UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20082011

OR

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

For the transition period from                     to                     to

Commission File Number 1-89401-08940

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)

804-274-2200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

                    Title of each class                    


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Stock, $0.33 1/3 par value New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  þ

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ¨

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,”filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  þ Accelerated filer  ¨ 

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

 

Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a 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

As of June 30, 20082011, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $42$55 billion based on the closing sale price of the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

                                 Class                                


 

Outstanding at January 30, 200931, 2012


Common Stock, $0.33 1/3 par value 2,066,194,0062,045,667,279 shares

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Document


  

Parts Into Which Incorporated


Portions of the registrant’s annual report to shareholdersstockholders for the year ended December 31, 20082011 (the “2008“2011 Annual Report”)  Parts I, II, and IV
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for use in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 19, 2009,17, 2012, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on or about April 9, 2009.5, 2012.  Part III

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page

PART I

     

Item 1.

  Business  1

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors  107

Item 1B.

  Unresolved Staff Comments  1412

Item 2.

  Properties  1413

Item 3.

  Legal Proceedings  1514

Item 4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security HoldersMine Safety Disclosures  4248

PART II

     

Item 5.

  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities  4349

Item 6.

  Selected Financial Data  4350

Item 7.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationOperations  4450

Item 7A.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk  4450

Item 8.

  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data  4450

Item 9.

  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure  4450

Item 9A.

  Controls and Procedures  4450

Item 9B.

  Other Information  4450

PART III

     

Item 10.

  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance  4551

Item 11.

  Executive Compensation  4652

Item 12.

  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters  4652

Item 13.

  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence  4653

Item 14.

  Principal Accounting Fees and Services  4653

PART IV

     

Item 15.

  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules  4754

Signatures

     5461

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedule

  S-1

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

  S-2


PART I

 

Item 1.Business.

 

(a) General Development of Business

 

General

General:Altria Group, Inc. is a holding company incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1985. At December 31, 2008,2011, 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 other tobaccocertain smokeless products in the United States,States; UST LLC (“UST”), which through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries including U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (“USSTC”) and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (“Ste. Michelle”), 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 of Altria Group, Inc., maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. held a 28.5%27.0% economic and voting interest in SABMiller plc (“SABMiller”) at December 31, 2008.2011, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

 

As further discussed in Note 23.3.Subsequent EventsUST Acquisition to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 20082011 Annual Report, and below inNarrative Description of Business—Acquisitions, on January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding common stock of UST Inc. (“UST”), which owns operating companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless tobacco products and wine.UST. As a result of the acquisition, UST has becomebecame an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of UST received $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 included the assumption of approximately $1.3 billion of debt, which together with acquisition-related costs and payments of approximately $0.6 billion, represent a total cash outlay of approximately $11 billion. The acquisition was financed with a combination of available cash (including the net proceeds from the senior notes offerings described in Note 10.Long-Term Debt to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2008 Annual Report) and borrowings under the 364-day bridge loan facility (described in Note 9.Short-Term Borrowings and Borrowing Arrangements to such financial statements). The bridge loan borrowings were refinanced through the issuance of additional senior notes in February 2009, and the bridge loan agreement was terminated, as discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” set forth in the 2008 Annual Report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

On March 28, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. distributed all of its interest in Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) to Altria Group, Inc. stockholders in a tax-free distribution. On March 30, 2007, Altria Group, Inc. distributed all of its remaining interest in Kraft Foods Inc. (“Kraft”) on a pro-rata basis to Altria Group, Inc. stockholders in a tax-free distribution. For a further discussionFollowing the respective distributions of PMI and Kraft, Altria Group, Inc. does not own any shares of PMI and Kraft stock. Altria Group, Inc. has reflected the results of PMI and Kraft prior to the respective distributions as discontinued operations. The PMI and Kraft spin-offs see Note 1.Background and Basis of Presentationresulted in a net decrease to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2008 Annual Report.

On December 11, 2007, Altria Group, Inc. acquired 100%total stockholders’ equity of Middleton for $2.9$14.7 billion in cash. The acquisition was financed with available cash. Middleton’s balance sheet was consolidated with Altria Group, Inc.’s as of December 31, 2007. Earnings from December 12, 2007 to December 31, 2007, the amounts of which were insignificant, were included in Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated operating results. For additional discussionand $30.5 billion, respectively, on the Middleton acquisition, see Note 5.Acquisitions to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2008 Annual Report.

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PM USA is the largest cigarette company in the United States.Marlboro, the principal cigarette brand of this company, has been the largest-selling cigarette brand in the United States since 1972. Middleton is a leading manufacturer of machine-made large cigars.Black & Mild, the principal cigar brand of Middleton, is the second largest selling machine-made large cigar in the United States.

Dividends and Share Repurchases:

respective distribution dates. Following the Kraft spin-off, Altria Group, Inc. lowered its dividend so that holders of both Altria Group, Inc. and Kraft shares would receive initially, in the aggregate, the same dividends paid by Altria Group, Inc. prior to the Kraft spin-off. Similarly, 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.

 

During the third quarter of 2008,On December 11, 2007, Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors approved a 10.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate from $0.29 per common share to $0.32 per common share. The present annualized dividend rate is $1.28 per Altria Group, Inc. common share. Payments of dividends remain subject to the discretion acquired all of the Boardoutstanding stock of Directors.

In January 2009, Altria Group, Inc. suspended its $4.0Middleton for $2.9 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. recognizes the importance of share repurchases to investors and intends to evaluate them in early 2010.

During 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. Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase program is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.cash. The acquisition was financed with available cash.

 

Other:

In 2008, as part of a corporate restructuring and relocation, 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.

Source of Funds—Dividends

Funds:Because Altria Group, Inc. is a holding company, its principal sources of funds areconsist of cash received from its wholly-owned subsidiaries from the payment of dividends and repaymentdistributions, and the payment of debt from its subsidiaries.interest on intercompany loans. At December 31, 2008,2011, Altria Group, Inc.’s principal wholly-owned subsidiaries 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. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in SABMiller, if and when SABMiller pays such dividends.

 

(b) Financial Information About Segments

 

Beginning with the first quarter of 2008, 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 Middleton and the PMI spin-off. At December 31, 2008,2011, Altria Group, Inc.’s reportable segments were: cigarettes, and other tobacco products; cigars;smokeless products, cigars, wine and financial services. Accordingly, prior period segment results have been revised. Net revenues and operating companies income (together with reconciliation to operating income)earnings before income taxes) attributable to each such segment for each of the last three years are set forth in Note 15.16. Segment Reporting to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 20082011 Annual Report.

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Altria Group, Inc.’s managementchief operating decision maker reviews operating companies income to evaluate segmentthe performance of and allocate resources.resources to the segments. Operating companies income for the segments excludes general 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 chief operating decision maker. 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 intangible assets, net, are disclosed in Note 4.Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, netto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2011 Annual Report.The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policiesto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, and arewhich is incorporated herein by reference to the 20082011 Annual Report.Report (“Note 2”).

 

The relative percentages of operating companies income attributable to each reportable segment were as follows:

 

  2008

 2007

 2006

   2011

 2010

 2009

 

Cigarettes and other tobacco products

  95.4% 92.1% 96.5%

Cigarettes

   87.9  82.1  85.3

Smokeless products

   13.6    12.1    6.4  

Cigars

  3.2  0.1  —      2.6    2.5    3.0  

Wine

   1.4    0.9    0.7  

Financial services

  1.4  7.8  3.5    (5.5  2.4    4.6  
  

 

 

  


 


 


  100.0% 100.0% 100.0%   100.0  100.0  100.0
  

 

 

  


 


 


 

Changes in the relative percentages above reflect the following:

 

Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs: For a discussion of asset impairment, exit, implementation and integration costs and a breakdown of these costs by segment, see Note 5. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2011 Annual Report (“Note 5”).

In December 2007,

PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge: During 2011, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a one-time charge of $627 million related to the tax treatment of certain leveraged lease transactions entered into by PMCC (“PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge”). Included in this charge was a pre-tax charge of $490 million that was recorded as a decrease to PMCC’s net revenues and operating companies income (see Note 8.Finance Assets, netto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2011 Annual Report (“Note 8”); Note 15.Income Taxesto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2011 Annual Report (“Note 15”); Note 19.Contingenciesto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2011 Annual Report (“Note 19”) and Item 3.Legal Proceedings (“Item 3”) for further discussion of matters related to this charge).

Tobacco and Health Judgments:During 2011, Altria Group, Inc. recorded pre-tax charges of $98 million excluding accrued interest, related to tobacco and health judgments in theWilliams,BullockandScott cases. These charges are reflected in the cigarettes segment and are discussed further in Item 3 and Note 19.

Beginning January 1, 2012, the chief operating decision maker is evaluating the combination of the former cigars and cigarettes segments as a single smokeable products segment, which is related to a cost reduction program announced in October 2011 (the “2011 Cost Reduction Program”).

Effective with the first quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. acquired Middleton.

In 2008, PMCC increased its allowance for losses by $100 million primarily as a result of credit rating downgrades of certain leases’s reportable segments will be smokeable products, smokeless products, wine and financial market conditions. During 2007, financial services results included pre-tax gainsservices. In addition, in connection with the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, effective January 1, 2012, Middleton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of $214 millionPM USA. For further discussion on the sale of its ownership interests and bankruptcy claims in certain leveraged lease investments in aircraft, which represented a partial recovery, in cash, of amounts that had been previously written down. During 2006, financial services results included an increase in its allowance for losses of $103 million, due to issues within the airline industry.2011 Cost Reduction Program, see Note 5.

 

(c) Narrative Description of Business

 

Tobacco Products

PM USA is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the United States.

Middleton is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco.

PM USA is in the process of closing its Cabarrus, North Carolina manufacturing facility and consolidating cigarette manufacturing for the U.S. market at its Richmond, Virginia manufacturing center. PM USA decided in 2007 to consolidate its manufacturing in response to declining U.S. cigarette volume and notice from PMI that it would no longer source cigarettes from PM USA. PM USA’s cigarette production for PMI, which ended in December 2008, approximated 21 billion and 57 billion cigarettes in 2008 and 2007, respectively. PM USA expects to close its Cabarrus manufacturing facility by the end of 2010.

Cigarettes and other tobacco products

PM USA is the largest tobacco company in the United States, with total cigarette shipments in the United States of 169.4 billion units in 2008, a decrease of 3.2% from 2007.

PM USA’s major premium brands areMarlboro, Virginia Slims andParliament. Its principal discount brand isBasic. All of its brands are marketed to take into account differing preferences of adult smokers.Marlboro is the largest-selling cigarette brand in the United States, with shipments of 141.5 billion units in 2008 (down 2.0% from 2007).

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In the premium segment, PM USA’s 2008 shipment volume decreased 3.0% from 2007, and its shipment volume in the discount segment decreased 6.5%. Shipments of premium cigarettes accounted for 92.6% of PM USA’s total 2008 volume, up from 92.3% in 2007.

The following table summarizes PM USA’s cigarette volume performance by brand, which includes units sold as well as promotional units, and excludes Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, Overseas Military, Philip Morris Duty Free Inc. and contract manufacturing for PMI (terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008), for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:

   For the Years Ended
December 31,


   2008

  2007

  2006

   (in billion units)

Marlboro

  141.5  144.4  150.3

Parliament

  5.5  6.0  6.0

Virginia Slims

  6.3  7.0  7.5

Basic

  12.1  13.2  14.5
   
  
  

Focus Brands

  165.4  170.6  178.3

Other

  4.0  4.5  5.1
   
  
  

Total PM USA

  169.4  175.1  183.4
   
  
  

The following table summarizes PM USA’s retail share performance, based on data from the Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”)/Capstone Total 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:

   For Years Ended
December 31,


 
   2008

  2007

  2006

 

Marlboro

  41.6% 41.0% 40.5%

Parliament

  1.8  1.9  1.8 

Virginia Slims

  2.0  2.2  2.3 

Basic

  3.9  4.1  4.2 
   

 

 

Focus Brands

  49.3  49.2  48.8 

Other

  1.4  1.4  1.5 
   

 

 

Total PM USA

  50.7% 50.6% 50.3%
   

 

 

As the cigarette industry environment continues to evolve, PM USA believes that it cannot accurately predict estimated future cigarette industry decline rates and, for this reason, PM USA does not provide this guidance. Evolving industry dynamics include: the uncertain economic conditions; unpredictable federal and state cigarette excise tax increases; adult consumer activity across multiple tobacco categories; and trade inventory changes as wholesalers and retailers continue to adjust their levels of cigarette inventories. PM USA believes that its results may be materially adversely affected by the items discussed in Item 1A.Risk Factors.

Cigars

In December 2007, Altria Group, Inc. acquired Middleton, a leading manufacturer of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco. Cigars shipment volume in 2008 increased 6.2% versus the prior-year to 1.3 billion units, driven by Middleton’s leading brand,Black & Mild. Middleton achieved a retail

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share of 29.1%Portions of the machine-made large cigar segment in 2008, which represents an increase of 2.5 share points versus the prior-year, driveninformation called for byBlack & Mild. Retail share forBlack & Mild increased 2.8 share points versus the prior-year to 28.3% of the machine-made large cigar segment. Retail share performance is based on the 52-week periods ending December 21, 2008 and December 23, 2007 from the IRI Cigar Database for Food, Drug, Mass Merchandise and Convenience trade classes, which tracks cigar market share performance.

Middleton entered into an agreement with PM USA to leverage PM USA’s distribution network and field sales force to represent Middleton’s brands. In mid-March 2008, PM USA’s sales force began representing Middleton’s brands at retail and supporting the execution of Middleton’s trade marketing programs.

Distribution, Competition and Raw Materials

Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries sell their tobacco products principally to wholesalers (including distributors), large retail organizations, including chain stores, and the armed services.

The market for tobacco products is highly competitive, characterized by brand recognition and loyalty, with product quality, taste, price, product innovation, marketing, packaging and distribution constituting the significant methods of competition. Promotional activities include, in certain instances and where permitted by law, allowances, the distribution of incentive items, price promotions and other discounts, including coupons, product promotions and allowances for new products. The tobacco products of Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries this Item are advertised and promoted through various media, although television and radio advertising of certain tobacco products is prohibited in the United States. In addition, as discussed below in Item 3.Legal Proceedings, PM USA, UST and other U.S. tobacco manufacturers have agreed to other marketing restrictions in the United States as part of the settlements of state health care cost recovery actions.

In the United States, under a contract growing program known as the Tobacco Farmer Partnering Program, PM USA purchases burley and flue-cured leaf tobaccos of various grades and styles directly from tobacco growers. Under the terms of this program, PM USA agrees to purchase the amount of tobacco specified in the grower contracts. PM USA also purchases its United States tobacco requirements through other sources. In 2003, in connection with the settlement of a suit filed on behalf of a purported class of tobacco growers and quota-holders against certain manufacturers, including PM USA, and leaf dealers, PM USA and certain other defendants reached an agreement with plaintiffs to settle the lawsuit. The agreement includes a commitment by each settling manufacturer defendant, including PM USA, to purchase a certain percentage of its leaf requirements from U.S. tobacco growers over a period of at least ten years. These quantities are subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement.

Tobacco production in the United States was historically subject to government controls, including the production control programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”). In October 2004, the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (“FETRA”) was signed into law. FETRA provided 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 National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust (the “NTGST”). See Item 3.Legal Proceedings, Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation—National Grower Settlement Trust for a discussion of the NTGST. Manufacturers and importers of tobacco products, including the tobacco subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc., are also obligated to cover any losses (up to $500 million)

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that the government incurred on the disposition of tobacco pool stock accumulated under the previous tobacco price support program. PM USA has paid $138 million for its share of the tobacco pool stock losses. The quota buy-out did not have a material impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s 2008 consolidated results and 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.

Middleton purchases burley and flue cured tobaccos of various grades and styles through leaf dealers located in the United States. Middleton does not participate in the PM USA Tobacco Farmers Partnering Program.

Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries believe there is an adequate supply of tobacco in the world markets to satisfy their current and anticipated production requirements.

Acquisitions

Middleton

On December 11, 2007, Altria Group, Inc. acquired 100% of Middleton for $2.9 billion in cash. The acquisition was financed with available cash. Middleton’s balance sheet was consolidated with Altria Group, Inc.’s as of December 31, 2007. Earnings from December 12, 2007 to December 31, 2007, the amounts of which were insignificant, were included in Altria Group, Inc.’s 2007 consolidated operating results.

During the first quarter of 2008, the allocation of purchase price relating to the acquisition of Middleton was completed. Assets purchased in the Middleton acquisition consist primarily of non-amortizable intangible assets related to acquired brands of $2.6 billion, amortizable intangible assets of $0.1 billion, goodwill of $0.1 billion and other assets of $0.1 billion, partially offset by accrued liabilities assumed in the acquisition.

Information regarding Middleton’s business and operations is provided under the appropriate items of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

UST Inc.

Description of the Transaction

On January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding common stock of UST, which owns operating companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless tobacco products and wine. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of UST received $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 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.

Assets purchased consist primarily of non-amortizable intangible assets related to acquired brands of $9.5 billion, amortizable intangible assets (primarily consisting of customer relationships) of $0.4 billion, goodwill of $4.3 billion and other assets of $1.7 billion, partially offset by long-term debt and other liabilities assumed in the acquisition. These amounts, which are based on the framework for measuring fair value as prescribed in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, represent

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the preliminary estimates of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and are subject to revision when appraisals are finalized. The assignment of goodwill by reportable segment has not been completed. It is anticipated that none of the goodwill or other intangible assets acquired will be deductible for tax purposes.

The premium in the purchase price paid by Altria Group, Inc. for the acquisition of UST reflects the value of adding UST’s smokeless tobacco business to the tobacco businesses of PM USA and Middleton to create the premier tobacco company in the United States, with leading brands in cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and machine-made large cigars.

As discussed in Note 9.Short-Term Borrowings and Borrowing Arrangementsto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference to the 2008 Annual Report, in connection with the acquisition of UST, at December 31, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. had in place a 364-day term bridge loan facility. On January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. borrowed the entire available amount of $4.3 billion under this facility at the 1-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 225 basis points (the 1-month LIBOR rate on this borrowing was 0.43%), which was used along with the $6.7 billion net proceeds from the offerings of long-term notes (discussed in Note 10.Long-Term Debt to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2008 Annual Report) to fund the acquisition. Such bridge loan borrowings were refinanced through the issuance of additional senior notes in February 2009, and the bridge loan agreement was terminated, as discussed inparagraphs captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” set forth inOperations – Operating Results by Business Segment” on pages 79 to 92 of the 20082011 Annual Report and incorporated herein by reference.made a part hereof.

Tobacco Space

 

In 2009, Altria Group, Inc. expects to incur approximately $0.6 billion in integration related charges, which’s tobacco operating companies include transactionPM USA, USSTC and estimated restructuring costs which will be expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred, primarily in 2009. Transaction costs related to the acquisitionother subsidiaries of UST, and Middleton. In addition, Altria Group Distribution Company provides centralized sales, distribution and consumer engagement services for Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco operating companies.

Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco operating companies believe that a significant number of $4 million incurred during 2008 will be expensedadult tobacco consumers switch between tobacco categories or use multiple forms of tobacco products and that approximately 30% of adult smokers are interested in the first quarter of 2009.spit-free smokeless alternatives to cigarettes.

 

UST Smokeless Tobacco BusinessCigarettes:PM USA is the largest cigarette company in the United States, with total cigarette shipment volume in the United States of approximately 135.1 billion units in 2011, a decrease of approximately 4.0% from 2010.Marlboro, the principal cigarette brand of this company, has been the largest-selling cigarette brand in the United States for over 30 years.

 

Description of UST’s Smokeless Tobacco Business and Products: United States Smokeless Tobacco Company (“USSTC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of UST,products:USSTC is the leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products. The smokeless products includingsegment includes the premium brands,CopenhagenandSkoal, and the value brands,Red SealandHusky.andMarlboro Snus, a PM USA spit-less smokeless tobacco product. Substantially all of the smokeless products are manufactured and sold to customers in the United States. Total smokeless products shipment volume was 734.6 million units in 2011, an increase of 1.4% from 2010.

 

UST’s SmokelessCigars:Middleton is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco to customers, substantially all of which are located in the United States. Total shipment volume for the cigars segment was 1,246 million units in 2011, which was unchanged from 2010.Black & Mild is the principal cigar brand of Middleton. In 2011, Middleton entered into a contract manufacturing arrangement to source the production of a portion of its cigars overseas. Middleton entered into this arrangement to access additional production capacity in an uncertain competitive environment and a tax environment that potentially benefits imported large cigars over those manufactured domestically.

Distribution, Competition and Raw Materials:Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries sell their tobacco products principally to wholesalers (including distributors), large retail organizations, including chain stores, and the armed services.

The market for tobacco products is highly competitive, characterized by brand recognition and loyalty, with product quality, taste, price, product innovation, marketing, packaging and distribution constituting the significant methods of competition. Promotional activities include, in certain instances and where permitted by law, allowances, the distribution of incentive items, price promotions and other discounts, including coupons, product promotions and allowances for new products.

In June 2009, the President signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Business—Raw Materials: Control Act (“FSPTCA”), which provides the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) with broad authority to regulate the design, manufacture, packaging, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products; the authority to require disclosures of related information; and the authority to enforce the FSPTCA and related regulations. The law also grants the FDA authority to extend its application, by regulation, to other tobacco products, including cigars. The FSPTCA imposes significant new restrictions on the sale, advertising and promotion of tobacco products. PM USA and a subsidiary of USSTC are subject to quarterly user fees as a result of this legislation, and the cost is being allocated based on the relative market shares of manufacturers and importers of each kind of tobacco product. PM USA, USSTC and other U.S. tobacco manufacturers have agreed to other marketing restrictions in the United States as part of the settlements of state health care cost recovery actions.

In the United States, under a contract growing program, PM USA purchases burley and flue-cured leaf tobaccos of various grades and styles directly from tobacco growers. Under the terms of this program, PM USA agrees to purchase the amount of tobacco specified in the grower contracts. PM USA also purchases a portion of its United States tobacco requirements through leaf merchants. In 2003, PM USA and certain other defendants reached an agreement with plaintiffs to settle a suit filed on behalf of a purported class of tobacco growers and quota-holders. The agreement includes a commitment by each settling manufacturer defendant, including PM USA, to purchase a certain percentage of its leaf requirements from U.S. tobacco growers over a period of at least ten years. These quantities are subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement.

Tobacco production in the United States was historically subject to government controls, including the production control programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”). In October 2004, the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (“FETRA”) was signed into law. PM USA, USSTC, and Middleton are all subject to obligations imposed by FETRA. 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 had offset PM USA’s obligations to make 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. PM USA’s payment obligations under the NTGST expired on December 15, 2010.

In February 2011, PM USA filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the USDA’s method for calculating the 2011 and future tobacco product class shares that are used to allocate liability for the industry payments that fund the FETRA buy-out described above and used by the FDA to calculate the industry’s FDA user fees. PM USA asserts in this litigation that the USDA violated FETRA and its own regulations by failing to apply the most current federal excise tax (“FET”) rates enacted by Congress which became effective in April 2009, in calculating the class share allocations. PM USA has filed administrative appeals of its FETRA assessments for fiscal year 2011 (all of which have been or are expected to be denied by the USDA) and has submitted a petition for rulemaking with USDA (which petition was denied by the USDA on November 16, 2011), in each case asserting that USDA erroneously failed to base the FETRA class share allocations on the current FET rates. PM USA is appealing the USDA’s calculations methodology as well as the denial of the petition for rulemaking and the denial of its quarterly assessment challenges.

The quota buy-out did not have a material impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s 2011 consolidated results, and Altria Group, Inc. does not currently anticipate that the quota buy-out will have a material adverse impact on its consolidated results in 2012 and beyond.

USSTC purchases itsburley, dark fire-cured and air-cured tobaccos of various grades and styles from domestic suppliers. USSTC believes thattobacco growers under a contract growing program as well as from leaf merchants.

Middleton purchases burley and dark air-cured tobaccos of various grades and styles through leaf merchants. Middleton does not have a contract growing program.

Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries believe there is an adequate supply of tobacco in the world markets to satisfy itstheir current and anticipated production requirements.

Wine

 

UST’s Smokeless Tobacco Business—Distribution, Competition,Altria Group, Inc. acquired UST and Customers: USSTC’s largest customer is McLane Company, Inc. For further discussion, see above “Narrative Description of Business—Tobacco Products—Distribution, Competition and Raw Materials.

UST’s Smokeless Tobacco Business—Properties: USSTC owns and operates three principal smokeless tobacco manufacturing and processing facilities located in Franklin Park, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and Nashville, Tennessee. These properties are maintained in good condition and are believed to be suitable and adequate for present needs.

UST Wine Business

Description of UST’s Wine Business and Products:its premium wine business, Ste. Michelle, Wine Estates (“in January 2009. Ste. Michelle”), a wholly-owned UST subsidiary,Michelle is a producer of premium varietal and blended table wines. Ste. Michelle is a leading producer of Washington state wines, primarilyChateau Ste. Michelle andColumbia Crest, and owns wineries in or distributes wines from several other wine regions and foreign countries. Ste. Michelle’s total 2011 wine shipment volume of 7.3 million cases increased 9.6% from 2010.

 

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produces wines in the United States marketed under various labels including Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Crest, Domaine Ste. Michelle, Villa Mt. Eden, Conn CreekandErath. In addition, as a result of its 85 percentholds an 85% ownership interest in Michelle-Antinori, LLC, which owns Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. Ste. Michelle sells the following labels:also ownsCask 23Conn Creek,Fay,S.L.V.,Arcadia,Artemis,Kariain Napa Valley andHawk CrestErath.in Oregon. In addition, Ste. Michelle is alsodistributesAntinori andVilla Maria Estate wines andChampagne Nicolas Feuillatte in the exclusive United States importer and distributor of the portfolio of wines produced by the Italian winemaker Marchesi Antinori, Srl, which includes such labels asTignanello,Solaia,Tormaresca,Villa AntinoriandPeppoli.States.

 

UST’sDistribution, Competition and Raw Materials: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 and a focus on improving product mix to higher-priced premium products.

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 Business—Raw Materials: segment competition is primarily based on quality, price, consumer and trade wine tastings, competitive wine judging, third-party acclaim and advertising. Substantially all of Ste. Michelle’s sales occur through state-licensed distributors.

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.

Ste. Michelle uses grapes harvested from its own vineyards or purchased from independent growers, as well as bulk wine purchased from other sources. Grape production can be adversely affected by weather and other forces that may limit production. At the present time, Ste. Michelle believes that there is a sufficient supply of grapes and bulk wine available in the market to satisfy its current and expected production requirements.

UST’s Wine Business—Distribution, Competition and Customers: Ste. Michelle’s primary competition comes from many large, well-established national and international companies as well as many small wine producers. Its principal methods of competition include quality, price, consumer and trade wine tastings, competitive wine judging and advertising. Substantially all of Ste. Michelle’s sales occur through state-licensed distributors. A substantial portion of Ste. Michelle’s gross sales are made to two distributors.

UST’s Wine Business—Properties: Ste. Michelle operates 11 wine-making facilities—seven in Washington state, three in California and one in Oregon. All of these facilities are owned, with the exception of one facility in Washington state that is leased. In addition, in order to support the production of its wines, Ste. Michelle owns or leases vineyards in Washington state, California and Oregon. These properties are maintained in good condition and are believed to be suitable and adequate for present needs.

UST’s Legal Proceedings: See Item 3.Legal Proceedings.

 

Financial Services

 

PMCC holds investments in finance leases, principally in transportation (including aircraft), power generation and manufacturing equipment and facilities. Total assets of PMCC were $5.5 billion at December 31, 2008, down from $6.1 billion at December 31, 2007, reflecting a decrease in finance assets, net, due primarily to asset sales. In 2003, PMCC shifted its strategic focus and is no longerceased making new investments but is instead focusedand began focusing exclusively 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. At December 31, 2011, PMCC’s net finance asset portfolio includesreceivables of approximately $3.5 billion in leveraged leases, which are included in the following investment categories: electric power, aircraft, rail and surface transport, manufacturing and real estate industries. Financefinance assets, net, which are primarily leveraged leases, consiston Altria

Group, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheet, consisted of total lease paymentsrents receivable ($17.910.7 billion) and the residual value of assets under lease ($1.51.3 billion), reduced by third-party nonrecourse debt ($11.56.8 billion), and unearned income ($2.1 billion) and allowance for losses ($0.31.7 billion). The paymentrepayment of the nonrecourse debt is collateralized by lease payments receivable and the leased property, and is nonrecourse to all otherthe general assets of PMCC or Altria Group, Inc.PMCC. As required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, (“US GAAP”), the third-party nonrecourse debt has been offset against the related rentalsrents receivable and has been presented on a net basis within finance assets, net, inon Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheets. Finance assets, net, at December 31, 2011, also included net finance receivables for direct finance leases ($0.2 billion) and an allowance for losses ($0.2 billion).

 

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Business EnvironmentAt December 31, 2011, PMCC’s investments in finance leases were principally comprised of the following investment categories: aircraft (30%), rail and surface transport (26%), electric power (25%), real estate (10%) and manufacturing (9%).

 

PortionsSee Note 8, Note 15, Note 19 and Item 3 for a discussion of the information called for by this Item are hereby incorporated by referenceInternal Revenue Service’s (“IRS”) disallowance of certain tax benefits pertaining to the paragraphs captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Operating Results by Business Segment—Tobacco Business Environment” on pages 83 to 88 of the 2008 Annual Report and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Operating Results by Business Segment—Financial Services Business Environment” on pages 90 to 91 and made a part hereof.several PMCC leveraged lease transactions.

 

Other Matters

 

CustomersCustomers:

The largest customer of PM USA, USSTC and Middleton, McLane Company, Inc., accounted for approximately 27%, 26%27% and 25%26% of Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010 and 2006,2009, respectively. These net revenues were reported in the Cigarettes and other tobaccocigarettes, smokeless products and Cigarscigars segments.

Sales to three distributors accounted for approximately 66%, 65% and 64% of net revenues for the wine segment for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

EmployeesEmployees:

At December 31, 2008,2011, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries employed approximately 10,4009,900 people. As a result of the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, there will be a reduction of approximately 700 employees by February 29, 2012.

 

Executive Officers of Altria Group, Inc.:

The disclosure regarding executive officers is set forth in Item 10 of this Form 10-K under the heading “Executive Officers as of February 27, 2009” in Item 10 of this Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference herein.16, 2012.”

 

Research and DevelopmentDevelopment:

The research and development expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010 and 20062009 are set forth in Note 17.18.Additional Information to Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 20082011 Annual Report.

 

Intellectual PropertyProperty:

Trademarks are of material importance to Altria Group, Inc. and its operating companies, and are protected by registration or otherwise. In addition, as of December 31, 2008,2011, the portfolio of over five hundred500 United States patents owned by Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses, as a whole, was material to Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco businesses. However, no one patent or a group of related patents was material to Altria Group, Inc.’s business or its tobacco businesses as of December 31, 2008. We2011. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses also have proprietary secrets, technology, know-how, processes and other intellectual property rights that are protected by appropriate confidentiality measures. Certain trade secrets are material to Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco and wine businesses.

 

Environmental RegulationRegulation:

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: theThe 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)

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of Altria Group, Inc. are involved in several matters subjecting them to potential costs related to remediationsof 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. AlthoughAs discussed in Note 2, Altria Group, Inc. provides for expenses associated with environmental remediation obligations on an undiscounted basis when such amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are adjusted as new information develops or circumstances change. Other than those amounts, it is not possible to predict precise levelsreasonably estimate the cost of environmental-related expenditures,any environmental remediation and compliance efforts that subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. may undertake in the future. In the opinion of management, however, compliance with suchenvironmental laws and regulations, including the payment of any remediation costs or damages and the making of suchrelated 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.cash flows.

 

(d) Financial Information About Geographic Areas

 

Substantially all of Altria Group, Inc.’s net revenues from continuing operations are from sales generated in the United States for each of the last three fiscal years. As is described in “Management’s Discussionyears and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” set forth in the 2008 Annual Report, subsequent to the PMI spin-off, PM USA recorded net revenues of $298 million from contract volume manufactured for PMI under an agreement that terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008. Subsequent to the PMI spin-off, substantially all of ourAltria Group, Inc.’s long-lived assets are located in the United States.

 

(e) Available Information

 

Altria Group, Inc. is required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Investors may read and copy any document that Altria Group, Inc. files, including this Annual Report on Form 10-K, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Investors may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, from which investors can electronically access Altria Group, Inc.’s SEC filings.

 

Altria Group, Inc. makes available free of charge on or through its website (www.altria.com), its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after Altria Group, Inc. electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. Investors can access Altria Group, Inc.’s filings with the SEC by visiting www.altria.com/secfilings.

 

The information on the respective websites of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filings Altria Group, Inc. makes with the SEC.

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors

 

The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report.Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, our operating results, our financial condition and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made in this Annual Report.Report on Form 10-K.

We*

We* may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including earnings guidance and other statements contained in filings with the SEC, in reports to stockholderssecurity holders and in press releases and investor


*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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webcasts. You can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as “strategy,” “expects,” “continues,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “will,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “objectives,” “guidance,” “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.assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. 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 operating results of our subsidiaries’ businesses in “Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”Operations in the 20082011 Annual Report. 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.time except as required by applicable law.

 

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 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 competitors and 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 or other litigation are 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. In certain cases, plaintiffs claim that defendants’ liability is joint and several. In such cases, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries may face the risk that one or more co-defendants decline or otherwise fail to participate in the bonding required for an appeal or to pay their proportionate or jury-allocated share of a judgment. As a result, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries under certain circumstances may have to pay more than their proportionate share of any bonding- or judgment-related amounts.

 

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 4345 states now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no


*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.

bond at all. Tobacco litigation plaintiffs, however, have challenged the constitutionality of Florida’s bond cap statute in several cases and plaintiffs may challenge state bond cap statutes in other jurisdictions as well. Such challenges may include the applicability of state bond caps in federal court. Although we cannot predict the outcome of such challenges, 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 of one or more such challenges.

 

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. Nevertheless, although litigation is subject to uncertainty, management believes the litigation environment has substantially improved. 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. All such cases are,Each of the companies has defended, and will continue to be,defend, vigorously defended.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. Please seeSee Item 3, Note 20.Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements, Item 3.Legal Proceedings,19 and ExhibitExhibits 99.1 and 99.2 for a discussion of pending tobacco-related litigation.

 

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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,tobacco use, restricting marketing and advertising, imposing regulations on packaging, warnings and disclosure of flavors or other 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.

PM USA, USSTC and other Altria Group, Inc. subsidiaries are subject to regulation, and may become subject to additional regulation, by the FDA, as discussed in detail inTobacco Space – Business Environment – FSPTCA and FDA Regulationin Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2011 Annual Report. We cannot predict how the FDA will implement and enforce its statutory authority, including by promulgating additional regulations and pursuing possible investigatory or enforcement actions.

Governmental actions, combined with the diminishing social acceptance of smoking and private actions to restrict smoking, have resulted in reduced cigarette industry volume, and we expect that such actionsthese factors will continue to reduce cigarette consumption levels. Actions by the FDA or other federal, state or local governments or agencies may impact the consumer acceptability of tobacco products, limit adult consumer choices, delay or prevent the launch of new or modified tobacco products, restrict communications to adult consumers, restrict the ability to differentiate tobacco products, create a competitive advantage or disadvantage for certain tobacco companies, impose additional manufacturing, labeling or packing requirements, require the recall or removal of tobacco products from the marketplace or otherwise 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 potential shift in adult 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. Such shifts may have an impact on the reported share performance of tobacco products of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries. For further discussion, see Tobacco Space – Business Environment—Environment – Excise Taxesin “Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”Operations in the 20082011 Annual Report.

 

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 moist smokeless tobacco category, both from existing competitors and new entrants, and has experienced consumer down tradingdown-trading to lower-priced brands. In the cigar category, additional competition has resulted from increased imports of machine-made large cigars manufactured offshore.

 

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

 

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 thecurrent tobacco products, they manufacture, while continuing to offer adult tobacco consumers tobacco(within and potentially outside the United States) products that meet their taste expectations.expectations and evolving preferences. Potential solutions being researched include tobaccotobacco-containing and nicotine-containing products that reduce or eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke and/or those constituents identified by public health authorities as harmful. Our subsidiariesThese efforts may include arrangements with third parties. Moreover, these efforts may not succeed in these efforts.succeed. 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 or sale of tobaccosuch 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 tobaccosuch products that might be developed.

 

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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. For a related discussion, seeNew Product Technologies above.

 

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—Environment – Tobacco Price, Availability and Qualityin “Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”Operations in the 20082011 Annual Report.

Tobacco Key Facilities; Supply Security. 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, Evolving Consumer Preferences and Economic Downturns. Each of our consumer producttobacco and wine 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 and evolving consumer trends;preferences;

 

develop new products and markets within and potentially outside of the United States and to broaden brand portfolios in order to compete effectively with lower pricedlower-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 pricelower-priced tobacco products. The volumes of our consumer productstobacco and wine subsidiaries could suffer accordingly.

 

Our finance subsidiary, PMCC, holds investments in finance leases, principally in transportation (including aircraft), 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.acquisitions. 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 debtcredit ratings over time, it is possible that completing a given acquisition or other event could impact our debtcredit 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.

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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 andseveral factors, including general economic conditions.conditions, regulatory developments, changes in category growth rates as a result of changing consumer preferences, success of planned new product introductions, competitive activity and tobacco-related taxes. If an impairment is determined to exist, we will incur impairment losses, which will reduce our earnings. For further discussion, seeDiscussion and Analysis – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimatesin Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2011 Annual Report.

 

IRS Challenges to PMCC Leases. The Internal Revenue ServiceIRS has challenged and is expected to further challenge the tax treatment of certain of PMCC’s leveraged leases. ShouldAs discussed in Item 3 and Note 19, should Altria Group, Inc. not prevail in this litigation,any one or more of these matters, Altria Group, Inc. maywill have to accelerate the payment of significant amounts of federal and state income tax and significantly lower its earnings to reflectpay associated interest costs and penalties, if imposed. In the recalculationsecond quarter of the income from the affected leveraged leases, which could have a material effect on the earnings and cash flows of2011, Altria Group, Inc. recorded the PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge, which is discussed in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year. For further discussion seeItem 3, Note 20.Contingencies8, Note 15 and Note 19. The PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge excludes potential penalties because Altria Group, Inc. believes that it met the applicable standards to our consolidated financial statements and Item 3.Legal Proceedings.avoid any associated penalties at the time it claimed the deductions on its tax returns.

 

Wine—Wine – Competition; Grape Supply; Regulation and Excise Taxes. As previously noted, Ste. Michelle’s business is subject to significant competition, including from many large, well-established nationaldomestic and international organizations.companies. 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, seeWine Segment – Business Environmentin Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2011 Annual Report.

Information Systems. Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries use information systems to help manage business processes, collect and interpret business data and communicate internally and externally with employees, suppliers, customers and others. Many of these information systems are managed by third-party service providers. We have backup systems and business continuity plans in place and we take care to protect our systems and data from unauthorized access. Nevertheless, failure of our systems to function as intended, or penetration of our systems by outside parties intent on extracting or corrupting information or otherwise disrupting business processes, could result in loss of revenue, assets or personal or other sensitive data, cause damage to the reputation of our companies and their brands and result in legal challenges and significant remediation and other costs to Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

Item 2.Properties.Properties.

 

The property in Richmond, Virginia that serves as the headquarters facility for Altria Group, Inc., PM USA, USSTC and Middleton and certain other subsidiaries is under lease.

 

At December 31, 2008, PM USA owned and operated five2011, the cigarettes segment utilized two tobacco manufacturing and processing facilities—fourfacilities in the Richmond, Virginia area, both of which are owned and one inoperated by PM USA. PM USA ceased production at its Cabarrus, County, North Carolina.Carolina manufacturing facility and completed the consolidation of its cigarette manufacturing capacity into its Richmond, Virginia facility on July 29, 2009. In April 2011, PM USA completed the de-commissioning of the Cabarrus facility. In addition, PM USA owns a research and technology center in Richmond, Virginia. PM USAVirginia that is leased to an affiliate, Altria Client Services Inc.

At December 31, 2011, the smokeless segment utilized four smokeless tobacco manufacturing and processing facilities located in the processFranklin Park, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia, all of closingwhich are owned and operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of USSTC. USSTC ceased production at its Cabarrus, North CarolinaYork County, Virginia manufacturing facility and consolidating cigarette manufacturing for the U.S. market at its Richmond, Virginia manufacturing center. In 2007, PM USA decided to consolidate its manufacturing in response to declining U.S. cigarette volume and notice from PMI that it would no longer source cigarettes from PM USA. PM USA’s cigarette production for PMI, which ended in December 2008, approximated 21 billion and 57 billion cigarettes in 2008 and 2007, respectively. PM USA expects to close its Cabarrus manufacturing facility by the end of 2010.August 2011.

 

Middleton owns and operatesAt December 31, 2011, the cigars segment utilized two manufacturing facilities—and processing facilities – one in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and one in Limerick, Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania, both of which are owned and operated by Middleton.

At December 31, 2011, the wine segment utilized 11 wine-making facilities – seven in Washington State, three in California and one in Oregon. All of these facilities are owned and operated by Ste. Michelle, with the exception of a facility which is leased by Ste. Michelle in the state of Washington. In addition, in order to support the production of its wines, the wine segment utilized vineyards in Washington State, California and Oregon which are leased or owned by Ste. Michelle.

 

The plants and properties owned or leased and operated by Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are maintained in good condition and are believed to be suitable and adequate for present needs.

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Item 3.Legal Proceedings.

 

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 USSTC,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 orand 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. In certain cases, plaintiffs claim that defendants’ liability is joint and several. In such cases, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries may face the risk that one or more co-defendants decline or otherwise fail to participate in the bonding required for an appeal or to pay their proportionate or jury-allocated share of a judgment. As a result, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries under certain circumstances may have to pay more than their proportionate share of any bonding- or judgment-related amounts.

 

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 4345 states now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. As discussed below, however, tobacco litigation plaintiffs have challenged the constitutionality of Florida’s bond cap statute in several cases and plaintiffs may challenge state bond cap statutes in other jurisdictions as well. Such challenges may include the applicability of state bond caps in federal court. Although we cannot predict the outcome of such challenges, 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 of one or more such challenges.

 

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 Item 3.Legal Proceedings: (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 ofin 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. Nevertheless, although litigation is subject to uncertainty, management believes the litigation environment has substantially improved in recent years. 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. All such cases are,Each of the companies has defended, and will continue to be,defend, vigorously defended.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.

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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 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 February 24, 2009,13, 2012, December 31, 20082011 and December 31, 2007.2010.

 

Type of Case


  Number of Cases
Pending as of
February 24,
2009

  Number of Cases
Pending as of
December 31,
2008


  Number of Cases
Pending as of
December 31,
2007

  Number of Cases
Pending as of
February 13,
2012


   Number of Cases
Pending as of
December 31,
2011


   Number of Cases
Pending as of
December 31,
2010


 

Individual Smoking and Health Cases (1)

  95  99  105   78     82     92  

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

  8  9  10   7     7     11  

Health Care Cost Recovery Actions

  3  3  3   1     1     4  

“Lights/Ultra Lights” Class Actions

  21  18  17   18     17     27  

Tobacco Price Cases

  2  2  2   1     1     1  

 

(1)Does not include 2,6202,586 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 1997.1997(Broin). 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 nine individual smokingCertainBroin plaintiffs have filed a motion seeking approximately $50 million in sanctions for alleged interference by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (“R.J. Reynolds”) and health cases brought against certain retailers that are indemniteesPM USA with Lorillard, Inc.’s acceptance of PM USA. Additionally, does not include approximately 3,199 individual smoking and health cases (3,149 stateoffers of settlement in theBroin progeny cases. In May 2011, the trial court cases and 50 federal court cases) brought by or on behalf of approximately 8,754 plaintiffs in Florida (4,836 state court plaintiffs and 3,918 federal court plaintiffs) following the decertification of the Engle case discussed below. It is possible that some of these cases are duplicates and additional casesdenied this motion. Plaintiffs have been filed but not yet recorded on the courts’ dockets.appealed.

Also, does not include approximately 6,544 individual smoking and health cases (3,306 state court cases and 3,238 federal court cases) brought by or on behalf of approximately 8,098 plaintiffs in Florida (4,861 state court plaintiffs and 3,237 federal court plaintiffs) following the decertification of theEngle case discussed below. It is possible that some of these cases are duplicates and that additional cases have been filed but not yet recorded on the courts’ dockets.

 

(2)

Includes as one case the 728613 civil actions (of which 414351 are actions against PM USA) that are proposed to be tried in a single proceeding in West Virginia. Middleton was named as a defendant in this action but it, along with other non-cigarette manufacturers, has been severed from this case.Virginia (In re: Tobacco Litigation). 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. IssuesUnder the current trial plan, issues related to defendants’ conduct and 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, as well as compensatory and compensatory damages. Inpunitive damages, if any. Trial in the case began in October 2011, but ended in a mistrial 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 case was stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good v. Altria Group, Inc. et al., discussed below.2011. The court lifted the stay on February 10, 2009. The first phase of the trial has beennot yet scheduled for February 1, 2010.a new trial.

 

International Tobacco-Related Cases

 

As of February 24, 2009,13, 2012, PM USA is a named defendant in aIsrael in one “Lights” class action in Israel and a health care cost recovery action in Israel.action. PM USA is a named defendant in twofour health care cost recovery actions in Canada, onethree of which also namesname Altria Group, Inc. as a defendant. PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are also named defendants in six smoking and health class actions filed in various Canadian provinces. SeeGuarantees for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

 

Pending and Upcoming Tobacco-Related Trials

 

As of February 24, 2009, 5713, 2012, 50Engle-progeny progeny cases and 2 individual smoking and health cases against PM USA are set for trial in 2009 (7 of the 57 cases have scheduled 2009 trial dates). In addition, there are currently 5 individual smoking and health cases scheduled for trial in 2009.2012. Cases against other companies in the tobacco companiesindustry are also scheduled for trial through the end of 2009.in 2012. Trial dates are subject to change.

 

Trial Results

 

Since January 1999, excluding theEngleprogeny cases (separately discussed below), verdicts have been returned in 4651 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 2834 of the 4651 cases. These 2834 cases were tried in Alaska (1), California (4)(5), Florida (9), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Mississippi (1), Missouri (2)(3), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3)(4), 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 1817 non-Engle progeny cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs, eightfourteen have reached final resolution. A verdict against defendants in one health care cost recovery case has been(Blue Cross/Blue Shield) was 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 inPrice 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 inGood (see below for a discussion of developments inGood andPrice). After exhausting all appeals, PM USA has paid judgments totaling $73.6 million and interest totaling $35.1 million.

 

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The chart below listsAs of February 13, 2012, twenty-sevenEngle progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the verdicts and post-trial developments in the ten pending cases that have gone to trial since January 1999 in whichFlorida Supreme Court’sEngle decision. Fourteen verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs.

Dateplaintiffs and thirteen verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA. SeeSmoking and Health Litigation – Engle Progeny Trial Results below for a discussion of these verdicts.


Location of
Court/ Name of
Plaintiff


Type of Case


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


February 2009

Florida/

Hess

Engle progenyOn February 18, 2009, a Broward County jury in theHess trial found in favor of plaintiffs and against PM USA. The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. If the trial court fails to vacate the verdict, PM USA will appeal.Hess is the first case to be tried by anEngle class member since the Florida Supreme CourtEngle ruling.None
May 2007California/WhiteleyIndividual Smoking and HealthApproximately $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.

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Date


Location of
Court/ Name of
Plaintiff


Type of Case


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


August 2006District of Columbia/United States of AmericaHealth Care Cost RecoveryFinding 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.
March 2005New York/RoseIndividual 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. On December 16, 2008, the New York Court of Appeals affirmed the appellate court decision. On January 14, 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.
May 2004Louisiana/ ScottSmoking and Health Class ActionApproximately $590 million against all defendants, including PM USA, jointly and severally, to fund a 10-year smoking cessation program.See Scott Class Action below.

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Date


Location of
Court/ Name of
Plaintiff


Type of Case


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


October 2002California/BullockIndividual 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 USA’s petition for review. See discussion (1) below.
June 2002Florida/LukacsIndividual 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

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Date


Location of
Court/ Name of
Plaintiff


Type of Case


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


from the date of the verdict. In August 2008, PM USA filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied. Final judgment was entered on November 12, 2008, awarding plaintiffs actual damages of $24.8 million, plus interest from the date of the verdict. Defendants filed a notice of appeal on December 1, 2008.
March 2002Oregon/ SchwarzIndividual 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 of Appeals’ decision reversing and remanding the case for a new trial on punitive damages. In October 2006, the Oregon Supreme Court announced that it would hold this petition in abeyance until the United States Supreme Court decided the Williams case discussed below. In

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Date


Location of
Court/ Name of
Plaintiff


Type of Case


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


February 2007, the United States Supreme Court vacated the punitive damages judgment inWilliams and remanded Schwarz to the Oregon Supreme Court for proceedings consistent with its Williams decision. The parties have submitted their briefs to the Oregon Supreme Court, setting forth their respective views on how the Williams decision impacts the plaintiff’s pending petition for review.
July 2000Florida/EngleSmoking and Health Class Action$145 billion in punitive damages against all defendants, including $74 billion against PM USA.See Engle Class Action below.
March 1999Oregon/ WilliamsIndividual 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 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

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California Supreme Court denied both petitions for review. Following this decision, PM USA recorded a provision for compensatory damages of $850,000 plus costs and interest in the second quarter. The case has been remanded to the superior court for a new trial on the amount of punitive damages, if any. Trial is scheduled for June 2009. In July 2008, $43.3 million of escrow funds were returned to PM USA.

(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. 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. Following this decision, PM USA recorded an additional provision of approximately $25 million in interest charges. 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. The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument on December 3, 2008.

 

After exhausting all appeals in those cases resulting in adverse verdicts (Engle progeny and non-Engle progeny), PM USA has paid judgments (and related costs and fees) totaling approximately $225 million and interest totaling approximately $134 million as of February 13, 2012. As described below, PM USA recorded provisions forBullock andWilliams in the fourth quarter of 2011 and paid theWilliams judgment in January 2012.

Security for Judgments

 

To obtain stays of judgments pending current appeals, as of February 24, 2009,13, 2012, PM USA has posted various forms of security totaling approximately $129$63 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 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.

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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 on January 11, 2008. As of February 24, 2009, approximately 3,199 cases (3,149 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 8,754 plaintiffs (4,836 state court plaintiffs and 3,918 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 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

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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 theEngle 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 on January 7, 2009.

Three federal district courts (in theMerlob, 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. On February 10, 2009, the appeal inBurr 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.

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 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 (as defined below). 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

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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. 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 $87.7 million (as of December 31, 2008) 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, on November 17, 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. Plaintiffs’ supervisory writ petition to the Louisiana Supreme Court was denied on December 10, 2008. On December 15, 2008, 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.

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.

 

Non-Engle Progeny Trial Results

Summarized below are the non-Engleprogeny smoking and health cases that were pending during 2011 in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs. A chart listing the verdicts for plaintiffs in theEngleprogeny cases can be found inSmoking and Health Litigation – Engle Progeny Trial Results below.

D. Boeken: In August 2011, a California jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, awarding $12.8 million in compensatory damages against PM USA. PM USA’s motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial were denied in October 2011. PM USA has filed a notice of appeal, and posted a bond in the amount of $12.8 million in November 2011.

Bullock: In October 2002, a California jury awarded against PM USA $850,000 in compensatory damages and $28 billion in punitive damages. 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 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. 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 theWilliams case discussed below. 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 New Yorksuperior court for a new trial on the amount of punitive damages, if any. In August 2009, the jury returned a verdict, and in December 2009, the superior court entered a judgment, awarding plaintiff $13.8 million in punitive damages, plus costs. In December 2009, PM USA filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict seeking a reduction of the punitive damages award, which motion was denied in January 2010. PM USA noticed an appeal in February 2010 and posted an appeal bond of approximately $14.7 million. In August 2011, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the final judgment entered in favor of the plaintiffs. In November 2011, the California Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Departmentdenied PM USA’s petition for review. In the fourth quarter of 2011, PM USA recorded a pre-tax provision of $14 million related to damages and costs and $3 million related to interest. As of December 31, 2011, PM USA recorded a total pre-tax provision of $14.7 million related to damages and costs and $4.1 million related to interest. These

amounts were included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011.

FabianoSchwarz: In March 2002, an Oregon jury awarded against PM USA $168,500 in compensatory damages and $150 million in punitive damages. In May 2002, the trial court reduced the punitive damages award to $100 million. In October 2002, PM USA posted an appeal bond of approximately $58.3 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 of appeals’ decision reversing and remanding the case for a new trial on punitive damages. In June 2010, the Oregon Supreme Court affirmed the court of appeals’ decision and remanded the case to the trial court for a new trial limited to the question of punitive damages. In December 2010, the Oregon Supreme Court reaffirmed its earlier ruling and awarded PM USA approximately $500,000 in costs. In January 2011, the trial court issued an order releasing PM USA’s appeal bond. In March 2011, PM USA filed a claim against the plaintiff for its costs and disbursements on appeal, plus interest. Trial on the amount of punitive damages began on January 30, 2012.

Williams: In March of 1999, an Oregon jury awarded against PM USA $800,000 in compensatory damages (capped statutorily at $500,000), an individual personal injury$21,500 in medical expenses, and $79.5 million in punitive damages. The trial court reduced the punitive damages award to approximately $32 million, and PM USA and plaintiff appealed. In June 2002, the Oregon Court of Appeals reinstated the $79.5 million punitive damages award. 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 2003State 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 forwrit of certiorari in May 2006. In February 2007, the United States Supreme Court vacated the $79.5 million punitive damages award and remanded the case to the Oregon Supreme Court for further proceedings consistent with its 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 damages award and reinstated the jury’s award of $79.5 million in punitive damages. After the United States Supreme Court declined to issue awrit of certiorari,PM USA paid $61.1 million to the plaintiff, representing the compensatory damages award, forty percent of the punitive damages award and accrued interest. Although Oregon state law requires that sixty percent of any punitive damages award be paid to the state, the Oregon trial court ruled in February 2010 that, as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”), the state is not entitled to collect its sixty percent share of the punitive damages award. In June 2010, the trial court further held that, plaintiffs’under the Oregon statute, PM USA is not required to pay the sixty percent share to plaintiff. Both the plaintiff inWilliams and the state appealed these rulings to the Oregon Court of Appeals. In December 2010, on its own motion, the Oregon Court of Appeals certified the appeals to the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon Supreme Court accepted certification. In December 2011, the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the trial court and ruled that PM USA was required to pay the state the sixty percent portion of the punitive damages award. PM USA’s petition for rehearing before the Oregon Supreme Court was denied in January 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2011, PM USA recorded a pre-tax provision of approximately $48 million related to damages and costs and $54 million related to interest. These amounts were included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011. In January 2012, PM USA paid an amount of approximately $102 million in satisfaction of the judgment and associated costs and interest.

SeeScott Class Action below for a discussion of the verdict and post-trial developments in theScott class action andFederal Government Lawsuit below for a discussion of the verdict and post-trial developments in theUnited States of America healthcare cost recovery case.

Engle Class Action

In July 2000, in the second phase of theEngle 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 appealed.

In May 2001, the trial court approved a stipulation providing that execution of the punitive damages component of theEngle 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 an interest-bearing escrow account that, regardless of the outcome of the judicial review, was to be paid to the court and the court was to determine how to allocate or distribute it consistent with Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. 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 tores 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 damages awards totaling approximately $6.9 million to two individual plaintiffs and found that a third plaintiff’s claim was barred by the MSA (as defined below) basedstatute of limitations. In February 2008, PM USA paid approximately $3 million, representing 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 principlesparts of its July 2006 opinion, including the ruling (described above) that certain jury findings haveres judicata becauseeffect in subsequent individual trials timely brought byEngle class members. The rehearing motion also asked, among other things, that legal errors that were raised but not expressly ruled upon in the New York Attorney General had already litigatedThird District Court of Appeal or in the punitive damages claim on behalf of all New York residents. In August 2008, plaintiffsFlorida Supreme Court now be addressed. Plaintiffs also filed a motion for permissionrehearing 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 tores 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 forwrit 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 forwrit of certiorari.

In February 2008, the trial court decertified the class except for purposes of the May 2001 bond stipulation, and formally vacated the punitive damages 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 formerEngle 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 theEngle case, Howard Engle, voluntarily dismissed his claims with prejudice.

The deadline for filing Engle progeny cases, as required by the Florida Supreme Court’s decision, expired in January 2008. As of February 13, 2012, approximately 6,544 cases (3,306 state court cases and 3,238 federal court cases) were pending against PM USA or Altria Group, Inc. asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 8,098 plaintiffs, (4,861 state court plaintiffs and 3,237 federal court plaintiffs). It is possible that some of these cases are duplicates. 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.

Federal Engle Progeny Cases

Three federal district courts (in theMerlob,B. Brown andBurr cases) ruled in 2008 that the findings in the first phase of theEngle proceedings cannot be used to satisfy elements of plaintiffs’ claims, and two of those rulings (B. Brown andBurr) were certified by the trial court for interlocutory review. The certification in both cases was granted by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the appeals were consolidated. In February 2009, the appeal inBurr was dismissed for lack of prosecution. In July 2010, the Eleventh Circuit ruled inB. Brown that, as a matter of Florida law, plaintiffs do not have an unlimited right to use the findings from the originalEngle trial to meet their burden of establishing the elements of their claims at trial. The Eleventh Circuit did not reach the issue of whether the use of theEngle findings violates the defendants’ due process rights. Rather, plaintiffs may only use the findings to establish those specific facts, if any, that they demonstrate with a reasonable degree of certainty were actually decided by the originalEnglejury. The Eleventh Circuit remanded the case to the district court to determine what specific factual findings theEngle jury actually made. In theBurr case, PM USA filed a motion seeking a ruling from the district court regarding the preclusive effect of theEngle findings pursuant to the Eleventh Circuit’s decision inB. Brown. In May 2011, the district court denied that motion without prejudice on procedural grounds.

In theWaggonercase, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Jacksonville) ruled in December 2011 that application of theEngle findings to establish the wrongful conduct elements of plaintiffs’ claims consistent withMartin orJ. Browndid not violate defendants’ due process rights. The court ruled, however, that plaintiffs must establish legal causation to establish liability. With respect to punitive damages, the district court held that plaintiffs could rely on the findings in support of their punitive damages claims but that in addition plaintiffs must demonstrate specific conduct by specific defendants, independent of theEngle findings, that satisfies the standards for awards of punitive damages. PM USA and the other defendants sought appellate review of the due

process ruling. On February 7, 2012, the district court denied the motion for interlocutory appeal, but did apply the ruling to all active pending federalEngle progeny cases. As a result, the ruling can be appealed after an adverse verdict.

Engle progeny cases pending in the federal district courts in the Middle District of Florida asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 3,200 plaintiffs remain stayed. There are currently 31 active cases pending in federal court. Discovery is proceeding in these cases and the first trial began on February 7, 2012.

Florida Bond Cap Statute

In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200 million bond cap that applies to all stateEngle progeny lawsuits in the aggregate and establishes individual bond caps for individualEngle progeny cases in amounts that vary depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time. Plaintiffs in threeEngle progeny cases against R.J. Reynolds in Alachua County, Florida (Alexander, Townsendand Hall) and one case in Escambia County (Clay) have challenged the constitutionality of the bond cap statute. The Florida Attorney General has intervened in these cases in defense of the constitutionality of the statute.

Trial court rulings have been rendered inClay, Alexander, Townsend andHall rejecting the plaintiffs’ bond cap statute challenges in those cases. The plaintiffs have appealed these rulings. InAlexander, Clay andHall, the District Court of Appeal for the First District of Florida affirmed the trial court decisions and certified the decision inHall for appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, but declined to certify the question of Appeals.the constitutionality of the bond cap statute inClay andAlexander. The motion was denied on November 13, 2008.Florida Supreme Court has granted review of the Hall decision.

 

-26-No federal court has yet to address the constitutionality of the bond cap statute or the applicability of the bond cap toEngle progeny cases tried in federal court.

Engle Progeny Trial Results

As of February 13, 2012, twenty-sevenEngle progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the Florida Supreme CourtEngle decision. Fourteen verdicts (see Hess, Barbanell, F. Campbell, Naugle, Douglas,R. Cohen, Putney, Kayton(formerly Tate), Piendle,Hatziyannakis, Huish,Tullo, AllenandHallgren descriptions in the table below) were returned in favor of plaintiffs and thirteen verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA (Gelep, Kalyvas, Gil de Rubio, Warrick, Willis, Frazier, C. Campbell, Rohr, Espinosa, Oliva, Weingart, JuniousandSzymanski). The jury in theWeingart case returned a verdict against PM USA awarding no damages, but in September 2011, the trial court granted anadditur. For a further discussion of this case, see the verdict chart below. In addition, there have been a number of mistrials, only some of which have resulted in new trials as of February 13, 2012.

InLukacs, a case that was tried to verdict before the Florida Supreme CourtEngle decision, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal in March 2010 affirmedper curiam the trial court decision without issuing an opinion. Under Florida procedure, further review of aper curiam affirmance without opinion by the Florida Supreme Court is generally prohibited. Subsequently in 2010, after defendants’ petition for rehearing with the Court of Appeal was denied, defendants paid the judgment.

The chart below lists the verdicts and post-trial developments in theEngle progeny cases that were pending during 2011 and 2012 in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs.

            Date             


Plaintiff


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


January 2012HallgrenOn January 26, 2012, a Highland County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded approximately $2 million in compensatory damages and allocated 25% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $500,000). The jury also awarded $750,000 in punitive damages against each of the defendants.On February 3 and February 6, 2012, the defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial.
July 2011WeingartA Palm Beach County jury returned a verdict in the amount of zero damages and allocated 3% of the fault to each of the defendants (PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard Tobacco Company).In September 2011, the trial court granted plaintiff’s motion foradditur or a new trial, concluding that anadditur of $150,000 is required for plaintiff’s pain and suffering. The trial court has entered final judgment and, since PM USA was allocated 3% of the fault, its portion of the damages would be $4,500. PM USA has filed its notice of appeal, and posted a bond in the amount of $5,000 in November 2011.
April 2011AllenA Duval County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiffs and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded a total of $6 million in compensatory damages and allocated 15% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $900,000). The jury also awarded $17 million in punitive damages against each of the defendants.In May 2011, the defendants filed various post-trial motions, and the trial court entered final judgment. Argument was heard in June 2011. In October 2011, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion forremittitur, reducing the punitive damages award against PM USA to $2.7 million, and denied defendants’ remaining post-trial motions. PM USA filed a notice of appeal, and posted a bond in the amount of $1,250,000 in November 2011.

            Date             


Plaintiff


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


April 2011TulloA Palm Beach County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, Lorillard Tobacco Company and Liggett Group. The jury awarded a total of $4.5 million in compensatory damages and allocated 45% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $2,025,000).In April 2011, the trial court entered final judgment. In July 2011, PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $2 million bond.
February 2011HuishAn Alachua County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA. The jury awarded $750,000 in compensatory damages and allocated 25% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $187,500). The jury also awarded $1.5 million in punitive damages against PM USA.In March 2011, the trial court entered final judgment. PM USA filed post-trial motions, which were denied in April 2011. In May 2011, PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $1.7 million appeal bond. Argument on the merits of the appeal is scheduled for March 21, 2012.
February 2011HatziyannakisA Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA. The jury awarded approximately $270,000 in compensatory damages and allocated 32% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $86,000).In April 2011, the trial court denied PM USA’s post-trial motions for a new trial and to set aside the verdict. In June 2011, PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted an $86,000 appeal bond.
August 2010PiendleA Palm Beach County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded $4 million in compensatory damages and allocated 27.5% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $1.1 million). The jury also awarded $90,000 in punitive damages against PM USA.In September 2010, the trial court entered final judgment. In January 2011, the trial court denied the parties’ post-trial motions. PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $1.2 million appeal bond.

            Date             


Plaintiff


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


July 2010Kayton(formerly Tate)A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against PM USA. The jury awarded $8 million in compensatory damages and allocated 64% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $5.1 million). The jury also awarded approximately $16.2 million in punitive damages against PM USA.In August 2010, the trial court entered final judgment, and PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $5 million appeal bond.
April 2010PutneyA Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group. The jury awarded approximately $15.1 million in compensatory damages and allocated 15% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $2.3 million). The jury also awarded $2.5 million in punitive damages against PM USA.In August 2010, the trial court entered final judgment. PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $1.6 million appeal bond.
March 2010R. CohenA Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and allocated 33 1/3% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $3.3 million). The jury also awarded a total of $20 million in punitive damages, assessing separate $10 million awards against each defendant.In July 2010, the trial court entered final judgment and, in August 2010, PM USA filed its notice of appeal. In October 2010, PM USA posted a $2.5 million appeal bond.
March 2010DouglasA Hillsborough County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group. The jury awarded $5 million in compensatory damages. Punitive damages were dismissed prior to trial. The jury allocated 18% of the fault to PM USA, resulting in an award of $900,000.In June 2010, PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $900,000 appeal bond. In September 2010, the plaintiff filed with the trial court a challenge to the constitutionality of the Florida bond cap statute but withdrew the challenge in August 2011. Argument on the merits of the appeal was heard in October 2011.

            Date             


Plaintiff


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


November 2009NaugleA Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against PM USA. The jury awarded approximately $56.6 million in compensatory damages and $244 million in punitive damages. The jury allocated 90% of the fault to PM USA.In March 2010, the trial court entered final judgment reflecting a reduced award of approximately $13 million in compensatory damages and $26 million in punitive damages. In April 2010, PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $5 million appeal bond. In August 2010, upon the motion of PM USA, the trial court entered an amended final judgment of approximately $12.3 million in compensatory damages and approximately $24.5 million in punitive damages to correct a clerical error. The case remains on appeal. Argument on the merits of the appeal is scheduled for February 21, 2012.
August 2009F. CampbellAn Escambia County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against R.J. Reynolds, PM USA and Liggett Group. The jury awarded $7.8 million in compensatory damages. In September 2009, the trial court entered final judgment and awarded the plaintiff $156,000 in damages against PM USA due to the jury allocating only 2% of the fault to PM USA.In January 2010, defendants filed their notice of appeal, and PM USA posted a $156,000 appeal bond. In March 2011, the Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmedper curiam (with citation) the trial court’s decision without issuing an opinion. PM USA’s motion to certify the Court of Appeal’s decision to the Florida Supreme Court as a matter of public importance was denied in May 2011. In June 2011, PM USA filed a petition for discretionary review with the Florida Supreme Court. In July 2011, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear PM USA’s petition. In December 2011, PM USA and Liggett Group filed a joint petition for awrit of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court and R.J. Reynolds filed a separate petition for awrit of certiorari. As of December 31, 2011, PM USA has recorded a provision of approximately $242,000 for compensatory damages, costs and interest.

            Date             


Plaintiff


Verdict


Post-Trial Developments


August 2009BarbanellA Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $5.3 million in compensatory damages. The judge had previously dismissed the punitive damages claim. In September 2009, the trial court entered final judgment and awarded plaintiff $1.95 million in actual damages. The judgment reduced the jury’s $5.3 million award of compensatory damages due to the jury allocating 36.5% of the fault to PM USA.A notice of appeal was filed by PM USA in September 2009, and PM USA posted a $1.95 million appeal bond. Argument on the merits of the appeal was heard in September 2011.
February 2009HessA Broward County jury found in favor of plaintiffs and against PM USA. The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. In June 2009, the trial court entered final judgment and awarded plaintiffs $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 42% of the fault to PM USA.PM USA noticed an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal in July 2009. Argument was heard in March 2011.

Appeals of Engle Progeny Verdicts

Plaintiffs in variousEngle progeny cases have appealed adverse rulings or verdicts, and in some cases, PM USA has cross-appealed. PM USA’s appeals of adverse verdicts are discussed in the chart above.

Since the remand ofB. Brown(discussed above under the headingFederal Engle Progeny Cases), the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling on Florida state law is currently superseded by two state appellate rulings inMartin, anEngle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds in Escambia County, andJ. Brown, anEngleprogeny case against R.J. Reynolds in Broward County. InMartin, the Florida First District Court of Appeal rejected theB. Brown ruling as a matter of state law and upheld the use of theEngle findings to relax plaintiffs’ burden of proof. R.J. Reynolds had sought Florida Supreme Court review in that case but, in July 2011, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal. In December 2011, petitions forcertiorari were filed with the United States Supreme Court by R.J. Reynolds inCampbell, Martin,Gray andHall and by PM USA and Liggett Group inCampbell.

InJ. Brown, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal also rejected the B. Brown ruling as a matter of state law and upheld the use of theEngle findings to relax plaintiffs’ burden of proof. However, the Fourth District expressly disagreed with the First District’sMartin decision by ruling that

Engle progeny plaintiffs must prove legal causation on their claims. In addition, theJ. Brown court expressed concerns that using theEngle findings to reduce plaintiffs’ burden may violate defendants’ due process rights. In October 2011, the Fourth District denied R.J. Reynolds’ motion to certifyJ. Brownto the Florida Supreme Court for review. R.J. Reynolds is seeking review of the case by the Florida Supreme Court.

As noted above inFederal Engle Progeny Cases, there has been no federal appellate review of the federal due process issues raised by the use of findings from the originalEngle trial inEngle progeny cases.

Because of the substantial period of time required for the federal and state appellate processes, it is possible that PM USA may have to pay certain outstanding judgments in theEngle progeny cases before the final adjudication of these issues by the Florida Supreme Court or the United States Supreme Court.

Other 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 5759 smoking and health class actions involving PM USA in Arkansas (1), California (1), the District of Columbia (2), Florida (2), Illinois (2)(3), 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

PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are named as defendants, along with other cigarette manufacturers, in six actions filed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. In Saskatchewan and British Columbia, plaintiffs seek class remains certifiedcertification on behalf of individuals who suffer or have suffered from various diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, heart disease or cancer after smoking defendants’ cigarettes. In the actions filed in Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, plaintiffs seek certification of classes of all individuals who smoked defendants’ cigarettes. SeeGuarantees for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

Scott Class Action

In July 2003, following the first phase of the trial in theScott class action, discussed above.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 approximately $590 million against all defendants jointly and severally, to fund a 10-year smoking cessation program. Defendants appealed.

In April 2010, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal issued a decision that affirmed in part prior decisions ordering the defendants to fund a statewide 10-year smoking cessation program. After conducting its own independent review of the record, the Court of Appeal made its own factual findings

with respect to liability and the amount owed, lowering the amount of the judgment to approximately $241 million, plus interest commencing July 21, 2008, the date of entry of the amended judgment. In addition, the Court of Appeal declined plaintiffs’ cross appeal requests for a medical monitoring program and reinstatement of other components of the smoking cessation program. The Court of Appeal specifically reserved to the defendants the right to assert claims to any unspent or unused surplus funds at the termination of the smoking cessation program. In June 2010, defendants and plaintiffs filed separatewrit of certiorari applications with the Louisiana Supreme Court. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied both sides’ applications. In September 2010, upon defendants’ application, the United States Supreme Court granted a stay of the judgment pending the defendants’ filing and the Court’s disposition of the defendants’ petition for awrit of certiorari. In June 2011, the United States Supreme Court denied the defendants’ petition. As of March 31, 2011, PM USA recorded a provision of $26 million in connection with the case and additional provisions of approximately $3.7 million related to accrued interest. In the second quarter of 2011, after the June 2011 United States Supreme Court denial of defendants’ petition for awrit of certiorari, PM USA recorded an additional provision of approximately $36 million related to the judgment and approximately $5 million related to interest.

In August 2011, PM USA paid its share of the judgment in an amount of approximately $70 million. The defendants’ payments have been deposited into a court-supervised fund that is intended to pay for smoking cessation programs. In October 2011, plaintiffs’ counsel filed a motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. Plaintiffs’ counsel seek additional fees from defendants ranging from $91 million to $642 million. Additionally, plaintiffs’ counsel request an award of approximately $13 million in costs. As of December 31, 2011, PM USA had recorded a provision of approximately $1.3 million for costs, but is opposing plaintiffs’ counsel’s request for additional costs and for fees. Argument on whether defendants can be held liable for attorneys’ fees occurred on February 3, 2012.

Other Medical Monitoring Class Actions

 

TwoIn addition to the Scott class action discussed above, two purported medical monitoring class actions are pending against PM USA have beenUSA. These two cases were 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 theMarlboro 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 seeksPlaintiffs in these cases do not seek punitive damages. Plaintiffs’ motion for class certificationA case brought in California (Xavier) was dismissed in July 2011, and defendant’s motion fora case brought in Florida (Gargano) was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice in August 2011.

InCaronia, in February 2010, the district court granted in part PM USA’s summary judgment are pending in Caronia. Defendants’ motions formotion, dismissing plaintiffs’ strict liability and negligence claims and certain other claims, granted plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint to allege a medical monitoring cause of action and requested further briefing on PM USA’s summary judgment motion as to plaintiffs’ implied warranty claim and, judgment onif plaintiffs amend their complaint, their medical monitoring claim. In March 2010, plaintiffs filed their amended complaint and PM USA moved to dismiss the pleadingsimplied warranty and medical monitoring claims. In January 2011, the district court granted PM USA’s motion, dismissed plaintiffs’ claims and declared plaintiffs’ motion for class certification are pendingmoot in Donovan. light of the dismissal of the case. The plaintiffs have appealed that decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Argument has been set for March 1, 2012.

InDonovan, the district court entered an order on December 31, 2008 expressing an intention to certify questions to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, regardingin answering questions certified to it by the district court, held in October 2009 that under certain circumstances state law recognizes a claim

by individual smokers for medical monitoring anddespite the absence of an actual injury. The court also ruled that whether or not the case is barred by the applicable statute of limitations issues.

On November 17, 2008,is a purportedfactual issue to be determined by the trial court. The case was remanded to federal court for further proceedings. In June 2010, the district court granted in part the plaintiffs’ motion for class action namingcertification, certifying the class as to plaintiffs’ claims for breach of implied warranty and violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, but denying certification as to plaintiffs’ negligence claim. In July 2010, PM USA Altria Group, Inc. and the other major cigarette manufacturers as defendants was filed inpetitioned the United States District Court of Appeals for the Northern DistrictFirst Circuit for appellate review of Georgia on behalf ofthe class certification decision. The petition was denied in September 2010. As a purported class of cigarette smokers who seekremedy, plaintiffs have proposed a 28-year medical monitoring (Peoples). Plaintiffs allege thatprogram with an approximate cost of $190 million. In April 2011, plaintiffs moved to amend their class certification to extend the tobacco companies conspiredcut-off date for individuals to convincesatisfy the class membership criteria from December 14, 2006 to August 1, 2011. The district court granted this motion in May 2011. Trial has been postponed. In June 2011, plaintiffs filed various motions for summary judgment and to strike affirmative defenses. In October 2011, PM USA filed a motion for class decertification. Argument occurred on January 27, 2012.

Evolving medical standards and practices could have an impact on the defense of medical monitoring claims. For example, the first publication of the findings of the National Cancer Institute (“NCI”) to not recommend spiralInstitute’s National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in June 2011 reported a 20% reduction in lung cancer deaths among certain long term smokers receiving Low Dose CT scans to screenScanning for lung cancer. Since then, various public health organizations have begun to develop new lung cancer and plaintiffs assert claims based on defendants’ purported violationsscreening guidelines. Also, a number of RICO. The complaint identifieshospitals have advertised the purported class as all residentsavailability 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.screening programs.

 

Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation

 

Overview

 

In the 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.

 

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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 in the United States have dismissed all or most health care cost recovery claims against cigarette manufacturers. Nine federal circuit courts of appeals and sixeight 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). The trialApril 2011, in the health care cost recovery case brought against PM USA and other defendants by the City of St. Louis, Missouri and approximately 40 Missouri hospitals, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants on all counts. In June 2011, the litigation was concluded in a consent judgment pursuant to which PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are defendants, is scheduledthe plaintiffs waived all rights to begin on June 7, 2010.appeal in exchange for the defendants’ waiver of any claim for costs.

 

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 were brought in New York (Mason)(2), Florida (Glover)(2) and Massachusetts (United Seniors Association) have been(1). All were 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

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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. The court heard argument on both motions on November 20, 2008.

 

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 and Altria Group, Inc., in Israel (1)(1, recently dismissed), the Marshall Islands (1 dismissed)(dismissed), and Canada (2)(4), and other entities have stated that they are considering filing such actions. In the case in Israel (Clalit), in July 2011, the Israel Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s decision denying defendants’ motion to dismiss and dismissed the case. In August 2011, plaintiff filed a motion for rehearing with the Israel Supreme Court, which the court denied on January 26, 2012. This litigation has concluded.

In September 2005, in the first of the twofour health care cost 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. In December 2009, the Court of Appeals of British Columbia ruled that certain defendants can proceed against the Federal Government of Canada as third parties on the theory that the Federal Government of Canada negligently misrepresented to defendants the efficacy of a low tar tobacco variety that the Federal Government of Canada developed and licensed to defendants. In May 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to the Federal Government of Canada to appeal this decision and leave to defendants to cross-appeal the Court of Appeals’ decision to dismiss claims against the Federal Government of Canada based on other theories of liability. In July 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the third-party claims against the Federal Government of Canada.

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. In September 2009, the Province of Ontario, Canada, filed suit against a number of cigarette manufacturers based on previously adopted legislation nearly identical in substance to the New Brunswick health care cost recovery legislation. In February 2011, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador filed a case substantially similar to the ones brought by New Brunswick and Ontario.

PM USA is named as a defendant in the British Columbia case, while Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA are named as defendants in the New Brunswick’s case.Brunswick, Ontario and Newfoundland cases. Several other provinces and territories in Canada have enacted similar legislation or are in the process of enacting

similar legislation. See “Third-Party Guarantees”Guarantees for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

 

Settlements of Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation

 

In November 1998, PM USA and certain other United States tobacco product manufacturers entered into the Master Settlement Agreement (the “MSA”)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 approximately $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 years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 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 $4.8 billion, $4.8 billion and $5.0 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 2004, 2005 and 2006to 2010

 

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 2004, 2005 and 2006.to 2010. The proceedings arerelate to an MSA payment adjustment (the “NPM Adjustment”) based on the collective loss of market share for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively,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.

 

InAs 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

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disadvantages of the MSA were a “significant factor” contributing to the participating manufacturers’ 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 thoseany 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, anAn independent economic consulting firm, jointly selected by the MSA parties, determined that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for each of the years 2003 – 2005. A different independent economic consulting firm, jointly selected by the MSA parties, 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 determined2006. Following the firm’s determination for 2006, the OPMs and the states agreed that the states would not contest 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 Februaryyears 2007, 2008 and 2009. Accordingly, the sameOPMs and the states have agreed that no “significant factor” determination by an independent economic consulting firm determined that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributingwill be necessary with respect to the participating manufacturers’ collective loss of market share for the year 2005. A different economic consulting firmyears 2007, 2008 and 2009 (the “significant factor agreement”). This agreement became effective for 2007, 2008 and 2009 on February 1, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The MSA’s Independent Auditor has been selected to make the “significant factor” determination regardingdetermined that the participating manufacturers’manufacturers collectively lost market share for 2010. Subsequent to that determination, the OPMs and the states have agreed to extend the significant factor agreement to apply to such collective loss of market share for 2010, as well as to any collective loss of market share that the year 2006. The new firm’s decision with respect to 2006 is expected in March 2009.participating manufacturers experience for 2011-2012. This agreement will become effective for 2010 on February 1, 2013. If the Independent Auditor determines that the participating manufacturers collectively lost market share for 2011 or 2012, this agreement will become effective for 2011 on February 1, 2014 and for 2012 on February 1, 2015.

 

Following the economic consulting firm’s“significant factor” 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 havedid not filedfile declaratory judgment actions. Courts in all 46but one of the 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. Several of these rulings remainmay be subject to appeal or further review. Additionally, OhioOne state court (inState of Montana) has ruled that the diligent enforcement claims of that state may be litigated in state court, rather than in arbitration. In January 2010, the OPMs filed a petition for awrit of certiorariin the United States Supreme Court seeking further review of the Montana decision holding that a state’s diligent enforcement claims may be litigated in state court, rather than in arbitration. The petition was denied in June 2010. Following the denial of this petition, Montana renewed an action in its state court seeking a declaratory judgment actionthat it diligently enforced its escrow statute during 2003 and other relief. The case is now proceeding in state court with respect to the 2004 diligent enforcement issue. The action has been stayed pending the decision about the 2003 payments. trial court.

PM USA, the other OPMs and approximately 25twenty-five other MSA-participating manufacturers have entered into an agreement regarding arbitration with over 40forty-five MSA states concerning the 2003 NPM adjustment. The agreement providesAdjustment, including the states’ claims of diligent enforcement for selection of the arbitration panel for the 2003 NPM adjustment beginning by October 1, 2009 and for the arbitration then to proceed.2003. The agreement further provides for a partial liability reduction for the 2003 NPM adjustment of a specified percentageAdjustment 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 (45))(forty-five), the percentagepartial liability reduction for those states is 20%. The partial liability reduction would reduce the amount of PM USA’s 2003 NPM adjustmentAdjustment by up to a corresponding percentage. The selection of the arbitration panel for the 2003 NPM Adjustment was completed in July 2010, and the arbitration is currently ongoing. Proceedings to determine state diligent enforcement claims for the years 2004 through 2010 have not yet been scheduled.

 

Once a significant factor determination in favor of the participating manufacturers for a particular year has been made by an economic consulting firm, or the states’ agreement not to contest significant factor for a particular year has become effective, PM USA has the right under the MSA to pay the disputed amount of the NPM Adjustment for that year into a disputed payments account or withhold it altogether. PM USA has made its full MSA payment due in each year from 2006 – 2010 to the states (subject to a right to recoup the NPM Adjustment amount in the form of a credit against future MSA payments), even though it had the right to deduct the disputed amounts of the 2003 – 2007 NPM Adjustments, as described above, from such MSA payments. PM USA paid its share of the amount of the disputed 2008 NPM Adjustment shown below into the MSA’s disputed payments account in

connection with its MSA payment due in 2011. The approximate maximum principal amounts of PM USA’s share of the disputed NPM Adjustment for the years 2003 through 2010, as currently calculated by the MSA’s Independent Auditor, are as follows (the amounts shown below do not include the interest or earnings thereon to which PM USA believes it would be entitled in the manner provided in the MSA):

Year for which NPM Adjustment calculated

   2003    2004     2005    2006    2007    2008    2009    2010  

Year in which deduction for NPM Adjustment may be taken

   2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     2013  

PM USA’s Approximate Share of Disputed NPM Adjustment
(in millions)

  $337    $388    $181    $154    $207    $267    $211    $209  
   


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


The foregoing amounts may be recalculated by the Independent Auditor if it receives information that is different from or in addition to the information on which it based these calculations, including, among other things, if it receives revised sales volumes from any participating manufacturer. Disputes among the manufacturers could also reduce the foregoing amounts. The availability and the precise amount of any NPM adjustmentAdjustment for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 20062003-2010 will not be finally determined until 20102013 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.proceedings, and the amount of any adjustment received for a year could be less than the amount for that year listed above. 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, andprovisions. It is expected that PM USA’sUSA would receive its share would likely be applied asof any adjustments for 2003 – 2007 in the form of a credit against one or several future MSA payments.payments and its share of any adjustment for 2008 in the form of a withdrawal from the disputed payments account.

PM USA intends to pursue vigorously the disputed NPM Adjustments for 2003-2010 through the proceedings described above. PM USA would be willing, however, to enter into a settlement of those disputed NPM Adjustments if it determined that such a settlement were in its best interests.

 

National Grower Settlement TrustOther Disputes Related to MSA Payments

 

As part ofIn addition to the disputed NPM Adjustments described above, 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

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tobacco growers and quota holders. To that end, in 1999, four of the major domestic tobacco productparticipating manufacturers, including PM USA, establishedare conducting another arbitration to resolve certain other disputes related to the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust (“NTGST”),calculation of the participating manufacturers’ payments under the MSA. PM USA disputes the method by which ounces of “roll your own” tobacco have been converted to cigarettes for purposes of calculating the downward volume adjustments to its MSA payments. PM USA believes that, for the years 2004 – 2010, the use of an incorrect conversion method resulted in excess MSA payments by PM USA of approximately $85 million in the aggregate. If PM USA prevails on this issue, it would be entitled to a trust fund to provide aid to tobacco growers and quota holders. The trust wascredit against future MSA payments in that amount, plus interest. In addition, PM USA seeks application of what it believes to be funded by these four manufacturers over 12the correct method for years with payments, priorsubsequent to application of various adjustments, scheduled to2010.

This arbitration will also resolve a dispute concerning whether the total $5.15 billion. Provisions of the NTGST allowed for offsetsdomestic cigarette market and certain other calculations related to the extent that industry-fundedparticipating manufacturers’ MSA 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, the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 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 allocatedshould be determined based on the relative market shares“net” number of manufacturers and importerscigarettes on which federal excise tax is paid, as is currently the case, or whether the “adjusted gross” number of each kind of tobacco product. The quota buy-out payments offset already scheduled payments tocigarettes on which federal excise tax is paid is 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 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. On January 20, 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.correct methodology. PM USA has paid $138 million for its share of the tobacco pool stock losses. The quota buyout didanticipates that this arbitration will not have a material impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s 2008 consolidated results and Altria Group, Inc. does not currently anticipate that the quota buy-out will have a material adverse impact on its consolidated resultsbe concluded until later in 2009 and beyond.2012 or thereafter.

 

No assurance can be given that PM USA will prevail in this arbitration.

Other MSA-Related Litigation

 

PM USA was named as a defendant in an action (Vibo) 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 the action. On November 14, 2008, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on various grounds and, onIn January 5, 2009, the district court dismissed the complaint and denied plaintiff’s request for preliminary injunctive relief. In January 2010, the court entered final judgment dismissing the case. Plaintiff appealed this decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Argument was heard in October 2011.

 

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

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favored nations provision does not apply to the proposed agreement. Plaintiff seeks no damages in this action. Defendants have not yet responded to the complaint.

Without naming PM USA or any other private party as a defendant, manufacturers that have elected not to sign the MSA (“NPMs”)NPMs and/or their distributors or customers have filed several legal challenges to the MSA and related legislation. New York state officials and the Attorneys General for 18 other states are defendants in a lawsuit pending(King,formerlyPryor) filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in which cigarette importersplaintiffs 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,that lawsuit, 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, onethe trial court has granted summary judgment for the New York officials and the other has held that plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on the merits. In addition, a preliminary injunction againstmerits and refused to enjoin the enforcement of New York officials’ enforcement against plaintiffs of the state’s “allocable share”York’s allocable share amendment to the MSA’s Model Escrow Statute has been lifted.

In another action,Statute. That decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed aSecond Circuit. In March 2011, the trial court’s dismissal of challenges to MSA-related legislation in Louisiana under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The case and another challenge to Louisiana’s participation in the MSA and Louisiana’s MSA-related legislation begancourt granted summary judgment proceedings duringon all claims for the fourth quarter of 2008. Another proceeding has been initiated before an international arbitration tribunal underNew York state officials. Plaintiffs filed a motion to modify the provisions ofjudgment, which the North American Free Trade Agreement. A two-day hearing on the merits is scheduled for June 2009. An appeal from trial court decisions holding thatdenied on January 30, 2012. The matter is now on appeal before the Second Circuit. In October, November and December 2011, plaintiffs have failedvoluntarily dismissed six states from the case.

In addition to make allegations establishing a claim for relief is pending with the United States Court of Appeals forKing decision above, the Eighth Circuit. The United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and NinthTenth Circuits have affirmed the dismissals in two similar challenges. In July 2008, the United States Courtor grants of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed dismissals and summary judgment orders in twofavor of state officials in seven other cases emanating from Kansas and Oklahoma, and in doing so rejectedasserting antitrust and constitutional challenges to the allocable share amendment legislation in those states.

In January 2011, an international arbitration tribunal rejected claims brought against the United States challenging MSA-related legislation in various states under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

 

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

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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—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 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

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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 Federal Trade Commission (“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.

 

The defendants appealed and, in May 2009, a three judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued aper 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 intervenors’ 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.

In July 2009, defendants filed petitions for a rehearing before the panel and for a rehearing by the entire Court of Appeals. Defendants also filed a motion to vacate portions of the trial court’s judgment on the grounds of mootness because of the passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“FSPTCA”), granting the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) broad authority over the regulation of tobacco products. In September 2006,2009, the Court of Appeals entered threeper curiam rulings. Two of them denied defendants’ petitions for panel rehearing or for rehearingen banc. In the thirdper curiam decision, the Court of Appeals denied defendants’ suggestion of mootness and motion for partialvacatur. In February 2010, PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. filed theircertiorari petitions with the United States Supreme Court. In addition, the federal government and the intervenors filed their owncertiorari petitions, asking the court to reverse an earlier Court of Appeals decision and hold that civil RICO allows the trial court to order disgorgement as well as other equitable relief, such as smoking cessation remedies, designed to redress continuing consequences of prior RICO violations. In June 2010, the United States Supreme Court denied all of the parties’ petitions. In July 2010, the Court of Appeals issued its mandate lifting the stay of the trial court’s judgment and

remanding the case to the trial court. As a result of the mandate, except for those matters remanded to the trial court for further proceedings, defendants are now subject to the injunction discussed above and the other elements of the trial court’s judgment.

In February 2011, the government submitted its proposed corrective statements and the trial court referred issues relating to a document repository to a special master. The defendants filed noticesa response to the government’s proposed corrective statements and filed a motion to vacate the trial court’s injunction in light of appealthe FSPTCA, which motion was denied in June 2011. The defendants have appealed the trial court’s ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Argument is scheduled for April 20, 2012.

Apart from the matters on appeal, two issues remain pending before the district court: (i) the substance of the court-ordered corrective statements and (ii) the requirements related to point-of-sale signage. In September 2006,November 2011, the trialdistrict court denied defendants’ motionordered the parties to staysubmit their views on whether the judgment pending defendants’ appeals,district court should delay its order on these issues while other courts decide more recent cases challenging the FDA’s new rules imposing certain tobacco marketing restrictions and graphic warnings. The parties complied with the district court’s requests, and defendants then filed an emergency motion withasked the Courtcourt to defer resolution of Appeals to stay enforcementthese issues until these other cases are fully resolved. On January 26, 2012, the district court ruled that it would not delay its decision until after the resolution of the judgment pending their appeals. In October 2006,cases challenging the government filed a notice of appeal in which it appealedFDA’s new rules. The district court has not addressed the denial of certain remedies, including the disgorgement of profits and the cessation remedies it had sought. In October 2006, a three-judge panelcontent of the United States Court of Appeals granted defendants’ motion and stayedcorrective communications or the trial court’s judgment pending its review ofrequirements related to point-of-sale signage.

In December 2011, the decision. Certain defendants, includingparties to the lawsuit entered into an agreement as to the issues concerning the document repository. Pursuant to this agreement, PM USA and Altria Group, Inc., filed a motionagreed to clarifydeposit an amount of approximately $3.1 million into 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. As noted above, the trial court’s judgment and remedial order remain stayed pending the appeal to the Court of Appeals. Oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was heard in October 2008.district court.

 

“Lights/Ultra Lights” Cases

 

Overview

 

Plaintiffs in thesecertain pending matters seek certification of their cases as class actions (some of which have not been certified as such),and 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, includingMarlboroLights,Marlboro UltraLights,Virginia SlimsLights and Superslims,MeritLights andSuperslims, Merit LightsCambridge andCambridge 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”),FTC, non-liability under state statutory provisions exempting conduct that complies with federal regulatory directives, and the First Amendment. As of February 24, 2009, twenty-one13, 2012, a total of eighteen such cases arewere pending in the United States. Four of these cases were pending in a multidistrict litigation proceeding in a single U.S. federal court as follows: Arkansas (2), Colorado (1), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Maine (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (1), New York (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1) and West Virginia (2).discussed below. The other cases were pending in various U.S. state courts. 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.

 

Recent Cases

SinceIn the one “Lights” case pending in Israel (El-Roy), hearings on plaintiffs’ motion for class certification were held in November and December 15, 2008, U.S. Supreme Court decisionand an additional hearing on class certification was held in November 2011. See GoodGuarantees, four new “Lights” class actions have been served upon PM USA and for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc., one in Illinois state court (Goins), one in Florida federal court (Boyd), one in Colorado federal court (Fray) and one in Texas federal court (Salazar). TheGoins action was subsequently removed to federal court.PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

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The Good Case

 

In May 2006, a federal trial court in Maine granted PM USA’s motion for summary judgment inGood, 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 forwrit of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was granted onin January 18, 2008. The case was stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision. OnIn December 15, 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. OnThe case was returned to the federal court in Maine and consolidated with other federal cases in the multidistrict litigation proceeding discussed below. In June 2011, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case without prejudice after the district court denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification.

Federal Multidistrict Proceeding

Since the December 2008 United States Supreme Court decision inGood, and through February 17, 2009,13, 2012, twenty-four purported “Lights” class actions were served upon PM USA and, in certain cases, Altria Group, Inc. These cases were filed in 14 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. All of these cases either were filed in federal court or were removed to federal court by PM USA.

A number of purported “Lights” class actions were transferred and consolidated by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPMDL”) before the United States District Court for the District of Maine for pretrial proceedings (“MDL proceeding”). These cases, and the states in which each originated, included:Biundo (Illinois),Cabbat (Hawaii),Calistro (U.S. Virgin Islands),Corse (Tennessee),Domaingue (New York),Good (Maine),Haubrich (Pennsylvania),McClure (Tennessee),Mirick (Mississippi),Mulford (New Mexico),Parsons (District of Columbia),Phillips (Ohio),Slater (District of Columbia),Tang (New York),Tyrer (California),Williams (Arkansas) andWyatt (Wisconsin).

In November 2010, the district court in the MDL proceeding denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification in four cases, covering the jurisdictions of California, the District of Columbia, Illinois and Maine. These jurisdictions were selected by the parties as sample cases, with two selected by plaintiffs and two selected by defendants. Plaintiffs sought appellate review of this decision but, in February 2011, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit remandeddenied plaintiffs’ petition for leave to appeal. In June 2011, plaintiffs in twelve cases voluntarily dismissed without prejudice their cases, and in August 2011, plaintiff inGoodMcClure tovoluntarily dismissed the case without prejudice. In December 2011, the district court for further proceedings. Stays enteredapproved the request of the plaintiffs in various “Lights”the remaining four cases pending( GoodPhillips,Tang, Wyatt have been lifted.andCabbat) to recommend to the JPMDL that their cases be transferred back to the courts in which the suits originated. The question of the transfer, which defendants oppose, is now before the JPMDL.

 

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

 

To date, 13in addition to the district court in the MDL proceeding, 15 courts in 1416 “Lights” 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, Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee Washington and New JerseyWashington have refused to certifygrant class certification or have dismissed plaintiffs’ class action allegations. Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed a class,case in Michigan after a trial court dismissed the claims plaintiffs asserted under the Michigan Unfair Trade and Consumer Protection Act.

Several appellate courts have issued rulings that either affirmed rulings in favor of Altria Group, Inc. and/or PM USA or reversed rulings entered in favor of plaintiffs. In Florida, an intermediate appellate court in Florida has overturned class certificationan order by a trial court the Ohiothat granted class certification inHines. The Florida Supreme Court denied review in January 2008. The Supreme Court of Illinois has overturned a judgment that awarded damages to a certified class certifications in two cases, a trial court in Tennessee has dismissed the plaintiffs’ class action allegations,Price case. SeeThe Price Case below for further discussion. In Louisiana, 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 inFCLAA. In New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned a federaldecision by a New York 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 thePricecase below for further discussion). 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 renewed their motion for class certification, and the case was stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good. 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. Hines was stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good. On February 6, 2009, the plaintiffs’ class action allegations in the Tennessee case (McClure) were dismissed with prejudice.

In September 2005, a New York federal trial court inSchwab granted in part defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs’ claims for equitable relief and denied a number of plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment. In November 2005, the trial court ruled that the plaintiffs would be permitted to calculate damages on an aggregate basis and use “fluid recovery” theories to allocate them among class members. In September 2006, the trial court 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” from“Lights.” In July 2010, plaintiffs inSchwab voluntarily dismissed the first date defendants began selling such cigarettes untilcase with prejudice. In Ohio, the dateOhio Supreme Court overturned class certifications in theMarrone andPhillips cases. Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed without prejudice both cases in August 2009. The Supreme Court of Washington denied a motion for interlocutory review filed by the plaintiffs in theDavies case that sought review of an order by the trial commences. The court also declinedthat refused to certify a class. Plaintiffs subsequently voluntarily dismissed the order for interlocutory appeal, declined to stay theDavies case and ordered jury selection to begin in January 2007, with trial scheduled to begin immediately after the jury isprejudice.

 

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In Oregon (Pearson), a state court denied plaintiff’s motion for interlocutory review of the trial court’s refusal to certify a class. 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 and the class certification denial to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Argument was held in April 2010.


impaneled.InCleary, which was pending in an Illinois federal court, the district court dismissed plaintiffs’ “Lights” claims against one defendant and denied plaintiffs’ request to remand the case to state court. In October 2006,September 2009, the court issued its ruling on PM USA’s and the remaining defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to all “Lights” claims. The court granted the motion as to all defendants except PM USA. As to PM USA, the court granted the motion as to all “Lights” and other low tar brands other thanMarlboroLights. As toMarlboroLights, the court ordered briefing on why the 2002 state court order dismissing theMarlboroLights claims should not be vacated based uponGood. In January 2010, the court vacated the previous dismissal. In February 2010, the court granted summary judgment in favor of defendants as to all claims except for theMarlboroLights claims, based on the statute of limitations and deficiencies relating to the named plaintiffs. In June 2010, the court granted summary judgment in favor of all defendants on all remaining claims, dismissing the case. In July 2010, plaintiffs filed a single judge ofmotion for reconsideration with the district court, which was denied. In August 2010, plaintiffs filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the SecondSeventh Circuit. In August 2011, the Seventh Circuit granted PM USA’s petition for a temporary stay of pre-trial and trial proceedings pending disposition of the petitions for stay and interlocutory review by a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals. In November 2006, the Second Circuit granted interlocutory review ofaffirmed the trial court’s class certification order and stayeddismissal of the case beforecase. Plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing was denied by the trial court pending the appeal. In April 2008, the SecondSeventh Circuit overturned the trial court’s class certification decision.in November 2011.

 

The Price CaseOther Developments

 

TrialIn December 2009, the state trial court in the PriceCarroll (formerly known as Holmes) case commenced(pending 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 CourtDelaware), 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 (discussed 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 andsummary judgment based on an exemption provision in the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act. In January 2011, the trial court dismissed plaintiff’s motionallowed the plaintiffs to vacate or withhold judgment.file an amended complaint substituting class representatives and naming Altria Group, Inc. and PMI as additional defendants. In connection withJuly 2011, the parties stipulated to the dismissal without prejudice of Altria Group, Inc.

and PMI. The stipulation is signed by the parties but not yet approved by the trial court’s initial judgment in 2003, PM USA deposited into escrow various formscourt. SeeGuarantees for a discussion of collateral, including cashthe Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and negotiable instruments, all of which has since been released and returned to PM USA.PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

 

On December 18, 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 15, 2008, decision in Good demonstrated that the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision was “inaccurate.” PM USA filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ petition and, on February 4, 2009, the trial court granted PM USA’s motion.

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 based on the state consumer protection statutory exemption and federal preemption. On motion of the parties, the trial court has subsequently reported its decision to deny summary judgment to the appeals court for review and the trial court proceedings are stayed 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 March 2008, the Supreme Judicial Court issued an order staying the proceedings pending the resolution of Good. On December 23, 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. On January 21, 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

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exemption issue. On February 13, 2009, with the permission of the Supreme Judicial Court, the parties submitted briefs on the impact ofGood on the state exemption issue.

Curtis: In April 2005, the Minnesota Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition for interlocutory review of the trial court’s class certification order. In September 2005, PM USA removedCurtis to federal court based on the Eighth Circuit’s decision in Watson, which upheld the removal of a “Lights” case to federal court based on the “federal officer” jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission. In February 2006, the federal court denied plaintiffs’ motion to remand the case to state court. The case was stayed pending the outcome of Dahl v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which was argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in December 2006. In February 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued its ruling in Dahl, and reversed the federal district court’s denial of plaintiffs’ motion to remand that case to the state trial court. In October 2007, the federal district court remanded the Curtis case to state court. In December 2007, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s determination in Dahl that plaintiffs’ claims in that case were subject to express preemption, and defendant in that case has petitioned the Minnesota Supreme Court for review. Plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment on February 13, 2009. The court has set a trial date of February 16, 2010. (Curtis had been stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Good).

Craft: In August 2005, a Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the class certification order. In September 2005, PM USA removedCraft to federal court based on the Eighth Circuit’s decision inWatson. In March 2006, the federal trial court granted plaintiffs’ motion and remanded the case to the Missouri state trial court. In May 2006, the Missouri Supreme Court declined to review the trial court’s class certification decision. The court has set a trial date of January 11, 2011 which could be advanced to June 2010. (Craft had been stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision inGood).

In addition to these cases, in June 2007, the United States Supreme Court reversed the lower court rulings in theWatson case that denied plaintiffs’ motion to have the case heard in a state, as opposed to federal, trial court. The Supreme Court rejected defendants’ contention that the case must be tried in federal court under the “federal officer” statute. The case has been remandedwas removed to the state trialfederal court in Arkansas. In March 2008,Arkansas and the case was stayed pendingtransferred to the outcomeMDL proceeding discussed above. In November 2010, the district court in the MDL proceeding remanded theWatson case to Arkansas state court. In December 2011, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their claims against Altria Group, Inc. without prejudice.

The Price Case

Trial in thePrice 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 December 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. In November 2006, the United States Supreme Court denied plaintiffs’ petition forwrit 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 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 judgment entered by the trial court on remand from the 2005 Illinois Supreme Court decision overturning the verdict on the ground that the United States Supreme Court’s December 2008 decision inGood 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 on the basis that the petition was not timely filed. In March 2009, thePrice plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal with the Fifth Judicial District of the Appellate Court of Illinois. In February 2011, the intermediate appellate court ruled that the petition was timely filed and reversed the trial court’s dismissal of the plaintiffs’ petition and, in September 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court declined PM USA’s petition for review. As a result, the case has returned to the trial court for proceedings on whether the court should grant the plaintiffs’ petition to reopen the prior judgment.

In June 2009, the plaintiff 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 his claims under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act are not (1) barred by the exemption in that statute based on his assertion that the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision inPrice is no longer good law in light of the decisions by the United States Supreme Court inGood andWatson, and (2) preempted in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision inGood. 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,September 2009, the court granted plaintiff’s motion as to federal preemption, but denied PM USA’s motionit with respect to dismiss on procedural grounds and the court entered a case management order. The case had been stayed pending the United States Supreme Court’s decision instate statutory exemption.

Good.State Trial Court Class Certifications

 

State trial courts have certified classes against PM USA in Massachusetts (Aspinall), Minnesota (Curtis), Missouri (Larsen) and New Hampshire (Lawrence). Significant 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. In December 2008, subsequent to the United States Supreme Court’s decision inGood, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an order requesting that the parties advise the court within 30 days whether theGood decision is dispositive of federal preemption issues pending on appeal. In January 2009, PM USA notified the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court thatGood 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. In January 2010, plaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment as to liability claiming collateral estoppel from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice (seeFederal Government’s Lawsuit described above). Argument on plaintiffs’ motion was held in July 2011.

Curtis: In April 2005, the Minnesota Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition for interlocutory review of the trial court’s class certification order. In October 2009, the trial court denied plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment, filed in February 2009, claiming collateral estoppel from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice (seeFederal Government’s Lawsuit described above). In October 2009, the trial court granted PM USA’s motion for partial summary judgment as to all consumer protection counts and, in December 2009, dismissed the case in its entirety. In December 2010, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s dismissal of the case and affirmed the trial court’s prior certification of the class under Minnesota’s consumer protection statutes. The Court of Appeals also affirmed the trial court’s denial of the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment claiming collateral estoppel from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice. PM USA’s petition for review with the Minnesota Supreme Court was granted in March 2011. Argument on the petition was heard in September 2011.

Larsen: In August 2005, a Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the class certification order. In December 2009, the trial court denied plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the period during which potential class members can qualify to become part of the class. The class period remains 1995 – 2003. In June 2010, PM USA’s motion for partial summary judgment regarding plaintiffs’ request for punitive damages was denied. In April 2010, plaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment as to an element of liability in the case, claiming collateral estoppel from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice (seeFederal Government’s Lawsuit described above). The plaintiffs’ motion was denied in December 2010. In June 2011, PM USA filed various summary judgment motions challenging the plaintiffs’ claims. In August 2011, the trial court granted PM USA’s motion for partial summary judgment, ruling that plaintiffs could not present a damages claim based on allegations thatMarlboroLights are more dangerous thanMarlboro Reds. The trial court denied PM USA’s remaining summary judgment motions. Trial in the case began in September 2011 and, in October 2011 the court declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict. The court has scheduled a new trial to begin on January 21, 2013.

Lawrence: In November 2010, the trial court certified a class consisting of all persons who purchasedMarlboroLights cigarettes in the state of New Hampshire at any time from the date the brand was introduced into commerce until the date trial in the case begins. PM USA’s motion for reconsideration of this decision was denied in January 2011. In September 2011, the New Hampshire Supreme Court accepted review of the class certification decision.

Certain Other Tobacco-Related Litigation

 

Tobacco Price CasesCase: As of December 31, 2008, two separate cases wereFebruary 13, 2012, one case remains pending one in Kansas and one in New Mexico,(Smith) in which plaintiffs allege that defendants, including PM USA and Altria Group, Inc., conspired to fix cigarette prices in violation of antitrust laws. Altria Group, Inc. is a defendant in the case in Kansas. Plaintiffs’ motionsmotion for class certification havehas been granted in both cases. In June 2006,granted. The trial court heard oral argument on defendants’ motionmotions for summary judgment was granted in the New Mexico case. On Novemberon January 18, 2008, the New Mexico Court of Appeals reversed the trial court decision granting

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summary judgment as to certain defendants, including PM USA. On January 7, 2009, PM USA and other defendants filed a petition2012. Trial has been set for writ of certiorari with the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking reversal of the appellate court’s decision. The case in Kansas is pending; there is no trial date. July 16, 2012.

 

Cigarette Contraband Investigation: In 2008, Canadian authorities concluded the investigation relating to allegations of contraband shipments of cigarettes into Canada in the early to mid-1990s and executed a complete release of Altria Group, Inc. and its affiliates.

CasesCase Under the California Business and Professions Code: In June 1997, a lawsuit (Brown)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 recent change in California law, which in two July 2006 opinions, the California Supreme Court ruled applicable to pending cases. Plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the order that decertified the class was denied, and plaintiffs have appealed. In September 2006, an intermediate appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order decertifying the class. In November 2006, the California Supreme Court accepted review of the appellate court’s decision. The California Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the appeal on March 3, 2009.

In May 2004, a lawsuit (Gurevitch)inter alia 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 on two cases not involving PM USA. In July 2006, the California Supreme Court issued rulings in the two cases and held that a recent change in California law known as Proposition 64, which 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’sdefendants’ alleged statutory violations properly applies to pending 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 that is relevant to PM USA’s demurrer.64”).

 

In September 2005,2006, an intermediate appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order decertifying the class. In May 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. In March 2010, the trial court granted reconsideration of its September 2004 order granting partial summary judgment to defendants with respect to plaintiffs’ “Lights” claims on the basis of judicial decisions issued since its order was issued, including the United States Supreme Court’s ruling inGood, thereby reinstating plaintiffs’ “Lights” claims. Since the trial court’s prior ruling decertifying the class was reversed on appeal by the California Supreme Court, the parties and the court are treating all claims currently being asserted by the plaintiffs as certified, subject, however, to defendants’ challenge to the class representatives’ standing to assert their claims. The class is defined as people who, at the time they were residents of California, smoked in California one or more cigarettes between June 10, 1993 and April 23, 2001, and who were exposed to defendants’ marketing and advertising activities in California.

In July 2010, plaintiffs filed a purportedmotion seeking collateral estoppel effect from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice (seeFederal Government’s Lawsuit described above). In September 2010, plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary resolution of legal issues regarding restitutionary relief. The trial court denied both of plaintiffs’ motions in November 2010. In November 2010, defendants filed a motion seeking a determination thatBrown class action lawsuit (members who were also part of the class inReynoldsDaniels) (a previously disclosed consumer fraud case in which the California Supreme Court affirmed summary judgment in PM USA’s favor based on preemption and First Amendment grounds) are precluded by theDaniels judgment from recovering inBrown. This motion was denied in December 2010. Defendants sought review of this decision before the Fourth District Court of Appeal but were denied review in March 2011. On January 9, 2012, defendants filed bymotions for a California consumer againstdetermination that the class representatives lack standing and are not typical or adequate to represent the class and to decertify the class. Argument is scheduled for May 2, 2012. Trial is currently scheduled for October 5, 2012.

Ignition Propensity Cases: PM USA allegingis currently a defendant in two wrongful death actions in which plaintiffs contend that PM USA violated certain California consumer protection lawsfires caused by cigarettes led to other individuals’ deaths. In one case pending in connection withfederal court in Massachusetts (Sarro), the alleged expiration of Marlboro Miles’ proofs of purchase, which could be useddistrict court in accordance with the terms and conditions of certain time-limited promotions to acquire merchandise from Marlboro catalogues.August 2009 granted in part PM USA’s motion to dismiss, the case was denied in March 2006.but ruled that two claims unrelated to product design could go forward. In September 2006,November

2010, PM USA filed a motion for summary judgment asjudgment. Argument was heard in March 2011. In a Kentucky case (Walker), the federal district court denied plaintiffs’ motion to plaintiff’sremand the case to state court and dismissed plaintiffs’ claims for breachin February 2009. Plaintiffs subsequently filed a notice of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.appeal. 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 summary judgment. In January 2008, PM USA’s application for interlocutory review by2011, the United States Court of Appeals for the NinthSixth Circuit (the “Sixth Circuit”) reversed the portion of the district court decision that denied remand of the case to Kentucky state court and remanded the case to Kentucky state court. The Sixth Circuit did not address the merits of the district court’s dismissal order. Defendants’ petition for rehearing with the Sixth Circuit was granted. Argument is set for April 17, 2009.

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UST Litigationdenied in December 2011.

 

TypesFalse Claims Act Case:PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. were served on January 27, 2012 in aqui tamaction filed in the United States District Court for the District of CasesColumbia (United States ex rel. Oliver) alleging violation of the False Claims Act in connection with sales of cigarettes to the U.S. military for resale on U.S. military bases overseas. The claimant is an individual who contends that PM USA included the per-carton cost of Master Settlement Agreement payments in the list price charged to government agencies that purchased cigarettes from PM USA in the United States for resale on overseas military bases, and that non-military civilian customers overseas allegedly received lower pricing on cigarettes sold in those overseas markets than the government agencies. The United States declined to intervene in the action on September 13, 2011.

Argentine Grower Case: InHupan, et al. v. Alliance One International, et al., filed in Delaware state court on February 14, 2012, PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are named along with multiple other defendants by the parents of eight minor Argentine children born between 1996 and 2008 with alleged birth defects. Plaintiffs allege that they grew tobacco in Argentina under contract with Tabacos Norte S.A., an alleged subsidiary of Philip Morris International Inc., beginning in the 1980’s and that they and their infant children were exposed directly andin utero to hazardous herbicides and pesticides used in the production and cultivation of tobacco. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages against all defendants under U.S. and Argentine law.

UST Litigation

 

Claims related to smokeless tobacco products generally fall within the following categories.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 (SeeIn re: Tobacco Litigation above) 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 threefive individuals alleging use of UST’sUSSTC’s smokeless tobacco products and alleging the types of injuries claimed to be associated with the use of smokeless tobacco products. These individuals also allege the use ofUSSTC, along with other tobacco products.non-cigarette manufacturers, has remained severed from such proceedings since December 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, including negligence, grosssuch as negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, breach of special duty,warranty, 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 medical monitoring.disgorgement. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of causation, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, and statutes of limitations. USTUSSTC is currently named in anone such action in Florida (Vassallo) and in an action in Connecticut (Hill). TheHill case is set for trial on August 18, 2009.

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 and retailers) 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 class, 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 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.

To date, indirect purchaser actions in almost all of the jurisdictions have been resolved, including those subject to court approval. Pursuant to the settlements in all jurisdictions except California, adult consumers received 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.

In September 2007, UST entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve the California class action. In March 2008, the court entered an order granting final approval of the California settlement, entering judgment and dismissing the settling defendants with prejudice. The court also granted

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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.

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. Also in January 2008, UST entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve the Massachusetts class action. In April 2008, the court denied preliminary approval of the Massachusetts settlement but invited the parties to submit an amended settlement agreement to the court for preliminary approval. In connection with the settlements of the New Hampshire action and Massachusetts class action, during the fourth quarter of 2007 UST recognized a liability reflecting the costs attributable to coupons expected to be distributed to consumers, 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 settlements.

In addition, an unresolved action remains in the State of Pennsylvania which is pending in a federal court in Pennsylvania. In this action, UST filed an appeal of the trial court’s denial of UST’s motion to dismiss the complaint. In August 2008, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in UST’s favor, issuing an opinion vacating the trial court’s denial and remanding the case to the trial court to determine whether plaintiffs should be granted permission to amend their complaint. For the plaintiffs in the foregoing action to prevail, they will now have to be granted permission to amend the complaint and then amend such complaint in a manner that satisfies the standards set forth in the August 2008 Third Circuit opinion. The plaintiffs will also have to obtain class certification and favorable determinations on issues relating to liability, causation and damages.

The liability associated with UST’s estimated costs to resolve all indirect purchaser actions decreased to $23.4 million at September 30, 2008, from $75.4 million at December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of a payment made in connection with the California settlement, actual coupon redemption and payments of administrative costs related to previous settlements, partially offset by charges recognized in the first nine months of 2008 reflecting a change in the estimated costs associated with the resolution of certain indirect purchaser antitrust actions.

UST was served with a purported class action complaint filed in federal court in West Virginia, attempting to challenge certain aspects of a prior settlement approved by the Tennessee state court and seeking additional amounts purportedly consistent with subsequent settlements of similar actions, as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. In May 2008, the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss, thereby dismissing this action with prejudice. In June 2008, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal. In September 2008, plaintiffs’ motion to voluntarily dismiss their appeal as to UST was granted by the court, thereby dismissing this action as to UST.

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 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. On December 17, 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.

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Certain Other Actions

 

IRS Challenges to PMCC Leases

Background:. The IRS has concluded its examination of Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated federal income tax returns for the years 1996 through 1999,2003, and issued a final Revenue Agent’s Report (“RAR”) in March 2006. The RARfor each year has disallowed tax benefits pertaining to certain PMCC leveraged lease transactions forentered into by PMCC (referred to by the years 1996 through 1999. Altria Group, Inc. has 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/as lease-in/lease-out (“LILO”) and sale-in/lease-out (“SILO”) transactions). For financial reporting purposes, PMCC accounted for LILO and SILO transactions as leveraged lease transactions under the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 840,Leases(“ASC 840”). For income tax purposes, PMCC treated these transactions as leases under case law and applicable IRS administrative guidance for the 1996 through 2009 tax years.

Refund Claims and Litigation. Altria Group, Inc. believes that its tax treatment of PMCC’s LILO and SILO transactions on federal and state income tax returns for the 1996 through 2009 tax years was proper and complied with applicable tax laws in effect during the relevant periods. Altria Group, Inc. has contested the disallowances for the 1996 through 2003 tax years, filed claims for refunds of federal income tax and associated interest paid and pursued or is pursuing refund litigation in federal court with respect to certain of the refund claims, as discussed below.

In October 2006, Altria Group, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to claim refundsa refund on a portion of these federal income tax payments and associated interest for the years 1996 and 1997.1997, attributable to LILO and SILO transactions entered into during those years. In March 2008,July 2009, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the IRS and, in April 2010, after denying Altria Group, Inc.’s post-trial motions, the district court entered final judgment in favor of the IRS. Altria Group, Inc. filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in June 2010. In September 2011, the Second Circuit affirmed the district court decision in favor of the IRS. Altria Group, Inc. has elected not to pursue further judicial review of its refund claim for the 1996 and the government filed simultaneous motions for summary judgment. Those motions are pending.1997 transactions.

 

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 federal income tax payments and associated interest for the years 1998 and 1999 attributable to the disallowance of tax benefits claimed in those years with respect to the leases included inLILO and SILO transactions subject to the October 2006 filingjury verdict and with respect to certain other leasesthe additional LILO and SILO transactions entered into in 1998 and 1999. In May 2009, the district court granted a stay pending the decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the appeal involving the 1996 and 1997 transactions. Following Altria Group, Inc.’s decision not to pursue further judicial review of its refund claim regarding the 1996 and 1997 transactions, the case for the 1998 and 1999 years has been reactivated.

 

In March 2011, Altria Group, Inc. considered this matterfiled claims for a refund with the IRS for the years 2000 through 2003 of the tax and associated interest paid with respect to the LILO and SILO transactions that PMCC entered into during the 1996-2003 years. The IRS disallowed the claims in its adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48July 2011, and FASB Staff Position No. FAS 13-2. Should Altria Group, Inc. not prevailintends to commence litigation in this litigation, however,federal court.

In a closing agreement entered into in May 2010, Altria Group, Inc. may have to accelerateand the paymentIRS agreed that, with the exception of significant amounts ofthe LILO and SILO transactions, the tax treatment reported by Altria Group, Inc. on its consolidated federal income tax returns for the 2000-2003 years, as amended by the agreed-upon adjustments in the closing agreement, is appropriate and significantly lower its earningsfinal. The IRS may not assess against Altria Group, Inc. any further taxes or additions to reflecttax (including penalties) with respect to these years.

As a prerequisite to commencing in federal court the recalculationrefund litigation described above following the IRS disallowance of tax benefits of the LILO and SILO transactions for the 1996-1999 audit cycle, in 2006 Altria Group, Inc. paid approximately $150 million related to disallowed tax benefits and

associated interest. Similarly, following the IRS disallowance of tax benefits of the LILO and SILO transactions for the 2000-2003 audit cycle, also described above, in 2010, Altria Group, Inc. paid approximately $945 million in disallowed tax benefits and associated interest in order to pursue its legal challenge to the disallowances in federal court.

Payments to the IRS. As indicated in“Refund Claims and Litigation” above, Altria Group, Inc. has paid a total of approximately $1.1 billion in federal income tax payments and interest with respect to the LILO and SILO transactions for the 1996 through 2003 tax years. The tax component of this amount represents an acceleration of taxes that Altria Group, Inc. would have otherwise paid over the later stages of the LILO and SILO transactions. Altria Group, Inc. treated the amounts paid to the IRS for these years as deposits for financial reporting purposes pending the ultimate outcomes of the litigation. Altria Group, Inc. included such amounts in Other assets on its consolidated balance sheets and did not include such amounts in the supplemental disclosure of cash paid for income taxes on the consolidated statement of cash flows. As a result of its decision not to pursue further judicial review of its refund claims for the 1996 and 1997 transactions, Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 reflects reductions in both Other assets and tax liabilities of approximately $362 million, which is the amount of taxes and interest that Altria Group, Inc. has previously paid related to the 1996 and 1997 transactions for the 1996 through 2003 tax years. This payment has been included in the supplemental disclosure of cash paid for income taxes on the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2011. The impact of these payments on Altria Group, Inc.’s earnings has previously been recorded on its financial statements, as discussed below. If Altria Group, Inc. were to prevail in the current and/or anticipated refund litigation, it would receive a refund of the remaining amounts paid to the IRS plus interest. If the IRS’s position with respect to the LILO and SILO transactions is ultimately sustained, Altria Group, Inc. would further reduce its tax liabilities and the asset discussed above.

Anticipated Future Disallowances and Additional Payments to the IRS. Altria Group, Inc. further expects the IRS and impacted states to disallow income tax benefits claimed in years 2004 through 2009 related to the LILO and SILO transactions that PMCC entered into from 1996 through 2003. The disallowance of federal and state income tax benefits for the 2004 through 2009 tax years and associated interest through the 2011 tax year would result in additional payments of approximately $600 million, excluding potential penalties. The tax component of this amount represents an acceleration of taxes that Altria Group, Inc. would have otherwise paid over the later stages of the LILO and SILO transactions. This amount is net of federal and state income taxes paid on gains associated with sales of leased assets from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011 and excludes additional taxes paid in 2011 for the 2010 and 2011 tax years as a result of the decision discussed below not to claim tax benefits for the 2010 and future tax years. Although the initial amount payable may be greater than $600 million, such taxes paid on gains associated with sales of leased assets will be subsequently recovered no later than the closing of the audits for the cycles in which the sales have occurred. The payments of disallowed tax benefits, if any, would depend upon the timing and outcome of future IRS audits and any related administrative challenges or litigation. The IRS is currently auditing the 2004-2006 tax years.

2010 and Future Tax Years. Altria Group, Inc. did not claim tax benefits pertaining to PMCC’s LILO and SILO transactions on its federal and state income tax returns for 2010 and, at this time, does not intend to claim such tax benefits in future years. Altria Group, Inc., however, intends to preserve its right to file amended returns for these years claiming the tax benefits pertaining to PMCC’s LILO and SILO transactions if Altria Group, Inc. is successful in the current and/or anticipated litigation discussed above.

Second Quarter 2011 Earnings Charge. Altria Group, Inc. has continually re-evaluated the likelihood of sustaining its tax position on PMCC’s LILO and SILO transactions, as required by ASC 740,Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). In the second quarter of 2011, in accordance with ASC 840 and ASC 740, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a one-time charge of $627 million against its 2011 reported

earnings related to the tax treatment of the LILO and SILO transactions that PMCC entered into between 1996 and 2003. Altria Group, Inc.’s decision to record the charge was based on the Federal Circuit’s April 2011 adverse decision inWells Fargo & Co. v. United States, involving SILO transactions entered into by another taxpayer. Altria Group, Inc. concluded that the decision introduced incremental risk to its tax analysis and, as a result, that it was no longer more likely than not that it would prevail in its defense of its tax position on PMCC’s LILO and SILO transactions.

The charge of $627 million reflects the re-characterization of PMCC’s LILO and SILO transactions as loans (as opposed to leases) for income tax purposes, which changes the timing of income recognition for tax purposes over the term of the deemed loan. This change, in turn, impacts the income of the leases recorded pursuant to leveraged lease accounting (ASC 840) resulting in a lowering of the cumulative income from the affectedtransactions that had been recorded from inception of the transactions to the date of the charge. This earnings charge is incremental to $146 million recorded as a reduction to stockholders’ equity upon the adoption of new accounting standards for leases (“FAS 13-2”) and for uncertainty in income taxes (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007, and approximately $95 million recorded to the statements of earnings from January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2011. In quantifying the reduction in cumulative leveraged leases, which could have a material effect onlease income to include in the second quarter 2011 earnings and cash flows ofcharge, Altria Group, Inc. inwas required to make assumptions regarding a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year. Related litigation involving another party and a significantly different LILO transaction has been decided in favorpotential settlement of these matters with the IRS. To the extent the assumptions change, there may be additional impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s earnings but Altria Group, Inc. does not expect such impact, if any, to be significant.

Approximately 50% of the IRS in a recent decision in$627 million charge represents the Fourth Circuit. Related litigation involving another party and a significantly different SILO transaction has been decided in favoreffects of re-characterization of the IRStransactions as loans and the resulting reduction in cumulative leveraged lease income described above. This reduction in income will be recaptured over the remaining terms of the respective transactions. The remaining portion of the charge primarily represents a recent decision inpermanent charge for interest on tax underpayments. The charge does not include potential penalties as Altria Group, Inc. believes that it met the United States District Court forapplicable standards to avoid any associated penalties at the Northern Districttime it claimed the deductions on its tax returns.

As of Ohio.December 31, 2011, the LILO and SILO transactions represented approximately 30% of the Net Finance Assets of PMCC’s lease portfolio. PMCC has not entered into any LILO or SILO transactions since 2003.

 

Kraft Thrift Plan CaseCases: Four participants in the Kraft Foods Global, Inc. Thrift Plan (“Kraft Thrift Plan”), a defined contribution plan, filed a class action complaint (George II) 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.

In December 2009, the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint. In addition to dismissing certain claims made by plaintiffs for equitable relief under ERISA as to all defendants, the court dismissed claims alleging excessive administrative fees and mismanagement of company stock funds as to one of the Altria Group, Inc. defendants. In February 2010, the court granted a joint stipulation dismissing the fee and stock fund claims without prejudice as to the remaining defendants, including Altria Corporate Services, Inc. Accordingly, the only claim remaining at this time inGeorge II relates to the alleged negligence of plan fiduciaries for including the Growth Equity Fund and Balanced Fund as Kraft Thrift Plan investment options. Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification in March 2010, which the court granted in August 2010. Defendants filed a motion

for summary judgment in January 2011, and plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment. In March 2011, defendants filed a motion to vacate the class certification in light of recent federal judicial precedent. In July 2011, the court granted defendants’ summary judgment motion in part, finding that claims for periods prior to July 2, 2002 were time barred, and that the defendants properly monitored the funds. The court also denied plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment. Remaining in the case are claims after July 2, 2002 relating to whether it was prudent to retain actively managed investments (Growth Equity Fund and Balanced Fund) in the Kraft Thrift Plan after 1999. In July 2011, the court also granted defendants’ motion to vacate the class certification, and allowed plaintiffs leave to file a new motion for class certification in light of recent precedent and the court’s summary judgment findings. Plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class is pending before the court.

In August 2011, Altria Client Services, Inc. and a company committee that allegedly had a relationship to the Kraft Thrift Plan were added as defendants in another class action previously brought by the same plaintiffs in 2006 (George I), in which plaintiffs allege defendants breached their fiduciary duties under ERISA by offering company stock funds in a unitized format and by allegedly overpaying for recordkeeping services.

The parties have reached a proposed class-wide settlement. The proposed settlement, which does not require any payment by the Altria Group, Inc. defendants, deny any violation of ERISA or other unlawful conduct and intendis subject to defend the case vigorously.court approval, which is pending. Under the terms of a Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and Kraft, the Altria Client ServicesGroup, Inc. and related defendants may be entitled to indemnity against any liabilities incurred in connection with this case.these cases.

California Wage and Hour Case

In September 2011, two former sales representatives employed in California by Altria Group Distribution Company (“AGDC”) filed a putative class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, under California’s wage and hour laws. The named plaintiffs seek to represent a class of all former sales representatives who worked for AGDC in California at any time since September 2007. The plaintiffs seek overtime pay, recovery of certain wages, reimbursement of business expenses and other non-monetary relief and penalties. In November 2011, the plaintiffs amended their complaint to add an additional claim for penalties under California’s Private Attorney General Act. On January 6, 2012, AGDC moved to dismiss certain of plaintiffs’ claims and to transfer the case from the Northern District of California to the Central District of California.

 

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

-41-


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 related to remediationsof 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. AlthoughAltria Group, Inc. provides for expenses associated with environmental remediation obligations on an undiscounted basis when such amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are adjusted as new information develops or circumstances change. Other than those amounts, it is not possible to predict precise levelsreasonably estimate the cost of environmental-related expenditures,any environmental remediation and compliance efforts that subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. may

undertake in the future. In the opinion of management, however, compliance with suchenvironmental laws and regulations, including the payment of any remediation costs or damages and the making of suchrelated 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.cash flows.

 

Third-Party Guarantees

 

At December 31, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. had a $12 million third-party guarantee, related to a divestiture, which was recorded as a liability on its 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 December 31, 2011, subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. were also contingently liable for $29 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 the Distribution Agreementa distribution agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI, entered into as a result of Altria Group, Inc.’s 2008 spin-off of its former subsidiary PMI, 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 consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 20082011 as the fair value of this indemnification is insignificant.

 

As more fully discussed in Note 20.Condensed Consolidating Financial Informationto Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to the 2011 Annual Report, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under its 5-year revolving credit agreement and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

In September 2007, Ste. Michelle completed the acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars through one of its consolidated subsidiaries, Michelle-Antinori, LLC (“Michelle-Antinori”), in which Ste. Michelle 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, Ste. Michelle entered into a put arrangement with Antinori. The put arrangement, as later amended, provides Antinori with the right to require Ste. Michelle to purchase its 15% ownership interest in Michelle-Antinori at a price equal to Antinori’s initial investment of $27 million. The put arrangement became exercisable on September 11, 2010 and has no expiration date. As of December 31, 2011, 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 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 Ste. Michelle. As such, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is reported in the mezzanine equity section in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Item 4.Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.Mine Safety Disclosures

 

None.

-42-Not applicable.


PART II

 

Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase activity for each of the three months ended December 31, 2008, was as follows:

Period


  Total
Number of
Shares
Repurchased

(3)

  Average
Price Paid
per Share


  Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
(1)(2)


  Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares that
May Yet be
Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs (1)


October 1, 2008 –

October 31, 2008

  274  $20.51  53,450,000  $2,834,083,553

November 1, 2008 –

November 30, 2008

  —    $—    53,450,000  $2,834,083,553

December 1, 2008 –

December 31, 2008

  8,189  $15.44  53,450,000  $2,834,083,553
   
           

For the Quarter Ended

December 31, 2008

  8,463  $15.61       
   
           

(1)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. Altria Group, Inc. intends to evaluate share repurchases in early 2010. As of December 31, 2008, 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. Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase program is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

(2)Aggregate number of shares repurchased under the share repurchase program as of the end of the period presented.

(3)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.

The principal stock exchange on which Altria Group, Inc.’s common stock (par value $0.33 1/3 per share) is listed is the New York Stock Exchange. At January 30, 2009,31, 2012, there were approximately 97,00086,000 holders of record of Altria Group, Inc.’s common stock.

 

In January 2011, Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion one-year share repurchase program. Altria Group, Inc. completed this share repurchase program during the third quarter of 2011. Under this program, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased a total of 37.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $26.62 per share.

In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program, which Altria Group, Inc. intends to complete by the end of 2012. During the fourth quarter of 2011, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 11.7 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $327 million, and an average price of $27.84 per share, under this share repurchase program. Share repurchases under the new program will depend upon marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors.

During 2011, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased a total of 49.3 million shares of its common stock under the two programs at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.3 billion, and an average price of $26.91 per share.

Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase activity for each of the three months in the period ended December 31, 2011, was as follows:

Period


  Total Number of
Shares
Purchased (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


 

October 1, 2011 –

October 31, 2011

   480,000    $27.75     480,000    $986,679,664  

November 1, 2011 –

November 30, 2011

   8,640,000    $27.49     9,120,000    $749,174,032  

December 1, 2011 –

December 31, 2011

   2,776,512    $29.03     11,760,000    $672,584,392  
   


               
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2011   11,896,512    $27.86            
   


               

(1)The total number of shares purchased include (i) shares purchased under Altria Group, Inc.’s October 2011 $1.0 billion share repurchase program (which totaled 480,000 shares in October, 8,640,000 shares in November and 2,640,000 shares in December) and (ii) shares tendered to Altria Group, Inc. by employees who vested in restricted and deferred stock and used shares to pay all, or a portion of the related taxes, and forfeitures of restricted stock for which consideration was paid in connection with termination of employment of certain employees (which totaled 136,512 shares in December).

(2)Aggregate number of shares repurchased under the then-applicable share repurchase program as of the end of the period presented.

The other information called for by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the paragraph captioned “Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)” on pages 74 to 75page 70 of the 20082011 Annual Report and made a part hereof.

 

Item 6.Selected Financial Data.

 

The information called for by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the information with respect to 2004-20082007-2011 appearing under the caption “Selected Financial Data—Data – Five Year Review” on page 1810 of the 20082011 Annual Report and made a part hereof.

 

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Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The information called for by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the paragraphs captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on pages 7671 to 9899 of the 20082011 Annual Report and made a part hereof.

 

Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

The information called for by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the paragraphs in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” captioned “Market Risk” and “Value at Risk” on pages 95 to 96 of the 20082011 Annual Report and made a part hereof.

 

Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The information called for by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 20082011 Annual Report as set forth under the caption “Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)” on pages 74 to 75page 70 and in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules (see Item 15) and made a part hereof.

 

Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A.Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure 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.

 

See pages 99100 to 100101 of Exhibit 13 for the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting andincluded in the 2011 Annual Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firmand incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9B.Other Information.

 

None.

-44-


PART III

 

Except for the information relating to the executive officers set forth in Item 10, and the information relating to equity compensation plans set forth in Item 12, the information called for by Items 10-14 is hereby incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s definitive proxy statement for use in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 19, 200917, 2012 that will be filed with the SEC on or about April 9, 20096, 2012 (the “proxy statement”), and, except as indicated therein, made a part hereof.

 

Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Executive Officers as of February 27, 2009:16, 2012:

 

Name


  

Office


  Age

Martin J. Barrington

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance and Administrative Officer

Chairman
  5558

David R. Beran

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerChairman

57

Nancy E. Brennan

  54

Daniel W. Butler

Senior Vice President, Marketing, Altria Client Services Inc.
  

President, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company

59  49

William F. Gifford, Jr.

  

Vice President and TreasurerChief Executive Officer, Philip Morris USA Inc.

41

Louanna O. Heuhsen

  38Vice President, Corporate Governance and Associate General Counsel61

Craig A. Johnson

  

President and Chief Executive Vice President

President, Philip Morris USA Inc.

Officer, Altria Group Distribution Company
  5659

Denise F. Keane

  

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

59

Salvatore Mancuso

  57

Murray S. Kessler

Vice President and Treasurer, Finance and Strategy
  

Vice Chairman

President and Chief Executive Officer, UST Inc.

46  49

Nancy B. Lund

Senior Vice President of Marketing, Altria Client Services Inc.

56

Sean X. McKessy

Senior Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

41

John R. Nelson

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

59

Peter P. Paoli

  57President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC54

Walter V. SmithW. Hildebrandt Surgner, Jr.

  

Vice President, Corporate Tax

Secretary and Senior Assistant General Counsel
  6546

Michael E. Szymanczyk

  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer  6063

Linda M. Warren

  Vice President and Controller  6063

Howard A. Willard III

  Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business DevelopmentChief Financial Officer  4548

 

All of the above-mentioned officers have been employed by Altria Group, Inc. or itits subsidiaries in various capacities during the past five years, except for Messrs. Kessler and Butler,Ms. Heuhsen, who became executive officers uponjoined in 2008 after serving as a partner in the acquisitionlaw firm of UST on January 6, 2009, and Mr. McKessy, who joinedHunton & Williams LLP. On December 14, 2011, Altria Group, Inc. in 2005announced that Ms. Warren will retire effective February 24, 2012, and that Ivan Feldman has been appointed to replace her effective upon her retirement. Mr. Feldman, age 45, currently serves as Senior Assistant General CounselVice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary.Controller, Financial Reporting, Altria Client Services Inc., a position he has held since 2008. Since June 2000, he has been continuously employed by Altria Client Services Inc. in positions overseeing financial reporting and analysis.

 

On January 27, 2011, Altria Group, Inc. announced that Mr. ButlerSzymanczyk will retire as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and that Mr. Barrington has been appointed to serve as Chairman and CEO, such changes to be effective upon the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 17, 2012. Mr. Barrington was employed by UST in various capacities since Septemberalso elected to Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of 2004 and served as President of USSTC since November 3, 2005. Previously, heDirectors effective January 26, 2012. Additionally, Mr. Beran was employed at Kraft from 1987appointed to 2004 and held several executive positions of increasing responsibility.

Mr. Kessler was employed by UST in various capacities during the past five years and servedserve as President and Chief ExecutiveOperating Officer, effective upon the conclusion of UST since January 1, 2007.the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Mr. McKessy previously worked as Securities Counsel for Caterpillar Inc. andIn addition, Ms. Brennan has announced her retirement as Senior Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement in Washington, D.C.Vice President, Marketing, Altria Client Services Inc., effective April 1, 2012.

Codes of Conduct and Corporate Governance

 

Altria Group, Inc. has adopted the Altria Code of Conduct for Compliance and Integrity, which complies with requirements set forth in Item 406 of Regulation S-K. This Code of Conduct applies to all of its employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. Altria Group, Inc. has also adopted a

-45-


code of business conduct and ethics that applies to the members of its Board of Directors. These documents are available free of charge on Altria Group, Inc.’s website at www.altria.com and will be provided free of charge to any stockholder requesting a copy by writing to: Corporate Secretary, Altria Group, Inc., 6601 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230.www.altria.com.

 

In addition, Altria Group, Inc. has adopted corporate governance guidelines and charters for its Audit, Compensation and Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committees and the other committees of the Board of Directors. All of these documents are available free of charge on Altria Group, Inc.’s web sitewebsite at www.altria.com and will be provided free of charge to any stockholder requesting a copy by writing to: Corporate Secretary, Altria Group, Inc., 6601 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230.www.altria.com. Any waiver granted by Altria Group, Inc. to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or controller under the codeCode of ethics,Conduct, or certain amendments to the codeCode of ethics,Conduct, will be disclosed on the Altria Group, Inc.’s website at www.altria.com.

On June 23, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. filed its Annual CEO Certification as required by Section 303A.12 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

 

The information on the respective websites of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Report or incorporated into any other filings Altria Group, Inc. makes with the SEC.

 

Item 11.Executive Compensation.

 

Refer to “Compensation Committee Matters” and “Compensation of Directors” sections of the proxy statement.

 

Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The number of shares to be issued upon exercise or vesting and the number of shares remaining available for future issuance under Altria Group, Inc.’s equity compensation plans at December 31, 2008,2011, were as follows:

 

   Number of Shares
to be Issued upon
Exercise of Outstanding
Options and Vesting of
Deferred Stock


  Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options


  Number of Shares
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans


Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

  27,039,855  $10.04  42,522,663
   
  

  
   Number of
Shares
to be  Issued

upon
Exercise of

Outstanding
Options and
Vesting of
Deferred Stock

(a)

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price of
Outstanding

Options
(b)

   Number  of
Shares
Remaining
Available for
Future
Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation
Plans
(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(1)

   282,663(2)  $12.48     48,539,554(3) 
   


 


  


(1)The following plans have been approved by Altria Group, Inc. shareholders and have shares referenced in column (a) or column (c): the 2000 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, the 2005 Performance Incentive Plan, the 2010 Performance Incentive Plan, and the Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

(2)Includes 4,590 stock options and 278,073 shares of deferred stock.

(3)Includes 47,880,823 shares available under the 2010 Performance Incentive Plan and 658,731 shares available under the Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, and excludes shares reflected in column (a).

 

Refer to “Ownership of Equity Securities” section of the proxy statement.

Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Refer to “Related Person Transactions and Code of Conduct” and “Independence of Nominees” sections of the proxy statement.

 

Item 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

Refer to “Audit Committee Matters” section of the proxy statement.

-46-


PART IV

 

Item 15.Exhibits and Financial Statement SchedulesSchedules..

 

(a) Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules

(a)Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules

 

   Reference

   Form 10-K
    Annual    
Report
Page


 20082011
Annual
Report
Page


Data incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s 20082011 Annual Report:

     

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010 and 20062009

  -—    1911

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 20082011 and 20072010

  -—    20-2112 - 13

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010 and 20062009

  -—    22-2314 - 15

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010 and 20062009

  -—    2416

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  -—    25-7517 - 70

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  -—    99100

Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

  -—    100101

Data submitted herein:

     

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedule

  S-1  

Financial Statement Schedule—Schedule – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

  S-2  

 

Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted either because such schedules are not required or are not applicable.

 

(b) The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report:

(b)The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report:

 

 2.1  Distribution Agreement by and between Altria Group, Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., dated as of January 31, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).
 2.2  Distribution Agreement by and between Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc., dated as of January 30, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
 2.3  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among UST Inc., Altria Group, Inc., and Armchair Merger Sub, Inc., dated as of September 7, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
 2.4  Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 7, 2008, by and among UST Inc., Altria Group, Inc., and Armchair Merger Sub, Inc., dated as of October 2, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
 3.1  Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Altria Group, Inc. and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Altria Group, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-08940).

 3.2  Amended and Restated By-laws of Altria Group, Inc. Incorporatedeffective January 26, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2008January 27, 2012 (File No. 1-08940).

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  4.1Form of Indenture between Altria Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 22, 1990 (No. 33-36450).
 4.2  First Supplemental Indenture to Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990, between Altria Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee, dated as of February 1, 1991. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on February 21, 1991 (No. 33-39059).
  4.34.1  Second Supplemental Indenture to Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990, between Altria Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee, dated as of January 21, 1992. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on January 22, 1992 (No. 33-45210).
  4.4  Indenture between Altria Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee, dated as of December 2, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3/A filed on January 29, 1998 (No. 333-35143).
 4.5  4.25-Year Revolving Credit Agreement among Altria Group, Inc. and the Initial Lenders named therein and 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, dated as of April 15, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 20, 2005 (File No. 1-08940).
  4.6  First Supplemental Indenture to Indenture, dated as of December 2, 1996, between Altria Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee, dated as of February 13, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
 4.7  4.3Third Supplemental Indenture to Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990, between Altria Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York, dated as of February 13, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
  4.8  Indenture among Altria Group, Inc., as Issuer, Philip Morris USA Inc., as Guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, dated as of November 4, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on November 4, 2008 (No. 333-155009).
 4.9  4.43-Year Revolving Credit Agreement among Altria Group, Inc. and the Initial Lenders named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as Syndication Agents and Banco Santander, S.A., New York Branch, The Bank of Nova Scotia, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Documentation Agents, dated as of November 20, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 23, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).
  4.55-Year Revolving Credit Agreement among Altria Group, Inc. and the Initial Lenders named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, The Bank of Nova Scotia and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Syndication Agents and Sovereign Bank, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and U.S. Bank National Association, as Documentation Agents, dated as of June 30, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2011 (File No. 1-08940).
  4.6  The Registrant agrees to furnish copies of any instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries that does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the Registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries to the Commission upon request.
10.1  Comprehensive Settlement Agreement and Release related to settlement of Mississippi health care cost recovery action, dated as of October 17, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 1-08940).

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10.2  Settlement Agreement related to settlement of Florida health care cost recovery action, dated August 25, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 3, 1997 (File No. 1-08940).
10.3  Comprehensive Settlement Agreement and Release related to settlement of Texas health care cost recovery action, dated as of January 16, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).

10.4  Settlement Agreement and Stipulation for Entry of Judgment regarding the claims of the State of Minnesota, dated as of May 8, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).
10.5  Settlement Agreement and Release regarding the claims of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, dated as of May 8, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).
10.6  Stipulation of Amendment to Settlement Agreement and For Entry of Agreed Order regarding the settlement of the Mississippi health care cost recovery action, dated as of July 2, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).
10.7  Stipulation of Amendment to Settlement Agreement and For Entry of Consent Decree regarding the settlement of the Texas health care cost recovery action, dated as of July 24, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).
10.8  Stipulation of Amendment to Settlement Agreement and For Entry of Consent Decree regarding the settlement of the Florida health care cost recovery action, dated as of September 11, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).
10.9  Master Settlement Agreement relating to state health care cost recovery and other claims, dated as of November 23, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 25, 1998, as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on December 24, 1998 (File No. 1-08940).
10.10  Stipulation and Agreed Order Regarding Stay of Execution Pending Review and Related Matters, dated as of May 7, 2001. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2001 (File No. 1-08940).
10.11  Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Altria Group, Inc., Bradford Holdings, Inc. and John Middleton, Inc., dated as of October 31, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).
10.12  Employee Matters Agreement by and between Altria Group, Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., dated as of March 30, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).
10.13  Tax Sharing Agreement by and between Altria Group, Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., dated as of March 30, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).
10.14  Transition Services Agreement by and between Altria Corporate Services, Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., dated as of March 30, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).

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10.15  Intellectual Property Agreement by and between Philip Morris International Inc. and Philip Morris USA Inc., dated as of January 1, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
10.16  Employee Matters Agreement by and between Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc., dated as of March 28, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).

10.17  Tax Sharing Agreement by and between Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc., dated as of March 28, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
10.18  Transition Services Agreement by and between Altria Corporate Services, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc., dated as of March 28, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
10.19  364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement among Altria Group, Inc. and the Initial Lenders named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as Syndication Agents and ABN AMROBanco Santander, S.A., New York Branch, The Bank N.V., BNP Paribas,of Nova Scotia, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and UBS Loan Finance LLC,The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Arrangers and Documentation Agents, dated as of March 29, 2007.November 17, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2007November 17, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).
10.20  U.S. $4,000,000,000 364-Day Bridge Loan Agreement among Altria Group, Inc. and the Initial Lenders named therein and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. as Administrative Agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Arrangers and Documentation Agents, dated as of January 28, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
10.21  Guarantee made by Philip Morris USA Inc., in favor of the lenders partiesparty to the 5-Year3-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2005,November 20, 2009, among Altria Group, Inc., the lenders named therein, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents, dated as of September 8, 2008.November 20, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2008November 23, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).
10.2210.21  Guarantee made by Philip Morris USA Inc., in favor of the lenders partiesparty to the Bridge Loan364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2008,November 17, 2010, among Altria Group, Inc., the lenders named therein, and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P.JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents, dated as of September 8, 2008.November 17, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2008November 17, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).
10.2310.22  Commitment LetterGuarantee made by Philip Morris USA Inc., in favor of the lenders party to the 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2011, among Altria Group, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,the lenders named therein, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA,as Administrative Agents, dated as of September 7, 2008.June 30, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2008June 30, 2011 (File No. 1-08940).
10.2410.23  Amended and Restated Commitment Letter among Altria Group, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, dated as of October 20, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).

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10.25364-Day Bridge Loan Agreement among Altria Group, Inc. and the Initial Lenders named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as Administrative Agents, Citicorp North America, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Syndication Agents, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-arrangers, dated as of December 19, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).
10.26  Financial Counseling Program. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 19972009 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.2710.24  Benefit Equalization Plan, effective as of September 2, 1974, as amended.*
10.2810.25  Form of Employee Grantor Trust Enrollment Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.2910.26  Form of Supplemental Employee Grantor Trust Enrollment Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3010.27  Automobile Policy. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3110.28  Supplemental Management Employees’ Retirement Plan of Altria Group, Inc., effective as of October 1, 1987, as amended.
10.32Unit Plan for Incumbent Non-Employee Directors, effective January 1, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 19952008 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3310.29  Form of Executive Master Trust between Altria Group, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank and Handy Associates.Unit Plan for Incumbent Non-Employee Directors, effective January 1, 1996, as amended effective August 31, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 19942009 (File No. 1-08940).*

10.3410.30  1997 Performance Incentive Plan, effective on May 1, 1997.Grantor Trust Agreement by and between Altria Client Services Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated February 23, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s definitive proxy statement filedAnnual Report on March 10, 1997Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3510.31  Long-Term Disability Benefit Equalization Plan, effective as of January 1, 1989, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s AnnualQuarterly Report on Form 10-K10-Q for the yearperiod ended December 31, 1997June 30, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3610.32  Survivor Income Benefit Equalization Plan, effective as of January 1, 1985, as amended.amended and in effect as of January 1, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s AnnualQuarterly Report on Form 10-K10-Q for the yearperiod ended December 31, 1997June 30, 2011 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3710.33  2000 Performance Incentive Plan, effective on May 1, 2000. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s definitive proxy statement filed on March 10, 2000 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3810.34  2000 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated as of March 1, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.3910.35  2005 Performance Incentive Plan, effective on May 1, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s definitive proxy statement filed on March 14, 2005 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.4010.36  2005 Deferred Fee Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated effective April 24, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.4110.37  2005 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated effective AprilFebruary 24, 2008.2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).*

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10.4210.382010 Performance Incentive Plan, effective on May 20, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s definitive proxy statement filed on April 9, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.39  Kraft Foods Inc. Supplemental Benefits Plan I (including First Amendment adding Supplement A), as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.4310.40  Agreement by and between Mr. Louis C. Camilleri and Altria Group, Inc., dated June 1, 2001. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).
10.44  Agreement among Altria Group, Inc., PM USA and Michael E. Szymanczyk, dated as of May 15, 2002. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.4510.41  Form of Indemnity Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 30, 2006 (File No. 1-08940).
10.4610.42  Description of Participation by Dinyar S. Devitre in the International Management Benefit Program Retirement Plan. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (File No. 1-08940).
10.47Designation of Participant Under the Supplemental Management Employees’ Retirement Plan (Dinyar S. Devitre), dated May 18, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (File No. 1-08940).
10.48Form of Deferred Stock Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2006. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 1-08940).
10.49Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2006. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2006 (File No. 1-08940).
10.50  Form of Deferred Stock Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2007 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.5110.43  Form of Deferred Stock Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.5210.44  Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2008. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2008 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.45Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).*

10.46Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.47Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.48Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2011 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.49Form of Deferred Stock Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2011 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.50Form of Executive Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2011 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.51Time Sharing Agreement between Altria Client Services Inc. and Michael E. Szymanczyk, dated January 28, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.52First Amendment to the Time Sharing Agreement between Altria Client Services Inc. and Michael E. Szymanczyk, dated November 12, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 1-08940).*
10.53Second Amendment to the Time Sharing Agreement between Altria Client Services Inc. and Michael E. Szymanczyk, effective October 14, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 1-08940).*
12  Statements regarding computation of ratios.
13  Pages 179 to 100101 of the 20082011 Annual Report, but only to the extent set forth in Items 1, 5-8, 9A, and 15 hereof. With the exception of the aforementioned information incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the 20082011 Annual Report is not to be deemed “filed” as part of this Report.
21  Subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc.
23  Consent of independent registered public accounting firm.
24  Powers of attorney.
31.1  Certification of the Registrant’s 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.

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31.2  Certification of the Registrant’s 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 the Registrant’s 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 the Registrant’s 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.Matters.
99.2  Trial Schedule.Schedule for Certain Cases.
99.3Definitions of Terms Related to Financial Covenants Included in Altria Group, Inc.’s 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2011.
101.INSXBRL Instance Document.
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

 

-53-

*Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which directors or executive officers are eligible to participate.


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

Altria Group, Inc.

By:

 

/S/s/    MICHAEL E. SZYMANCZYK        


  

(Michael E. Szymanczyk

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer)

 

Date: February 27, 200916, 2012

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:

 

Signature


  

Title


  

Date


/S/s/    MICHAEL E. SZYMANCZYK        


(Michael E. Szymanczyk)

  

Director, Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

  February 27, 200916, 2012

/s/    HS/    DAVIDOWARD R. BA. WERAN        ILLARD III        


(David R. Beran)Howard A. Willard III)

  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

  February 27, 200916, 2012

/S/s/    LINDA M. WARREN        


(Linda M. Warren)

  

Vice President and Controller

  February 27, 200916, 2012

*        ELIZABETH E. BAILEY,

GERALD L. BALILES,

MARTIN J. BARRINGTON

JOHN T. CASTEEN III,

DINYAR S. DEVITRE,

THOMAS F. FARRELL II,

ROBERT E. R. HUNTLEY,

THOMAS W. JONES,

W. LEO KIELY III

GEORGE MUÑOZ,

NABIL Y. SAKKAB

  

Directors

   

*By:

  

/S/s/    MICHAEL E. SZYMANCZYK      �� 


(MICHAEL E. SZYMANCZYK

ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)

   


February 27, 200916, 2012

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmREPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Altria Group, Inc.:

 

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements and of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting referred to in our report dated January 28, 200927, 2012 appearing in the 20082011 Annual Report to Shareholders of Altria Group, Inc. (which report and consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K) also included an audit of the financial statement schedule listed in Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K. In our opinion, this financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Richmond, Virginia

January 28, 200927, 2012

ALTRIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010, and 20062009

(in millions)

 

Col. A


  Col. B

  Col. C

  Col. D

  Col. E

  Col. B

   Col. C

   Col. D

   Col. E

 
     Additions

            Additions

         

Description


  Balance at
Beginning
of Period


  Charged to
Costs and
Expenses


  Charged to
Other
Accounts


  Deductions

  Balance at
End of
Period


  Balance at
Beginning
of Period


   Charged to
Costs and
Expenses


   Charged to
Other
Accounts


   Deductions

   Balance at
End of
Period


 
        (a)  (b)             (a)   (b)     

2008:

               

2011:

               

CONSUMER PRODUCTS:

               

Allowance for discounts

  $—      $602    $—      $602    $—    

Allowance for returned goods

   46     102     —       94     54  
  


  


  


  


  


  $46    $704    $—      $696    $54  
  


  


  


  


  


FINANCIAL SERVICES:

               

Allowances for losses

  $202    $25    $—      $—      $227  
  


  


  


  


  


2010:

               

CONSUMER PRODUCTS:

                              

Allowance for discounts

  $—    $492  $—    $492  $—    $—      $606    $—      $606    $—    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   3   —     —     —     3   3     —       —       3     —    

Allowance for returned goods

   2   6   —     4   4   47     86     —       87     46  
  

  

  

  

  

  


  


  


  


  


  $5  $498  $—    $496  $7  $50    $692    $—      $696    $46  
  

  

  

  

  

  


  


  


  


  


FINANCIAL SERVICES:

                              

Allowance for losses

  $204  $100  $—    $—    $304

Allowances for losses

  $266    $—      $—      $64    $202  
  

  

  

  

  

  


  


  


  


  


2007:

               

2009:

               

CONSUMER PRODUCTS:

                              

Allowance for discounts

  $—    $493  $—    $493  $—    $—      $593    $—      $593    $—    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   6   —     1   4   3   3     —       —       —       3  

Allowance for returned goods

   1   3   —     2   2   4     104     15     76     47  
  

  

  

  

  

  


  


  


  


  


  $7  $496  $1  $499  $5  $7    $697    $15    $669    $50  
  

  

  

  

  

  


  


  


  


  


FINANCIAL SERVICES:

                              

Allowance for losses

  $480  $—    $—    $276  $204

Allowances for losses

  $304    $15    $—      $53    $266  
  

  

  

  

  

  


  


  


  


  


2006:

               

CONSUMER PRODUCTS:

               

Allowance for discounts

  $—    $516  $—    $516  $—  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   2   4   —     —     6

Allowance for returned goods

   2   1   —     2   1
  

  

  

  

  

  $4  $521  $—    $518  $7
  

  

  

  

  

FINANCIAL SERVICES:

               

Allowance for losses

  $596  $103  $—    $219  $480
  

  

  

  

  


Notes:

 

(a)Primarily relatedRelated to acquisition.the acquisition of UST LLC

 

(b)Represents charges for which allowances were created.created

 

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