified by reference to the following cautionary statements. We elaborate on these and other risks we face throughout this document, particularly in the “Business Environment” sections preceding our discussion of business segment operating results. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, you should not consider the following to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that we may make from time to time.

Tobacco-Related Litigation. Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various United States and foreign jurisdictions against Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries including PM USA and UST, as well as their respective indemnitees. Various types of claims are raised in these proceedings, including product liability, consumer protection, antitrust, tax, contraband shipments, patent infringement, employment matters, claims for contribution and claims of competitors and distributors.

Litigation is subject to uncertainty and it is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending cases. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Damages claimed in some tobacco-related litigation are significant and, in certain cases, range in the billions of dollars. The variability in pleadings, together with the actual experience of management in litigating claims, demonstrate that the monetary relief that may be specified in a lawsuit bears little relevance to the ultimate outcome.

Although PM USA has historically been able to obtain required bonds or relief from bonding requirements in order to prevent plaintiffs from seeking to collect judgments while adverse verdicts have been appealed, there remains a risk that such relief may not be obtainable in all cases. This risk has been substantially reduced given that 43 states now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all.

Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries have achieved substantial success in managing litigation. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to uncertainty and significant challenges remain. It is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc., or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. Altria Group, Inc. and each of its subsidiaries named as a defendant believe, and each has been so advised by counsel handling the respective cases, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. Each of the companies has

 

 

*

This section uses the terms “we,” “our” and “us” when it is not necessary to distinguish among Altria Group, Inc. and its various operating subsidiaries or when any distinction is clear from the context.

 

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defended, and will continue to defend, vigorously against litigation challenges. However, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria Group, Inc. to do so. See Note 14. and Exhibit 99.1 for a discussion of pending tobacco-related litigation.

Tobacco Regulation and Control Action in the Public and Private Sectors. Our tobacco subsidiaries face significant governmental action, including efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of smoking, restricting marketing and advertising, imposing regulations on packaging, warnings and disclosure of ingredients and flavors, prohibiting the sale of tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors or other characteristics, limiting or prohibiting the sale of tobacco products by certain retail establishments and the sale of tobacco products in certain packing sizes, and seeking to hold them responsible for the adverse health effects associated with both smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Governmental actions, combined with the diminishing social acceptance of smoking and private actions to restrict smoking, have resulted in reduced industry volume, and we expect that such actions will continue to reduce consumption levels.

PM USA, USSTC and other Altria Group, Inc. subsidiaries are now subject to extensive regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), as discussed further in Tobacco Space – Business Environment – United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) Regulation. We cannot predict how the FDA might implement and enforce its statutory authority, including by promulgating additional regulations and pursuing possible enforcement actions, but such implementation and enforcement may impact the consumer acceptability of tobacco products, limit adult consumer choices, restrict communications to adult consumers, create a competitive advantage or disadvantage for certain tobacco companies or significantly increase the cost of doing business, all or any of which may have a material adverse impact on the results of operations or financial condition of Altria Group, Inc.

Excise Taxes. Tobacco products are subject to substantial excise taxes and significant increases in tobacco product-related taxes or fees have been proposed or enacted and are likely to continue to be proposed or enacted within the United States at the state, federal and local levels. Tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on sales of our tobacco products due to lower consumption levels and to a shift in consumer purchases from the premium to the non-premium or discount segments or to other low-priced or low-taxed tobacco products or to counterfeit and contraband products. For further discussion, see Tobacco Space – Business Environment – Excise Taxes.

Increased Competition in the United States Tobacco Categories. Each of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries operates in highly competitive tobacco categories. Settlements of certain tobacco litigation in the United States have resulted in substantial cigarette price increases. PM USA faces competition from lowest priced brands sold by certain United States and foreign manufacturers that have cost advantages because they are not parties to these settlements. These manufacturers may fail to comply with related state escrow legislation or may avoid escrow deposit obligations on the majority of their sales by concentrating on certain states where escrow deposits are not required or are required on fewer than all such manufacturers’ cigarettes sold in such states. Additional competition has resulted from diversion into the United States market of cigarettes intended for sale outside the United States, the sale of counterfeit cigarettes by third parties, the sale of cigarettes by third parties over the Internet and by other means designed to avoid collection of applicable taxes, and increased imports of foreign lowest priced brands. USSTC faces significant competition in the smokeless tobacco category, both from existing competitors and new entrants, and has experienced consumer down-trading to lower-priced brands.

Governmental Investigations. From time to time, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. We cannot predict the outcome of those investigations or whether investigations may be commenced, and it is possible that our tobacco subsidiaries’ businesses could be materially affected by an unfavorable outcome of future investigations.

 

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New Tobacco Product Technologies. Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries continue to seek ways to develop and to commercialize new tobacco product technologies that may reduce the health risks associated with the tobacco products they manufacture, while continuing to offer adult consumers tobacco products that meet their taste expectations. Potential solutions being researched include tobacco products that reduce or eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke, and/or constituents identified by public health authorities as harmful. Our subsidiaries may not succeed in these efforts. If they do not succeed, but one or more of their competitors does, our subsidiaries may be at a competitive disadvantage. Further, we cannot predict whether regulators, including the FDA, will permit the marketing of tobacco products with claims of reduced risk to consumers or whether consumers’ purchase decisions would be affected by such claims, which could affect the commercial viability of any tobacco products that might be developed.

Adjacency Strategy. Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries have adjacency growth strategies involving moves and potential moves into complementary products or processes. We cannot guarantee that these strategies, or any products introduced in connection with these strategies, will be successful.

Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality. Any significant change in tobacco leaf prices, quality or availability could affect our tobacco subsidiaries’ profitability and business. For a discussion of factors that influence leaf prices, availability and quality, see Tobacco Space – Business Environment – Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality.

Key Facilities; Supply Security. In light of the consolidation of PM USA’s manufacturing facilities, Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries face risks inherent in reliance on a few significant facilities and a small number of significant suppliers. A natural or man-made disaster or other disruption that affects the manufacturing facilities of any of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries or the facilities of any significant suppliers of any of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries could adversely impact the operations of the affected subsidiaries. An extended interruption in operations experienced by one or more Altria Group, Inc. subsidiaries or significant suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of Altria Group, Inc.

Attracting and Retaining Talent. Our ability to implement our strategy of attracting and retaining the best talent may be impaired by the decreasing social acceptance of tobacco usage. The tobacco industry competes for talent with the consumer products industry and other companies that enjoy greater societal acceptance. As a result, our tobacco subsidiaries may be unable to attract and retain the best talent.

Competition and Economic Downturns. Each of our consumer product subsidiaries is subject to intense competition, changes in consumer preferences and changes in economic conditions. To be successful, they must continue to:

 

   

promote brand equity successfully;

 

   

anticipate and respond to new consumer trends;

 

   

develop new products and markets and to broaden brand portfolios in order to compete effectively with lower-priced products;

 

   

improve productivity; and

 

   

protect or enhance margins through cost savings and price increases.

The willingness of adult consumers to purchase premium consumer product brands depends in part on economic conditions. In periods of economic uncertainty, adult consumers may purchase more private label and other discount brands and/or, in the case of tobacco products, consider lower-priced tobacco products. The volumes of our consumer products subsidiaries could suffer accordingly.

 

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Our finance subsidiary, PMCC, holds investments in finance leases, principally in transportation (including aircraft and automotive), power generation and manufacturing equipment and facilities. Its lessees are also subject to intense competition and economic conditions. If parties to PMCC’s leases fail to manage through difficult economic and competitive conditions, PMCC may have to increase its allowance for losses, which would adversely affect our earnings.

Acquisitions. Altria Group, Inc. from time to time considers acquisitions as part of its adjacency strategy. From time to time we may engage in confidential acquisition negotiations that are not publicly announced unless and until those negotiations result in a definitive agreement. Although we seek to maintain or improve our debt ratings over time, it is possible that completing a given acquisition or other event could impact our debt ratings or the outlook for those ratings. Furthermore, acquisition opportunities are limited, and acquisitions present risks of failing to achieve efficient and effective integration, strategic objectives and anticipated revenue improvements and cost savings. There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to acquire attractive businesses on favorable terms, that we will realize any of the anticipated benefits from an acquisition or that acquisitions will be quickly accretive to earnings.

UST Acquisition. There can be no assurance that we will achieve the synergies expected of the UST acquisition or that the integration of UST will be successful.

Capital Markets. Access to the capital markets is important for us to satisfy our liquidity and financing needs. Disruption and uncertainty in the capital markets and any resulting tightening of credit availability, pricing and/or credit terms may negatively affect the amount of credit available to us and may also increase our costs and adversely affect our earnings or our dividend rate.

Exchange Rates. For purposes of financial reporting, the equity earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.’s investment in SABMiller are translated into U.S. dollars from various local currencies based on average exchange rates prevailing during a reporting period. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar against these currencies, our reported equity earnings in SABMiller will be reduced because the local currencies will translate into fewer U.S. dollars.

Asset Impairment. We periodically calculate the fair value of our goodwill and intangible assets to test for impairment. This calculation may be affected by the market conditions noted above, as well as interest rates and general economic conditions. If an impairment is determined to exist, we will incur impairment losses, which will reduce our earnings.

IRS Challenges to PMCC Leases. The Internal Revenue Service has challenged the tax treatment of certain of PMCC’s leveraged leases. Should Altria Group, Inc. not prevail in any one or more of these matters, Altria Group, Inc. may have to accelerate the payment of significant amounts of federal income tax and significantly lower its earnings to reflect the recalculation of the income from the affected leveraged leases, which could have a material effect on the earnings and cash flows of Altria Group, Inc. in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year. For further discussion see Note 14.

Wine - Competition; Grape Supply; Regulation and Excise Taxes.   Ste. Michelle’s business is subject to significant competition, including from many large, well-established national and international organizations. The adequacy of Ste. Michelle’s grape supply is influenced by consumer demand for wine in relation to industry-wide production levels as well as by weather and crop conditions, particularly in eastern Washington state.   Supply shortages related to any one or more of these factors could increase production costs and wine prices, which ultimately may have a negative impact on Ste. Michelle’s sales. In addition, federal, state and local governmental agencies regulate the alcohol beverage industry through various means, including licensing requirements, pricing, labeling and advertising restrictions, and distribution and production policies. New regulations or revisions to existing regulations, resulting in further restrictions or taxes on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, may have an adverse effect on Ste. Michelle’s wine business. For further discussion, see “Wine segment – Business Environment.”

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Altria Group, Inc. carried out an evaluation, with the participation of Altria Group, Inc.’s management, including Altria Group, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of Altria Group, Inc.’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, Altria Group, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Altria Group, Inc.’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There have been no changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Altria Group, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

See Note 14. Contingencies, of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a discussion of legal proceedings pending against Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. See also Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this report.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Information regarding Risk Factors appears in “MD&A – Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results,” in Part I – Item 2 of this Form 10-Q and in Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Other than as set forth in Part I – Item 2. of this Form 10-Q, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Report on Form 10-K.

 

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

On January 29, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. suspended the $4.0 billion (2008 to 2010) share repurchase program that was announced on September 8, 2008 and that modified the share repurchase program announced on January 30, 2008. No shares were repurchased during the three months ended June 30, 2009 under the share repurchase program. Altria Group, Inc. intends to evaluate the share repurchase program in early 2010.

Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase activity for each of the three months in the period ended June 30, 2009, was as follows:

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares
Repurchased (1)
   Average
Price Paid
Per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (2)
   Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs (2)

April 1-30, 2009

   50,872    $ 16.47    -    $ 2,834,083,553

May 1-31, 2009

   542,482    $ 17.11    -    $ 2,834,083,553

June 1-30, 2009

   136,278    $ 16.59    -    $ 2,834,083,553
             

For the Quarter Ended

June 30, 2009

   729,632    $ 16.97      
             

 

(1)

Represents shares tendered to Altria Group, Inc. by employees who vested in restricted and deferred stock, or exercised stock options, and used shares to pay all, or a portion of, the related taxes and/or option exercise price.

 

(2)

As of June 30, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. had repurchased in 2008 53.5 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.2 billion, or an average price of $21.81 per share, pursuant to the share repurchase program described above. Because the share repurchase program had been suspended in January 2009, no shares were repurchased during the period presented. Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase program is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Altria Group, Inc.’s annual meeting of stockholders was held in Richmond, Virginia, on May 19, 2009. 1,694,553,766 shares of Altria Group, Inc. common stock, 82.0% of outstanding shares, were represented in person or by proxy.

The nine directors listed below were elected to a one-year term expiring in 2010.

 

     Number of Shares
     In Favor    Against    Abstained

Elizabeth E. Bailey

   1,562,775,899    125,031,789    6,746,078

Gerald L. Baliles

   1,568,223,365    119,651,725    6,678,676

Dinyar S. Devitre

   1,663,543,316    24,340,802    6,669,648

Thomas F. Farrell II

   1,570,487,348    117,453,237    6,613,181

Robert E. R. Huntley

   1,613,261,079    74,434,487    6,858,200

Thomas W. Jones

   1,620,084,609    67,511,184    6,957,973

George Muñoz

   1,668,236,163    19,173,146    7,144,457

Nabil Y. Sakkab

   1,615,215,547    72,092,277    7,245,942

Michael E. Szymanczyk

   1,647,410,037    40,051,780    7,091,949

The selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors was ratified: 1,662,694,885 shares voted in favor; 24,785,333 shares voted against and 7,073,548 shares abstained.

Six stockholder proposals were defeated:

Stockholder Proposal 1 – Making Future and/or Expanded Brands Non-Addictive: 47,623,771 shares voted in favor; 1,079,590,486 against and 567,339,509 shares abstained (including broker non-votes).

Stockholder Proposal 2 – Food Insecurity and Tobacco Use: 40,418,986 shares voted in favor; 1,083,619,898 against and 570,514,882 shares abstained (including broker non-votes).

Stockholder Proposal 3 – Endorse Health Care Principles: 43,242,021 shares voted in favor; 1,065,798,259 against and 585,513,486 shares abstained (including broker non-votes).

Stockholder Proposal 4 – Create Human Rights Protocols for the Company and Its Suppliers: 282,638,619 shares voted in favor; 848,297,152 against and 563,617,995 shares abstained (including broker non-votes).

Stockholder Proposal 5 – Shareholder Say on Executive Pay: 608,172,871 shares voted in favor; 674,427,992 against and 411,952,903 shares abstained (including broker non-votes).

Stockholder Proposal 6 – Disclosure of Political Contributions: 326,297,742 shares voted in favor; 801,536,829 against and 566,719,195 shares abstained (including broker non-votes).

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

4.1   

Consent and Waiver, dated as of June 25, 2009, to the 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2005, among Altria Group, Inc., the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents, Credit Suisse First Boston, Cayman Islands Branch and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Syndication Agents, and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank USA, National Association and UBS Securities LLC, as Arrangers and Documentation Agents.

10.1   

Long-Term Disability Benefit Equalization Plan, effective as of January 1, 1989, as amended.

10.2   

Survivor Income Benefit Equalization Plan, effective as of January 1, 1985, as amended.

12   

Statement regarding computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges.

31.1   

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1   

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1   

Certain Litigation Matters and Recent Developments.

99.2   

Trial Schedule for Certain Cases.

 

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Signature

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.

 

ALTRIA GROUP, INC.

/s/ DAVID R. BERAN

David R. Beran

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

July 31, 2009

 

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