Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
GUARANTEE, dated as of August 1, 2018 (as amended from time to time, this “Guarantee”), made by Philip Morris USA Inc., a Virginia corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of the Lenders (the “Lenders”) party to the5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Altria Group, Inc. (“Altria”), such Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMCB”) and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agents for the Lenders. Capitalized terms used in this Guarantee and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the Credit Agreement.
WITNESSETH:
SECTION 1.Guarantee. (a) The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all the obligations of Altria now or hereafter existing under the Credit Agreement, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise (such obligations being referred to herein as the “Obligations”).
(b) It is the intention of the Guarantor that this Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to this Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the amount guaranteed by the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, result in the Obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. For purposes hereof, “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
SECTION 2.Guarantee Absolute. The Guarantor guarantees that the Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, or the Lenders with respect thereto. The liability of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity, enforceability or genuineness of any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Credit Agreement;
(c) any exchange, release ornon-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations; or
(d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Altria or a guarantor.
SECTION 3.Subordination. The Guarantor covenants and agrees that its obligation to make payments of the Obligations hereunder constitutes an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor ranking (a) pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Guarantor and (b) senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor.