FORM 10-K



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                     to                     
Commission File Number 1-08940
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. þ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ¨ Yes þ No
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 þ Yes ¨   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) þ Yes ¨ 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”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
     Large accelerated filer þ                                                                                   Accelerated filer ¨  
     Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if smaller reporting company) Smaller operating company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ¨Yes    þ No
As of June 30, 2012, the aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $70 billion based on the closing sale price of the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
                          Class                           
 
Outstanding at February 15, 2013
 
Common Stock, $0.33  1/3 par value
                                    2,009,855,261 shares
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for use in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 16, 2013, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 4, 2013 are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.





 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
Page
PART I
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
Item 15.
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedule
S-1
 
 
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
S-2





Table of Contents

Part I
Item 1. Business.
General Development of Business
General: Altria Group, Inc. is a holding company incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1985. At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. ("PM USA"), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smokeless products in the United States; John Middleton Co. ("Middleton"), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA; and 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. 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 approximately 26.9% of the economic and voting interest of SABMiller plc ("SABMiller") at December 31, 2012, which Altria Group, Inc. accounts for under the equity method of accounting.
On January 6, 2009, Altria Group, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding common stock of UST. The transaction was valued at approximately $11.7 billion, which represented a purchase price of $10.4 billion and approximately $1.3 billion of UST debt, which together with acquisition-related costs and payments of approximately $0.6 billion, represented a total cash outlay of approximately $11 billion. This acquisition was financed with long-term borrowings. As a result of the acquisition, UST became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc.
On March 28, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. distributed all of its interest in Philip Morris International Inc. ("PMI") to Altria Group, Inc. stockholders in a tax-free distribution. Following the distribution of PMI, Altria Group, Inc. does not own any shares of PMI stock. Altria Group, Inc. has reflected the results of PMI prior to the distribution as discontinued operations. The PMI spin-off resulted in a net decrease to Altria Group, Inc.'s total stockholders' equity of $14.7 billion on the distribution date. 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.
Source of Funds: Because Altria Group, Inc. is a holding company, its access to the operating cash flows of its wholly-owned subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans by its subsidiaries. At December 31, 2012, 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.
Financial Information About Segments
Altria Group, Inc.'s chief operating decision maker has been evaluating the operating results of the former cigarettes and cigars segments as a single smokeable products segment since January 1, 2012. The combination of these two formerly separate segments is related to the restructuring associated with the cost reduction program announced in October 2011 (the "2011 Cost Reduction Program"). Also, in connection with the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, effective January 1, 2012, Middleton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA. For further discussion on the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, see Note 4. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 8").
Effective with the first quarter of 2012, and at December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s reportable segments were smokeable products, smokeless products, wine and financial services. Net revenues and operating companies income (together with reconciliation to earnings before income taxes) attributable to each such segment for each of the last three years are set forth in Note 15. Segment Reporting to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 15").
Altria Group, Inc.'s chief operating decision maker reviews operating companies income to evaluate the performance of and allocate 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 3. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 2").


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The relative percentages of operating companies income attributable to each reportable segment were as follows:
 
2012
2011
2010
 
 
 
 
Smokeable products
83.7
%
90.5
 %
84.6
%
Smokeless products
12.5

13.6

12.1

Wine
1.4

1.4

0.9

Financial services
2.4

(5.5
)
2.4

 
100.0
%
100.0
 %
100.0
%

For items affecting the comparability of the relative percentages of operating companies income attributable to each reportable segment, see Note 15.
Effective with the first quarter of 2013, Altria Group, Inc.'s reportable segments will be smokeable products, smokeless products and wine. In connection with this revision, results of the financial services business and the alternative products business will be combined in an All Other category. Altria Group, Inc. is making these changes due to the continued reduction of the lease portfolio of PMCC and the relative financial contribution of Altria Group, Inc.'s alternative products business to its consolidated results. Altria Group, Inc. will begin reporting the All Other category and presenting comparable results for prior periods with its 2013 first-quarter results.
Narrative Description of Business
Portions of the information called for by this Item are included in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Operating Results by Business Segment of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Tobacco Space
Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco operating companies include PM USA, USSTC and other 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.
The products of Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries include smokeable products, comprised of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton; and smokeless products manufactured and sold by or on behalf of USSTC and PM USA. Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries believe that a significant number of adult tobacco consumers switch between tobacco categories or use multiple forms of tobacco products and that approximately 30% of adult smokers are interested in spit-free smokeless tobacco alternatives to cigarettes.
Cigarettes: PM USA is the largest cigarette company in the United States, with total cigarette shipment volume in the United States of approximately 134.9 billion units in 2012, a decrease of 0.2% from 2011. Marlboro, the principal cigarette brand of PM
 
USA, has been the largest-selling cigarette brand in the United States for over 35 years.
Cigars: 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 cigars was approximately 1.2 billion units in 2012, a decrease of 0.7% from 2011. Black & Mild is the principal cigar brand of Middleton.
Smokeless products: USSTC is the leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products. The smokeless products segment includes the premium brands, Copenhagen and Skoal, value brands, Red Seal and Husky, and Marlboro Snus, a premium PM USA spit-free 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 763.3 million units in 2012, an increase of 3.9% from 2011.
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 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


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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 10 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. As a result of FETRA, Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries recorded approximately $0.4 billion of charges to cost of sales during each of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 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 beginning in fiscal year 2011 (all of which have been denied by the USDA) and has submitted a petition for rulemaking with the USDA (which petition was denied by the USDA in November 2011), in each case asserting that the 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 Cigar Association of America has joined the litigation as a defendant intervenor. In October 2012, the district court dismissed the case over PM USA's objection and the matter is now on appeal.
The quota buy-out did not have a material impact on Altria Group, Inc.'s 2012 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 2013 and 2014, when the obligations imposed by FETRA will expire.
USSTC purchases burley, dark fire-cured and air-cured tobaccos of various grades and styles from domestic tobacco
 
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 their current and anticipated production requirements.
Wine
Altria Group, Inc. acquired UST and its premium wine business, Ste. Michelle, in January 2009. Ste. Michelle is a producer of premium varietal and blended table wines. Ste. Michelle is a leading producer of Washington state wines, primarily Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest, and owns wineries in or distributes wines from several other wine regions and foreign countries. Ste. Michelle's total 2012 wine shipment volume of 7.6 million cases increased 3.7% from 2011.
Ste. Michelle holds an 85% ownership interest in Michelle-Antinori, LLC, which owns Stag's Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. Ste. Michelle also owns Conn Creek in Napa Valley and Erath in Oregon. In addition, Ste. Michelle distributes Antinori and Villa Maria Estate wines and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte in the United States.
Distribution, Competition and Raw Materials: Key elements of Ste. Michelle's strategy are 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 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.


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Financial Services
In 2003, PMCC ceased making new investments and 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, 2012, PMCC's investments in finance leases were principally comprised of the following investment categories: aircraft (33%), rail and surface transport (24%), electric power (24%), real estate (13%) and manufacturing (6%). There were no investments located outside the United States at December 31, 2012.
See Note 7. Finance Assets, net, Note 14. Income Taxes and Note 18. Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for a discussion of a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that conclusively resolved the federal income tax treatment for all prior and future tax years of certain leveraged lease transactions entered into by PMCC.
Other Matters
Customers: The largest customer of PM USA, USSTC and Middleton, McLane Company, Inc., accounted for approximately 27% of Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated net revenues for each of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. These net revenues were reported in the smokeable products and smokeless products segments.
Sales to three distributors accounted for approximately 66%, 66% and 65% of net revenues for the wine segment for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Employees: At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries employed approximately 9,100 people.
Executive Officers of Altria Group, Inc.: The disclosure regarding executive officers is included in Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance - Executive Officers as of February 15, 2013 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Research and Development: Research and development expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is set forth in Note 17. Additional Information to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8.
Intellectual Property: 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, 2012, the portfolio of over 500 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 group of related patents was material to Altria Group, Inc.'s business or its tobacco businesses as of December 31, 2012. 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 Regulation: Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (and former subsidiaries) are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise related to environmental protection, including, in the United States: The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (commonly known as "Superfund"), which can impose joint and several liability on each responsible party. Subsidiaries (and former subsidiaries) of Altria Group, Inc. are involved in several matters subjecting them to potential costs of remediation and natural resource damages under Superfund or other laws and regulations. Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries expect to continue to make capital and other expenditures in connection with environmental laws and regulations. As 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 reasonably estimate the cost of 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 environmental laws and regulations, including the payment of any remediation costs or damages and the making of related 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 or cash flows.
Financial Information About Geographic Areas
Substantially all of Altria Group, Inc.'s net revenues are from sales generated in the United States for each of the last three fiscal years and substantially all of Altria Group, Inc.'s long-lived assets are located in the United States.
Available Information
Altria Group, Inc. is required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("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


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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 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 on Form 10-K.

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 security holders and in press releases and investor webcasts. You can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "will," "estimates," "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 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 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 7"). 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 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 may be 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 45 states and Puerto Rico now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. As discussed in Note 18. Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 18"), 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.
___________________________________________________
*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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In certain litigation, PM USA faces potentially significant non-monetary remedies. For example, in the lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice, discussed in Note 18, the district court did not impose monetary penalties but ordered significant non-monetary remedies, including the issuance of "corrective statements" in various media.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries have achieved substantial success in managing litigation. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to uncertainty and significant challenges remain. It is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc., or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. Altria Group, Inc. and each of its subsidiaries named as a defendant believe, and each has been so advised by counsel handling the respective cases, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. Each of the companies has defended, and will continue to defend, vigorously against litigation challenges. However, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria Group, Inc. to do so. See Item 3. Legal Proceedings of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Note 18 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of pending tobacco-related litigation.
Tobacco Regulation and Control Action in the Public and Private Sectors
Our tobacco subsidiaries face significant governmental action, including efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of tobacco use, restricting marketing and advertising, imposing regulations on packaging, warnings and disclosure of flavors or other ingredients, prohibiting the sale of tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors or other characteristics, premarket authorization of certain tobacco products, 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 in Tobacco Space - Business Environment - FSPTCA and FDA Regulation in Item 7. 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 these 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 business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
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 adverse impact on the reported share performance of tobacco products of Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries. For further discussion, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Excise Taxes in Item 7.
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, among other factors, have resulted in substantial cigarette price increases. PM USA faces competition from lowest priced brands sold by certain United States and foreign manufacturers that have cost advantages because they are not parties to these settlements. These manufacturers may fail to comply with related state escrow legislation or may avoid escrow deposit obligations on the majority of their sales by concentrating on certain states where escrow deposits are not required or are required on fewer than all such manufacturers' cigarettes sold in such states. Additional competition has resulted from diversion into the United States market of cigarettes intended for sale outside the United States, the sale of counterfeit cigarettes by third parties, the sale of cigarettes by third parties over the Internet and by other means designed to avoid collection of applicable taxes, and increased imports of foreign lowest priced brands. USSTC faces significant competition in the smokeless tobacco category, both from existing competitors and new entrants, and has experienced consumer down-trading to lower-priced brands. In the cigar category, additional competition has resulted from increased imports of machine-made large cigars manufactured offshore.


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Table of Contents

New Product Technologies
Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries continue to seek ways to develop and to commercialize new product technologies that may reduce the health risks associated with current tobacco products, while continuing to offer adult tobacco consumers (within and potentially outside the United States) products that meet their taste expectations and evolving preferences. Potential solutions being researched include tobacco-containing and nicotine-containing products that reduce or eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke and/or constituents identified by public health authorities as harmful. These efforts may include arrangements with third parties. Moreover, these efforts may not succeed. If our subsidiaries do not succeed in their efforts, 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 such products with claims of reduced risk to consumers (or otherwise impose an unduly burdensome regulatory framework on such products) or whether consumers' purchase decisions would be affected by such claims, which could adversely affect the commercial viability of any such products that might be developed.
Adjacency Growth 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, see New Product Technologies above.
Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality
Any significant change in tobacco leaf prices, quality or availability could adversely affect our tobacco subsidiaries' profitability and business. For a discussion of factors that influence leaf prices, availability and quality, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality in Item 7.
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 disruption in operations experienced by one or more Altria Group, Inc. subsidiaries or significant suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the business, the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position 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 impact of decreasing social acceptance of tobacco usage and tobacco regulation and control actions. The tobacco industry competes for talent with the consumer products industry and other companies that enjoy greater societal acceptance.  As a result, we may be unable to attract and retain the best talent.
Competition, Evolving Consumer Preferences and Economic Downturns
Each of our tobacco 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 preferences;
develop new products and markets within and potentially outside of the United States and broaden brand portfolios in order to compete effectively with lower-priced products;
improve productivity; and
protect or enhance margins through cost savings and price increases.
The willingness of adult consumers to purchase premium consumer product brands depends in part on economic conditions. In periods of economic uncertainty, adult consumers may purchase more discount brands and/or, in the case of tobacco products, consider lower-priced tobacco products. The results of our tobacco 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. 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 credit ratings over time, it is possible that completing a given acquisition or other event could impact our credit 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.


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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 earnings of 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 other intangible assets to test for impairment. This calculation may be affected by several factors, including general economic 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, see Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Item 7.
Wine - Competition; Grape Supply; Regulation and Excise Taxes
Ste. Michelle's business is subject to significant competition, including from many large, well-established domestic and international 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. Supply shortages related to any one or more of these factors could increase production costs and wine prices, which ultimately may have a negative impact on Ste. Michelle's sales. In addition, federal, state and local governmental agencies regulate the alcohol beverage industry through various means, including licensing requirements, pricing, labeling and advertising restrictions, and distribution and production policies. New regulations or revisions to existing regulations, resulting in further restrictions or taxes on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, may have an adverse effect on Ste. Michelle's wine business. For further discussion, see Wine Segment - Business Environment in Item 7.
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, investors, 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.
Governmental Investigations
From time to time, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. We cannot predict whether new investigations may be commenced or the outcome of such investigations, and it is possible that our subsidiaries' businesses could be materially affected by an unfavorable outcome of future investigations.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. 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, 2012, the smokeable products segment utilized four manufacturing and processing facilities. PM USA owns and operates two tobacco manufacturing and processing facilities located in the Richmond, Virginia area that are utilized in the manufacturing and processing of cigarettes. Middleton owns and operates two manufacturing and processing facilities - one in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and one in Limerick, Pennsylvania - that are utilized in the manufacturing and processing of cigars and pipe tobacco. In addition, PM USA owns a research and technology center in Richmond, Virginia that is leased to an affiliate, Altria Client Services Inc.
At December 31, 2012, the smokeless products segment utilized four smokeless tobacco manufacturing and processing facilities located in Franklin Park, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia, all of which are owned and operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of USSTC.
At December 31, 2012, the wine segment utilized 11 wine-making facilities - seven in Washington, three in California and one in Oregon. All of these facilities are owned and operated by Ste. Michelle, with the exception of a facility that is leased by Ste. Michelle in Washington. In addition, in order to support the production of its wines, the wine segment utilized vineyards in Washington, 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


8



condition and are believed to be suitable and adequate for present needs.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The information required by this Item is included in Note 18 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2012 were filed on Form 8-K on January 31, 2013 (such consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are also included in Item 8). The following summarizes certain developments in Altria Group, Inc.'s litigation since the filing of such Form 8-K.
Recent Developments
Smoking and Health Litigation
Engle Progeny Cases: On January 31, 2013, in the Kayton (formerly Tate) case, PM USA filed a notice to invoke discretionary jurisdiction with the Florida Supreme Court. Also, on January 31, 2013, in the Hatziyannakis case, PM USA filed a motion for a citation in order to facilitate further review of the case in the Florida Supreme Court.
In Wilder, a case pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Fort Myers), the jury returned a verdict in favor of PM USA on February 5, 2013.
On February 8, 2013 in the Naugle case, PM USA filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. Plaintiff also filed a notice on February 22, 2013 to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court.
On February 13, 2013, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed per curiam the trial court's decision in favor of the plaintiff in the Weingart case.
With respect to the federal Engle progeny cases, on February 13, 2013, the defendants filed a motion for reconsideration by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida of its order directing the parties to engage in mediation to negotiate an aggregate settlement of all pending federal cases.
Non-Engle Progeny Case (Alaska): In the smoking and health case in Alaska in which a verdict was returned in favor of PM USA, the trial court withdrew on February 14, 2013 its prior order for a new trial upon PM USA's motion for reconsideration. On February 25, 2013, the plaintiff filed a motion for the trial court to reconsider its February 14, 2013 ruling and reinstate its prior order.
 
Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation
Other Disputes Related to Master Settlement Agreement ("MSA") Payments: On February 14, 2013, an arbitration panel (which is a separate panel from the one in the pending non-participating manufacturer adjustment disputes discussed in Note 18) issued a ruling in favor of the MSA states in the dispute over the method of converting ounces of "roll your own" tobacco into individual cigarettes for purposes of calculating PM USA's and the other participating manufacturer's downward volume adjustments.  Consequently, PM USA will not receive any credit against its future MSA payments for the approximately $92 million in excess payments that PM USA believed it made in 2004 - 2012 as a result of this issue.
This same arbitration panel also issued a ruling in the dispute over whether the "adjusted gross" or the "net" number of cigarettes on which federal excise tax is paid is the correct methodology for calculating MSA payments due from certain subsequent participating manufacturers.  It is unclear precisely which past and future MSA payments may be affected by this ruling.  PM USA also does not currently have access to the data that would be necessary to determine the magnitude and the direction of such effects, if any.
Federal Government's Lawsuit: On February 15, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted defendants' motion to hold their notice of appeal from the corrective statements order in abeyance.
"Lights/Ultra Lights" Cases
In the Aspinall case, on February 1, 2013, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, upon agreement of the parties, voluntarily dismissed Altria Group, Inc. without prejudice. PM USA is now the sole defendant in the case.
In the Carroll case, on February 6, 2013, the trial court approved the parties' stipulation to the dismissal without prejudice of Altria Group, Inc. and PMI. PM USA is now the sole defendant in the case.
In the Price case, on February 15, 2013, the Illinois Supreme Court denied PM USA's motion asking the Court to immediately exercise its jurisdiction over PM USA's appeal.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.


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Table of Contents

Part II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
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 February 15, 2013, there were approximately 82,000 holders of record of Altria Group, Inc.'s common stock.
Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return of Altria Group, Inc.'s common stock for the last five years with the cumulative total return for the same period of the S&P 500 Index and the Altria Group, Inc. Peer Group Index (1). The graph assumes the investment of $100 in common stock and each of the indices as of the market close on December 31, 2007 and the reinvestment of all dividends on a quarterly basis. On March 28, 2008, Altria Group, Inc. spun off its entire interest in Philip Morris International Inc. ("PMI") to its shareholders. The spin-off is treated as a special dividend for the purposes of calculating total shareholder return, with the then current market value of the distributed shares being deemed to have been reinvested on the spin-off date in shares of Altria Group, Inc.
Date
 
Altria Group, Inc.
 
Altria Group, Inc. Peer Group
 
S&P 500
December 2007
 
$
100.00

 
$
100.00

 
$
100.00

December 2008
 
$
68.69

 
$
80.27

 
$
63.00

December 2009
 
$
96.38

 
$
98.98

 
$
79.67

December 2010
 
$
129.07

 
$
112.44

 
$
91.67

December 2011
 
$
164.77

 
$
128.86

 
$
93.60

December 2012
 
$
184.17

 
$
140.34

 
$
108.58

Source: Bloomberg - "Total Return Analysis" calculated on a daily basis and assumes reinvestment of dividends as of the ex-dividend date.
(1)The Altria Group, Inc. Peer Group consists of 13 U.S.-headquartered consumer product companies that are competitors to Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco operating companies subsidiaries or that have been selected on the basis of revenue or market capitalization: Campbell Soup Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, ConAgra Foods, Inc., General Mills, Inc., H. J. Heinz Company, The Hershey Company, Kellogg Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly Kraft Foods Inc.), Lorillard, Inc. ("Lorillard"), PepsiCo, Inc., and Reynolds American Inc.
Note - During the five year measuring period, certain members of the Altria Group, Inc. Peer Group issued special dividends that were also included in the calculation of total shareholder return for the Altria Group, Inc. Peer Group Index. Lorillard's performance was represented by a tracking stock, Carolina Group (CG), from December 2007 through June 9, 2008. Lorillard (LO) began trading as an independent company on June 10, 2008. On October 1, 2012, Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) spun off Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (KRFT) to its shareholders and then changed its name from Kraft Foods Inc. to Mondelēz International, Inc. (MDLZ).

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities During the Quarter Ended December 31, 2012
In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program, which was expanded to $1.5 billion in October 2012 (the "October 2011 share repurchase program"). Altria Group, Inc. expects to complete the October 2011 share repurchase program by June 30, 2013. The timing of share repurchases under the October 2011 share repurchase program depends on marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors. Altria Group, Inc.'s share repurchase activity for each of the three months in the period ended December 31, 2012, 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 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
October 1- October 31, 2012
 
481,227

 
$
31.93

 
31,840,000

 
$
534,813,024

November 1- November 30, 2012
 
8,730,000

 
$
32.13

 
40,570,000

 
$
254,316,339

December 1- December 31, 2012
 
6,052,480

 
$
32.61

 
46,620,000

 
$
57,021,354

For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2012
 
15,263,707

 
$
32.31

 
 
 
 
(1) 
The total number of shares purchased include (a) shares purchased under the October 2011 share repurchase program (which totaled 480,000 shares in October, 8,730,000 shares in November and 6,050,000 shares in December) and (b) shares withheld by Altria Group, Inc. in an amount equal to statutory withholding for 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 1,227 shares in October and 2,480 shares in December).
(2) 
Aggregate number of shares purchased under the October 2011 share repurchase program as of the end of the period presented.
(3) 
Reflects the expansion of the October 2011 share repurchase program from $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion, which was authorized by Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors in October 2012.
The other information called for by this Item is included in Note 20. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 8").



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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
(in millions of dollars, except per share and employee data)
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
Summary of Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
$
24,618

 
$
23,800

 
$
24,363

 
$
23,556

 
$
19,356

Cost of sales
7,937

 
7,680

 
7,704

 
7,990

 
8,270

Excise taxes on products
7,118

 
7,181

 
7,471

 
6,732

 
3,399

Operating income
7,253

 
6,068

 
6,228

 
5,462

 
4,882

Interest and other debt expense, net
1,126

 
1,216

 
1,133

 
1,185

 
167

Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller
1,224

 
730

 
628

 
600

 
467

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
6,477

 
5,582

 
5,723

 
4,877

 
4,789

Pre-tax profit margin from continuing operations
26.3
%
 
23.5
%
 
23.5
%
 
20.7
%
 
24.7
%
Provision for income taxes
2,294

 
2,189

 
1,816

 
1,669

 
1,699

Earnings from continuing operations
4,183

 
3,393

 
3,907

 
3,208

 
3,090

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

 

 

 

 
1,901

Net earnings
4,183

 
3,393

 
3,907

 
3,208

 
4,991

Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.
4,180

 
3,390

 
3,905

 
3,206

 
4,930

Basic EPS    — continuing operations
2.06

 
1.64

 
1.87

 
1.55

 
1.49

— discontinued operations

 

 

 

 
0.88

— net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.
2.06

 
1.64

 
1.87

 
1.55

 
2.37

Diluted EPS — continuing operations
2.06

 
1.64

 
1.87

 
1.54

 
1.48

— discontinued operations

 

 

 

 
0.88

— net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc.
2.06

 
1.64

 
1.87

 
1.54

 
2.36

Dividends declared per share
1.70

 
1.58

 
1.46

 
1.32

 
1.68

Weighted average shares (millions) — Basic
2,024

 
2,064

 
2,077

 
2,066

 
2,075

Weighted average shares (millions) — Diluted
2,024

 
2,064

 
2,079

 
2,071

 
2,084

Capital expenditures
124

 
105

 
168

 
273

 
241

Depreciation
205

 
233

 
256

 
271

 
208

Property, plant and equipment, net (consumer products)
2,102

 
2,216

 
2,380

 
2,684

 
2,199

Inventories (consumer products)
1,746

 
1,779

 
1,803

 
1,810

 
1,069

Total assets
35,329

 
36,751

 
37,402

 
36,677

 
27,215

Total long-term debt
12,419

 
13,089

 
12,194

 
11,185

 
7,339

Total debt    — consumer products
13,878

 
13,689

 
12,194

 
11,960

 
6,974

— financial services

 

 

 

 
500

Total stockholders’ equity
3,170

 
3,683

 
5,195

 
4,072

 
2,828

Common dividends declared as a % of Basic EPS
82.5
%
 
96.3
%
 
78.1
%
 
85.2
%
 
70.9
%
Common dividends declared as a % of Diluted EPS
82.5
%
 
96.3
%
 
78.1
%
 
85.7
%
 
71.2
%
Book value per common share outstanding
1.58

 
1.80

 
2.49

 
1.96

 
1.37

Market price per common share — high/low
36.29-28.00

 
30.40-23.20

 
26.22-19.14

 
20.47-14.50

 
79.59-14.34

Closing price per common share at year end
31.44

 
29.65

 
24.62

 
19.63

 
15.06

Price/earnings ratio at year end — Basic
15

 
18

 
13

 
13

 
6

Price/earnings ratio at year end — Diluted
15

 
18

 
13

 
13

 
6

Number of common shares outstanding at year end (millions)
2,010

 
2,044

 
2,089

 
2,076

 
2,061

Approximate number of employees
9,100

 
9,900

 
10,000

 
10,000

 
10,400

The Selected Financial Data should be read in conjunction with Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8.
The Selected Financial Data reflect the results of Altria Group, Inc.'s former subsidiary PMI as discontinued operations prior to the spin-off of PMI on March 28, 2008.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8 and the discussion of cautionary factors that may affect future results in Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 1A").
Description of the Company
At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. ("PM USA"), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smokeless products in the United States; John Middleton Co. ("Middleton"), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA; and 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. 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 approximately 26.9% of the economic and voting interest of SABMiller plc ("SABMiller") at December 31, 2012, which Altria Group, Inc. accounts for under the equity method of accounting. Altria Group, Inc.'s access to the operating cash flows of its wholly-owned subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans by its subsidiaries. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in SABMiller if and when SABMiller pays such dividends. At December 31, 2012, 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.
Altria Group, Inc.'s chief operating decision maker has been evaluating the operating results of the former cigarettes and cigars segments as a single smokeable products segment since January 1, 2012. The combination of these two formerly separate segments is related to the restructuring associated with the cost reduction program announced in October 2011 (the "2011 Cost Reduction Program"). Also, in connection with the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, effective January 1, 2012, Middleton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA, reflecting management's goal to achieve efficiencies in the management of these businesses. Effective with the first quarter of 2012 and at December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s reportable segments were smokeable products, smokeless products, wine and financial services. As a result of the revised reportable segments and Middleton becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA, certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with
 
the current year's presentation. For further discussion on the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, see Note 4. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 4").
Effective with the first quarter of 2013, Altria Group, Inc.'s reportable segments will be smokeable products, smokeless products and wine. In connection with this revision, results of the financial services business and the alternative products business will be combined in an All Other category. Altria Group, Inc. is making these changes due to the continued reduction of the lease portfolio of PMCC and the relative financial contribution of Altria Group, Inc.'s alternative products business to its consolidated results. Altria Group, Inc. will begin reporting the All Other category and presenting comparable results for prior periods with its 2013 first-quarter results.
Executive Summary
The following executive summary is intended to provide significant highlights of the Discussion and Analysis that follows.
Consolidated Results of Operations
The changes in Altria Group, Inc.'s net earnings and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to Altria Group, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2012, from the year ended December 31, 2011, were due primarily to the following:
(in millions, except per share data)
Net
Earnings

 
Diluted
EPS

For the year ended December 31, 2011
$
3,390

 
$
1.64

2011 Asset impairment, exit,
 
 
 
implementation and integration costs
142

 
0.07

2011 SABMiller special items
54

 
0.03

2011 PMCC leveraged lease charge
627

 
0.30

2011 Tobacco and health judgments
102

 
0.05

2011 UST acquisition-related costs
5

 

2011 Tax items (*)
(77
)
 
(0.04
)
Subtotal 2011 special items
853

 
0.41

2012 Asset impairment, exit and
 implementation costs
(35
)
 
(0.01
)
2012 SABMiller special items
161

 
0.08

2012 PMCC leveraged lease benefit
68

 
0.03

2012 Tobacco and health judgments
(4
)
 

2012 Loss on early extinguishment of debt
(559
)
 
(0.28
)
2012 Tax items (*)
66

 
0.03

Subtotal 2012 special items
(303
)
 
(0.15
)
Fewer shares outstanding

 
0.04

Change in tax rate
(140
)
 
(0.07
)
Operations
380

 
0.19

For the year ended December 31, 2012
$
4,180

 
$
2.06

* Excludes the tax impact included in the PMCC leveraged lease benefit/charge.

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


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Fewer Shares Outstanding: Fewer shares outstanding during 2012 compared with 2011 were due primarily to shares repurchased by Altria Group, Inc. under its share repurchase programs.
Change in Tax Rate: The change in tax rate includes a reduction in certain consolidated tax benefits resulting from the 2012 debt tender offer.
Operations: The increase of $380 million in operations shown in the table above was due primarily to the following:
higher income from all reportable segments;
higher equity earnings from SABMiller; and
lower interest and other debt expense, net.
For further details, see the Consolidated Operating Results and Operating Results by Business Segment sections of the following Discussion and Analysis.
2013 Forecasted Results
While there are signs of modest improvement in certain economic indicators, Altria Group, Inc. remains cautious about the 2013 business environment. Adult consumers remain under economic pressure as they face the end of the payroll tax holiday, as well as continuing high unemployment. With a number of states facing budget shortfalls, tobacco products will remain a target for excise tax increases.
In January 2013, Altria Group, Inc. forecasted that its 2013 full-year reported diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $2.34 to $2.40. This forecast includes estimated expenses of $0.01 per share as detailed in the table below, as compared with 2012 full-year reported diluted EPS of $2.06, which included $0.15 per share of net expenses, as detailed in the table below. Expected 2013 full-year adjusted diluted EPS, which excludes the expenses in the table below, represents a growth rate of 6% to 9% over 2012 full-year adjusted diluted EPS. The 2013 full-year forecast does not reflect the potential impact of PM USA's agreement to resolve the Non-Participating Manufacturer ("NPM") adjustment disputes, discussed in Note 18. Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 18").
The factors described in Item 1A represent continuing risks to this forecast.
Expense (Income), Net Included in Reported Diluted EPS
 
2013

 
2012

Loss on early extinguishment of debt
$

 
$
0.28

Asset impairment, exit
 
 
 
 and implementation costs

 
0.01

SABMiller special items
0.01

 
(0.08
)
PMCC leveraged lease benefit

 
(0.03
)
Tax items*

 
(0.03
)
 
$
0.01

 
$
0.15

* Excludes the tax impact included in the PMCC leveraged lease benefit.

 
Adjusted diluted EPS is a financial measure that is not consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Altria Group, Inc.'s management reviews diluted EPS on an adjusted basis, which excludes certain income and expense items that management believes are not part of underlying operations. These items include loss on early extinguishment of debt, restructuring charges, SABMiller special items, certain PMCC leveraged lease items, certain tax items and tobacco and health judgments. Altria Group, Inc.'s management does not view any of these special items to be part of its sustainable results as they may be highly variable and difficult to predict and can distort underlying business trends and results. Altria Group, Inc.'s management believes it is appropriate to disclose this non-GAAP financial measure to provide useful insight into underlying business trends and results, and to provide a more meaningful comparison of year-over-year results. Adjusted measures are used by management and regularly provided to Altria Group, Inc.'s chief operating decision maker for planning, forecasting and evaluating the performances of Altria Group, Inc.'s businesses, including allocating resources and evaluating results relative to employee compensation targets. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Discussion and Analysis
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 2") includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated financial statements. In most instances, Altria Group, Inc. must use an accounting policy or method because it is the only policy or method permitted under U.S. GAAP.
The preparation of financial statements includes the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. If actual amounts are ultimately different from previous estimates, the revisions are included in Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known. Historically, the aggregate differences, if any, between Altria Group, Inc.'s estimates and actual amounts in any year have not had a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
The following is a review of the more significant assumptions and estimates, as well as the accounting policies and methods, used in the preparation of Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated financial statements:
Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include Altria Group, Inc., as well as its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Investments in which Altria


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Group, Inc. exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Revenue Recognition: The consumer products businesses recognize revenues, net of sales incentives and sales returns, and including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, upon shipment or delivery of goods when title and risk of loss pass to customers. Payments received in advance of revenue recognition are deferred and recorded in other accrued liabilities until revenue is recognized. Altria Group, Inc.'s consumer products businesses also include excise taxes billed to customers in net revenues. Shipping and handling costs are classified as part of cost of sales.
Depreciation, Amortization, Impairment Testing and Asset Valuation: Altria Group, Inc. depreciates property, plant and equipment and amortizes its definite-lived intangible assets using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives up to 25 years.
Altria Group, Inc. reviews long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Altria Group, Inc. performs undiscounted operating cash flow analyses to determine if an impairment exists. These analyses are affected by general economic conditions and projected growth rates. For purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment for assets held for use, Altria Group, Inc. groups assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which cash flows are separately identifiable. If an impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value. Impairment losses on assets to be disposed of, if any, are based on the estimated proceeds to be received, less costs of disposal. Altria Group, Inc. also reviews the estimated remaining useful lives of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate the lives may have changed.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded by Altria Group, Inc. at December 31, 2012 relate primarily to the acquisitions of UST in 2009 and Middleton in 2007. As required by U.S. GAAP, Altria Group, Inc. conducts an annual review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for potential impairment, and more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would require Altria Group, Inc. to perform an interim review.
Goodwill impairment testing requires a comparison between the carrying value and fair value of each reporting unit. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, goodwill is considered impaired. The amount of impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying value and implied fair value of goodwill, which is determined using discounted cash flows. Impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets requires a comparison between the fair value and carrying value of the intangible asset. If the carrying value
 
exceeds fair value, the intangible asset is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, by reporting unit at December 31, 2012 were as follows:
(in millions)
Goodwill

 
Indefinite-Lived
Intangible Assets

Cigarettes
$

 
$
2

Smokeless products
5,023

 
8,801

Cigars
77

 
2,640

Wine
74

 
258

Total
$
5,174

 
$
11,701

During 2012, 2011 and 2010, Altria Group, Inc. completed its annual review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, and no impairment charges resulted from these reviews.
At December 31, 2012, the estimated fair values of the smokeless products and wine reporting units, as well as the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets within those reporting units, except for certain smokeless products trademarks (primarily Red Seal and Husky), substantially exceeded their carrying values.
At December 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of the cigars reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 13%. In addition, the carrying value and excess fair value over carrying value for the indefinite-lived intangible assets of certain smokeless products and cigars trademarks were as follows:
(in millions)
Carrying Value

 
Excess Fair Value
Over Carrying Value

Certain smokeless products trademarks, primarily Red Seal and Husky
$
921

 
8
%
Cigars trademarks, primarily Black & Mild
$
2,640

 
10
%
In the smokeless products reporting unit, 2012 results for certain smokeless products trademarks, primarily Red Seal and Husky, continued to be impacted by lower levels of promotional support on these brands and increased competitive activity in the discount category due to growth in premium category products introduced in recent years at a lower, popular price. This specific marketplace dynamic continued to negatively impact discounted cash flows when conducting the 2012 annual review of indefinite-lived intangible assets. In the cigars reporting unit, Middleton continues to observe significant competitive activity, including higher levels of imported, low-priced machine-made large cigars. As a result, management concluded after the 2012 review that while the fair values for certain smokeless products and cigars trademarks exceeded their respective carrying values (as indicated above), they do not substantially exceed their carrying values.
In 2012, Altria Group, Inc. utilized an income approach to estimate the fair value of its reporting units and its indefinite-lived intangible assets. The income approach reflects the


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discounting of expected future cash flows to their present value at a rate of return that incorporates the risk-free rate for the use of those funds, the expected rate of inflation and the risks associated with realizing expected future cash flows. The average discount rate utilized in performing the valuations was 10%.
In performing the 2012 discounted cash flow analysis, Altria Group, Inc. made various judgments, estimates and assumptions, the most significant of which were volume, income, growth rates and discount rates. The analysis incorporated assumptions used in Altria Group, Inc.'s long-term financial forecast and also included market participant assumptions regarding the highest and best use of Altria Group, Inc.'s indefinite-lived intangible assets. Assumptions are also made for perpetual growth rates for periods beyond the long-term financial forecast. Fair value calculations are sensitive to changes in these estimates and assumptions, some of which relate to broader macroeconomic conditions outside of Altria Group, Inc.'s control.
Although Altria Group, Inc.'s discounted cash flow analysis is based on assumptions that are considered reasonable and based on the best available information at the time that the discounted cash flow analysis is developed, there is significant judgment used in determining future cash flows. The following factors have the most potential to impact expected future cash flows and, therefore, Altria Group, Inc.'s impairment conclusions: general economic conditions; federal, state and local 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.
While Altria Group, Inc.'s management believes that the estimated fair values of each reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible asset are reasonable, actual performance in the short-term or long-term could be significantly different from forecasted performance, which could result in impairment charges in future periods.
For additional information on goodwill and other intangible assets, see Note 3. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

Marketing Costs: Altria Group, Inc.'s consumer products businesses promote their products with consumer engagement programs, consumer incentives and trade promotions. Such programs include, but are not limited to, discounts, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives, event marketing and volume-based incentives. Consumer engagement programs are expensed as incurred. Consumer incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction of revenues based on amounts estimated as being due to customers and consumers at the end of a period, based principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. For interim reporting purposes, consumer engagement programs and certain consumer incentive expenses are charged to operations as a percentage of sales, based on estimated sales and related expenses for the full year.
 
Contingencies: As discussed in Note 18 and Item 3. Legal Proceedings of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 3"), 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. In 1998, PM USA and certain other U.S. tobacco product manufacturers entered into the Master Settlement Agreement (the "MSA") with 46 states and various other governments and jurisdictions to settle asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and other claims. PM USA and certain other U.S. tobacco product manufacturers had previously settled similar claims brought by Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota (together with the MSA, the "State Settlement Agreements"). PM USA's portion of ongoing adjusted payments and legal fees is based on its relative share of the settling manufacturers' domestic cigarette shipments, including roll-your-own cigarettes, in the year preceding that in which the payment is due. PM USA also entered into a trust agreement to provide certain aid to U.S. tobacco growers and quota holders, but PM USA's obligations under this trust expired on December 15, 2010 (these obligations had been offset by the obligations imposed on PM USA by the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 ("FETRA"), which expires in the third quarter of 2014). USSTC and Middleton are also subject to obligations imposed by FETRA. In addition, in June 2009, PM USA and a subsidiary of USSTC became subject to quarterly user fees imposed by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") as a result of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act ("FSPTCA"). The State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and the FDA user fees call for payments that are based on variable factors, such as volume, market share and inflation, depending on the subject payment. Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries account for the cost of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fees as a component of cost of sales. As a result of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fees, Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries recorded approximately $5.1 billion, $5.0 billion and $5.0 billion of charges to cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. See Note 18 for a discussion of the potential impact of PM USA's agreement to resolve the NPM adjustment disputes.
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. Except to the extent discussed in Note 18 and Item 3, at the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, (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 in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; and (iii) accordingly, management has not provided any


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amounts in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any. Litigation defense costs are expensed as incurred and are included in marketing, administration and research costs on the consolidated statements of earnings.
Employee Benefit Plans: As discussed in Note 16. Benefit Plans to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 16"), Altria Group, Inc. provides a range of benefits to its employees and retired employees, including pensions, postretirement health care and postemployment benefits (primarily severance). Altria Group, Inc. records annual amounts relating to these plans based on calculations specified by U.S. GAAP, which include various actuarial assumptions, such as discount rates, assumed rates of return on plan assets, compensation increases, turnover rates and health care cost trend rates. Altria Group, Inc. reviews its actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is deemed appropriate to do so. Any effect of the modifications is generally amortized over future periods.
Altria Group, Inc. recognizes the funded status of its defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans on the consolidated balance sheet and records as a component of other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.
At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s discount rate assumptions for its pension and postretirement plans decreased to 4.0% and 3.9%, respectively, from 5.0% and 4.9%, respectively, at December 31, 2011. Altria Group, Inc. presently anticipates a decrease of approximately $18 million in its 2013 pre-tax pension and postretirement expense, not including amounts in each year related to termination, settlement and curtailment. This anticipated decrease is due primarily to higher expected return on pension plan assets due to the higher value of plan assets at December 31, 2012 and the impact of a $350 million voluntary pension plan contribution made in January 2013, partially offset by the impact of the discount rate changes. A 50 basis point decrease (increase) in Altria Group, Inc.'s discount rates would increase (decrease) Altria Group, Inc.'s pension and postretirement expense by approximately $39 million. Similarly, a 50 basis point decrease (increase) in the expected return on plan assets would increase (decrease) Altria Group, Inc.'s pension expense by approximately $29 million. See Note 16 for a sensitivity discussion of the assumed health care cost trend rates.
Income Taxes: Altria Group, Inc.'s deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and in evaluating tax positions.
 
Altria Group, Inc. recognizes a benefit for uncertain tax positions when a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
Altria Group, Inc. recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the provision for income taxes on its consolidated statements of earnings.
As discussed in Note 14. Income Taxes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 14"), Altria Group, Inc. recognized income tax benefits and charges in the consolidated statements of earnings during 2012, 2011 and 2010 as a result of various tax events.
Leasing: Substantially all of PMCC's net revenues in 2012 related to income on leveraged leases and related gains on asset sales. Income relating to leveraged leases is recorded initially as unearned income, which is included in the line item finance assets, net, on Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated balance sheets, and is subsequently recognized as revenue over the terms of the respective leases at constant after-tax rates of return on the positive net investment balances. As discussed in Note 7. Finance Assets, net to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 7"), PMCC lessees are affected by bankruptcy filings, credit rating changes and financial market conditions.
PMCC's investment in leases is included in the line item finance assets, net, on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. At December 31, 2012, PMCC's net finance receivables of approximately $2.5 billion in leveraged leases, which are included in finance assets, net, on Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated balance sheet, consisted of rents receivable ($6.3 billion) and the residual value of assets under lease ($1.1 billion), reduced by third-party nonrecourse debt ($3.9 billion) and unearned income ($1.0 billion). The repayment of the nonrecourse debt is collateralized by lease payments receivable and the leased property, and is nonrecourse to the general assets of PMCC. As required by U.S. GAAP, the third-party nonrecourse debt has been offset against the related rents receivable and has been presented on a net basis within finance assets, net, on Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated balance sheets. Finance assets, net, at December 31, 2012, also included net finance receivables for direct finance leases ($0.2 billion) and an allowance for losses ($0.1 billion).
Estimated residual values represent PMCC's estimate at lease inception as to the fair values of assets under lease at the end of the non-cancelable lease terms. The estimated residual values are reviewed annually by PMCC's management, which includes analysis of a number of factors, including activity in the relevant industry. If necessary, revisions are recorded to reduce the residual values. Such reviews resulted in a decrease of $8 million in 2012 and $11 million in 2010 to PMCC’s net revenues and results of operations. There were no adjustments in 2011.
PMCC considers rents receivable past due when they are beyond the grace period of their contractual due date. PMCC


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stops recording income ("non-accrual status") on rents receivable when contractual payments become 90 days past due or earlier if management believes there is significant uncertainty of collectability of rent payments, and resumes recording income when collectability of rent payments is reasonably certain. Payments received on rents receivable that are on non-accrual status are used to reduce the rents receivable balance. Write-offs to the allowance for losses are recorded when amounts are deemed to be uncollectible. There were no rents receivable on non-accrual status at December 31, 2012.
To the extent that rents receivable due to PMCC may be uncollectible, PMCC records an allowance for losses against its finance assets. Losses on such leases are recorded when probable and estimable. PMCC regularly performs a systematic assessment of each individual lease in its portfolio to determine potential credit or collection issues that might indicate impairment. Impairment takes into consideration both the probability of default and the likelihood of recovery if default were to occur. PMCC considers both quantitative and qualitative factors of each investment when performing its assessment of the allowance for losses. For further discussion, see Note 7.
Consolidated Operating Results
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Net Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Smokeable products
$
22,216

 
$
21,970

 
$
22,191

Smokeless products
1,691

 
1,627

 
1,552

Wine
561

 
516

 
459

Financial services
150

 
(313
)
 
161

Net revenues
$
24,618

 
$
23,800

 
$
24,363

Excise Taxes on Products:
 
 
 
 
 
Smokeable products
$
6,984

 
$
7,053

 
$
7,348

Smokeless products
113

 
108

 
105

Wine
21

 
20

 
18

Excise taxes on products
$
7,118

 
$
7,181

 
$
7,471

Operating Income:
 
 
 
 
 
Operating companies income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
Smokeable products
$
6,239

 
$
5,737

 
$
5,618

Smokeless products
931

 
859

 
803

Wine
104

 
91

 
61

Financial services
176

 
(349
)
 
157

Amortization of intangibles
(20
)
 
(20
)
 
(20
)
General corporate expenses
(228
)
 
(256
)
 
(216
)
Changes to Mondelēz and
 
 
 
 
 
PMI tax-related receivables
52

 
14

 
(169
)
Corporate asset impairment
 
 
 
 
 
and exit costs
(1
)
 
(8
)
 
(6
)
Operating income
$
7,253

 
$
6,068

 
$
6,228

As discussed further in Note 15. Segment Reporting to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8, Altria Group, Inc.'s chief operating decision maker reviews operating companies
 
income to evaluate the performance of and allocate resources to the segments. Operating companies income for the segments is defined as operating income before amortization of intangibles and general corporate expenses. Management believes it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze the business performance and trends of the various business segments.
The following events that occurred during 2012, 2011 and 2010 affected the comparability of statement of earnings amounts.
Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs: Pre-tax asset impairment, exit, implementation and integration costs for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
(in millions)
Asset
Impairment
and Exit
Costs

 
Implementation
(Gain) Costs

 
Total

Smokeable
 
 
 
 
 
products
$
38

 
$
(10
)
 
$
28

Smokeless
 
 
 
 
 
products
22

 
6

 
28

General
 
 
 
 
 
corporate
1

 
(1
)
 

Total
$
61

 
$
(5
)
 
$
56

 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
(in millions)
Asset
Impairment
and Exit
Costs

 
Implementation
Costs

 
Integration
Costs

 
Total

Smokeable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
products
$
182

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
183

Smokeless
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
products
32

 

 
3

 
35

General
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
corporate
8

 

 

 
8

Total
$
222

 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
226

 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2010
(in millions)
Asset
Impairment
and Exit
Costs

 
Implementation
Costs

 
Integration
Costs

 
Total

Smokeable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
products
$
24

 
$
75

 
$
2

 
$
101

Smokeless
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
products
6

 

 
16

 
22

Wine

 

 
2

 
2

General
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
corporate
6

 

 

 
6

Total
$
36

 
$
75

 
$
20

 
$
131

     In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc. announced the 2011 Cost Reduction Program for its tobacco and service company subsidiaries, reflecting Altria Group, Inc.'s objective to reduce cigarette-related infrastructure ahead of PM USA's cigarette


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volume declines. Total pre-tax charges, net, which have been substantially completed, incurred since the inception of this program were $271 million. Altria Group, Inc. believes that the program remains on track to deliver $400 million in annualized savings versus previously planned spending by the end of 2013.
    
 
Altria Group, Inc. had a severance liability balance of $37 million at December 31, 2012 related to the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, substantially all of which is expected to be paid out by June 30, 2013.
For further details on asset impairment, exit, implementation and integration costs, see Note 4.

SABMiller Special Items: Altria Group, Inc.'s earnings from its equity investment in SABMiller for 2012 included gains resulting from SABMiller's strategic alliance transactions with Anadolu Efes and Castel, partially offset by costs for SABMiller's "business capability programme" and costs related to SABMiller's acquisition of Foster's Group Limited ("Foster's"). Altria Group, Inc.'s earnings from its equity investment in SABMiller for 2011 included costs for SABMiller's "business capability programme," acquisition-related costs for SABMiller's acquisition of Foster's and asset impairment charges, partially offset by gains resulting from SABMiller's hotel and gaming transaction and the disposal of a business in Kenya. Altria Group, Inc.'s earnings from its equity investment in SABMiller for 2010 included costs for SABMiller's "business capability programme" and costs related to SABMiller's economic and social development program in South Africa.
PMCC Leveraged Lease Benefit/Charge: During the second quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. entered into a closing agreement (the "Closing Agreement") with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that conclusively resolved the federal income tax treatment for all prior and future tax years of certain leveraged lease transactions entered into by PMCC. As a result of the Closing Agreement, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a one-time net earnings benefit of $68 million during the second quarter of 2012 due primarily to lower than estimated interest on tax underpayments. During the second quarter of 2011, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a charge of $627 million related to the federal income tax treatment of these transactions (the "2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge"). Approximately 50% of the charge ($315 million) represented a reduction in cumulative lease earnings recorded as of the date of the charge that will be recaptured over the remainder of the terms of the affected leases. The remaining portion of the charge ($312 million) primarily represented a permanent charge for interest on tax underpayments.
For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the benefit/charge associated with PMCC's leveraged lease transactions was recorded in Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated statements of earnings as follows:
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
(in millions)
 
Net Revenues

 
Benefit for Income Taxes

 
Total

 
Net Revenues

 
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

 
Total

Reduction to cumulative lease earnings
 
$
7

 
$
(2
)
 
$
5

 
$
490

 
$
(175
)
 
$
315

Interest on tax underpayments
 

 
(73
)
 
(73
)
 

 
312

 
312

Total
 
$
7

 
$
(75
)
 
$
(68
)
 
$
490

 
$
137

 
$
627

For further discussion of the Closing Agreement and the PMCC leveraged lease benefit/charge, see Note 7, Note 14 and Note 18.

PMCC Recoveries and Allowance for Losses: During 2012, PMCC recorded pre-tax income of $34 million primarily related to recoveries from the sale of bankruptcy claims on, as well as the sale of aircraft under, its leases to American Airlines, Inc. ("American"), which filed for bankruptcy on November 29, 2011. In addition, during 2012, PMCC decreased its allowance for losses by $10 million, which was recorded as an increase to operating companies income. During 2011, PMCC increased its allowance for losses by $25 million, which was recorded as a decrease to operating companies income. For further discussion, see Note 7.
 
Tobacco and Health Judgments: During 2012, 2011 and 2010, pre-tax charges related to certain tobacco and health judgments were recorded in Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated statements of earnings as follows:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Smokeable products
$
4

 
$
98

 
$
11

Smokeless products

 

 
5

Interest and other debt
 
 
 
 
 
expense, net
1

 
64

 
5

Total
$
5

 
$
162

 
$
21



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The charges for tobacco and health judgments for the smokeable products and smokeless products segments in the table above were included in marketing, administration and research costs on Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated statements of earnings. The pre-tax charges in 2011 related to the Williams, Bullock and Scott cases. The pre-tax charges in 2010 included a settlement of $5 million. For further discussion, see Note 18.
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt: During the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. completed a tender offer to purchase for cash $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of its senior unsecured notes. As a result of the tender offer, during the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a pre-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt of $874 million, which included debt tender premiums and fees of $864 million and the write off of related unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs of $10 million. For further discussion, see Note 9. Long-Term Debt to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 9").
Tax Items: Excluding the tax impact included in the PMCC leveraged lease benefit, tax items for 2012 included the reversal of tax reserves and associated interest due primarily to the closure in 2012 of the IRS audit of Altria Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries' 2004 - 2006 tax years. Tax items for 2011, excluding the tax impact included in the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge, included the reversal of tax reserves and associated interest related to the expiration of statutes of limitations, closure of tax audits and the reversal of tax accruals no longer required. Tax items for 2010 included the reversal of tax reserves and associated interest related to federal and several state audits, and the expiration of statutes of limitations. For further discussion, see Note 14.
2012 Compared With 2011
The following discussion compares consolidated operating results for the year ended December 31, 2012, with the year ended December 31, 2011.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $818 million (3.4%), due to higher net revenues from the financial services (which included the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge), smokeable products, smokeless products and wine segments.
Excise taxes on products decreased $63 million (0.9%), due primarily to lower excise taxes for Middleton and lower smokeable products shipment volume.
Cost of sales increased $257 million (3.3%), due primarily to higher per unit settlement charges and higher manufacturing costs.
Marketing, administration and research costs decreased $362 million (13.7%), primarily reflecting cost reduction initiatives, lower charges related to tobacco and health judgments, and recoveries related to American and a decrease to the allowance for losses in the financial services segment.
Operating income increased $1,185 million (19.5%), due primarily to: (i) higher operating results from the financial
 
services segment, which in 2011 included the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge; (ii) higher operating results from the smokeable products and smokeless products segments, which included lower charges in 2012 related to the 2011 Cost Reduction Program and lower charges in the smokeable products segment related to tobacco and health judgments; and (iii) higher increases to Kraft Foods Inc. (now known as Mondelēz International, Inc. ("Mondelēz")) and Philip Morris International Inc. ("PMI") tax-related receivables. As discussed in Note 14, changes to Mondelēz and PMI tax-related receivables were fully offset by a corresponding provision for income taxes associated with Mondelēz and PMI.
Interest and other debt expense, net, decreased $90 million (7.4%) due primarily to lower interest costs in 2012 related to tobacco and health judgments, and lower interest costs on debt as a result of debt refinancing activities in 2012.
Earnings from Altria Group, Inc.'s equity investment in SABMiller increased $494 million (67.7%), due primarily to higher net gains in 2012 for SABMiller special items (which included gains resulting from SABMiller's strategic alliance transactions with Anadolu Efes and Castel in 2012) and higher ongoing equity earnings.
Altria Group, Inc.'s effective income tax rate decreased 3.8 percentage points to 35.4% due primarily to a $312 million charge in 2011 that primarily represents interest on tax underpayments associated with the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge, and a $73 million interest benefit recorded during 2012, resulting primarily from lower than estimated interest on tax underpayments related to the Closing Agreement with the IRS, partially offset by a reduction in certain consolidated tax benefits resulting from the 2012 debt tender offer and a higher tax provision in 2012 related to the Mondelēz and PMI tax matters discussed above.
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $4,180 million increased $790 million (23.3%), due primarily to higher operating income, higher earnings from Altria Group, Inc.'s equity investment in SABMiller, a lower income tax rate and lower interest and other debt expense, net, partially offset by the loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the 2012 debt tender offer. Diluted and basic EPS attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $2.06, each increased by 25.6% due to higher net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. and fewer shares outstanding.
2011 Compared With 2010
The following discussion compares consolidated operating results for the year ended December 31, 2011, with the year ended December 31, 2010.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $563 million (2.3%), due primarily to lower net revenues from the financial services segment as a result of the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge, and the smokeable products segment, partially offset by higher net revenues from the smokeless products and wine segments.
Excise taxes on products decreased $290 million (3.9%), due primarily to lower smokeable products shipment volume.


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Cost of sales decreased $24 million (0.3%), due primarily to lower smokeable products shipment volume and 2010 implementation costs, partially offset by higher per unit settlement charges, higher FDA user fees and higher manufacturing costs.
Marketing, administration and research costs decreased $92 million (3.4%), primarily reflecting cost reduction initiatives and lower integration costs, partially offset by higher charges in 2011 related to tobacco and health judgments (See Note 18 and Item 3), higher general corporate expenses and an increase to the allowance for losses in the financial services segment.
Operating income decreased $160 million (2.6%), due primarily to lower operating results from the financial services segment (reflecting the impact to net revenues associated with the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge) and higher general corporate expenses, partially offset by higher operating results from the smokeable products, smokeless products and wine segments (which included higher asset impairment and exit costs and higher charges related to tobacco and health judgments in the smokeable products segment, and higher asset impairment and exit costs in the smokeless products segment), and a reduction to the Mondelēz and PMI tax-related receivables in 2010. As discussed in Note 14, changes to Mondelēz and PMI tax-related receivables were fully offset by a corresponding provision/benefit for income taxes associated with Mondelēz and PMI.
Interest and other debt expense, net, increased $83 million (7.3%), as a result of higher interest costs in 2011 related to tobacco and health judgments, and the issuance of senior unsecured long-term notes in May 2011, partially offset by debt refinancing activities in 2010.
Earnings from Altria Group, Inc.'s equity investment in SABMiller increased $102 million (16.2%), due primarily to higher ongoing equity earnings and higher net charges in 2010 for SABMiller special items, partially offset by lower gains in 2011 resulting from issuances of common stock by SABMiller.
Altria Group, Inc.'s effective income tax rate increased 7.5 percentage points to 39.2%, due primarily to a $312 million charge that primarily represents a permanent charge for interest on tax underpayments associated with the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge and higher reversals of tax reserves and associated interest in 2010 principally related to certain Mondelēz and PMI tax matters discussed above.
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $3,390 million decreased $515 million (13.2%), due primarily to lower operating income, higher interest and other debt expense, net, and a higher income tax rate, partially offset by higher earnings from Altria Group, Inc.'s equity investment in SABMiller. Diluted and basic EPS attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $1.64, each decreased by 12.3%.

 
Operating Results by Business Segment
Tobacco Space
Business Environment
Summary
The United States tobacco industry faces a number of business and legal challenges that have adversely affected and may adversely affect the business and sales volume of our tobacco subsidiaries and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position. These challenges, some of which are discussed in more detail below, and in Note 18, Item 1A and Item 3, include:
pending and threatened litigation and bonding requirements as discussed in Note 18 and Item 3;
restrictions and requirements imposed by the FSPTCA enacted in June 2009, and restrictions and requirements that have been, and in the future may be, imposed by the FDA under this statute;
actual and proposed excise tax increases, as well as changes in tax structures and tax stamping requirements;
bans and restrictions on tobacco use imposed by governmental entities and private establishments and employers;
other federal, state and local government actions, including:
restrictions on the sale of tobacco products by certain retail establishments, the sale of certain tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors and the sale of tobacco products in certain package sizes;
additional restrictions on the advertising and promotion of tobacco products;
other actual and proposed tobacco product legislation and regulation; and
governmental investigations;
the diminishing prevalence of cigarette smoking and increased efforts by tobacco control advocates and others (including employers) to further restrict tobacco use;
price gaps and changes in price gaps between premium and lowest price brands;
competitive disadvantages related to cigarette price increases attributable to the settlement of certain litigation;
illicit trade practices, including the sale of counterfeit tobacco products by third parties; the sale of tobacco products by third parties over the Internet and by other means designed to avoid the collection of applicable taxes; diversion into one market of products intended for sale in another; the potential assertion of claims and other issues relating to contraband shipments of tobacco products; and the


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imposition of additional legislative or regulatory requirements related to illicit trade practices; and
potential adverse changes in tobacco leaf price, availability and quality.
In addition to and in connection with the foregoing business and legal challenges, our tobacco subsidiaries are subject to evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences. Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries believe that a significant number of adult tobacco consumers switch between tobacco categories or use multiple forms of tobacco products and that approximately 30% of adult smokers are interested in spit-free smokeless tobacco alternatives to cigarettes. Future success is dependent in part on the ability of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries to meet these evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences by developing over time new products and markets within and potentially outside the United States through technological innovation (including, where appropriate, arrangements with third parties) and pursuit of their adjacency growth strategies. See Item 1A for certain risks associated with the foregoing discussion.
We have provided additional detail on the following topics below:
FSPTCA and FDA Regulation;
Excise Taxes;
International Treaty on Tobacco Control;
State Settlement Agreements;
Other Federal, State and Local Regulation and Activity;
Illicit Trade;
Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality; and
Timing of Sales.
FSPTCA and FDA Regulation
The Regulatory Framework: The FSPTCA expressly establishes certain restrictions and prohibitions on our cigarette and smokeless tobacco businesses and authorizes or requires further FDA action. Under the FSPTCA, the FDA has 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 FDA has indicated that it intends to regulate cigars and other tobacco products, but it has not indicated a timeline for the issuance of regulations.
Among other measures, the FSPTCA:
imposes restrictions on the advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of tobacco products, including at retail;
prohibits cigarettes with characterizing flavors other than menthol and tobacco;
 
bans descriptors such as "light," "mild" or "low" or similar descriptors unless expressly authorized by the FDA;
requires extensive ingredient disclosure to the FDA and may require more limited public ingredient disclosure;
prohibits any express or implied claims that a tobacco product is or may be less harmful than other tobacco products without FDA authorization;
imposes reporting obligations relating to contraband activity and grants the FDA authority to impose other recordkeeping and reporting obligations to address counterfeit and contraband products;
changes the language of the cigarette and smokeless tobacco product health warnings, enlarges their size and requires the development by the FDA of graphic warnings for cigarettes, which it published in June 2011, and gives the FDA the authority to require new warnings;
authorizes the FDA to adopt product regulations and related actions, including:
to impose tobacco product standards that are appropriate for the protection of the public health through a regulatory process, including, among other possibilities, restrictions on ingredients, constituents or other properties, performance or design criteria, as well as to impose testing, measurement, reporting and disclosure requirements;
to subject tobacco products that are modified or first introduced into the market after March 22, 2011 to application and premarket review and authorization requirements (the "New Product Application Process") if the FDA does not find them to be "substantially equivalent" to products commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007, and to deny any such new product application thus preventing the distribution and sale of any product affected by such denial;
to determine that certain existing tobacco products modified or introduced into the market for the first time between February 15, 2007 and March 22, 2011 are not "substantially equivalent" to products commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007, in which case the FDA could require the removal of such products or subject them to the New Product Application Process and, if any such applications are denied, prevent the continued distribution and sale of such products (see FDA Regulatory Actions below);
to restrict or otherwise regulate menthol cigarettes, as well as other tobacco products with characterizing flavors;
to regulate nicotine yields and to reduce or eliminate harmful constituents or harmful ingredients or other components of tobacco products; and
to impose manufacturing standards for tobacco products; and


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equips the FDA with a variety of investigatory and enforcement tools, including the authority to inspect tobacco product manufacturing and other facilities.
Implementation Timing, Rulemaking and Guidance: The implementation of the FSPTCA began in 2009 and will continue over time. Some provisions took effect immediately, some provisions have taken effect since the enactment of the FSPTCA and other provisions will not take effect for some time. Those provisions that require the FDA to take action through rulemaking generally involve consideration of public comment and, for some issues, scientific review. Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries are participating actively in processes established by the FDA to develop and implement its regulatory framework, including submission of comments to various FDA proposals and participation in public hearings and engagement sessions.
From time to time, the FDA also issues guidance for public comment, which may be issued in draft or final form. Such guidance, when finalized, is intended to represent the FDA's current thinking on a particular topic and may be predictive of the FDA's enforcement stance on that topic.  Such guidance, even when finalized, is not intended to bind the FDA or the public or establish legally enforceable responsibilities.  Examples of current draft guidance include: 
Draft Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Demonstrating the Substantial Equivalence of a New Tobacco Product: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
Draft Guidance for Industry:  Modified Risk Tobacco Product Applications
Draft Guidance for Industry:  Applications for Premarket Review of New Tobacco Products
A complete set of guidance documents issued by the FDA can be found on the FDA's website at www.fda.gov/TobaccoProductsGuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation. The information on this website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, part of this report or incorporated into any other filings Altria Group, Inc. makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
PM USA and USSTC submit comments to the FDA on draft or final guidance when appropriate.  In some cases, PM USA and USSTC may disagree with a particular interpretation by the FDA as expressed in draft or final guidance and may communicate their position in writing to the FDA.  For example, PM USA and USSTC communicated disagreement with FDA interpretations of the statute set forth in the "Draft Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff:  Demonstrating the Substantial Equivalence of a New Tobacco Product: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions" regarding when a manufacturer must submit substantial equivalence reports. While PM USA and USSTC believe that all of their current products meet the statutory requirements of the FSPTCA, they cannot predict whether, when or how the FDA ultimately will apply its guidance or seek to enforce the law and regulations consistent with its guidance. As discussed below in Investigations and Enforcement, FDA enforcement actions could
 
have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, cash flows and results of operations of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
The implementation of the FSPTCA and related regulations and guidance also may have an impact on enforcement efforts by states, territories and localities of the United States of their laws and regulations as well as of the State Settlement Agreements discussed below (see State Settlement Agreements below).  Such enforcement efforts may adversely affect our tobacco subsidiaries' ability to market and sell regulated tobacco products in those states, territories and localities.
Impact on Our Business; Compliance Costs: Regulations imposed by the FDA under the FSPTCA could have a material adverse impact on the business and sales volume of Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco businesses in a number of different ways. For example, actions by the FDA could:
impact the consumer acceptability of tobacco products;
delay or prevent the sale or distribution of existing, new or modified tobacco products;
limit adult consumer choices;
restrict communications to adult consumers;
create a competitive advantage or disadvantage for certain tobacco companies;
impose additional manufacturing, labeling or packaging requirements;
impose restrictions at retail;
result in increased illicit trade activities; or
otherwise significantly increase the cost of doing business.
The failure to comply with FDA regulatory requirements, even inadvertently, and FDA enforcement actions could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, cash flows and results of operations of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
The law imposes fees on tobacco product manufacturers and importers to pay for the cost of regulation and other matters. The cost of the FDA user fee is allocated first among tobacco product categories subject to FDA regulation according to a process set out in the statute, and then among manufacturers and importers within each respective class based on their relative market shares. For a discussion of the impact of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fee payments on Altria Group, Inc., see Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations-Payments Under State Settlement and Other Tobacco Agreements, and FDA Regulation below. In addition, compliance with the law's regulatory requirements has resulted and will continue to result in additional costs for our tobacco businesses. The amount of additional compliance and related costs has not been material in any given quarter to date but could become substantial, either individually or in the aggregate, and will depend on the nature of the requirements imposed by the FDA.


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Investigation and Enforcement: The FDA has a number of investigatory and enforcement tools available to it, including document requests and other required information submissions, facility inspections, examinations and investigations, injunction proceedings, money penalties, product withdrawals and recalls, and product seizures. The use of any of these investigatory or enforcement tools by the FDA could result in significant costs to the tobacco businesses of Altria Group, Inc. or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, cash flows and results of operations of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
For example, in June 2010, the FDA issued a document request regarding changes to Marlboro Gold Pack cigarette packaging in connection with the FSPTCA's ban of certain descriptors. PM USA submitted documents in response to the FDA's request.
TPSAC
The Role of the TPSAC: As required by the FSPTCA, the FDA has established a tobacco product scientific advisory committee (the "TPSAC"), which consists of both voting and non-voting members, to provide advice, reports, information and recommendations to the FDA on scientific and health issues relating to tobacco products. For example, the TPSAC advises the FDA about modified risk products (products marketed with reduced risk claims), good manufacturing practices, the effects of the alteration of nicotine yields from tobacco products and nicotine dependence thresholds. The TPSAC previously made reports and recommendations to the FDA on menthol cigarettes, including the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health, and the nature and impact of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health. The FDA may seek advice from the TPSAC about other safety, dependence or health issues relating to tobacco products, including tobacco product standards and applications to market new tobacco products.
TPSAC Membership: Beginning in March 2010, PM USA and USSTC raised with the FDA their concerns that four of the voting members of the TPSAC have financial and other conflicts (including services as paid experts for plaintiffs in tobacco litigation) that could hamper the full and fair consideration of issues by the TPSAC and requested that their appointments be withdrawn. The FDA declined PM USA's and USSTC's requests, stating that the FDA had satisfied itself, after inquiry, that the TPSAC members did not have disqualifying conflicts of interest. The FDA stated further that it would continue to screen, in accordance with relevant statutory and regulatory provisions and FDA guidance, all TPSAC members for potential conflicts of interest for matters that the TPSAC would be considering. The FDA also engaged two individuals to serve as consultants to a TPSAC subcommittee who also served as paid experts for plaintiffs in tobacco litigation. PM USA and USSTC raised similar concerns related to the engagement of these individuals and the FDA similarly declined to terminate
 
these engagements. In February 2011, Lorillard Tobacco Company and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the United States Department of Health and Human Services and individual defendants (sued in their official capacities) asserting that the composition of the TPSAC and the composition of the Constituents Subcommittee of the TPSAC violates several federal laws, including the Federal Advisory Committee Act. In August 2012, the district court denied the government's motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' complaint.
TPSAC Action on Menthol: As mandated by the FSPTCA, in March 2011, the TPSAC submitted to the FDA a report on the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health and related recommendations. The TPSAC report stated that "[m]enthol cigarettes have an adverse impact on public health in the United States."  The TPSAC report recommended that the "[r]emoval of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States."  The TPSAC report noted the potential that any ban on menthol cigarettes could lead to an increase in contraband cigarettes and other potential unintended consequences and suggested that the FDA consult with appropriate experts on this matter.  The TPSAC report also recommended that additional research could address gaps in understanding menthol cigarettes. 
In March 2011, PM USA submitted a report to the FDA outlining its position that neither science nor other evidence demonstrates that regulatory actions or restrictions related to the use of menthol cigarettes are warranted. The report noted PM USA's belief that significant restrictions on the use of menthol cigarettes would have unintended consequences detrimental to public health and society.
In July 2011, the TPSAC revised and approved its March 2011 report. The revisions were editorial in nature and did not change the substantive conclusions and recommendations of the TPSAC.
The FSPTCA does not set a deadline or required timeline for the FDA to act on the TPSAC report. The FDA has stated that the TPSAC report is only a recommendation and that the FDA's receipt of the TPSAC's report will not have an immediate effect on the availability of menthol cigarettes. In January 2012, the FDA announced that it had evaluated scientific information on menthol and had drafted a report related to the impact of menthol in cigarettes on public health. The FDA indicated that it had sent its report to external scientists for peer review. It also indicated that it will make its final draft report and related information available for public comment, although it has not yet done so. Any future action taken by the FDA to regulate the manufacture, marketing or sale of menthol cigarettes (including a possible ban) will require formal rulemaking that includes public notice and the opportunity for public comment.


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Final Tobacco Marketing Rule: As required by the FSPTCA, the FDA re-promulgated in March 2010 certain advertising and promotion restrictions in substantially the same form as regulations that were previously adopted in 1996 (but never imposed on tobacco manufacturers due to a United States Supreme Court ruling) (the "Final Tobacco Marketing Rule"). The Final Tobacco Marketing Rule:
bans the use of color and graphics in tobacco product labeling and advertising;
prohibits the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to underage persons;
restricts the use of non-tobacco trade and brand names on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products;
requires the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in direct, face-to-face transactions;
prohibits sampling of cigarettes and prohibits sampling of smokeless tobacco products except in qualified adult-only facilities;
prohibits gifts or other items in exchange for buying cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products;
prohibits the sale or distribution of items such as hats and tee shirts with tobacco brands or logos; and
prohibits brand name sponsorship of any athletic, musical, artistic, or other social or cultural event, or any entry or team in any event.
Subject to the limitations described below, the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule took effect in June 2010. At the time of the re-promulgation of the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule, the FDA also issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the so-called "1000 foot rule," which would establish restrictions on the placement of outdoor tobacco advertising in relation to schools and playgrounds. PM USA and USSTC submitted comments on this advance notice.
Since enactment, several lawsuits have been filed challenging various provisions of the FSPTCA and the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule, including their constitutionality and the scope of the FDA's authority thereunder. Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries are not parties to any of these lawsuits. In January 2010, in one such challenge (Commonwealth Brands), the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky struck down as unconstitutional, and enjoined enforcement of, the portion of the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule that bans the use of color and graphics in labeling and advertising and claims implying that a tobacco product is safer because of FDA regulation. The parties appealed and in March 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part the district court's decision. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's injunction against enforcement of the portion of the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule that bans the use of color and graphics in labeling and advertising. The Sixth Circuit reversed the injunction against enforcement of the
 
prohibition on claims implying that a tobacco product is safer because of FDA regulation. The Sixth Circuit also held that the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule's ban on consumer continuity programs violates the First Amendment and reversed the district court's decision upholding the ban. The Sixth Circuit upheld the FSPTCA's statutory requirements for enlarged textual and graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertising, but did not rule upon the constitutionality of the nine graphic warnings actually selected by the FDA in its June 2011 final rule. In May 2012, the plaintiffs in Commonwealth Brands filed a petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc, which the Sixth Circuit denied. In October 2012, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court seeking further review of the Sixth Circuit's decision upholding the FSPTCA's new enlarged and expanded warning requirements that include graphic warnings, the FSPTCA's restrictions on modified risk tobacco product claims and certain other provisions of the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule.  The FDA did not file a petition for writ of certiorari  with the United States Supreme Court seeking further review of the Sixth Circuit's decision. For a further discussion of this final rule and the challenge pending in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, see FDA Regulatory Actions-Graphics Warnings below. The FDA has indicated that it does not intend to enforce the ban on the use of color and graphics in labeling and advertising for the duration of the injunction.
In a separate challenge to the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Renegade Tobacco Company, Inc. and others have challenged the constitutionality of an FDA regulation that restricts tobacco manufacturers from using the trade or brand name of a non-tobacco product on cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products. In May 2010, the Court issued a stay in the Renegade case pending the FDA's consideration of amendments to the trade or brand name rule. In November 2011, the FDA proposed an amended rule, but continues to exercise its discretion to enforce the original trade or brand name provisions of the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule according to FDA guidance issued in May 2010. It is not possible to predict the outcome of any such litigation or its effect on the extent of the FDA's authority to regulate tobacco products.
Contraband: The FSPTCA imposes on manufacturers reporting obligations relating to knowledge of suspected contraband activity involving their brands and also grants the FDA the authority to impose certain other recordkeeping and reporting obligations to address counterfeit and contraband tobacco products. The FSPTCA also empowers the FDA to assess whether additional tools should be employed to track and trace tobacco products through the distribution chain.
FDA Regulatory Actions
Graphic Warnings: In June 2011, as required by the FSPTCA, the FDA issued its final rule to modify the required warnings that appear on cigarette packages and in cigarette advertisements.  The FSPTCA requires the warnings to


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consist of nine new textual warning statements accompanied by color graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking.  The graphic health warnings will (i) be located beneath the cellophane, and comprise the top 50 percent of the front and rear panels of cigarette packages, and (ii) occupy 20 percent of a cigarette advertisement and be located at the top of the advertisement.
The rule requires that cigarette packaging manufactured after September 22, 2012 contain the new graphic warnings and all cigarette advertising contain the new warnings by that date. In August 2011, however, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Lorillard Tobacco Company and several other plaintiffs filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the FDA challenging its graphic warnings rule. In November 2011, the district court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, thereby staying enforcement of the graphic warnings rule until 15 months after a final ruling from the district court. In February 2012, the district court entered final judgment on behalf of the plaintiffs, enjoining enforcement of the graphic warnings rule. The FDA appealed this decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In August 2012, the Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the district court. The FDA filed a petition for panel rehearing and rehearing en banc with the Court of Appeals, which was denied on December 5, 2012.
PM USA is not a party to this lawsuit, but the FDA has confirmed that it will not enforce the graphic warnings rule against PM USA on the same terms and with the same effect as the district court injunction discussed above.
New Product Marketing Authorization Processes: In January 2011, the FDA issued guidance concerning reports that manufacturers must submit for certain FDA-regulated tobacco products that the manufacturer modified or introduced for the first time into the market after February 15, 2007. These reports must be reviewed by the agency to determine if such tobacco products are "substantially equivalent" to products commercially available as of February 15, 2007.  In general, in order to continue marketing these products sold before March 22, 2011, manufacturers of FDA-regulated tobacco products were required to send to the FDA a report demonstrating substantial equivalence by March 22, 2011. PM USA and USSTC submitted timely reports. PM USA and USSTC can continue marketing these products unless the FDA makes a determination that a specific product is not substantially equivalent. If the FDA ultimately makes such a determination, it could require the removal of such products or subject them to the New Product Application Process and, if any such applications are denied, prevent the continued distribution and sale of such products. PM USA and USSTC believe all of their current products meet the statute's requirements, but cannot predict when or how the FDA will respond to their reports.
 
Manufacturers intending to introduce new products and certain modified products into the market after March 22, 2011 must submit a report to the FDA and obtain a "substantial equivalence order" from the agency before introducing the products into the market. If the FDA declines to issue a so-called "substantial equivalence order" for a product or if the manufacturer itself determines that the product does not meet the substantial equivalence requirements, the product would need to undergo the New Product Application Process. At this time, it is not possible to predict how long agency reviews of either substantial equivalence reports or new product applications will take.
The FDA also published a final regulation in July 2011, establishing a process for requesting an exemption from the substantial equivalence requirements for certain minor modifications to tobacco additives. The final rule became effective in August 2011.
Excise Taxes
Tobacco products are subject to substantial excise taxes in the United States. Significant increases in tobacco-related taxes or fees have been proposed or enacted and are likely to continue to be proposed or enacted at the federal, state and local levels within the United States.
Federal, state and local excise taxes have increased substantially over the past decade, far outpacing the rate of inflation. For example, in 2009, the federal excise tax ("FET") on cigarettes increased from 39 cents per pack to approximately $1.01 per pack and on July 1, 2010, the New York state excise tax increased by $1.60 to $4.35 per pack. Between the end of 1998 and February 22, 2013, the weighted-average state and certain local cigarette excise taxes increased from $0.36 to $1.41 per pack. During 2012, two states (Illinois and Rhode Island) enacted legislation to increase their cigarette excise tax. As of February 22, 2013, no state has increased its cigarette excise tax in 2013.
Tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on sales of tobacco products by our tobacco subsidiaries, due to lower consumption levels and to a potential shift in 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.
A majority of states currently tax smokeless tobacco products using an ad valorem method, which is calculated as a percentage of the price of the product, typically the wholesale price. This ad valorem method results in more tax being paid on premium products than is paid on lower-priced products of equal weight. Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries support legislation to convert ad valorem taxes on smokeless tobacco to a weight-based methodology because, unlike the ad valorem tax, a weight-based tax subjects cans of equal weight to the same tax. As of February 22, 2013, 22 states, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cook County, Illinois have adopted a weight-based tax methodology for smokeless tobacco.


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International Treaty on Tobacco Control
The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the "FCTC") entered into force in February 2005. As of February 22, 2013, 176 countries, as well as the European Community, have become parties to the FCTC. While the United States is a signatory of the FCTC, it is not currently a party to the agreement, as the agreement has not been submitted to, or ratified by, the United States Senate. The FCTC is the first international public health treaty and its objective is to establish a global agenda for tobacco regulation with the purpose of reducing initiation of tobacco use and encouraging cessation. The treaty recommends (and in certain instances, requires) signatory nations to enact legislation that would, among other things: establish specific actions to prevent youth tobacco product use; restrict or eliminate all tobacco product advertising, marketing, promotion and sponsorship; initiate public education campaigns to inform the public about the health consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and the benefits of quitting; implement regulations imposing product testing, disclosure and performance standards; impose health warning requirements on packaging; and adopt measures intended to combat tobacco product smuggling and counterfeit tobacco products, including tracking and tracing of tobacco products through the distribution chain and restrict smoking in public places.
There are a number of proposals currently under consideration by the governing body of the FCTC, some of which call for substantial restrictions on the manufacture, marketing, distribution and sale of tobacco products. In addition, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (the "Protocol") was approved by the Conference of Parties to the FCTC on November 12, 2012. It includes provisions related to the tracking and tracing of tobacco products through the distribution chain and numerous other provisions regarding the regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and sale of tobacco products. The Protocol has not yet entered into force, but in any event will not apply to the United States until the Senate ratifies the FCTC. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these proposals or the impact of any FCTC actions on legislation or regulation in the United States, either directly as a result of the United States becoming a party to the FCTC, or whether or how these actions might indirectly influence FDA regulation and enforcement.
State Settlement Agreements
As discussed in Note 18, during 1997 and 1998, PM USA and other major domestic tobacco product manufacturers entered into agreements with states and various United States jurisdictions settling asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and other claims (collectively, the "State Settlement Agreements"). These settlements require participating manufacturers to make substantial annual payments, which are adjusted for several factors, including inflation, market share and industry volume. For a discussion of the impact of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fee payments on Altria
 
Group, Inc., see Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations - Payments Under State Settlement and Other Tobacco Agreements, and FDA Regulation below. The settlements also place numerous requirements and restrictions on participating manufacturers' business operations, including prohibitions and restrictions on the advertising and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Among these are prohibitions of outdoor and transit brand advertising, payments for product placement and free sampling (except in adult-only facilities). Restrictions are also placed on the use of brand name sponsorships and brand name non-tobacco products. The State Settlement Agreements also place prohibitions on targeting youth and the use of cartoon characters. In addition, the State Settlement Agreements require companies to affirm corporate principles directed at reducing underage use of cigarettes; impose requirements regarding lobbying activities; mandate public disclosure of certain industry documents; limit the industry's ability to challenge certain tobacco control and underage use laws; and provide for the dissolution of certain tobacco-related organizations and place restrictions on the establishment of any replacement organizations.
In November 1998, USSTC entered into the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (the "STMSA") with the attorneys general of various states and United States territories to resolve the remaining health care cost reimbursement cases initiated against USSTC. The STMSA required USSTC to adopt various marketing and advertising restrictions. USSTC is the only smokeless tobacco manufacturer to sign the STMSA.
Other Federal, State and Local Regulation and Activity
Federal, State and Local Laws
State and Local Laws Addressing Certain Characterizing Flavors: In a growing number of states and localities, legislation has been enacted or proposed that prohibits or would prohibit the sale of certain tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors. The legislation varies in terms of the type of tobacco products subject to prohibition, the conditions under which the sale of such products is or would be prohibited, and exceptions to the prohibitions. For example, a number of proposals would prohibit characterizing flavors in smokeless tobacco products, with no exception for mint- or wintergreen-flavored products.
To date, the following states have enacted legislation that prohibits certain tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors:
Maine enacted legislation that prohibits the sale of certain flavored cigar and cigarette products. As implemented, including the application of certain statutory exemptions, this prohibition did not ban any PM USA, USSTC or Middleton product. In 2010, Maine amended the characterizing flavor prohibition. The amendment allows the continued sale of cigars that obtained favorable exemption rulings under the previous statute but does not provide for the possibility of further exemptions, such as for future products with characterizing flavors.


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New Jersey enacted legislation banning the sale and marketing of cigarettes with a characterizing flavor other than menthol, mint or clove. This legislation does not ban any PM USA, USSTC or Middleton product.
In addition, such legislation has been enacted or is being considered in a number of localities. For example:
New York City adopted an ordinance that prohibits the sale of certain flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes. This legislation affects certain USSTC and Middleton products. The ordinance and related final regulations took effect in August 2010. Certain subsidiaries of USSTC have filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging the New York City legislation on the grounds that it is preempted by the FSPTCA. In March 2010, the district court denied plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction against enforcement of the ordinance and, in November 2011, the district court denied plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, and granted New York City's cross-motion for summary judgment, on the preemption claim. Plaintiffs have appealed the denial to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and, in the meantime, are complying with the ordinance pending resolution of the litigation. Argument was heard on November 6, 2012. On February 26, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the judgment of the district court upholding the New York City ordinance.
Providence, Rhode Island adopted two ordinances in January 2012. One would prohibit the sale in most retail outlets of certain flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes. This legislation differs in a number of ways from the New York City ordinance, including by attempting to prohibit reference to concepts such as "spicy, arctic, ice, cool, warm, hot, mellow, fresh and breeze." The second Providence ordinance prohibits licensed retailers in the city from accepting or redeeming coupons for cigarettes and other tobacco products or from selling such products to consumers through multi-pack discounts or other discounts provided in exchange for the purchase of another tobacco product. In February 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries filed a legal challenge to these ordinances in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island challenging the legality of both ordinances on preemption and First Amendment grounds. Plaintiffs filed motions for preliminary injunction and summary judgment in March 2012. The City of Providence filed a cross-motion for summary judgment in June 2012. On December 10, 2012, the district court struck the "concepts" language quoted above from the flavor ordinance, but otherwise granted summary judgment for the City of Providence as to both ordinances. The City of Providence commenced enforcement of the ordinances, as modified by the district court, on January 3, 2013. On January 8, 2013, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
 
Whether other states or localities will enact legislation in this area, and the precise nature of such legislation if enacted, cannot be predicted. See FDA Regulation above for a summary of the FSPTCA's regulation of certain tobacco products with characterizing flavors.
State and Local Laws Imposing Certain Speech Requirements and Restrictions: In several jurisdictions, legislation or regulations have been enacted or proposed that would require the disclosure of health information separate from or in addition to federally-mandated health warnings or that would restrict commercial speech in certain respects. For example, in July 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit determined that an effort by New York City to require retailers selling tobacco products to display a sign, issued by the New York City Board of Health, depicting graphic images of the potential health consequences of smoking and urging smokers to quit was preempted by federal law. This litigation has concluded.
As another example, the Village Board of Haverstraw, New York enacted a tobacco product display ban in April 2012. It would have barred tobacco retailers from displaying any tobacco product in a manner that a consumer could view the product prior to purchase. Retailers could maintain a "tobacco menu," listing the types and prices of tobacco products available for sale, but the menu could only be given to a consumer, over the legal age to purchase tobacco products, who requested it. At all other times, any "tobacco menu" would have been concealed from view. In June 2012, an association of tobacco retailers, along with several tobacco product manufacturers and distributors (including PM USA, a subsidiary of USSTC and Middleton), filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging the display ban on First Amendment and preemption grounds. In July 2012, the Village Board voted to approve a settlement of the lawsuit and, in August 2012, voted to repeal the ordinance. This litigation has concluded.
Federal Tobacco Quota Buy-Out: In October 2004, FETRA was signed into law. PM USA, Middleton and USSTC are subject to the requirements of 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 ending in 2014 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.
In February 2011, PM USA filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia challenging the United States Department of Agriculture's (the "USDA") 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 are used by the FDA to calculate the


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industry's FDA user fees. PM USA asserted in this litigation that the USDA violated FETRA, and imposed excessive FETRA assessments on PM USA, by failing to apply the most current FET rates enacted by Congress, which became effective in April 2009, in calculating the class share allocations. The Cigar Association of America has joined the litigation as a defendant intervenor. In October 2012, the district court denied PM USA's motion for summary judgment, granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case. On December 5, 2012, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
For a discussion of the impact of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fee payments on Altria Group, Inc., see Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations - Payments Under State Settlement and Other Tobacco Agreements, and FDA Regulation below. We do not anticipate that the quota buy-out will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results in 2013 and 2014.
Health Effects of Tobacco Consumption and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke ("ETS"): It is the policy of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries to defer to the judgment of public health authorities as to the content of warnings in advertisements and on product packaging regarding the health effects of tobacco consumption, addiction and exposure to ETS. Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries believe that the public should be guided by the messages of the United States Surgeon General and public health authorities worldwide in making decisions concerning the use of tobacco products.
Reports with respect to the health effects of smoking have been publicized for many years, including in a June 2006 United States Surgeon General report on ETS entitled "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke." Many jurisdictions within the United States have restricted smoking in public places. The pace and scope of public smoking bans have increased significantly. Some public health groups have called for, and various jurisdictions have adopted or proposed, bans on smoking in outdoor places, in private apartments and in cars with minors in them. It is not possible to predict the results of ongoing scientific research or the types of future scientific research into the health risks of tobacco exposure and the impact of such research on regulation.
Other Legislation or Governmental Initiatives: In addition to the actions discussed above, other regulatory initiatives affecting the tobacco industry have been adopted or are being considered at the federal level and in a number of state and local jurisdictions. For example, in recent years, legislation has been introduced or enacted at the state or local level to subject tobacco products to various reporting requirements and performance standards (such as reduced cigarette ignition propensity standards); establish educational campaigns relating to tobacco consumption or tobacco control programs, or provide
 
additional funding for governmental tobacco control activities; restrict the sale of tobacco products in certain retail establishments and the sale of tobacco products in certain packing sizes; require tax stamping of moist smokeless tobacco products; require the use of state tax stamps using data encryption technology; and further restrict the sale, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Such legislation may be subject to constitutional or other challenges on various grounds, which may or may not be successful.
It is not possible to predict what, if any, additional legislation, regulation or other governmental action will be enacted or implemented (and, if challenged, upheld) relating to the manufacturing, design, packaging, marketing, advertising, sale or use of tobacco products, or the tobacco industry generally. It is possible, however, that legislation, regulation or other governmental action could be enacted or implemented in the United States that might materially adversely affect the business and volume of our tobacco subsidiaries and our consolidated results of operations and cash flows.
Governmental Investigations: From time to time, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries cannot predict whether new investigations may be commenced.
Illicit Trade
Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries support appropriate regulations and enforcement measures to prevent illicit trade in tobacco products. For example, Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries are engaged in a number of initiatives to help prevent trade in contraband tobacco products, including: enforcement of wholesale and retail trade programs and policies on trade in contraband tobacco products; engagement with and support of law enforcement and regulatory agencies; litigation to protect their trademarks; and support for a variety of federal and state legislative initiatives. Legislative initiatives to address trade in contraband tobacco products are designed to protect the legitimate channels of distribution, impose more stringent penalties for the violation of illegal trade laws and provide additional tools for law enforcement. Regulatory measures and related governmental actions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trade of tobacco products continue to evolve as the nature of illicit tobacco products evolves. For example, in March 2010, the President signed into law the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking ("PACT") Act, which addresses illegal Internet sales by, among other things, imposing a series of restrictions and requirements on the delivery-sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products and makes such products non-mailable to consumers through the United States Postal Service, subject to limited exceptions. Certain Internet cigarette sellers filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of various aspects of this statute and sought injunctive relief in the United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, the Western District of New York and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In the Western District of New York, the district court enjoined only certain elements of the


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PACT Act, including a requirement that delivery-sellers obey the laws of the jurisdiction to which they ship cigarettes. In the District of Columbia, the district court issued a preliminary injunction substantially similar to the injunctive relief issued in the Western District of New York. The United States Department of Justice is challenging the District of Columbia injunction on appeal and is pursuing a final judgment on the merits in the Western District of New York proceedings.
Tobacco Price, Availability and Quality
Shifts in crops driven by economic conditions and adverse weather patterns, government mandated prices and production control programs may increase or decrease the cost or reduce the quality of tobacco and other agricultural products used to manufacture our products. As with other agriculture commodities, the price of tobacco leaf can be influenced by economic conditions and imbalances in supply and demand and crop quality and availability can be influenced by variations in weather patterns, including those caused by climate change. Tobacco production in certain countries is subject to a variety of controls, including government mandated prices and production control programs. Changes in the patterns of demand for agricultural products and the cost of tobacco production could cause tobacco leaf prices to increase and could result in farmers growing less tobacco. Any significant change in tobacco leaf prices, quality or availability could affect our tobacco subsidiaries' profitability and business.
Timing of Sales
In the ordinary course of business, our tobacco subsidiaries are subject to many influences that can impact the timing of sales to customers, including the timing of holidays and other annual or special events, the timing of promotions, customer incentive programs and customer inventory programs, as well as the actual or speculated timing of pricing actions and tax-driven price increases.
Tobacco Space
Operating Results
The following table summarizes tobacco space operating results:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
Net Revenues
 
Operating Companies Income
(in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

 
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Smokeable products
$
22,216

 
$
21,970

 
$
22,191

 
$
6,239

 
$
5,737

 
$
5,618

Smokeless products
1,691

 
1,627

 
1,552

 
931

 
859

 
803

Total tobacco space
$
23,907

 
$
23,597

 
$
23,743

 
$
7,170

 
$
6,596

 
$
6,421

Smokeable Products Segment
The smokeable products segment's operating companies income and margin grew during 2012 primarily through higher
 
pricing and effective cost management. PM USA continued to support Marlboro's new brand architecture with brand-building initiatives, which contributed to Marlboro's 2012 retail share gains.
The following table summarizes smokeable products segment shipment volume performance:
 
Shipment Volume
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(sticks in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Cigarettes:
 
 
 
 
 
     Marlboro
116,377

 
117,201

 
121,893

     Other premium
8,629

 
9,381

 
10,315

     Discount
9,868

 
8,556

 
8,630

Total cigarettes
134,874

 
135,138

 
140,838

Cigars:
 
 
 
 
 
     Black & Mild
1,219

 
1,226

 
1,222

     Other
18

 
20

 
24

Total cigars
1,237

 
1,246

 
1,246

Total smokeable products
136,111

 
136,384

 
142,084

Cigarettes shipment volume includes Marlboro; Other premium brands, such as Virginia Slims, Parliament and Benson & Hedges; and Discount brands, which include Basic and L&M. Cigarettes volume includes units sold as well as promotional units, but excludes units sold in Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories, to Overseas Military and by Philip Morris Duty Free Inc., none of which, individually or in the aggregate, is material to the smokeable products segment.
The following table summarizes the smokeable products segment retail share performance:
 
Retail Share
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Cigarettes:
 
 
 
 
 
     Marlboro
42.6
%
 
42.0
%
 
42.6
%
     Other premium
3.4

 
3.7

 
3.9

     Discount
3.8

 
3.3

 
3.3

Total cigarettes
49.8
%
 
49.0
%
 
49.8
%
Cigars:
 
 
 
 
 
     Black & Mild
30.0
%
 
29.5
%
 
29.0
%
     Other
0.2

 
0.2

 
0.4

Total cigars
30.2
%
 
29.7
%
 
29.4
%
Cigarettes retail share results are based on data from SymphonyIRI Group/Capstone, which is a retail tracking service that uses a sample of stores to project market share performance in retail stores selling cigarettes. The panel was not designed to capture sales through other channels, including the Internet, direct mail and some illicitly tax-advantaged outlets.


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Cigars retail share results are based on data from the SymphonyIRI Group ("SymphonyIRI") InfoScan Cigar Database for Food, Drug, Mass Merchandisers (excluding Walmart) and Convenience trade classes, which is a retail tracking service that measures machine-made large cigars market share performance. Middleton defines machine-made large cigars as cigars made by machine that weigh greater than three pounds per thousand, except cigars sold at retail in packages of 20 cigars. This service was developed to provide a representation of retail business performance in key trade channels. It is SymphonyIRI's standard practice to periodically refresh its InfoScan syndicated services, which could restate retail share results that were previously released.
PM USA and Middleton are transitioning to new retail tracking services to measure cigarette and cigar performance beginning in the first quarter of 2013.
PM USA and Middleton executed the following pricing and promotional allowance actions during 2012, 2011 and 2010:
Effective December 3, 2012, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.06 per pack.
Effective June 18, 2012, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.06 per pack.
Effective March 14, 2012, Middleton reduced the list price on all of its untipped cigarillo brands by $0.39 per five-pack.
Effective December 12, 2011, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.05 per pack. In addition, PM USA reduced its wholesale promotional allowance on L&M by $0.21 per pack from $0.55 to $0.34 per pack.
Effective December 5, 2011, Middleton executed various list price increases across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.12 per five-pack.
Effective July 8, 2011, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.09 per pack.
Effective December 6, 2010, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.08 per pack.
Effective November 15, 2010, Middleton executed various list price increases across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.09 per five-pack.
Effective May 10, 2010, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.08 per pack. In addition, PM USA cancelled its wholesale promotional allowance of $0.21 per pack on Basic.
Effective January 11, 2010, Middleton executed various list price increases across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.18 per five-pack.
 
The following discussion compares smokeable products segment results for the year ended December 31, 2012 with the year ended December 31, 2011.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $246 million (1.1%) due primarily to higher net pricing ($404 million), which includes higher promotional investments behind Marlboro's new brand architecture, partially offset by unfavorable mix due to L&M's volume growth in Discount and lower shipment volume.
Operating companies income increased $502 million (8.8%), due primarily to higher net pricing ($405 million), which includes higher promotional investments, marketing, administration and research savings reflecting cost reduction initiatives ($162 million), lower asset impairment, exit and implementation costs, net, primarily related to the 2011 Cost Reduction Program ($155 million) and lower charges related to tobacco and health judgments ($94 million), partially offset by unfavorable mix and lower shipment volume ($127 million), higher per unit settlement charges ($123 million) and higher manufacturing costs.
Marketing, administration and research costs for the smokeable products segment include PM USA's cost of administering and litigating product liability claims. Litigation defense costs are influenced by a number of factors, including the number and types of cases filed, the number of cases tried annually, the results of trials and appeals, the development of the law controlling relevant legal issues, and litigation strategy and tactics. For further discussion on these matters, see Note 18 and Item 3. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, product liability defense costs for PM USA were $228 million, $272 million and $259 million, respectively. The factors that have influenced past product liability defense costs are expected to continue to influence future costs. PM USA does not expect future product liability defense costs to be significantly different from product liability defense costs incurred in 2012.
For 2012, total smokeable products shipment volume decreased 0.2% versus 2011. PM USA's reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume declined 0.2% for 2012, due primarily to the industry's rate of decline, partially offset by volume growth as a result of retail share gains and one extra shipping day. After adjusting for an extra shipping day and changes in trade inventories, PM USA's 2012 domestic cigarettes shipment volume was estimated to be essentially unchanged. After adjusting for an extra shipping day and changes in trade inventories, PM USA estimates total cigarette category volume for 2012 to be down approximately 3%.
PM USA's total premium brands (Marlboro and Other premium brands) shipment volume decreased 1.2% in 2012. Marlboro's shipment volume decreased 0.7% versus 2011. In the Discount brands, PM USA's shipment volume for 2012 increased 15.3% versus 2011 due to L&M's volume growth, partially offset by Basic's volume decline. PM USA's shipments of premium cigarettes accounted for 92.7% of its reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for 2012, down from 93.7% for 2011.


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Middleton's reported cigars shipment volume for 2012 decreased 0.7% due primarily to changes in trade inventories, partially offset by volume growth as a result of retail share gains.
In the cigarette category, Marlboro's 2012 retail share performance continued to benefit from the brand-building initiatives supporting Marlboro's new architecture. Marlboro's retail share for 2012 increased 0.6 share points versus 2011 to 42.6%. In January 2013, PM USA expanded distribution of Marlboro Southern Cut nationally. Marlboro Southern Cut is part of the Marlboro Gold family.
PM USA's 2012 retail share increased 0.8 share points versus 2011, reflecting retail share gains by Marlboro and by L&M in Discount. These gains were partially offset by share losses on other portfolio brands.
In the machine-made large cigars category, Black & Mild's retail share for 2012 increased 0.5 share points. The brand benefited from new untipped cigarillo varieties that were introduced in 2011, Black & Mild seasonal offerings and the 2012 third-quarter introduction of Black & Mild Jazz untipped cigarillos into select geographies. In December 2012, Middleton announced plans to launch nationally Black & Mild Jazz cigars in both plastic tip and wood tip in the first quarter of 2013.
The following discussion compares smokeable products segment results for the year ended December 31, 2011 with the year ended December 31, 2010.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $221 million (1.0%) due to lower shipment volume ($1,051 million), partially offset by higher net pricing ($830 million), which includes higher promotional investments.
Operating companies income increased $119 million (2.1%), due primarily to higher net pricing ($831 million), which includes higher promotional investments, marketing, administration, and research savings reflecting cost reduction initiatives ($198 million) and 2010 implementation costs related to the closure of the Cabarrus, North Carolina manufacturing facility ($75 million), partially offset by lower volume ($527 million), higher asset impairment and exit costs due primarily to the 2011 Cost Reduction Program ($158 million), higher per unit settlement charges ($120 million), higher charges related to tobacco and health judgments ($87 million) and higher FDA user fees ($73 million).
For 2011, total smokeable products shipment volume decreased 4.0% versus 2010. PM USA's reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume declined 4.0% versus 2010 due primarily to retail share losses and one less shipping day, partially offset by changes in trade inventories. After adjusting for changes in trade inventories and one less shipping day, PM USA's 2011 domestic cigarette shipment volume was estimated to be down approximately 4% versus 2010. PM USA believes that total cigarette category volume for 2011 decreased approximately 3.5% versus 2010, when adjusted primarily for changes in trade inventories and one less shipping day.
 
PM USA's total premium brands (Marlboro and Other Premium brands) shipment volume decreased 4.3%. Marlboro's shipment volume decreased 3.8% versus 2010. In the Discount brands, PM USA's shipment volume decreased 0.9%. PM USA's shipments of premium cigarettes accounted for 93.7% of its reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for 2011, down from 93.9% in 2010.
Middleton's 2011 reported cigars shipment volume was unchanged versus 2010.
For 2011, PM USA's retail share of the cigarette category declined 0.8 share points to 49.0% due primarily to retail share losses on Marlboro. Marlboro's 2011 retail share decreased 0.6 share points. In 2010, Marlboro delivered record full-year retail share results that were achieved at lower margin levels.
Middleton retained a leading share of the tipped cigarillo segment of the machine-made large cigars category, with a retail share of approximately 84% in 2011. For 2011, Middleton's retail share of the cigar category increased 0.3 share points to 29.7% versus 2010. Black & Mild's 2011 retail share increased 0.5 share points, as the brand benefited from new product introductions. During the fourth quarter of 2011, Middleton broadened its untipped cigarillo portfolio with new Aroma Wrap™ foil pouch packaging that accompanied the national introduction of Black & Mild Wine. This new fourth-quarter packaging roll-out also included Black & Mild Sweets and Classic varieties.
During the second quarter of 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 an excise tax environment that potentially benefits imported large cigars over those manufactured domestically.
Smokeless Products Segment
The smokeless products segment's operating companies income grew during 2012 driven by higher pricing, Copenhagen and Skoal's combined volume and retail share performance and effective cost management.
The following table summarizes smokeless products segment shipment volume performance:
 
Shipment Volume
For the Years Ended December 31,
(cans and packs in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Copenhagen
392.5

 
354.2

 
327.5

Skoal
288.4

 
286.8

 
274.4

Copenhagen and Skoal
680.9

 
641.0

 
601.9

Other
82.4

 
93.6

 
122.5

Total smokeless products
763.3

 
734.6

 
724.4

Volume includes cans and packs sold, as well as promotional units, but excludes international volume, which is not material to the smokeless products segment. Other includes certain USSTC and PM USA smokeless products. New types of smokeless products, as well as new packaging configurations


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of existing smokeless products, may or may not be equivalent to existing moist smokeless tobacco ("MST") products on a can for can basis. To calculate volumes of cans and packs shipped, USSTC and PM USA have assumed that one pack of snus, irrespective of the number of pouches in the pack, is equivalent to one can of MST.
The following table summarizes smokeless products segment retail share performance (excluding international volume):
 
Retail Share
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Copenhagen
28.4
%
 
26.2
%
 
24.7
%
Skoal
22.2

 
22.8

 
23.3

Copenhagen and Skoal
50.6

 
49.0

 
48.0

Other
4.8

 
6.1

 
7.2

Total smokeless products
55.4
%
 
55.1
%
 
55.2
%
Other includes certain USSTC and PM USA smokeless products. New types of smokeless products, as well as new packaging configurations of existing smokeless products, may or may not be equivalent to existing MST products on a can for can basis. USSTC and PM USA have assumed that one pack of snus, irrespective of the number of pouches in the pack, is equivalent to one can of MST. All other products are considered to be equivalent on a can for can basis.
Smokeless products segment retail share performance is based on data from the SymphonyIRI InfoScan Smokeless Tobacco Database for Food, Drug, Mass Merchandisers (excluding Walmart) and Convenience trade classes, which tracks smokeless products market share performance based on the number of cans and packs sold. Smokeless products is defined by SymphonyIRI as moist smokeless and spit-free tobacco products. It is SymphonyIRI's standard practice to periodically refresh its InfoScan syndicated services, which could restate retail share results that were previously released.
USSTC and PM USA are transitioning to a new retail tracking service to measure smokeless products performance beginning in the first quarter of 2013.
USSTC and PM USA executed the following pricing actions during 2012, 2011 and 2010:
Effective December 9, 2012, USSTC increased the list price on all of its brands by $0.05 per can or pouch.
Effective December 3, 2012, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro Snus tins and flip-top box ("FTB") by $0.05 per tin or FTB.
Effective June 18, 2012, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro Snus tins and FTB by $0.05 per tin or FTB.
Effective May 25, 2012, USSTC increased the list price on all of its brands by $0.05 per can.
Effective May 22, 2011, USSTC increased the list price on its MST brands by $0.10 per can and Skoal Snus by $0.31 per can.
 
Effective May 18, 2011, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro Snus tins by $0.31 per tin.
Effective May 28, 2010, USSTC increased the list price on substantially all of its brands by $0.10 per can.
The following discussion compares smokeless products segment results for the year ended December 31, 2012 with the year ended December 31, 2011.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $64 million (3.9%) due primarily to higher pricing ($58 million) and higher shipment volume, partially offset by unfavorable mix due to growth in products introduced in recent years at a lower, popular price.
Operating companies income increased $72 million (8.4%) versus the prior-year period due primarily to higher net pricing ($46 million), which includes higher promotional investments, higher shipment volume, lower manufacturing costs ($22 million), lower asset impairment, exit, implementation and integration costs primarily related to the 2011 Cost Reduction Program and marketing, administration and research savings reflecting cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by growth in products introduced in recent years at a lower, popular price.
For 2012, USSTC and PM USA's combined reported domestic smokeless products shipment volume grew 3.9% as volume growth on Copenhagen and Skoal was partially offset by volume declines on Other portfolio brands.
Copenhagen's 2012 volume grew 10.8% as the brand continued to benefit from products introduced in recent years, including the May 2012 expansion of Copenhagen Southern Blend into select geographies. USSTC has announced that it will expand Copenhagen Southern Blend into additional states in the first quarter of 2013. Skoal's 2012 volume increased 0.6%. Skoal's volume comparison was negatively impacted by the de-listing of seven Skoal stock-keeping units ("SKUs") in the second quarter of 2011, partially offset by the growth of Skoal X-TRA.
After adjusting for changes in trade inventories and other factors, USSTC and PM USA estimate that their combined 2012 domestic smokeless products shipment volume grew approximately 5% versus 2011. USSTC and PM USA believe that the smokeless category's 2012 volume grew at an estimated rate of approximately 5% versus 2011.
USSTC and PM USA's combined 2012 retail share increased 0.3 share points as gains by Copenhagen were partially offset by retail share losses for Skoal and Other portfolio brands.
Copenhagen and Skoal's combined retail share for 2012 increased 1.6 share points. Copenhagen's 2012 retail share grew 2.2 share points as the brand continued to benefit from products introduced over the past several years. Skoal's 2012 retail share declined 0.6 share points due primarily to the de-listing of seven SKUs in the second quarter of 2011, competitive activity and Copenhagen's strong performance, partially offset by share gains on its Skoal X-TRA products.
The following discussion compares smokeless products segment results for the year ended December 31, 2011 with the year ended December 31, 2010.


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Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $75 million (4.8%), due primarily to higher net pricing ($68 million), which includes higher promotional investments, and higher volume.
Operating companies income increased $56 million (7.0%), due primarily to higher net pricing ($68 million), which includes higher promotional investments, and lower marketing, administration and research costs ($36 million) reflecting cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs ($32 million) and higher asset impairment and exit costs due primarily to the 2011 Cost Reduction Program.
Copenhagen and Skoal's 2011 combined shipment volume increased 6.5%. Copenhagen's volume benefited from new product introductions, including the 2011 introduction of Copenhagen Wintergreen Pouches as well as continued strength from the introductions of Copenhagen Long Cut Wintergreen in late 2009, and Long Cut Straight and Extra Long Cut Natural in the first quarter of 2010. Skoal's volume growth benefited from the Skoal X-tra and Skoal Snus new products introduced in the first quarter of 2011, partially offset by the de-listing of seven Skoal SKUs that occurred in the second quarter of 2011. Marlboro Snus's volume was negatively impacted by significantly lower levels of promotional support when compared to activity around its national expansion in 2010, and the shift in mix from packages with six pouches to tins with fifteen pouches. USSTC and PM USA's 2011 combined reported domestic smokeless products shipment volume increased 1.4%, as shipment volume growth on Copenhagen and Skoal were partially offset by volume declines in its Other portfolio brands, including Marlboro Snus.
After adjusting for changes in trade inventories, USSTC and PM USA's 2011 combined domestic smokeless products shipment volume was estimated to be up approximately 4%. USSTC and PM USA believe that the smokeless category's 2011 volume grew at an estimated rate of approximately 5%.
Copenhagen and Skoal's 2011 combined retail share grew 1.0 share point for the full year of 2011. Copenhagen's 2011 retail share increased 1.5 share points. The brand's retail share results benefited from new product introductions over the past several years. Skoal's 2011 retail share decreased 0.5 share points, as share losses, which include the impact of the 2011 second-quarter de-listing of seven SKUs, were partially offset by share gains on new products that were introduced in 2011. For 2011, USSTC and PM USA's combined retail share decreased 0.1 share point due to share losses on Skoal and Other portfolio brands, including Marlboro Snus, mostly offset by share gains on Copenhagen.

Wine Segment
Business Environment
Ste. Michelle is a leading producer of Washington state wines, primarily Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest, and owns wineries in or distributes wines from several other wine regions. As discussed in Note 18, Ste. Michelle holds an 85% ownership
 
interest in Michelle-Antinori, LLC, which owns Stag's Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. Ste. Michelle also owns Conn Creek in Napa Valley and Erath in Oregon. In addition, Ste. Michelle distributes Antinori and Villa Maria Estate wines and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte in the United States. Key elements of Ste. Michelle's strategy are 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 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.
Operating Results
Ste. Michelle delivered higher financial results in 2012 through higher pricing, improved premium mix and higher shipment volume.
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Net revenues
$
561

 
$
516

 
$
459

Operating companies income
$
104

 
$
91

 
$
61

The following table summarizes wine segment case shipment volume performance:
 
Shipment Volume
For the Years Ended
December 31,
(cases in thousands)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Chateau Ste. Michelle
2,780

 
2,522

 
2,338

Columbia Crest
1,716

 
2,055

 
2,054

Other
3,093

 
2,744

 
2,289

Total wine
7,589

 
7,321

 
6,681

The following discussion compares wine segment results for the year ended December 31, 2012 with the year ended December 31, 2011.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $45 million (8.7%), due primarily to higher shipment volume, higher pricing and improved premium mix.


34



Operating companies income increased $13 million (14.3%), due primarily to higher pricing, improved premium mix, higher shipment volume and UST acquisition-related costs incurred in 2011, partially offset by costs related to Ste. Michelle's sales force expansion and higher costs for select vintages incurred in 2012.
Ste. Michelle's 2012 wine shipment volume increased 3.7% due primarily to the national expansion of select wines into off-premise channels.
The following discussion compares wine segment results for the year ended December 31, 2011 with the year ended December 31, 2010.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $57 million (12.4%), due primarily to higher premium shipment volume.
Operating companies income increased $30 million (49.2%), due primarily to higher premium shipment volume ($26 million) and lower UST acquisition-related costs, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs.
Ste. Michelle's 2011 reported wine shipment volume increased 9.6% versus 2010 due primarily to the national expansion of select wines into off-premise channels and growth in its Chateau Ste. Michelle brand.
Financial Services Segment
Business Environment
In 2003, PMCC ceased making new investments and 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. During 2012, 2011 and 2010, proceeds from asset management activities and recoveries on the sale of bankruptcy claims on, as well as the sale of aircraft under, its leases to American totaled $1,049 million, $490 million and $312 million, respectively. Gains, net included in operating companies income during 2012, 2011 and 2010 totaled $131 million, $107 million and $72 million, respectively.
As previously discussed, during the second quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. entered into the Closing Agreement with the IRS that conclusively resolved the federal income tax treatment for all prior and future tax years of certain leveraged lease transactions entered into by PMCC. As a result of the Closing Agreement, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a one-time net earnings benefit of $68 million during the second quarter of 2012, which included a pre-tax charge of $7 million that was recorded as a decrease to PMCC's net revenues and operating companies income. During the second quarter of 2011, Altria Group, Inc. recorded the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge, which included a pre-tax charge of $490 million that was recorded as a decrease to PMCC's net revenues and operating companies income. For further discussion, see Note 7, Note 14 and Note 18.
PMCC assesses the adequacy of its allowance for losses relative to the credit risk of its leasing portfolio on an ongoing
 
basis. During 2012, PMCC determined that its allowance for losses exceeded the amount required based on management's assessment of the credit quality and size of PMCC's leasing portfolio. As a result, PMCC reduced its allowance for losses by $10 million, which was recorded as income in 2012.
During 2011, PMCC recorded a net increase to its allowance for losses of $25 million which was comprised of (i) an increase of $60 million related to American's bankruptcy filing; and (ii) a $35 million reduction to the allowance for losses recorded during the third quarter of 2011 when PMCC determined that its allowance for losses exceeded the amount required based on management's assessment of the credit quality of the leasing portfolio at that time, including reductions in exposure to below investment grade lessees.
PMCC believes that, as of December 31, 2012, the allowance for losses of $99 million is adequate. PMCC continues to monitor economic and credit conditions, and the individual situations of its lessees and their respective industries, and may have to increase its allowance for losses if such conditions worsen. All PMCC lessees, including American under its restructured leases, were current on their lease payment obligations as of December 31, 2012. For further discussion of finance assets, see Note 7.
    
Operating Results
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Net revenues
$
150

 
$
(313
)
 
$
161

Operating companies income
$
176

 
$
(349
)
 
$
157

PMCC's net revenues for 2012 increased $463 million (100+%) from 2011, due primarily to lower leveraged lease charges, partially offset by lower lease revenues. PMCC's operating companies income for 2012 increased $525 million (100+%) from 2011 due primarily to lower leveraged lease charges, the changes to the allowance for losses discussed above and recoveries related to the sale of bankruptcy claims on, as well as the sale of aircraft under, its leases to American, partially offset by lower lease revenues.
PMCC's net revenues for 2011 decreased $474 million (100+%) from 2010, due primarily to the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge, partially offset by higher lease revenues, which included gains on asset sales. PMCC's operating companies income for 2011 decreased $506 million (100+%) from 2010, due primarily to the 2011 PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge and a net increase of $25 million to the allowance for losses, partially offset by higher lease revenues, which included gains on asset sales.


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Financial Review
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
During 2012, net cash provided by operating activities was $3.9 billion compared with $3.6 billion during 2011. This increase was due primarily to higher earnings in 2012 and higher income tax payments in 2011 associated with PMCC leveraged lease transactions, partially offset by the Closing Agreement with the IRS, which resulted in a payment for federal income tax and estimated interest of $456 million in 2012, and a higher voluntary contribution to Altria Group, Inc.'s pension plans during 2012 ($500 million in 2012 versus $200 million in 2011).
During 2011, net cash provided by operating activities was $3.6 billion compared with $2.8 billion during 2010. This increase was due primarily to a payment to the IRS of approximately $945 million for taxes and associated interest in July 2010 for certain leveraged lease transactions entered into by PMCC and lower payments in 2011 related to exit and integration costs and State Settlement Agreements, partially offset by a voluntary $200 million contribution made to Altria Group, Inc.'s pension plan during the first quarter of 2011, and higher income tax payments in 2011 related to the decision not to claim tax benefits for certain PMCC leveraged lease transactions beginning in 2010. For further discussion of certain PMCC leveraged lease transactions, see Note 7, Note 14 and Note 18.
Altria Group, Inc. had a working capital deficit at December 31, 2012 and 2011. Altria Group, Inc.'s management believes that it has the ability to fund these working capital deficits with cash provided by operating activities and/or short-term borrowings under its commercial paper program as discussed in the Debt and Liquidity section below.
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities
During 2012, net cash provided by investing activities was $920 million compared with $387 million during 2011. This increase was due primarily to higher proceeds from finance asset sales in 2012.
During 2011, net cash provided by investing activities was $387 million compared with $259 million during 2010. This increase was due primarily to higher proceeds from finance asset sales in 2011.
Capital expenditures for 2012 increased 18.1% to $124 million. Capital expenditures for 2013 are expected to be in the range of $125 million to $150 million, and are expected to be funded from operating cash flows.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
During 2012, net cash used in financing activities was $5.2 billion compared with $3.0 billion during 2011. This increase was due primarily to the following:
debt tender offer completed during 2012, which resulted in the repurchase of $2.0 billion of long-term debt as well as an $864 million payment of tender premiums and fees related to the early extinguishment of debt;
 
$600 million repayment of UST senior unsecured notes during 2012; and
higher dividends paid during 2012;
partially offset by:
higher debt issuances during 2012; and
lower share repurchases during 2012.
During 2011, net cash used in financing activities was $3.0 billion compared with $2.6 billion during 2010. This increase was due primarily to Altria Group, Inc.'s repurchases of its common stock during 2011 and a higher dividend rate in 2011, partially offset by higher net issuances of debt during 2011.
Debt and Liquidity
Credit Ratings - Altria Group, Inc.'s cost and terms of financing and its access to commercial paper markets may be impacted by applicable credit ratings.  Under the terms of certain of Altria Group, Inc.'s existing debt instruments, a change in a credit rating could result in an increase or a decrease of the cost of borrowings. For instance, as discussed further in Note 9, the interest rate payable on certain of Altria Group, Inc.'s outstanding notes is subject to adjustment from time to time if the rating assigned to the notes of such series by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("Standard & Poor's") is downgraded (or subsequently upgraded) as and to the extent set forth in the notes. The impact of credit ratings on the cost of borrowings under Altria Group, Inc.'s credit agreements is discussed below. 
At December 31, 2012, the credit ratings and outlook for Altria Group, Inc.'s indebtedness by major credit rating agencies were:
  
Short-term
Debt
 
Long-term
Debt
 
Outlook
Moody’s
P-2
  
Baa1
  
Stable
Standard & Poor’s
A-2
  
BBB
  
Stable
Fitch
F2
  
BBB+
  
Stable
Credit Lines - From time to time, Altria Group, Inc. has short-term borrowing needs to meet its working capital requirements and generally uses its commercial paper program to meet those needs. At December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, Altria Group, Inc. had no short-term borrowings outstanding.
For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, Altria Group, Inc.'s average daily short-term borrowings, peak short-term borrowings outstanding and weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings were as follows:
(in millions)
2012

 
2011

 
2010

Average daily short-term borrowings
$
8

 
$
68

 
$
186

Peak short-term borrowings outstanding
$
190

 
$
865

 
$
1,419

Weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings
0.42
%
 
0.40
%
 
0.39
%
Short-term borrowings for 2012, 2011 and 2010 were repaid with cash provided by operating activities. Peak borrowings for 2012, 2011 and 2010 were due primarily to


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payments related to State Settlement Agreements as further discussed in Tobacco Space - Business Environment, Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations - Payments Under State Settlement and Other Tobacco Agreements, and FDA Regulation, and Note 18.
At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. had in place a senior unsecured 5-year revolving credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement provides for borrowings up to an aggregate principal amount of $3.0 billion and expires on June 30, 2016. Pricing for interest and fees under the Credit Agreement may be modified in the event of a change in the rating of Altria Group, Inc.'s long-term senior unsecured debt. Interest rates on borrowings under the Credit Agreement are expected to be based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a percentage equal to Altria Group, Inc.'s credit default swap spread subject to certain minimum rates and maximum rates based on the higher of the rating of Altria Group, Inc.'s long-term senior unsecured debt from Standard & Poor's and Moody's. The applicable minimum and maximum rates based on Altria Group, Inc.'s long-term senior unsecured debt ratings at December 31, 2012 for borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 0.75% and 1.75%, respectively. The Credit Agreement does not include any other rating triggers, nor does it contain any provisions that could require the posting of collateral. At December 31, 2012, the credit line available to Altria Group, Inc. was $3.0 billion.
The Credit Agreement is used for general corporate purposes and to support Altria Group, Inc.'s commercial paper issuances. The Credit Agreement requires that Altria Group, Inc. maintain (i) a ratio of debt to consolidated EBITDA of not more than 3.0 to 1.0 and (ii) a ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense of not less than 4.0 to 1.0, each calculated as of the end of the applicable quarter on a rolling four quarters basis. At December 31, 2012, the ratios of debt to consolidated EBITDA and consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, calculated in accordance with the Credit Agreement, were 1.8 to 1.0 and 7.0 to 1.0, respectively. Altria Group, Inc. expects to continue to meet its covenants associated with the Credit Agreement. The terms "consolidated EBITDA," "debt" and "consolidated interest expense," as defined in the Credit Agreement, include certain adjustments. Exhibit 99.3 to Altria Group, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 sets forth the definitions of these terms as they appear in the Credit Agreement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Any commercial paper issued by Altria Group, Inc. and borrowings under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by PM USA as further discussed in Note 19. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 ("Note 19").
    
 
Financial Market Environment - Altria Group, Inc. believes it has adequate liquidity and access to financial resources to meet its anticipated obligations and ongoing business needs in the foreseeable future. Altria Group, Inc. continues to monitor the credit quality of its bank group and is not aware of any potential non-performing credit provider in that group. Altria Group, Inc. believes the lenders in its bank group will be willing and able to advance funds in accordance with their legal obligations.
Debt - At December 31, 2012 and 2011, Altria Group, Inc.'s total debt, all of which is consumer products debt, was $13.9 billion and $13.7 billion, respectively.
As discussed in Note 9, on August 9, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. issued $1.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.85% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2022 and $0.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.25% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2042. Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually. The net proceeds from the issuances of these senior unsecured notes were added to Altria Group, Inc.'s general funds and were used to repurchase certain of its senior unsecured notes in connection with the 2012 debt tender offer, and other general corporate purposes.
The obligations of Altria Group, Inc. under the notes are guaranteed by PM USA. For further discussion, see Note 19.
During the third quarter of 2012, senior unsecured notes issued by UST in the aggregate principal amount of $600 million matured and were repaid in full.
All of Altria Group, Inc.'s debt was fixed-rate debt at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The weighted-average coupon interest rate on total debt was approximately 7.2% and 8.3% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. For further details on long-term debt, see Note 9.
In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc. filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, under which Altria Group, Inc. may offer debt securities or warrants to purchase debt securities from time to time over a three-year period from the date of filing.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
Altria Group, Inc. has no off-balance sheet arrangements, including special purpose entities, other than guarantees and contractual obligations that are discussed below.
Guarantees and Other Similar Matters - As discussed in Note 18, Altria Group, Inc. had guarantees (including third-party guarantees) and a redeemable noncontrolling interest outstanding at December 31, 2012. From time to time, subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. also issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. In addition, as discussed in Note 19, PM USA has issued guarantees related to Altria Group, Inc.'s indebtedness. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on Altria Group, Inc.'s liquidity.


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Aggregate Contractual Obligations - The following table summarizes Altria Group, Inc.'s contractual obligations at December 31, 2012:
 
Payments Due
(in millions)
Total

 
2013

 
2014 - 2015

 
2016 - 2017

 
2018 and Thereafter

Long-term debt (1)
$
13,926

 
$
1,459

 
$
1,525

 
$

 
$
10,942

Interest on borrowings (2)
12,689

 
1,006

 
1,704

 
1,601

 
8,378

Operating leases (3)
318

 
55

 
91

 
58

 
114

Purchase obligations: (4)

 

 

 

 

Inventory and production costs
1,940

 
773

 
618

 
283

 
266

Other
836

 
482

 
269

 
74

 
11

 
2,776

 
1,255

 
887

 
357

 
277

Other long-term liabilities (5)
3,158

 
510

 
370

 
470

 
1,808

 
$
32,867

 
$
4,285

 
$
4,577

 
$
2,486

 
$
21,519

(1) Amounts represent the expected cash payments of Altria Group, Inc.'s long-term debt, all of which is consumer products debt.
(2) Amounts represent the expected cash payments of Altria Group, Inc.'s interest expense on its long-term debt. Interest on Altria Group, Inc.'s debt, which was all fixed-rate debt at December 31, 2012, is presented using the stated coupon interest rate. Amounts exclude the amortization of debt discounts and premiums, the amortization of loan fees and fees for lines of credit that would be included in interest and other debt expense, net on the consolidated statements of earnings.
(3) Amounts represent the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases.
(4) Purchase obligations for inventory and production costs (such as raw materials, indirect materials and supplies, packaging, storage and distribution) are commitments for projected needs to be utilized in the normal course of business. Other purchase obligations include commitments for marketing, capital expenditures, information technology and professional services. Arrangements are considered purchase obligations if a contract specifies all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, a pricing structure and approximate timing of the transaction. Most arrangements are cancelable without a significant penalty, and with short notice (usually 30 days). Any amounts reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as accounts payable and accrued liabilities are excluded from the table above.
(5) Other long-term liabilities consist of accrued postretirement health care costs and certain accrued pension costs. The amounts included in the table above for accrued pension costs consist of a voluntary $350 million contribution made on January 2, 2013 as well as the actuarially determined anticipated minimum funding requirements for each year from 2014 through 2017. Contributions beyond 2017 cannot be reasonably estimated and, therefore, are not included in the table above. In addition, the following long-term liabilities included on the consolidated balance sheet are excluded from the table above: accrued postemployment costs, income taxes and tax contingencies, and other accruals. Altria Group, Inc. is unable to estimate the timing of payments for these items.
The State Settlement Agreements and related legal fee payments, payments for tobacco growers and FDA user fees, as discussed below and in Note 18 and Item 3, are excluded from the table above, as the payments are subject to adjustment for several factors, including inflation, market share and industry volume. Litigation escrow deposits, as discussed below and in Note 18, are also excluded from the table above since these deposits will be returned to PM USA should it prevail on appeal.
Payments Under State Settlement and Other Tobacco Agreements, and FDA Regulation - As discussed previously and in Note 18 and Item 3, PM USA has entered into State Settlement Agreements with the states and territories of the United States. PM USA also entered into a trust agreement to provide certain aid to U.S. tobacco growers and quota holders, but PM USA's obligations under this trust expired on December 15, 2010 (these obligations had been offset by the obligations imposed on PM USA by FETRA, which expires in the third quarter of 2014). USSTC and Middleton are also subject to
 
obligations imposed by FETRA. In addition, in June 2009, PM USA and a subsidiary of USSTC became subject to quarterly user fees imposed by the FDA as a result of the FSPTCA. The State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and the FDA user fees call for payments that are based on variable factors, such as volume, market share and inflation, depending on the subject payment. Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries account for the cost of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fees as a component of cost of sales. As a result of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fees, Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries recorded approximately $5.1 billion, $5.0 billion and $5.0 billion of charges to cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Based on current agreements, 2012 market share and historical annual industry volume decline rates, and excluding the potential impact of the NPM adjustment discussed further below and in Note 18, the estimated amounts that Altria Group, Inc.'s subsidiaries may charge to cost of sales for these


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payments approximate $5 billion in 2013 and each year thereafter subject to adjustments noted below.
The estimated amounts due under the State Settlement Agreements and FETRA charged to cost of sales in each year would generally be paid in the following year. The amounts charged to cost of sales for the FDA user fees are generally paid in the quarter in which the fees are incurred. As previously stated, the payments due under the terms of the State Settlement Agreements, FETRA and FDA user fees are subject to adjustment for several factors, including volume, inflation and certain contingent events and, in general, are allocated based on each manufacturer's market share. Future payment amounts are estimates, and actual payment amounts will differ to the extent underlying assumptions differ from actual future results.
Effective December 17, 2012, PM USA and the other tobacco product manufacturers that are original signatories to the MSA (the "Original Participating Manufacturers"), as well as certain other participating manufacturers, entered into a term sheet with 17 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for settlement of the 2003 - 2012 NPM Adjustments with those states and territories (the "signatory states"). The term sheet provides for a release to the signatory states of their portion of more than $4 billion from the MSA disputed payments account. The signatory participating manufacturers will receive reductions in future MSA payments. Based on the current signatory states and an estimate of the 2012 NPM adjustment, PM USA estimates its reductions to be approximately $450 million, all of which PM USA expects, subject to certain conditions, to receive as a credit against its April 2013 MSA payment. This estimate is subject to change depending on various factors related to the calculation of the credit.
The term sheet is subject to the approval of the arbitration panel in the NPM adjustment arbitration that is currently underway, which approval could come in the form of a stipulated award. In addition, states that have not joined the term sheet ("non-signatory states") have raised objections concerning the term sheet with the arbitration panel, and a number of non-signatory states have indicated that they may attempt to take action in state court to prevent the settlement from proceeding or to seek other relief with respect to the settlement. No assurance can be given that the arbitration panel will issue the order necessary for the term sheet to proceed or that the objections or any other such actions by non-signatory states will be resolved in a manner favorable to PM USA. If the term sheet proceeds, PM USA expects to record a corresponding increase in its reported pre-tax earnings. The term sheet also provides that the NPM adjustment provision will be revised and streamlined as to the signatory states for years after 2012. In connection with the settlement, the formula for allocating among the Original Participating Manufacturers the revised NPM adjustments applicable in the future to the signatory states will be modified in a manner favorable to PM USA, although the extent to which it is favorable to PM USA will be dependent upon certain future events, including the
 
future relative market shares of the Original Participating Manufacturers. For further discussion see Note 18.
Litigation Escrow Deposits - With respect to certain adverse verdicts currently on appeal, as of December 31, 2012, PM USA has posted various forms of security totaling approximately $36 million, the majority of which have been collateralized with cash deposits, to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. These cash deposits are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
Although litigation is subject to uncertainty and could result in material adverse consequences for the financial position, cash flows or results of operations of PM USA, UST or Altria Group, Inc. in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year as more fully disclosed in Note 18, Item 3 and Item 1A, management expects cash flow from operations, together with Altria Group, Inc.'s access to capital markets, to provide sufficient liquidity to meet ongoing business needs.
Equity and Dividends
As discussed in Note 11. Stock Plans to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8, during 2012 Altria Group, Inc. granted 1.8 million shares of restricted and deferred stock to eligible employees.
At December 31, 2012, the number of shares to be issued upon vesting of deferred stock was not significant. In addition, there were no stock options outstanding at December 31, 2012.
Dividends paid in 2012 and 2011 were approximately $3.4 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively, an increase of 5.5%, primarily reflecting a higher dividend rate, partially offset by fewer shares outstanding as a result of shares repurchased by Altria Group, Inc. under its share repurchase programs.
During the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors approved a 7.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.44 per common share versus the previous rate of $0.41 per common share. Altria Group, Inc. expects to continue to maintain a dividend payout ratio target of approximately 80% of its adjusted diluted EPS. The current annualized dividend rate is $1.76 per Altria Group, Inc. common share. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors.
In January 2011, Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion one-year share repurchase program (the "January 2011 share repurchase program"). Altria Group, Inc. completed the January 2011 share repurchase program during the third quarter of 2011. Under the January 2011 share repurchase 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 was expanded to $1.5 billion in October 2012 (the "October 2011 share repurchase program"). During 2011 and 2012, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 11.7 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $327 million, and $27.84 average price per share) and 34.9 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $1.1


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billion, and $32.00 average price per share), respectively, under the October 2011 share repurchase program.
During 2011, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased a total of 49.3 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $1.3 billion, and $26.91 average price per share) under the January 2011 and October 2011 share repurchase programs described above.
As of December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. had repurchased a total of 46.6 million shares of its common stock under the October 2011 share repurchase program at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.4 billion, and an average price of $30.95 per share. At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. had approximately $57 million remaining in the October 2011 share repurchase program, which Altria Group, Inc. expects to complete by June 30, 2013. The timing of share repurchases under the October 2011 share repurchase program depends upon marketplace conditions and other factors, and the October 2011 share repurchase program remains subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors.
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