10-Q 1 a2018form10qq12018.htm FORM 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
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)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (804) 274-2200
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer |  | þ |  | Accelerated filer |  | ¨
Non-accelerated filer |  | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |  | Smaller reporting company |  | ¨
|  |  |  | Emerging growth company |  | ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
At April 16, 2018, there were 1,892,648,384 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share.

Table of Contents
ALTRIA GROUP, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

|  |  |  | Page No.
PART I - |  | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |  |
Item 1. |  | Financial Statements (Unaudited) |  |
|  | Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 |  | 3
|  | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 |  | 5
|  | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 |  | 6
|  | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 and the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 |  | 7
|  | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 |  | 8
|  | Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |  | 10
Item 2. |  | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |  | 59
Item 3. |  | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |  | 89
Item 4. |  | Controls and Procedures |  | 89
PART II - |  | OTHER INFORMATION |  |
Item 1. |  | Legal Proceedings |  | 89
Item 1A. |  | Risk Factors |  | 89
Item 2. |  | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |  | 90
Item 6. |  | Exhibits |  | 91
Signature |  | Signature |  | 92

2

Table of Contents
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions of dollars)
(Unaudited)

|  | March 31, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
Assets |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 2,191 |  |  | $ | 1,253 |
Receivables |  | 133 |  |  | 142 |
Inventories: |  |  |  |
Leaf tobacco |  | 920 |  |  | 941 |
Other raw materials |  | 184 |  |  | 170 |
Work in process |  | 547 |  |  | 560 |
Finished product |  | 606 |  |  | 554 |
|  | 2,257 |  |  | 2,225 |
Income taxes |  | — |  |  | 461 |
Other current assets |  | 243 |  |  | 263 |
Total current assets |  | 4,824 |  |  | 4,344 |
Property, plant and equipment, at cost |  | 4,879 |  |  | 4,879 |
Less accumulated depreciation |  | 2,988 |  |  | 2,965 |
|  | 1,891 |  |  | 1,914 |
Goodwill |  | 5,307 |  |  | 5,307 |
Other intangible assets, net |  | 12,400 |  |  | 12,400 |
Investment in AB InBev |  | 18,199 |  |  | 17,952 |
Finance assets, net |  | 854 |  |  | 899 |
Other assets |  | 424 |  |  | 386 |
Total Assets |  | $ | 43,899 |  |  | $ | 43,202 |

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)
(in millions of dollars, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)

|  | March 31, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
Liabilities |  |  |  |
Current portion of long-term debt |  | $ | 864 |  |  | $ | 864 |
Accounts payable |  | 203 |  |  | 374 |
Accrued liabilities: |  |  |  |
Marketing |  | 707 |  |  | 695 |
Employment costs |  | 68 |  |  | 188 |
Settlement charges |  | 3,458 |  |  | 2,442 |
Other |  | 845 |  |  | 971 |
Dividends payable |  | 1,330 |  |  | 1,258 |
Total current liabilities |  | 7,475 |  |  | 6,792 |
Long-term debt |  | 13,033 |  |  | 13,030 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 5,292 |  |  | 5,247 |
Accrued pension costs |  | 382 |  |  | 445 |
Accrued postretirement health care costs |  | 1,987 |  |  | 1,987 |
Other liabilities |  | 296 |  |  | 283 |
Total liabilities |  | 28,465 |  |  | 27,784 |
Contingencies (Note 10) |  |  |  |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |  | 37 |  |  | 38 |
Stockholders’ Equity |  |  |  |
Common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share (2,805,961,317 shares issued) |  | 935 |  |  | 935 |
Additional paid-in capital |  | 5,938 |  |  | 5,952 |
Earnings reinvested in the business |  | 42,816 |  |  | 42,251 |
Accumulated other comprehensive losses |  | (1,927 | ) |  | (1,897 | )
Cost of repurchased stock (912,135,431 shares at March 31, 2018 and 904,702,125 shares at December 31, 2017) |  | (32,368 | ) |  | (31,864 | )
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | 15,394 |  |  | 15,377 |
Noncontrolling interests |  | 3 |  |  | 3 |
Total stockholders’ equity |  | 15,397 |  |  | 15,380 |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |  | $ | 43,899 |  |  | $ | 43,202 |

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in millions of dollars, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
Net revenues |  | $ | 6,108 |  |  | $ | 6,083 |
Cost of sales |  | 1,734 |  |  | 1,813 |
Excise taxes on products |  | 1,438 |  |  | 1,494 |
Gross profit |  | 2,936 |  |  | 2,776 |
Marketing, administration and research costs |  | 618 |  |  | 533 |
Asset impairment and exit costs |  | 2 |  |  | 4 |
Operating income |  | 2,316 |  |  | 2,239 |
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | 166 |  |  | 179 |
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost |  | (7 | ) |  | (8 | )
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev |  | (342 | ) |  | (23 | )
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  | 33 |  |  | — |
Earnings before income taxes |  | 2,466 |  |  | 2,091 |
Provision for income taxes |  | 571 |  |  | 689 |
Net earnings |  | 1,895 |  |  | 1,402 |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | (1 | ) |  | (1 | )
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,894 |  |  | $ | 1,401 |
Per share data: |  |  |  |
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1.00 |  |  | $ | 0.72 |
Dividends declared |  | $ | 0.70 |  |  | $ | 0.61 |

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings
(in millions of dollars)
(Unaudited)

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
Net earnings |  | $ | 1,895 |  |  | $ | 1,402 |
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes: |  |  |  |
Benefit plans |  | 45 |  |  | 32 |
AB InBev |  | (75 | ) |  | (192 | )
Other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income taxes |  | (30 | ) |  | (160 | )
Comprehensive earnings |  | 1,865 |  |  | 1,242 |
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | (1 | ) |  | (1 | )
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,864 |  |  | $ | 1,241 |

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 and
the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in millions of dollars, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

|  | Attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  |  |  |
|  | Common Stock |  | Additional Paid-in Capital |  | Earnings Reinvested in the Business |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses |  | Cost of Repurchased Stock |  | Non-controlling Interests |  | Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balances, December 31, 2016 |  | $ | 935 |  |  | $ | 5,893 |  |  | $ | 36,906 |  |  | $ | (2,052 | ) |  | $ | (28,912 | ) |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 12,773 |
Net earnings (1) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 10,222 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 10,222 |
Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 155 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 155 |
Stock award activity |  | — |  |  | 59 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (35 | ) |  | — |  |  | 24 |
Cash dividends declared ($2.54 per share) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,877 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,877 | )
Repurchases of common stock |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (2,917 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2,917 | )
Balances, December 31, 2017 |  | 935 |  |  | 5,952 |  |  | 42,251 |  |  | (1,897 | ) |  | (31,864 | ) |  | 3 |  |  | 15,380 |
Net earnings (1) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,894 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,894 |
Other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income taxes |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (30 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (30 | )
Stock award activity |  | — |  |  | (14 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 9 |  |  | — |  |  | (5 | )
Cash dividends declared ($0.70 per share) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,329 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,329 | )
Repurchases of common stock |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (513 | ) |  | — |  |  | (513 | )
Balances, March 31, 2018 |  | $ | 935 |  |  | $ | 5,938 |  |  | $ | 42,816 |  |  | $ | (1,927 | ) |  | $ | (32,368 | ) |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 15,397 |

(1) | Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017 exclude net earnings of $1 million and $5 million, respectively, due to the redeemable noncontrolling interest related to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, which is reported in the mezzanine equity section on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions of dollars)
(Unaudited)

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities |  |  |  |
Net earnings |  | $ | 1,895 |  |  | $ | 1,402 |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows: |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 53 |  |  | 52 |
Deferred income tax provision (benefit) |  | 54 |  |  | (23 | )
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev |  | (342 | ) |  | (23 | )
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  | 33 |  |  | — |
Asset impairment and exit costs, net of cash paid |  | (7 | ) |  | (16 | )
Cash effects of changes: |  |  |  |
Receivables |  | 9 |  |  | 18 |
Inventories |  | (30 | ) |  | (68 | )
Accounts payable |  | (164 | ) |  | (189 | )
Income taxes |  | 521 |  |  | 719 |
Accrued liabilities and other current assets |  | (267 | ) |  | (289 | )
Accrued settlement charges |  | 1,018 |  |  | 1,089 |
Pension plan contributions |  | (7 | ) |  | (8 | )
Pension provisions and postretirement, net |  | — |  |  | (15 | )
Other |  | 43 |  |  | 26 |
Net cash provided by operating activities |  | 2,809 |  |  | 2,675 |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | (34 | ) |  | (33 | )
Proceeds from finance assets |  | — |  |  | 2 |
Other |  | (7 | ) |  | (199 | )
Net cash used in investing activities |  | $ | (41 | ) |  | $ | (230 | )

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
(in millions of dollars)
(Unaudited)

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities |  |  |  |
Repurchases of common stock |  | $ | (513 | ) |  | $ | (551 | )
Dividends paid on common stock |  | (1,257 | ) |  | (1,187 | )
Other |  | (23 | ) |  | (38 | )
Cash used in financing activities |  | (1,793 | ) |  | (1,776 | )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: |  |  |  |
Increase |  | 975 |  |  | 669 |
Balance at beginning of period |  | 1,314 |  |  | 4,651 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 2,289 |  |  | $ | 5,320 |
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the amounts reported on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets:
|  | At March 31, 2018 |  | At December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 2,191 |  |  | $ | 1,253 |
Restricted cash included in other current assets (1) |  | 41 |  |  | 25 |
Restricted cash included in other assets (1) |  | 57 |  |  | 36 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |  | $ | 2,289 |  |  | $ | 1,314 |

(1) Restricted cash consisted of cash deposits collateralizing various forms of security posted by PM USA to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. See Note 10. Contingencies.
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation:
Background
At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. (“PM USA”), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes 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; Sherman Group Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (“Nat Sherman”), which are engaged in the manufacture and sale of super premium cigarettes and the sale of premium cigars; and UST LLC (“UST”), which through its 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 tobacco products and wine. Altria Group, Inc.’s other operating companies included Nu Mark LLC (“Nu Mark”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that is engaged in the manufacture and sale of innovative tobacco products, and Philip Morris Capital Corporation (“PMCC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that maintains a portfolio of finance assets, substantially all of which are leveraged leases. Other Altria Group, Inc. wholly-owned subsidiaries included Altria Group Distribution Company, which provides sales and distribution services to certain Altria Group, Inc. operating subsidiaries, and Altria Client Services LLC, which provides various support services in areas such as legal, regulatory, consumer engagement, finance, human resources and external affairs to Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. 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. At March 31, 2018, 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 equity interests.
At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. had an approximate 10.2% ownership of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“AB InBev”), which Altria Group, Inc. accounts for under the equity method of accounting using a one-quarter lag. Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in AB InBev if and when AB InBev pays such dividends.
Dividends and Share Repurchases
During the first quarter of 2018, Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) approved a 6.1% increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.70 per share of Altria Group, Inc. common stock versus the previous rate of $0.66 per share. The current annualized dividend rate is $2.80 per share. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
In July 2015, the Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion share repurchase program that it expanded to $3.0 billion in October 2016 and to $4.0 billion in July 2017 (as expanded, the “July 2015 share repurchase program”). In January 2018, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 0.3 million shares of its common stock (at an aggregate cost of approximately $18 million, and at an average price of $71.68 per share), which completed the July 2015 share repurchase program. Under this program, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased a total of 58.7 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $68.15 per share.
Following the completion of the July 2015 share repurchase program, the Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program (the “January 2018 share repurchase program”). During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 7.7 million shares of its common stock (at an aggregate cost of approximately $495 million, and at an average price of $64.08 per share) under the January 2018 share repurchase program. At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. had approximately $505 million remaining in the January 2018 share repurchase program. The timing of share repurchases under this program depends upon marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase activity was as follows:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions, except per share data)
Total number of shares repurchased |  | 8.0 |  |  | 7.7 |
Aggregate cost of shares repurchased |  | $ | 513 |  |  | $ | 551 |
Average price per share of shares repurchased |  | $ | 64.33 |  |  | $ | 71.77 |

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Basis of Presentation
The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Altria Group, Inc. are unaudited. It is the opinion of Altria Group, Inc.’s management that all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim results presented have been reflected in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. Net revenues and net earnings for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year.
These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which appear in Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
On January 1, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. adopted the following Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”):

▪ | ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all related ASU amendments (collectively “ASU No. 2014-09”);

▪ | ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities and the related ASU amendment (collectively “ASU No. 2016-01”);

▪ | ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU No. 2016-15”);

▪ | ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (“ASU No. 2016-18”); and

▪ | ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (“ASU No. 2017-07”).

Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation due to Altria Group, Inc.’s adoptions of ASU No. 2016-18 and ASU No. 2017-07.
ASU No. 2014-09 establishes principles for reporting information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Altria Group, Inc. has elected to apply the guidance using the modified retrospective transition method. For further discussion, see Note 2. Revenues from Contracts with Customers.
ASU No. 2016-01 addresses certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 did not impact Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2016-15 addresses how eight specific cash flow issues are to be presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not impact Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. made an accounting policy election to continue to classify distributions received from equity method investees using the nature of distribution approach.
ASU No. 2016-18, which was retrospectively adopted, requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. As a result of the adoption, restricted cash of $98 million, $92 million, $61 million and $82 million at March 31, 2018, March 31, 2017, December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, was included in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
ASU No. 2017-07 requires an employer to report the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees during the period. The other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost are required to be presented in the statement of earnings separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of operating income. Additionally, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization. Altria Group, Inc. retrospectively adopted the guidance for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the statement of earnings, and prospectively adopted the capitalization of service cost. Altria Group, Inc. used the practical expedient provided in ASU No. 2017-07 that permits Altria Group, Inc. to use the amounts disclosed in its benefit plans note for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the adoption of ASU No.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
2017-07 resulted in a reclassification of net periodic benefit income of $3 million and $5 million from cost of sales and marketing, administration and research costs, respectively, to net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statement of earnings. In addition, certain prior-period segment data has been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation. For further discussion, see Note 7. Segment Reporting.
For a description of recently issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria Group, Inc., see Note 12. Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted.
Note 2. Revenues from Contracts with Customers:
On January 1, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. adopted ASU No. 2014-09, which establishes principles for reporting information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Altria Group, Inc. elected to apply the guidance using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognized by Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses; therefore, no adjustments were recorded to Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses generate substantially all of their revenue from sales contracts with customers. While Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses enter into separate sales contracts with each customer for each product type, all sales contracts are similarly structured. These contracts create an obligation to transfer product to the customer. Contract durations do not exceed one year; therefore, there is no significant financing component, costs to obtain contracts are expensed as incurred and unsatisfied performance obligations are not disclosed.
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses define net revenues as revenues, which include excise taxes and shipping and handling charges billed to customers, net of cash discounts for prompt payment, sales returns (also referred to as returned goods) and sales incentives. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses exclude from the transaction price, sales taxes and value-added taxes imposed at the time of sale (which do not include excise taxes on cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco or wine).
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses recognize revenues from sales contracts with customers upon shipment of goods when control of such products is obtained by the customer. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses determine that a customer obtains control of the product upon shipment when title of such product and risk of loss transfers to the customer. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses account for shipping and handling costs as fulfillment costs and such amounts are classified as part of cost of sales in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses record an allowance for returned goods, based principally on historical volume and return rates, which is included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses record sales incentives, which consist of consumer incentives and trade promotion activities, as a reduction to revenues (a portion of which is based on amounts estimated as being due to wholesalers, retailers and consumers at the end of a period) based principally on historical volume, utilization and redemption rates. Expected payments for sales incentives are included in accrued marketing liabilities on Altria’s Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Payment terms vary depending on product type. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses consider payments received in advance of product shipment as deferred revenue, which is included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets until revenue is recognized. PM USA receives payment in advance of a customer obtaining control of the product. USSTC receives substantially all payments within one business day of the customer obtaining control of the product. Ste. Michelle receives substantially all payments from customers within 45 days of the customer obtaining control of the product. Amounts due from customers are included in receivables on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses promote their products with consumer incentives, trade promotions and consumer engagement programs. These consumer incentive and trade promotion activities, which include discounts, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives and volume-based incentives, do not create a distinct deliverable and are, therefore, recorded as a reduction of revenues. Consumer engagement program payments are made to third parties. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses expense these consumer engagement programs, which include event marketing, as incurred and such expenses are included in marketing, administration and research costs on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. For interim reporting purposes, Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses charge consumer engagement programs and certain consumer incentive expenses to operations as a percentage of sales, based on estimated sales and related expenses for the full year.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Altria Group, Inc. disaggregates net revenues based on product type. For further discussion, see Note 7. Segment Reporting.
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses offer cash discounts to customers for prompt payment and calculate cash discounts as a percentage of the list price based on historical experience and agreed-upon payment terms. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses record an allowance for cash discounts, which is included as a contra-asset against receivables on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. There was no allowance for cash discounts at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and there were no differences between amounts recorded as an allowance for cash discounts and cash discounts subsequently given to customers.
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses that receive payments in advance of product shipment record such payments as deferred revenue. These payments are included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets until control of such products is obtained by the customer. Deferred revenue was $135 million and $267 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. When cash is received in advance of product shipment, Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses satisfy their performance obligations within three days of receiving payment. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no differences between amounts recorded as deferred revenue and amounts subsequently recognized as revenue.
Receivables, which primarily reflect sales of wine produced and/or distributed by Ste. Michelle, were $133 million and $142 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no expected differences between amounts recorded and subsequently received, and Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses did not record an allowance for doubtful accounts against these receivables.
Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses record an allowance for returned goods, which is included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. While all of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco operating companies sell tobacco products with dates relative to freshness as printed on product packaging, due to the limited shelf life of USSTC’s smokeless tobacco products, it is USSTC’s policy to accept authorized sales returns from its customers for products that have passed such dates. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses record estimated sales returns, which are based principally on historical volume and return rates, as a reduction to revenues. Actual sales returns will differ from estimated sales returns to the extent actual results differ from estimated assumptions. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses reflect differences between actual and estimated sales returns in the period in which the actual amounts become known. These differences, if any, have not had a significant impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated financial statements. All returned goods are destroyed upon return and not included in inventory. Consequently, Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses do not record an asset for their right to recover goods from customers upon return.
Sales incentives include variable payments related to goods sold by Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses. Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses include estimates of variable consideration as a reduction to revenues upon shipment of goods to customers. The sales incentives that require significant estimates and judgments are as follows:
Price promotion payments- Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses make price promotion payments, substantially all of which are made to their retail partners to incent the promotion of certain product offerings in select geographic areas.
Wholesale and retail participation payments- Altria Group, Inc.’s businesses make payments to their wholesale and retail partners to incent merchandising and sharing of sales data in accordance with each business’s trade agreements.
These estimates primarily include estimated wholesale to retail sales volume and historical acceptance rates. Actual payments will differ from estimated payments to the extent actual results differ from estimated assumptions. Differences between actual and estimated payments are reflected in the period such information becomes available. These differences, if any, have not had a significant impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 3. Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs:
Pre-tax asset impairment, exit and implementation costs recorded in connection with the facilities consolidation, as discussed below, consisted of the following:

| For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 |  | For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
| Asset Impairment and Exit Costs |  | Implementation Costs (1) |  | Total |  | Asset Impairment and Exit Costs |  | Implementation Costs (1) |  | Total
| (in millions)
Smokeable products | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 5 |  |  | $ | 6 |
Smokeless products | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 18 |  |  | 21 |
Total | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 23 |  |  | $ | 27 |

(1) The pre-tax implementation costs were included in cost of sales in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

The movement in the restructuring liabilities (excluding termination, settlement and curtailment costs), substantially all of which are severance liabilities, was as follows:

| For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
| (in millions)
Balances at December 31, 2017 | $ | 33 |
Charges | 2 |
Cash spent | (9 | )
Balances at March 31, 2018 | $ | 26 |

Facilities Consolidation
In October 2016, Altria Group, Inc. announced the consolidation of certain of its operating companies’ manufacturing facilities to streamline operations and achieve greater efficiencies. In the first quarter of 2018, Middleton completed the transfer of its Limerick, Pennsylvania operations to the Manufacturing Center site in Richmond, Virginia (“Richmond Manufacturing Center”), and USSTC completed the transfer of its Franklin Park, Illinois operations to its Nashville, Tennessee facility and the Richmond Manufacturing Center. The pre-tax charges related to the consolidation have been substantially completed.
As a result of the consolidation, Altria Group, Inc. has recorded total pre-tax charges of approximately $150 million, or $0.05 per share since inception.
Cash payments related to the consolidation of $10 million were made during the three months ended March 31, 2018 for total cash payments of $73 million since inception. Altria Group, Inc. expects a total of approximately $100 million in cash expenditures.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 4. Benefit Plans:
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)
Net periodic benefit cost (income) consisted of the following:

| For the Three Months Ended March 31,
| Pension |  | Postretirement
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
| (in millions)
Service cost | $ | 21 |  |  | $ | 19 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 4 |
Interest cost | 68 |  |  | 72 |  |  | 19 |  |  | 20 |
Expected return on plan assets | (146 | ) |  | (150 | ) |  | (5 | ) |  | — |
Amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss | 57 |  |  | 50 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 8 |
Prior service cost (credit) | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | (10 | ) |  | (9 | )
Net periodic benefit cost (income) | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | (8 | ) |  | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | 23 |

Employer Contributions
Altria Group, Inc. makes contributions to the pension plans to the extent that the contributions are tax deductible and pays benefits that relate to plans for salaried employees that cannot be funded under Internal Revenue Service regulations. Employer contributions of $7 million were made to Altria Group, Inc.’s pension plans during the three months ended March 31, 2018. Currently, Altria Group, Inc. anticipates making additional employer contributions to its pension plans during the remainder of 2018 of up to approximately $35 million, based on current tax law. However, this estimate is subject to change as a result of changes in tax and other benefit laws, as well as asset performance significantly above or below the assumed long-term rate of return on pension assets, changes in interest rates, or other considerations. In December 2017, Altria Group, Inc. made a contribution of $270 million to a trust to fund certain postretirement benefits. Prior to this contribution, Altria Group, Inc.’s postretirement plans were not funded. Altria Group, Inc. did not make any employer contributions to its postretirement plans during the three months ended March 31, 2018. Currently, Altria Group, Inc. anticipates making employer contributions to its postretirement plans of up to approximately $70 million in 2018. However, this estimate is subject to change as a result of changes in tax and other benefit laws, as well as asset performance significantly above or below the assumed long-term rate of return on postretirement assets, or other considerations.
Note 5. Earnings Per Share:
Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) were calculated using the following:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,894 |  |  | $ | 1,401 |
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to share-based awards |  | (2 | ) |  | (2 | )
Earnings for basic and diluted EPS |  | $ | 1,892 |  |  | $ | 1,399 |
Weighted-average shares for basic and diluted EPS |  | 1,899 |  |  | 1,939 |

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 6. Other Comprehensive Earnings/Losses:
The following tables set forth the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income taxes, attributable to Altria Group, Inc.:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
|  | Benefit Plans |  | AB InBev |  | Currency Translation Adjustments and Other |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses
|  | (in millions)
Balances, December 31, 2017 |  | $ | (1,839 | ) |  | $ | (54 | ) |  | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | (1,897 | )
Other comprehensive losses before reclassifications |  | — |  |  | (81 | ) |  | — |  |  | (81 | )
Deferred income taxes |  | — |  |  | 16 |  |  | — |  |  | 16 |
Other comprehensive losses before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes |  | — |  |  | (65 | ) |  | — |  |  | (65 | )
Amounts reclassified to net earnings |  | 61 |  |  | (13 | ) |  | — |  |  | 48 |
Deferred income taxes |  | (16 | ) |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | (13 | )
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes |  | 45 |  |  | (10 | ) |  | — |  |  | 35 |
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes |  | 45 |  |  | (75 | ) | (1 | ) | — |  |  | (30 | )
Balances, March 31, 2018 |  | $ | (1,794 | ) |  | $ | (129 | ) |  | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | (1,927 | )

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
|  | Benefit Plans |  | AB InBev |  | Currency Translation Adjustments and Other |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses
|  | (in millions)
Balances, December 31, 2016 |  | $ | (2,048 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | (2,052 | )
Other comprehensive losses before reclassifications |  | — |  |  | (296 | ) |  | — |  |  | (296 | )
Deferred income taxes |  | — |  |  | 104 |  |  | — |  |  | 104 |
Other comprehensive losses before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes |  | — |  |  | (192 | ) |  | — |  |  | (192 | )
Amounts reclassified to net earnings |  | 54 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 54 |
Deferred income taxes |  | (22 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (22 | )
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes |  | 32 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 32 |
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes |  | 32 |  |  | (192 | ) | (1 | ) | — |  |  | (160 | )
Balances, March 31, 2017 |  | $ | (2,016 | ) |  | $ | (192 | ) |  | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | (2,212 | )

(1) Primarily reflects currency translation adjustments.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The following table sets forth pre-tax amounts by component, reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive losses to net earnings:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Benefit Plans: (1) |  |  |  |
Net loss |  | $ | 70 |  |  | $ | 62 |
Prior service cost/credit |  | (9 | ) |  | (8 | )
|  | 61 |  |  | 54 |
AB InBev (2) |  | (13 | ) |  | — |
Pre-tax amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive losses to net earnings |  | $ | 48 |  |  | $ | 54 |

(1) Amounts are included in net defined benefit plan costs. For further details, see Note 4. Benefit Plans.
(2) Amounts are primarily included in earnings from equity investment in AB InBev.
Note 7. Segment Reporting:
The products of Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries include smokeable tobacco products, consisting of combustible cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and Nat Sherman, machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton and premium cigars sold by Nat Sherman; smokeless tobacco products, consisting of moist smokeless tobacco and snus products manufactured and sold by USSTC; and wine produced and/or distributed by Ste. Michelle. The products and services of these subsidiaries constitute Altria Group, Inc.’s reportable segments of smokeable products, smokeless products and wine. The financial services and the innovative tobacco products businesses are included in all other.
As discussed in Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation, on January 1, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. adopted ASU 2017-07, which resulted in a change to prior-period operating income. As a result, certain immaterial prior-period operating companies income (loss) data has been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation.
Altria Group, Inc.’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) 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 general corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles. Interest and other debt expense, net, net periodic benefit cost/income, excluding service cost, 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 the CODM.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Segment data were as follows:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Net revenues: |  |  |  |
Smokeable products |  | $ | 5,414 |  |  | $ | 5,458 |
Smokeless products |  | 525 |  |  | 466 |
Wine |  | 142 |  |  | 140 |
All other |  | 27 |  |  | 19 |
Net revenues |  | $ | 6,108 |  |  | $ | 6,083 |
Earnings before income taxes: |  |  |  |
Operating companies income (loss): |  |  |  |
Smokeable products |  | $ | 2,038 |  |  | $ | 2,036 |
Smokeless products |  | 338 |  |  | 246 |
Wine |  | 17 |  |  | 21 |
All other |  | (26 | ) |  | (13 | )
Amortization of intangibles |  | (5 | ) |  | (5 | )
General corporate expenses |  | (46 | ) |  | (46 | )
Operating income |  | 2,316 |  |  | 2,239 |
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | (166 | ) |  | (179 | )
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost |  | 7 |  |  | 8 |
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev |  | 342 |  |  | 23 |
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  | (33 | ) |  | — |
Earnings before income taxes |  | $ | 2,466 |  |  | $ | 2,091 |

The comparability of operating companies income for the reportable segments was affected by the following:
Non-Participating Manufacturer (“NPM”) Adjustment Items - Pre-tax (income) expense for NPM adjustment items was recorded in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Smokeable products segment |  | $ | (68 | ) |  | $ | (8 | )
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | — |  |  | 7 |
Total |  | $ | (68 | ) |  | $ | (1 | )

NPM adjustment items result from the resolutions of certain disputes with states and territories related to the NPM adjustment provision under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (such dispute resolutions are referred to as “NPM Adjustment Items” and are more fully described in Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - NPM Adjustment Disputes in Note 10. Contingencies). The amounts shown in the table above for the smokeable products segment were recorded by PM USA as reductions to cost of sales, which increased operating companies income in the smokeable products segment.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Tobacco and Health Litigation Items - Pre-tax charges related to certain tobacco and health litigation items were recorded in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Smokeable products segment |  | $ | 24 |  |  | $ | 1 |
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | 4 |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 28 |  |  | $ | 1 |

During the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded pre-tax charges of $24 million in marketing, administration and research costs and $4 million in interest costs, substantially all of which related to three Engle progeny cases. For further discussion, see Note 10. Contingencies.
Smokeless Products Recall - During the first quarter of 2017, USSTC voluntarily recalled certain smokeless tobacco products manufactured at its Franklin Park, Illinois facility due to a product tampering incident (the “Recall”). USSTC estimated that the Recall reduced smokeless products segment operating companies income by approximately $60 million in the first quarter of 2017.
Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs - See Note 3. Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs for a breakdown of these costs by segment.
Note 8. Debt:
At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Altria Group, Inc. had no short-term borrowings.
Long-term Debt
Altria Group, Inc.’s estimate of the fair value of its debt is based on observable market information derived from a third-party pricing source and is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The aggregate fair value of Altria Group, Inc.’s total long-term debt at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was $14.7 billion and $15.3 billion, respectively, as compared with its carrying value of $13.9 billion for each period.
At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accrued interest on long-term debt of $155 million and $219 million, respectively, was included in other accrued liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Note 9. Income Taxes:
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”). The main provisions of the Tax Reform Act that impact Altria Group, Inc. include: (i) a reduction in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, and (ii) changes in the treatment of foreign-source income, commonly referred to as a modified territorial tax system. The transition to a modified territorial tax system required Altria Group, Inc. to record a deemed repatriation tax and an associated tax basis benefit in 2017. Substantially all of the deemed repatriation tax was related to Altria Group, Inc.’s share of AB InBev’s accumulated earnings. Dividends received from AB InBev beginning in 2017, to the extent that such dividends represent previously taxed income attributable to the deemed repatriation tax, result in an associated tax basis expense, which reverses the tax basis benefit recorded in 2017.
The income tax rate of 23.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased 9.8 percentage points from the three months ended March 31, 2017. This decrease was due primarily to a reduction in tax expense from the decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate as a result of the Tax Reform Act.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. recorded $11 million of net tax benefits as an adjustment to the provisional estimates recorded in 2017 for the tax basis adjustment and the deemed repatriation tax attributable to the Tax
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Reform Act. Altria Group, Inc. may be required to adjust these provisional estimates based on (i) additional guidance related to, or interpretation of, the Tax Reform Act and associated tax laws and (ii) additional information to be received from AB InBev, including information regarding AB InBev’s accumulated earnings and associated taxes for the 2016 and 2017 tax years. This additional guidance and information could result in increases or decreases to the provisional estimates, which may be significant in relation to these estimates. Altria Group, Inc. will record any such adjustments in 2018.
Altria Group, Inc. is subject to income taxation in many jurisdictions. Uncertain tax positions reflect the difference between tax positions taken or expected to be taken on income tax returns and the amounts recognized in the financial statements. Resolution of the related tax positions with the relevant tax authorities may take many years to complete, and such timing is not entirely within the control of Altria Group, Inc. At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc.’s total unrecognized tax benefits were $68 million. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate at March 31, 2018 was $45 million, along with $23 million affecting deferred taxes. It is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months certain examinations will be resolved, which could result in a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $16 million. At December 31, 2017, Altria Group, Inc.’s total unrecognized tax benefits were $66 million. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate at December 31, 2017 was $43 million, along with $23 million affecting deferred taxes.
Note 10. Contingencies:
Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various United States and foreign jurisdictions against Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including PM USA and UST and its subsidiaries, as well as their respective indemnitees. Various types of claims 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 or distributors.
Litigation is subject to uncertainty and it is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending or future cases. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related or other litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Damages claimed in some tobacco-related and other litigation are or can be significant and, in certain cases, have ranged 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. Furthermore, in those cases where plaintiffs are successful, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries may also be required to pay interest and attorneys’ fees.
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 47 states and Puerto Rico limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. As discussed below, however, tobacco litigation plaintiffs have challenged the constitutionality of Florida’s bond cap statute in several cases and plaintiffs may challenge state bond cap statutes in other jurisdictions as well. Such challenges may include the applicability of state bond caps in federal court. States, including Florida, may also seek to repeal or alter bond cap statutes through legislation. Although Altria Group, Inc. cannot predict the outcome of such challenges, it is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc., or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome of one or more such challenges.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries record provisions in the condensed consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, except to the extent discussed elsewhere in this Note 10. Contingencies: (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 amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any. Litigation defense costs are expensed as incurred.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries have achieved substantial success in managing litigation. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to uncertainty and significant challenges remain. It is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc., or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. Altria Group, Inc. and each of its subsidiaries named as a defendant believe, and each has been so advised by counsel handling the respective cases, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. Each of the companies has defended, and will continue to defend, vigorously against litigation challenges. However, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria Group, Inc. to do so.
Overview of Altria Group, Inc. and/or PM USA Tobacco-Related Litigation
Types and Number of Cases
Claims related to tobacco products generally fall within the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs; (ii) smoking and health cases primarily alleging personal injury or seeking court-supervised programs for ongoing medical monitoring and purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs, including cases in which the aggregated claims of a number of individual plaintiffs are to be tried in a single proceeding; (iii) health care cost recovery cases brought by governmental (both domestic and foreign) plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for health care expenditures allegedly caused by cigarette smoking and/or disgorgement of profits; (iv) class action suits alleging that the uses of the terms “Lights” and “Ultra Lights” constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices, common law or statutory fraud, unjust enrichment, breach of warranty or violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”); and (v) other tobacco-related litigation described below. Plaintiffs’ theories of recovery and the defenses raised in pending smoking and health, health care cost recovery and “Lights/Ultra Lights” cases are discussed below.
The table below lists the number of certain tobacco-related cases pending in the United States against PM USA and, in some instances, Altria Group, Inc. as of April 23, 2018, April 27, 2017 and April 25, 2016:

| April 23, 2018 |  | April 27, 2017 |  | April 25, 2016
Individual Smoking and Health Cases (1) | 102 |  | 80 |  | 62
Smoking and Health Class Actions and Aggregated Claims Litigation (2) | 4 |  | 5 |  | 5
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions (3) | 1 |  | 1 |  | 1
“Lights/Ultra Lights” Class Actions | 3 |  | 5 |  | 11

(1) Does not include 1,491 cases brought by flight attendants seeking compensatory damages for personal injuries allegedly caused by exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (“ETS”). The flight attendants allege that they are members of an ETS smoking and health class action in Florida, which was settled in 1997 (Broin). The terms of the court-approved settlement in that case allowed class members to file individual lawsuits seeking compensatory damages, but prohibited them from seeking punitive damages. In March 2018, 923 cases were voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. Also, does not include individual smoking and health cases brought by or on behalf of plaintiffs in Florida state and federal courts following the decertification of the Engle case (these Engle progeny cases are discussed below in Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Class Action).
(2) Includes as one case the 30 civil actions that were to be tried in six consolidated trials in West Virginia (In re: Tobacco Litigation). PM USA is a defendant in nine of the 30 cases. The parties agreed to resolve the cases for an immaterial amount and as of April 23, 2018, the court has dismissed 25 of the 30 cases and stated that it will dismiss the remaining five cases, two of which are against PM USA, by April 27, 2018.
(3) See Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - Federal Government’s Lawsuit below.
International Tobacco-Related Cases
As of April 23, 2018, PM USA is a named defendant in 10 health care cost recovery actions in Canada, eight of which also name Altria Group, Inc. as a defendant. PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are also named defendants in seven smoking and health class actions filed in various Canadian provinces. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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Tobacco-Related Cases Set for Trial
As of April 23, 2018, 12 Engle progeny cases are set for trial through June 30, 2018. There are no other individual smoking and health cases against PM USA set for trial during this period. One individual smoking and health case is currently in trial. Cases against other companies in the tobacco industry may be scheduled for trial during this period. Trial dates are subject to change.
Trial Results
Since January 1999, excluding the Engle progeny cases (separately discussed below), verdicts have been returned in 63 smoking and health, “Lights/Ultra Lights” and health care cost recovery cases in which PM USA was a defendant. Verdicts in favor of PM USA and other defendants were returned in 42 of the 63 cases. These 42 cases were tried in Alaska (1), California (7), Connecticut (1), Florida (10), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (2), Mississippi (1), Missouri (4), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (2) and West Virginia (2). A motion for a new trial was granted in one of the cases in Florida and in the case in Alaska. In the Alaska case (Hunter), the trial court withdrew its order for a new trial upon PM USA’s motion for reconsideration. In December 2015, the Alaska Supreme Court reversed the trial court decision and remanded the case with directions for the trial court to reassess whether to grant a new trial. In March 2016, the trial court granted a new trial and PM USA filed a petition for review of that order with the Alaska Supreme Court, which the court denied in July 2016. The retrial began in October 2016. In November 2016, the court declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict. The plaintiff subsequently moved for a new trial. Upon retrial, in April 2018, the jury returned a verdict in favor of PM USA. See Types and Number of Cases above for a discussion of the trial results in In re: Tobacco Litigation (West Virginia consolidated cases).
Of the 21 non-Engle progeny cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs, 19 have reached final resolution.
As of April 23, 2018, 118 state and federal Engle progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the Florida Supreme Court’s Engle decision as follows: 63 verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs; 45 verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA. Eight verdicts that were initially returned in favor of plaintiff were reversed post-trial or on appeal and remain pending and two verdicts in favor of PM USA were reversed for a new trial. See Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Progeny Trial Results below for a discussion of these verdicts.
Judgments Paid and Provisions for Tobacco and Health Litigation Items (Including Engle Progeny Litigation)
After exhausting all appeals in those cases resulting in adverse verdicts associated with tobacco-related litigation, since October 2004, PM USA has paid in the aggregate judgments and settlements (including related costs and fees) totaling approximately $506 million and interest totaling approximately $187 million as of March 31, 2018. These amounts include payments for Engle progeny judgments (and related costs and fees) totaling approximately $114 million, interest totaling approximately $25 million and payment of approximately $43 million in connection with the Federal Engle Agreement, discussed below.
The changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items, including related interest costs, for the periods specified below are as follows:

| For the Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017
| (in millions)
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at beginning of period (1) | $ | 106 |  |  | $ | 47 |
Pre-tax charges for: |  |  |
Tobacco and health judgments | 24 |  |  | 1 |
Related interest costs | 4 |  |  | — |
Payments (1) | (23 | ) |  | (1 | )
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at end of period (1) | $ | 111 |  |  | $ | 47 |

(1) Includes amounts related to the costs of implementing the corrective communications remedy related to the Federal Government’s Lawsuit discussed below.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items, including related interest costs, was included in liabilities on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Pre-tax charges for tobacco and health judgments were included in marketing, administration and research costs on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Pre-tax charges for related interest costs were included in interest and other debt expense, net on Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings.
Security for Judgments
To obtain stays of judgments pending current appeals, as of March 31, 2018, PM USA has posted various forms of security totaling approximately $98 million, which have been collateralized with cash deposits that are included in assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Smoking and Health Litigation
Overview
Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in smoking and health cases are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, nuisance, breach of express and implied warranties, breach of special duty, conspiracy, concert of action, violations of deceptive trade practice laws and consumer protection statutes, and claims under the federal and state anti-racketeering statutes. Plaintiffs in the smoking and health cases seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, treble/multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, creation of medical monitoring and smoking cessation funds, disgorgement of profits, and injunctive and equitable relief. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, statutes of limitations and preemption by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act.
Non-Engle Progeny Litigation
Summarized below are the non-Engle progeny smoking and health cases pending during 2018 in which a verdict was returned in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA. Charts listing certain verdicts for plaintiffs in the Engle progeny cases can be found in Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Progeny Trial Results below.
Gentile: In October 2017, a jury in a Florida state court returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, awarding approximately $7.1 million in compensatory damages and allocating 75% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $5.3 million). Subsequently, in October 2017, PM USA filed various post-trial motions. In April 2018, the trial court denied defendant’s post-trial motions and entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. Also in April 2018, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $8 million.
Bullock: In December 2015, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, awarding $900,000 in compensatory damages. In January 2016, the plaintiff moved for a new trial, which the district court denied in February 2016. In March 2016, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and plaintiff cross-appealed. In December 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the judgment. In the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $1 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA paid the judgment plus interest of approximately $900,000, concluding this litigation.
Federal Government’s Lawsuit: See Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - Federal Government’s Lawsuit below for a discussion of the verdict and post-trial developments in the United States of America health care cost recovery case.
Engle Class Action
In July 2000, in the second phase of the Engle smoking and health class action in Florida, a jury returned a verdict assessing punitive damages totaling approximately $145 billion against various defendants, including $74 billion against PM USA. Following entry of judgment, PM USA appealed.
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In May 2001, the trial court approved a stipulation providing that execution of the punitive damages component of the Engle judgment will remain stayed against PM USA and the other participating defendants through the completion of all judicial review. As a result of the stipulation, PM USA placed $500 million into an interest-bearing escrow account that, regardless of the outcome of the judicial review, was to be paid to the court and the court was to determine how to allocate or distribute it consistent with Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. In May 2003, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal reversed the judgment entered by the trial court and instructed the trial court to order the decertification of the class. Plaintiffs petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for further review.
In July 2006, the Florida Supreme Court ordered that the punitive damages award be vacated, that the class approved by the trial court be decertified and that members of the decertified class could file individual actions against defendants within one year of issuance of the mandate. The court further declared the following Phase I findings are entitled to res judicata effect in such individual actions brought within one year of the issuance of the mandate: (i) that smoking causes various diseases; (ii) that nicotine in cigarettes is addictive; (iii) that defendants’ cigarettes were defective and unreasonably dangerous; (iv) that defendants concealed or omitted material information not otherwise known or available knowing that the material was false or misleading or failed to disclose a material fact concerning the health effects or addictive nature of smoking; (v) that defendants agreed to misrepresent information regarding the health effects or addictive nature of cigarettes with the intention of causing the public to rely on this information to their detriment; (vi) that defendants agreed to conceal or omit information regarding the health effects of cigarettes or their addictive nature with the intention that smokers would rely on the information to their detriment; (vii) that all defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that were defective; and (viii) that defendants were negligent. The court also reinstated compensatory damages awards totaling approximately $6.9 million to two individual plaintiffs and found that a third plaintiff’s claim was barred by the statute of limitations. In February 2008, PM USA paid approximately $3 million, representing its share of compensatory damages and interest, to the two individual plaintiffs identified in the Florida Supreme Court’s order.
In August 2006, PM USA and plaintiffs sought rehearing from the Florida Supreme Court on parts of its July 2006 opinion. In December 2006, the Florida Supreme Court refused to revise its July 2006 ruling, except that it revised the set of Phase I findings entitled to res judicata effect by excluding finding (v) listed above (relating to agreement to misrepresent information), and added the finding that defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that, at the time of sale or supply, did not conform to the representations of fact made by defendants. In January 2007, the Florida Supreme Court issued the mandate from its revised opinion. In May 2007, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was denied. In February 2008, the trial court decertified the class.
Engle Progeny Cases
The deadline for filing Engle progeny cases, as required by the Florida Supreme Court’s Engle decision, expired in January 2008. As of April 23, 2018, approximately 2,300 state court cases were pending against PM USA or Altria Group, Inc. asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 3,000 state court plaintiffs. Because of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, docketing delays, duplicated filings and overlapping dismissal orders, these numbers are estimates. While the Federal Engle Agreement (discussed below) resolved nearly all Engle progeny cases pending in federal court, as of April 23, 2018, approximately 11 cases were pending against PM USA in federal court representing the cases excluded from that agreement.
Agreement to Resolve Federal Engle Progeny Cases
In 2015, PM USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (“R.J. Reynolds”) and Lorillard Tobacco Company (“Lorillard”) resolved approximately 415 pending federal Engle progeny cases (the “Federal Engle Agreement”). Under the terms of the Federal Engle Agreement, PM USA paid approximately $43 million. Federal cases that were in trial and those that previously reached final verdict were not included in the Federal Engle Agreement.
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Engle Progeny Trial Results
As of April 23, 2018, 118 federal and state Engle progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the Florida Supreme Court Engle decision. Sixty-three verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs and eight verdicts (Skolnick, Calloway, Pollari, McCoy, Duignan, Caprio, Oshinsky-Blacker and McCall) that were initially returned in favor of plaintiffs were reversed post-trial or on appeal and remain pending. Skolnick was remanded for a new trial; Calloway was reversed and remanded for a new trial on an appellate finding that improper arguments by plaintiff’s counsel deprived defendants of a fair trial; Pollari and McCoy were reversed and remanded for a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial court erred in admitting certain materials into evidence that deprived defendants of a fair trial; Duignan was reversed and remanded for a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial judge erred in responding to a question from the jury during deliberations; Caprio was reversed post-trial after defendants agreed to voluntarily dismiss their appeal in exchange for a full retrial; Oshinsky-Blacker was reversed post-trial based on plaintiff’s counsel’s improper arguments at trial; and McCall was reversed based on an appellate finding that the trial judge erred in instructing the jury on the warning labels on cigarette packs.
Forty-five verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA, of which 36 were state cases. In addition, there have been a number of mistrials, only some of which have resulted in new trials as of April 23, 2018. Two verdicts (D. Cohen and Collar) that were returned in favor of PM USA were subsequently reversed for new trials. The juries in the Reider and Banks cases returned zero damages verdicts in favor of PM USA. The juries in the Weingart and Hancock cases returned verdicts against PM USA awarding no damages, but the trial court in each case granted an additur.
The charts below list the verdicts and post-trial developments in certain Engle progeny cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs. The first chart lists such cases that are pending as of April 23, 2018; the second chart lists such cases that were pending within the previous 12 months, but that are now concluded. Unless otherwise noted for a particular case, the jury’s award for compensatory damages will not be reduced by any finding of plaintiff’s comparative fault (see Engle Progeny Appellate Issues below for a discussion of the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in Schoeff).
Currently-Pending Engle Cases
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Freeman
Date: March 2018
Verdict:
An Alachua County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding compensatory damages of $4 million. The jury did not award any punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In March 2018, PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to enter judgment in defendant’s favor and for a new trial. In April 2018, the trial court denied all post-trial motions and entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Gloger
Date: February 2018
Verdict:
A Miami-Dade County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $7.5 million. The jury also awarded $5 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In February 2018, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to enter judgment in defendants’ favor and for a new trial, which remain pending. Also in February 2018, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Third District Court of Appeal and posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million.
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Plaintiff: Bryant
Date: December 2017
Verdict:
An Escambia County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding compensatory damages of $581,000. The jury also awarded $225,000 in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In December 2017, PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to enter judgment in its favor and for a new trial. Plaintiff also filed a motion for a new trial on the amount of punitive damages. In February 2018, the trial court denied all post-trial motions and entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In March 2018, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal and posted a bond in the amount of $681,000.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: R. Douglas
Date: November 2017
Verdict:
A Duval County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding compensatory damages of $131,371 and allocating 4% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $5,255).
Post-Trial Developments:
In November 2017, PM USA filed a motion to set aside the verdict, and plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial or, in the alternative, for an additur of the damages award. In February 2018, the trial court denied the parties’ post-trial motions.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Wallace
Date: October 2017
Verdict:
A Brevard County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $12 million. The jury also awarded plaintiff $16 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In November 2017, defendants filed post-trial motions, including for a new trial or remittitur of the damages awards. In December 2017, the court denied certain post-trial motions. In January 2018, the court denied the remaining post-trial motions and entered final judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. In February 2018, defendants filed an appeal to the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal and posted a bond in the amount of approximately $3 million, and plaintiff cross-appealed.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: L. Martin
Date: May 2017
Verdict:
A Miami-Dade County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding compensatory damages of $1.1 million and allocating 55% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $605,000). The jury also awarded plaintiff $1.3 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In May 2017, PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In June 2017, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In August 2017, the court denied PM USA’s post-trial motions and PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Third District Court of Appeal and posted a bond in the amount of approximately $1.9 million. In September 2017, plaintiff cross-appealed.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Sommers
Date: April 2017
Verdict:
A Miami-Dade County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding compensatory damages of $1 million. The court dismissed the punitive damages claim prior to trial.
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Post-Trial Developments:
In April 2017, PM USA filed motions for a new trial and for a directed verdict, and plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial on punitive damages. In January 2018, the trial court granted plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on punitive damages, denied PM USA’s post-trial motions, and PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Third District Court of Appeal. In February 2018, plaintiff cross-appealed. In April 2018, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Santoro
Date: March 2017
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group LLC (“Liggett Group”) awarding compensatory damages of $1.6 million and allocating 28% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $450,000). The jury also awarded plaintiff $100,000 in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In April 2017, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault and defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In December 2017, the trial court granted defendants’ motion to set aside the verdict as to all claims except plaintiff’s conspiracy claim. In January 2018, plaintiff filed a motion to amend the final judgment to award the full compensatory damages without reduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault.
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Plaintiff: J. Brown
Date: February 2017
Verdict:
A Pinellas County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $5.4 million. The jury also awarded plaintiff $200,000 in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In March 2017, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In August 2017, the trial court denied defendants’ post-trial motions and entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In September 2017, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million.
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Plaintiff: Pardue
Date: December 2016
Verdict:
An Alachua County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of approximately $5.9 million. The jury also awarded plaintiff $6.75 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In December 2016, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In January 2017, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial or, in the alternative, for remittitur of the jury’s damages awards. In February 2017, the court granted defendants’ alternative motion for remittitur, reducing the compensatory damages award against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds to approximately $5.2 million. Also in February 2017, defendants filed a renewed motion to alter or amend the judgment, which the court denied in April 2017. In March 2017, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. In April 2017, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million.
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Plaintiff: S. Martin
Date: November 2016
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of approximately $5.4 million and allocating 46% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $2.48 million). The jury also awarded plaintiff $450,000 in punitive damages against PM USA.
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Post-Trial Developments:
In December 2016, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault and PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In January 2017, the trial court denied all post-trial motions. In February 2017, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. Also in February 2017, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $2.9 million.
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Plaintiff: Howles
Date: November 2016
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $4 million and allocating 50% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $2 million). The jury also awarded plaintiff $3 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In November 2016, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, which the court denied in December 2016. Also in December 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. In March 2018, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment in favor of plaintiff. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $6 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Oshinsky-Blacker
Date: September 2016
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $6.155 million and allocating 60% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $3.7 million). The jury also awarded plaintiff $1 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In October 2016, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed motions to set aside the verdict and for a directed verdict. In March 2017, the trial court vacated the verdict, ordered a new trial based on plaintiff’s counsel’s improper arguments at trial and denied defendants’ remaining post-trial motions. Also in March 2017, plaintiff filed a notice of appeal with the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and defendants cross-appealed.
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Plaintiff: Sermons
Date: July 2016
Verdict:
A Duval County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $65,000 and allocating 15% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $9,750). The jury also awarded plaintiff $51,225 in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In July 2016, plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial or, in the alternative, for an additur of the damages awards. In February 2018, the trial court denied plaintiff’s post-trial motions.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff: Purdo
Date: April 2016
Verdict:
A Palm Beach County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding compensatory damages of $21 million and allocating 12% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $2.52 million). The jury also awarded plaintiff $6.25 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In May 2016, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a
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new trial, all of which the court denied and entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In June 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $1.5 million. In August 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In September 2017, defendants petitioned the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal for panel rehearing or for rehearing en banc, which the court denied in October 2017. In November 2017, defendants filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court, which was denied in March 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $10 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs and increased its bond by approximately $3 million.
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Plaintiff: McCall
Date: March 2016
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding compensatory damages of $350,000 and allocating 25% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $87,500).
Post-Trial Developments:
In March 2016, PM USA filed a motion to set aside the verdict and to enter judgment in its favor, which the court denied in May 2016. Also in March 2016, plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial on punitive damages, citing the Soffer decision (allowing Engle progeny plaintiffs to seek punitive damages on their negligence and strict liability claims) discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues, which the court granted in May 2016. In June 2016, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. In December 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed the judgment and remanded the case for a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial judge erred in instructing the jury on the warning labels on cigarette packs.
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Plaintiff: Ahrens
Date: February 2016
Verdict:
A Pinellas County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $9 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $2.5 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In February 2016, the trial court entered final judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds and defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In March 2016, the trial court denied defendants’ post-trial motions. In April 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million. In May 2017, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam affirmance of the final judgment against defendants and defendants filed a motion for rehearing. In July 2017, the Second District Court of Appeal withdrew its prior decision and replaced it with a written opinion affirming the trial court’s judgment, but certifying to the Florida Supreme Court a conflict with Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In August 2017, defendants filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court stayed the case pending Schoeff. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $7 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In February 2018, PM USA increased its bond by $5 million. In March 2018, the Florida Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition for review in light of the Schoeff decision.
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Plaintiff: Ledoux
Date: December 2015
Verdict:
A Miami-Dade County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $10 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $12.5 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In January 2016, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, and the trial court entered final judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. In February 2016, the trial court
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denied defendants’ post-trial motions. In March 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Third District Court of Appeal and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million. In October 2017, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In November 2017, defendants filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court, contending that the final judgment conflicts with Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $20 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In February 2018, PM USA increased its bond by $5 million. In March 2018, the Florida Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition for review in light of the Schoeff decision.
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Plaintiff: Barbose
Date: November 2015
Verdict:
A Pasco County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $10 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $500,000 in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In November 2015, the court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff and in December 2015, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, which the court denied in January 2016. In February 2016, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million and filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal. In August 2017, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam affirmance of the final judgment against defendants and defendants filed a motion seeking a written opinion with a citation to Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In October 2017, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal issued a written opinion with a citation to Schoeff and granted defendants’ March 2017 motion for rehearing en banc or certification to the Florida Supreme Court. In November 2017, defendants filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court, contending that the final judgment conflicts with Schoeff. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $12 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In February 2018, PM USA increased its bond by $8 million. In March 2018, the Florida Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition for review in light of the Schoeff decision.
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Plaintiff: Tognoli
Date: November 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding $1.05 million in compensatory damages and allocating 15% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $157,500).
Post-Trial Developments:
In December 2015, PM USA filed a motion to set aside the verdict and for judgment in accordance with its motion for directed verdict. In January 2016, the trial court entered final judgment against PM USA with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault and plaintiff filed an appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. Additionally, the trial court denied PM USA’s post-trial motions and PM USA cross-appealed. In June 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam affirmance of the final judgment against PM USA. In July 2017, plaintiff filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court and, in August 2017, the Florida Supreme Court stayed the case pending Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $1 million for the judgment plus interest. In March 2018, the Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction of plaintiff’s petition for review and remanded the case for reconsideration in light of the Schoeff decision. Also in March 2018, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $157,500. In April 2018, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded the case to the trial court to amend the final judgment to award plaintiff the full amount of the jury’s compensatory damages.
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Plaintiff: Danielson
Date: November 2015
Verdict:
An Escambia County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding $325,000 in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $325,000 in punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In November 2015, plaintiff filed a motion to enforce the parties’ pretrial stipulation of $2.3 million in economic damages, which the trial court granted. The plaintiff also filed a motion for an additur or, in the alternative, for a new trial and PM USA filed post-trial motions, including a motion concerning the proper form of judgment and for a new trial. In December 2015, the trial court granted plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on damages and denied PM USA’s post-trial motions. In January 2016, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal. In July 2017, the Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s order granting a new trial on non-economic compensatory damages, but reinstated the jury’s punitive damages award.
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Plaintiff: Duignan
Date: September 2015
Verdict:
A Pinellas County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $6 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $3.5 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In September 2015, the trial court entered final judgment and PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, which the court denied in October 2015. In November 2015, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $2.7 million. In November 2017, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal reversed the judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds and ordered a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial judge erred in responding to a question from the jury during deliberations. Also in November 2017, plaintiff filed a motion for rehearing with the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, which the court denied in January 2018.
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Plaintiff: Cooper
Date: September 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $4.5 million in compensatory damages and allocating 10% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $450,000).
Post-Trial Developments:
In September 2015, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a directed verdict. In January 2016, the trial court denied PM USA’s post-trial motions. In February 2016, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff, reducing the compensatory damages award against PM USA to approximately $300,000. In March 2016, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed a notice of appeal in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. Also in March 2016, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $300,000. In January 2018, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment in favor of plaintiff and granted plaintiff a new trial on punitive damages.
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Plaintiff: Jordan
Date: August 2015
Verdict:
A Duval County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding approximately $7.8 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded approximately $3.2 million in punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In August 2015, the trial court entered final judgment against PM USA and reduced the compensatory damages to approximately $6.4 million. PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new
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trial, which the court denied in December 2015. PM USA subsequently filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. In April 2018, the Florida First District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam decision affirming the trial court’s judgment in favor of plaintiff and PM USA filed a motion for rehearing.
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Plaintiff: McCoy
Date: July 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard awarding $1.5 million in compensatory damages and allocating 20% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $300,000). The jury also awarded $3 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In July 2015, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In August 2015, the trial court entered final judgment without any deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In January 2016, the trial court denied defendants’ post-trial motions and amended the final judgment to apply the comparative fault deduction. Subsequently, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $1.65 million and plaintiff filed a notice of cross-appeal. In November 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed the judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds and ordered a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial court erred in admitting certain materials into evidence that deprived defendants of a fair trial. In December 2017, plaintiff filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court and the case was stayed pending the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in Pollari, discussed below.
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Plaintiff: M. Brown
Date: May 2015
Verdict:
In May 2015, a Duval County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA in a partial retrial. In 2013, a jury returned a partial verdict against PM USA, but was deadlocked as to (i) the amount of compensatory damages, (ii) whether punitive damages should be awarded and, if so, (iii) the amount of punitive damages. In the partial retrial, the jury was asked to address these issues. In May 2015, the jury awarded $6.375 million in compensatory damages, but did not award any punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In May 2015, the trial court entered final judgment and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $5 million. Additionally, PM USA filed post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, as well as filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal. In August 2015, the trial court denied the last of PM USA’s post-trial motions and plaintiff cross-appealed. In April 2018, the Florida First District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam decision affirming the trial court’s judgment against PM USA.
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Plaintiff: Gore
Date: March 2015
Verdict:
An Indian River County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $2 million in compensatory damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In April 2015, defendants filed post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In September 2015, the trial court entered final judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. In October 2015, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. PM USA subsequently posted a bond in the amount of $460,000. In February 2018, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment in favor of plaintiff and granted plaintiff leave to seek a new trial on punitive damages. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $1 million for the judgment plus interest.
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Plaintiff: Pollari
Date: March 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $10 million in compensatory damages and allocating 42.5% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $4.25 million). The jury also awarded $1.5 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In April 2015, defendants filed post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, and the trial court entered final judgment without any deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In January 2016, the trial court denied defendants’ post-trial motions and amended the final judgment to apply the comparative fault deduction. Also in January 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $2.5 million. In February 2016, plaintiff cross-appealed. In August 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed the original judgment against PM USA and ordered a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial court erred in admitting certain materials into evidence that deprived defendants of a fair trial. In September 2017, plaintiff moved for rehearing, rehearing en banc, or certification of a question to the Florida Supreme Court, which the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal denied in November 2017. In December 2017, plaintiff filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court.
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Plaintiff: Caprio
Date: February 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a partial verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and Liggett Group. The jury found against defendants on class membership, allocating 25% of the fault to PM USA. The jury also found $559,172 in economic damages. The jury deadlocked with respect to the intentional torts, certain elements of compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In March 2015, PM USA filed post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the partial verdict and for a new trial. In May 2015, the court denied all of PM USA’s post-trial motions and defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. In January 2017, the defendants agreed to voluntarily dismiss their appeal in exchange for a full retrial and the court dismissed the appeal.
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Plaintiff: McKeever
Date: February 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding approximately $5.8 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff approximately $11.63 million in punitive damages. However, the jury found in favor of PM USA on the statute of repose defense to plaintiff’s intentional tort and punitive damages claims.
Post-Trial Developments:
In March 2015, PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and motions for a new trial. In April 2015, the trial court entered final judgment. In June 2015, the trial court denied PM USA’s post-trial motions, and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $5 million. PM USA also filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal in June 2015. In January 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal issued a decision largely affirming the trial court’s judgment against PM USA, but remanded the case to the trial court to amend the final judgment to apply the comparative fault deduction to the compensatory damages award. In February 2017, PM USA filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. In March 2017, the Florida Supreme Court stayed the appeal pending its decisions in Marotta and Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In April 2017, the Florida Supreme Court rejected R.J. Reynolds’s federal preemption defense in Marotta. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $20 million for the judgment plus interest. In February 2018, PM USA increased its bond by $10 million.
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Plaintiff: D. Brown
Date: January 2015
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict against PM USA awarding plaintiff approximately $8.3 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $9 million in punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
In February 2015, the trial court entered final judgment. In March 2015, PM USA filed various post-trial motions, including motions to alter or amend the judgment and for a new trial or, in the alternative, remittitur of the damages awards, all of which the court denied. In July 2015, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. In August 2015, the Court of Appeals granted PM USA’s motion to stay the appeal pending final disposition in the Graham and Searcy cases, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues.
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Plaintiff: Allen
Date: November 2014
Verdict:
A Duval County jury returned a verdict against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding plaintiff approximately $3.1 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded approximately $7.76 million in punitive damages against each defendant. This was a retrial of a 2011 trial that awarded plaintiff $6 million in compensatory damages and $17 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In December 2014, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and motions for a new trial, which the court denied in July 2015. In August 2015, the trial court entered final judgment. Defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal in September 2015 and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $2.5 million. In February 2017, the Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s judgment. In March 2017, defendants filed a motion for rehearing en banc with the Florida First District Court of Appeal or for certification to the Florida Supreme Court. In June 2017, the Florida First District Court of Appeal granted defendants’ motion for rehearing en banc. In October 2017, the Florida First District Court of Appeal dissolved the en banc proceeding. In November 2017, defendants filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court, which was denied in February 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $10 million for the judgment plus interest and increased its bond by $5 million.
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Plaintiff: Perrotto
Date: November 2014
Verdict:
A Palm Beach County jury returned a verdict against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and Liggett Group awarding plaintiff approximately $4.1 million in compensatory damages and allocating 25% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $1.02 million).
Post-Trial Developments:
In December 2014, plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial. In May 2016, the court granted plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on punitive damages, citing the Soffer decision, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In September 2016, the court denied defendants’ post-trial motions.
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Plaintiff: Boatright
Date: November 2014
Verdict:
A Polk County jury returned a verdict against PM USA and Liggett Group awarding plaintiff $15 million in compensatory damages and allocating 85% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $12.75 million). In addition, in November 2014, the jury awarded plaintiff approximately $19.7 million in punitive damages against PM USA and $300,000 in punitive damages against Liggett Group.
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Post-Trial Developments:
In November 2014, PM USA filed various post-trial motions and, in January 2015, the trial court denied PM USA’s motions for a new trial and for remittitur, but entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In February 2015, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $3.98 million. In April 2017, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal rejected PM USA’s grounds for appeal and affirmed the judgment, but ruled that the trial court should not have applied the comparative fault deduction. The court remanded the case to the trial court to amend the judgment to award plaintiff the full amount of the jury’s compensatory damages award and also separately ruled that plaintiff is entitled to attorneys’ fees. In May 2017, defendants filed notices to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court on the merits and on the attorneys’ fees issue. The Florida Supreme Court stayed consideration of its jurisdiction on the merits appeal pending its ruling in Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. In February 2018, PM USA requested that the Florida Supreme Court remand the case to the Second District Court of Appeal for further consideration and PM USA increased its bond by approximately $11 million.
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Plaintiff: Kerrivan
Date: October 2014
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding plaintiff $15.8 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $25.3 million in punitive damages and allocated $15.7 million to PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
The trial court entered final judgment. In December 2014, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including a renewed motion for judgment or for a new trial. Plaintiff agreed to waive the bond for the appeal. In May 2015, the trial court deferred further briefing on the post-trial motions pending the Eleventh Circuit’s final disposition in the Graham and Searcy cases, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In June 2017, the trial court lifted the stay on the post-trial motions.
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Plaintiff: Berger
Date: September 2014
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict against PM USA awarding plaintiff $6.25 million in compensatory damages and allocating 60% of the fault to PM USA. The jury also awarded $20.76 million in punitive damages.
Post-Trial Developments:
The trial court entered final judgment in September 2014 without any deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In October 2014, plaintiff agreed to waive the bond for the appeal. Also in October 2014, PM USA filed a motion for a new trial or, in the alternative, remittitur of the jury’s damages awards. In April 2015, the trial court granted PM USA’s post-verdict motion in part and vacated the punitive damages award. In November 2015, the court entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In April 2016, plaintiff filed a motion to reinstate the jury’s punitive damages award or, alternatively, for a new trial on punitive damages, citing the Soffer decision, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. Also in April 2016, PM USA filed a motion to stay post-trial proceedings pending the Eleventh Circuit’s final disposition in the Graham case, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In May 2016, (i) the trial court denied PM USA’s remaining post-trial motions and (ii) PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and a motion to stay the appeal pending Graham, which the court granted in June 2016. In August 2016, the trial court denied plaintiff’s motion to reinstate the jury’s punitive damages or to order a new trial and, in September 2016, plaintiff cross-appealed. In June 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit lifted the stay on the appeal.
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Plaintiff: Harris
Date: July 2014
Verdict:
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard awarding approximately $1.73 million in compensatory damages.
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Post-Trial Developments:
Defendants filed motions for a defense verdict because the jury’s findings indicated that plaintiff was not a member of the Engle class. In December 2014, the trial court entered final judgment and, in January 2015, defendants filed a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law or, in the alternative, a motion for a new trial. Defendants also filed a motion to alter or amend the final judgment. In April 2015, the trial court stayed the post-trial proceedings pending the Eleventh Circuit’s final disposition in the Graham case, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In February 2018, the trial court lifted the stay on the post-trial proceedings.
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Plaintiff: Griffin
Date: June 2014
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding approximately $1.27 million in compensatory damages and allocating 50% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $630,000).
Post-Trial Developments:
The trial court entered final judgment against PM USA in July 2014 with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In August 2014, PM USA filed a motion to amend the judgment to reduce plaintiff’s damages by the amount paid by collateral sources, which the court denied in September 2014. In October 2014, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $640,543 and filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. In May 2015, the Eleventh Circuit stayed the appeal pending final disposition in the Graham case, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In September 2017, the Eleventh Circuit lifted the stay on the appeal. In the second quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $1.1 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In April 2018, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the judgment.
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Plaintiff: Burkhart
Date: May 2014
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard awarding $5 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded plaintiff $2.5 million in punitive damages, allocating $750,000 to PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In July 2014, defendants filed post-trial motions, including a renewed motion for judgment or, alternatively, for a new trial or remittitur of the damages awards, which the court denied in September 2014. Subsequently, the trial court entered final judgment. In October 2014, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. In April 2017, the Eleventh Circuit stayed the appeal pending final disposition in the Graham case, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In November 2017, the Eleventh Circuit further stayed the appeal pending Schoeff, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court held in Schoeff that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. In March 2018, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the judgment in favor of plaintiff and defendants filed a motion for rehearing.
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Plaintiff: Skolnick
Date: June 2013
Verdict:
A Palm Beach County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded plaintiff $2.555 million in compensatory damages and allocated 30% of the fault to each defendant (an amount of $766,500).
Post-Trial Developments:
In June 2013, defendants and plaintiff filed post-trial motions. The trial court entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In November 2013, the trial court denied plaintiff’s post-trial motion and, in December 2013, denied defendants’ post-trial motions. Defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, and plaintiff cross-appealed in December 2013. Also in December 2013, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $766,500. In July 2015, the District Court of Appeal reversed the compensatory damages award and ordered judgment in favor of defendants
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on the strict liability and negligence claims, but remanded plaintiff’s conspiracy and concealment claims for a new trial. In August 2015, defendants filed a motion for rehearing, and plaintiff filed a motion for clarification, which the District Court of Appeal denied in September 2015.
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Plaintiff: Searcy
Date: April 2013
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded $6 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In June 2013, the trial court entered final judgment. In July 2013, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions requesting reductions in damages. In September 2013, the district court reduced the compensatory damages award to $1 million and the punitive damages award to $1.67 million against each defendant. The district court denied all other post-trial motions. Plaintiff filed a motion to reconsider the district court’s remittitur and, in the alternative, to certify the issue to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, both of which the court denied in October 2013. In November 2013, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit arguing that application of the Engle findings to the Engle progeny plaintiffs’ concealment and conspiracy claims violated defendants’ due process rights. In December 2013, defendants filed an amended notice of appeal after the district court corrected a clerical error in the final judgment, and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $2.2 million. In January 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ordered supplemental briefing on the due process issue.
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Plaintiff: Calloway
Date: May 2012
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and Liggett Group. The jury awarded approximately $21 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded approximately $17 million in punitive damages against PM USA, approximately $17 million in punitive damages against R.J. Reynolds, approximately $13 million in punitive damages against Lorillard and approximately $8 million in punitive damages against Liggett Group.
Post-Trial Developments:
In May and June 2012, defendants filed motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In August 2012, the trial court denied the remaining post-trial motions, reduced the compensatory damages to $16.1 million and entered final judgment. In September 2012, PM USA posted a bond in an amount of $1.5 million and defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. In August 2013, plaintiff filed a motion to determine the sufficiency of the bond in the trial court on the ground that the bond cap statute is unconstitutional, which the court denied. In January 2016, a panel of the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal vacated the punitive damages award and remanded the case for retrial on plaintiff’s claims of concealment and conspiracy, and punitive damages. The court also found that the trial court should have applied the comparative fault deduction, reducing the compensatory damages against PM USA to $4.025 million. In February 2016, defendants and plaintiff filed respective motions for rehearing and rehearing en banc. In March 2016, plaintiff filed a notice of supplemental authority citing the Soffer decision, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In September 2016, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, ruling en banc, reversed the judgment against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds in its entirety on the grounds that improper arguments by plaintiff’s counsel deprived defendants of a fair trial, and ordered a new trial. In October 2016, plaintiff filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court, which the court denied in March 2017. In June 2017, plaintiff filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court seeking review of the 2016 en banc ruling by the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, which the court denied in October 2017.
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Plaintiff: Putney
Date: April 2010
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group. The jury awarded approximately $15.1 million in compensatory damages and allocated 15% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $2.3 million). The jury also awarded $2.5 million in punitive damages against PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In August 2010, the trial court entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. PM USA filed its notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and, in November 2010, posted a $1.6 million bond. In June 2013, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded the case for further proceedings, holding that the trial court erred in (1) not reducing the compensatory damages award as excessive and (2) not instructing the jury on the statute of repose in connection with plaintiff’s conspiracy claim that resulted in the $2.5 million punitive damages award. In July 2013, plaintiff filed a motion for rehearing, which the Fourth District Court of Appeal denied in August 2013. In September 2013, both parties filed notices to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. In December 2013, the Florida Supreme Court stayed the appeal pending the outcome of the Hess case. In April 2015, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the statute of repose defense in Hess, and PM USA moved for a rehearing. In September 2015, the Florida Supreme Court denied PM USA’s rehearing petition in Hess. In February 2016, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the trial court’s decision in favor of plaintiff and, in March 2016, clarified that its February 2016 order reinstated the trial court’s decision on the statute of repose only. In August 2016, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal reinstated the jury’s punitive damages verdict and reaffirmed that the compensatory damages award was excessive, remanding the case to the trial court to reduce the compensatory damages. In May 2017, the trial court ruled that the 2010 jury award of $15.1 million in compensatory damages was excessive and reduced the award to $225,000. In June 2017, plaintiff requested a new trial on compensatory damages.
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Engle Cases Concluded Within Past 12 Months
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Plaintiff: Starr-Blundell
Date: June 2013
Verdict:
A Duval County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded plaintiff $500,000 in compensatory damages and allocated 10% of the fault to each defendant (an amount of $50,000).
Post-Trial Developments:
In June 2013, the defendants filed a motion to set aside the verdict and to enter judgment in accordance with their motion for directed verdict or, in the alternative, for a new trial, which was denied in October 2013. In November 2013, the trial court entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In December 2013, plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Florida First District Court of Appeal. Plaintiff agreed to waive the bond for the appeal. In May 2015, the Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the final judgment. In June 2015, plaintiff filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. In July 2015, the Florida Supreme Court stayed the case pending the outcome of Soffer, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In April 2016, the Florida Supreme Court ordered defendants to show cause as to why the case should not be remanded in light of the Soffer decision. In the first quarter of 2016, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $55,000 for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In May 2016, the Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction of plaintiff’s petition for review and remanded the case for reconsideration in light of the Soffer decision. In September 2016, the Florida First District Court of Appeal further remanded the case in light of Soffer. In March 2018, in a new trial on punitive damages, the jury found in favor of defendants and did not award any punitive damages. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded an additional provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $40,000 and in the same quarter paid the judgment plus interest and associated costs of approximately $100,000.
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Plaintiff: Zamboni
Date: February 2015
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $340,000 in compensatory damages and allocating 10% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $34,000).
Post-Trial Developments:
In April 2015, PM USA and R.J. Reynolds filed a motion for judgment in defendants’ favor in accordance with the Eleventh Circuit’s decision in Graham, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In June 2015, the trial court stayed the case pending the Eleventh Circuit’s final disposition in the Graham case. In January 2018, the United States Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition for writ of certiorari in Graham. In February 2018, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $34,000 for the judgment plus interest and paid this amount in March 2018.
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Plaintiff: Graham
Date: May 2013
Verdict:
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds. The jury awarded $2.75 million in compensatory damages and allocated 10% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $275,000).
Post-Trial Developments:
In June 2013, defendants filed several post-trial motions, including motions for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial, which the trial court denied in September 2013. The trial court entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In October 2013, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit arguing that Engle progeny plaintiffs’ product liability claims are impliedly preempted by federal law, and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $277,750. In April 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit found in favor of defendants on the basis of federal preemption, reversed the trial court’s denial of judgment as a matter of law, and plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing en banc or panel rehearing. In January 2016, the Eleventh Circuit granted a rehearing en banc on both the preemption and due process issues. In May 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the final judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor, rejecting defendants’ preemption and due process arguments. In the second quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $500,000 for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In September 2017, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on due process and federal preemption grounds, which the court denied in January 2018. PM USA paid the judgment plus interest and associated costs in the amount of approximately $1 million in January 2018.
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Plaintiff: Naugle
Date: November 2009
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA. The jury awarded approximately $56.6 million in compensatory damages and $244 million in punitive damages. The jury allocated 90% of the fault to PM USA.
Post-Trial Developments:
In March 2010, the trial court entered final judgment reflecting a reduced award of approximately $13 million in compensatory damages and $26 million in punitive damages, but without any deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. In April 2010, PM USA filed its notice of appeal and posted a $5 million bond. In June 2012, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the final judgment (as amended to correct a clerical error) in the amount of approximately $12.3 million in compensatory damages and approximately $24.5 million in punitive damages. In December 2012, the Fourth District withdrew its prior decision, reversed the verdict as to compensatory and punitive damages and returned the case to the trial court for a new trial on the question of damages. Upon retrial, in October 2013, the new jury awarded approximately $3.7 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages. PM USA filed post-trial motions, which the trial court denied in April 2014. In May 2014, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. Also in May 2014, PM USA filed a rider with the Florida Supreme Court to make the previously-posted Naugle bond applicable to the retrial judgment. In January 2016, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s decision and remanded the case to the trial court to
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conduct a juror interview. In April 2016, PM USA moved for a new trial following the juror interview, which the court denied. In May 2016, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In April 2017, the Fourth District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam decision affirming the trial court’s judgment against PM USA. In the second quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $13.2 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs, and increased its bond by $6.2 million. In September 2017, PM USA filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on due process and federal preemption grounds, which PM USA dismissed after the court denied PM USA’s petition in Graham. PM USA paid the judgment plus interest and associated costs in the amount of approximately $13.5 million in January 2018.
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Plaintiff: Lourie
Date: October 2014
Verdict:
A Hillsborough County jury returned a verdict against PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard awarding plaintiff approximately $1.37 million in compensatory damages and allocating 27% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $370,000).
Post-Trial Developments:
In October 2014, defendants filed a motion for judgment and a motion for a new trial. In November 2014, the trial court denied defendants’ post-trial motions and entered final judgment with a deduction for plaintiff’s comparative fault. Later in November 2014, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, and PM USA posted a bond in the amount of $370,318. In August 2016, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment entered in favor of the plaintiff. In September 2016, defendants filed a petition to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court stayed the proceedings pending final disposition in the Marotta case, discussed below under Engle Progeny Appellate Issues. In June 2017, the Florida Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition to invoke the court’s discretionary jurisdiction. In the second quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $2.3 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs. In September 2017, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on due process and federal preemption grounds, which PM USA dismissed after the court denied PM USA’s petition in Graham. PM USA paid the judgment plus interest and associated costs in the amount of approximately $2.5 million in January 2018.
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Plaintiff: Marchese
Date: October 2015
Verdict:
A Broward County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds awarding $1 million in compensatory damages and allocating 22.5% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of $225,000). The jury also awarded plaintiff $250,000 in punitive damages against each defendant.
Post-Trial Developments:
In October 2015, defendants filed various post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. In November 2015, the court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In May 2016, the court denied defendants’ post-trial motions and amended the final judgment to apply the comparative fault deduction. In June 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and plaintiff cross-appealed. Also in June 2016, PM USA posted a bond in the amount of approximately $475,000. In November 2017, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal rejected defendants’ appeal, granted plaintiff’s cross-appeal finding that the trial court erred in applying the comparative fault deduction and remanded the case to the trial court with directions to enter an amended final judgment. In the fourth quarter of 2017, PM USA recorded a provision of approximately $1 million on its consolidated balance sheet for the judgment plus interest and paid this amount in January 2018.
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Plaintiff: Merino
Date: July 2015
Verdict:
A Miami-Dade County jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA awarding $8 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded $6.5 million in punitive damages.
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Post-Trial Developments:
In August 2015, the trial court denied all post-trial motions, including motions to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, and entered final judgment against PM USA. In September 2015, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Third District Court of Appeal and posted a bond in the amount of $5 million. In November 2016, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal issued a per curiam decision affirming the trial court’s judgment against PM USA. PM USA subsequently filed a motion seeking a written opinion, which the court denied in December 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016, PM USA recorded a provision on its consolidated balance sheet of $16.9 million for the judgment plus interest and associated costs and increased its bond to $14.5 million. In April 2017, PM USA paid the judgment plus interest and associated costs in the amount of approximately $17.4 million.
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Engle Progeny Appellate Issues
In Douglas, an Engle progeny case against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds, in March 2012, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal issued a decision affirming the judgment of the trial court in favor of the plaintiff and upholding the use of the Engle jury findings with respect to strict liability claims but certified to the Florida Supreme Court the question of whether granting res judicata effect to the Engle jury findings violates defendants’ federal due process rights. In March 2013, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the final judgment entered in favor of plaintiff upholding the use of the Engle jury findings with respect to strict liability and negligence claims. PM USA’s subsequent petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court was unsuccessful.
In Graham, an Engle progeny case against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds, in April 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit found in favor of defendants on the basis of federal preemption, reversing the trial court’s denial of judgment as a matter of law. Thereafter, plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing en banc, which the Eleventh Circuit granted in January 2016. In May 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected defendants’ preemption and due process arguments and affirmed the final judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor. In September 2017, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on due process and federal preemption grounds, which the court denied in January 2018. In January 2016, in Marotta, a case against R.J. Reynolds on appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, the court rejected R.J. Reynolds’s federal preemption defense, but noted the conflict with Graham and certified the preemption question to the Florida Supreme Court. In March 2016, the Florida Supreme Court accepted review of Marotta and in April 2017, affirmed the Fourth District Court of Appeal’s ruling on preemption.
In Searcy and Burkhart, Engle progeny cases against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, defendants argued that application of the Engle findings to the Engle progeny plaintiffs’ concealment and conspiracy claims violated defendants’ due process rights. Both appeals are pending. In January 2018, in Searcy, a panel of the Eleventh Circuit ordered supplemental briefing on the due process issues. In March 2018, in Burkhart, a different panel of the Eleventh Circuit rejected defendants’ due process arguments and affirmed the final judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor. Defendants filed a motion for rehearing challenging that decision.
In Soffer, an Engle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds, the Florida First District Court of Appeal held that Engle progeny plaintiffs can recover punitive damages only on their intentional tort claims. The Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction over plaintiff’s appeal from the Florida First District Court of Appeal’s decision and, in March 2016, held that Engle progeny plaintiffs can recover punitive damages in connection with all of their claims. Plaintiffs now generally seek punitive damages in connection with all of their claims in Engle progeny cases.
In Schoeff, an Engle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal held that comparative fault findings should apply to reduce all compensatory damage awards, including awards based on intentional fraud claims. The Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction over plaintiff’s appeal of the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal’s decision. In December 2017, the Florida Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal’s decision, finding that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts.
Florida Bond Statute
In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200 million bond cap that applies to all state Engle progeny lawsuits in the aggregate and establishes individual bond caps for individual Engle progeny cases in amounts that vary
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depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time. Plaintiffs in three state Engle progeny cases against R.J. Reynolds in Alachua County, Florida (Alexander, Townsend and Hall) and one case in Escambia County (Clay) challenged the constitutionality of the bond cap statute. The Florida Attorney General intervened in these cases in defense of the constitutionality of the statute.
Trial court rulings were rendered in Clay, Alexander, Townsend and Hall rejecting the plaintiffs’ bond cap statute challenges in those cases. The plaintiffs unsuccessfully appealed these rulings. In Alexander, Clay and Hall, the District Court of Appeal for the First District of Florida affirmed the trial court decisions and certified the decision in Hall for appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, but declined to certify the question of the constitutionality of the bond cap statute in Clay and Alexander. The Florida Supreme Court granted review of the Hall decision, but, in September 2012, the court dismissed the appeal as moot. In October 2012, the Florida Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs’ rehearing petition. In August 2013, in Calloway, discussed further above, plaintiff filed a motion in the trial court to determine the sufficiency of the bond posted by defendants on the ground that the bond cap statute is unconstitutional, which was denied.
In February 2016, in the Sikes case against R.J. Reynolds, the trial court held that Florida’s bond cap statute does not stay the execution of judgment after a case is final in the Florida judicial system and before the defendant files a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. The District Court of Appeal for the First District of Florida issued an order staying execution of the judgment and requesting that plaintiff show cause why the stay should not remain in effect through the completion of United States Supreme Court writ of certiorari review or until the time for moving for such review has expired. In April 2016, the District Court of Appeal held that the bond cap applies to the period between a Florida Supreme Court ruling and completion of United States Supreme Court writ of certiorari review. In April 2016, PM USA filed motions in the trial court in the R. Cohen and Kayton cases seeking confirmation that the stay on executing the judgment remains in effect through the completion of United States Supreme Court writ of certiorari review or until the time for moving for such review has expired, which the court granted.
No federal court has yet addressed the constitutionality of the bond cap statute or the applicability of the bond cap to Engle progeny cases tried in federal court.
From time to time, legislation has been presented to the Florida legislature that would repeal the 2009 appeal bond cap statute; however to date, no legislation repealing the statute has passed.
Other Smoking and Health Class Actions
Since the dismissal in May 1996 of a purported nationwide class action brought on behalf of allegedly addicted smokers, plaintiffs have filed numerous putative smoking and health class action suits in various state and federal courts. In general, these cases purport to be brought on behalf of residents of a particular state or states (although a few cases purport to be nationwide in scope) and raise addiction claims and, in many cases, claims of physical injury as well.
Class certification has been denied or reversed by courts in 61 smoking and health class actions involving PM USA in Arkansas (1), California (1), Delaware (1), the District of Columbia (2), Florida (2), Illinois (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nevada (29), New Jersey (6), New York (2), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Puerto Rico (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (1) and Wisconsin (1).
As of April 23, 2018, PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are named as defendants, along with other cigarette manufacturers, in seven class actions filed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario. In Saskatchewan, British Columbia (two separate cases) and Ontario, plaintiffs seek class certification on behalf of individuals who suffer or have suffered from various diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, heart disease or cancer, after smoking defendants’ cigarettes. In the actions filed in Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, plaintiffs seek certification of classes of all individuals who smoked defendants’ cigarettes. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.
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Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation
Overview
In the health care cost recovery litigation, governmental entities seek reimbursement of health care cost expenditures allegedly caused by tobacco products and, in some cases, of future expenditures and damages. Relief sought by some but not all plaintiffs includes punitive damages, multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, injunctions prohibiting alleged marketing and sales to minors, disclosure of research, disgorgement of profits, funding of anti-smoking programs, additional disclosure of nicotine yields, and payment of attorney and expert witness fees.
Although there have been some decisions to the contrary, most judicial decisions in the United States have dismissed all or most health care cost recovery claims against cigarette manufacturers. Nine federal circuit courts of appeals and eight state appellate courts, relying primarily on grounds that plaintiffs’ claims were too remote, have ordered or affirmed dismissals of health care cost recovery actions. The United States Supreme Court has refused to consider plaintiffs’ appeals from the cases decided by five circuit courts of appeals.
In addition to the cases brought in the United States, health care cost recovery actions have also been brought against tobacco industry participants, including PM USA and Altria Group, Inc., in Israel (dismissed), the Marshall Islands (dismissed) and Canada (10 cases), and other entities have stated that they are considering filing such actions.
In September 2005, in the first of several health care cost recovery cases filed in Canada, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that legislation passed in British Columbia permitting the lawsuit is constitutional, and, as a result, the case, which had previously been dismissed by the trial court, was permitted to proceed. PM USA’s and other defendants’ challenge to the British Columbia court’s exercise of jurisdiction was rejected by the Court of Appeals of British Columbia and, in April 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada denied review of that decision.
Since the beginning of 2008, the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have brought health care reimbursement claims against cigarette manufacturers. PM USA is named as a defendant in the British Columbia and Quebec cases, while both Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA are named as defendants in the New Brunswick, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia cases. The Nunavut Territory and Northwest Territory have passed similar legislation. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.
Settlements of Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation
In November 1998, PM USA and certain other tobacco product manufacturers entered into the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (the “MSA”) with 46 states, the District of Columbia and certain U.S. territories to settle asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and other claims. PM USA and certain other tobacco product manufacturers had previously entered into agreements to settle similar claims brought by Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota (together with the MSA, the “State Settlement Agreements”). The State Settlement Agreements require that the original participating manufacturers or “OPMs” (now PM USA and R.J. Reynolds and, with respect to certain brands, ITG Brands, LLC (“ITG”)) make annual payments of approximately $9.4 billion, subject to adjustments for several factors, including inflation, market share and industry volume. In addition, the OPMs are required to pay settling plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, subject to an annual cap of $500 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the aggregate amount recorded in cost of sales with respect to the State Settlement Agreements was approximately $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. These amounts include PM USA’s estimate of amounts related to NPM Adjustments discussed below.
The State Settlement Agreements also include advertising and marketing restrictions, require public disclosure of certain industry documents, limit challenges to certain tobacco control and underage use laws, and restrict lobbying activities.
NPM Adjustment Disputes
PM USA is participating in proceedings regarding the NPM Adjustment for 2003-2017. The NPM Adjustment is a reduction in MSA payments (the “NPM Adjustment”) made by the OPMs and those manufacturers that are subsequent signatories to the
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MSA (collectively, the “participating manufacturers” or “PMs”) that applies if the PMs collectively lose at least a specified level of market share to non-participating manufacturers since 1997, subject to certain conditions and defenses. The independent auditor (the “IA”) appointed under the MSA calculates the maximum amount of the NPM Adjustment, if any, for each year.
NPM Adjustment Disputes - Settlement with 35 States and Territories and Settlement with New York.
PM USA has entered into two settlements of NPM Adjustment disputes with a total of 36 states and territories. The first settlement was originally entered into in 2012 with 19 states and territories and has been subsequently expanded to include a total of 35 of the 52 MSA states and territories (the “signatory states”), most recently (in the first quarter of 2018) the states of Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Vermont (the “additional nine states”). In the first settlement, PM USA settled the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2003-2015 with 26 states in exchange for a total of $740 million and more recently settled the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2004-2017 with the additional nine states. As a result of the additional nine states joining the first settlement, PM USA will receive approximately $81 million for 2004-2017 ($13 million of which relates to the 2015-2017 “transition years”). PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $81 million in the first quarter of 2018. In the second settlement, related specifically to New York, which was entered into in 2015, PM USA has received a total of approximately $217 million for 2004-2016. Both settlements also contain provisions resolving certain disputes regarding the application of the NPM Adjustment going forward, although the applicability of those provisions to the additional nine states is contingent on satisfaction, in the PMs’ sole discretion, of certain conditions.
2003 and Subsequent NPM Adjustment Disputes - Continuing Disputes with States that have not Settled.

▪ | 2003 NPM Adjustment. In September 2013, an arbitration panel issued rulings regarding the 15 states and territories that remained in the arbitration, ruling that six of them did not establish valid defenses to the NPM Adjustment for 2003. Two of these states later joined the first settlement discussed above. With respect to the remaining four states, following the outcome of challenges in state courts, PM USA ultimately recorded $74 million primarily as a reduction to cost of sales. Two potential disputes remain outstanding regarding the amount of interest and there is no assurance that PM USA will prevail in either of these disputes.

▪ | 2004 and Subsequent NPM Adjustments. PM USA has continued to pursue the NPM Adjustments for 2004 and subsequent years in multi-state arbitrations against the states that did not join either of the settlements discussed above. New Mexico is currently appealing a trial court ruling that the state must participate in the multi-state arbitration for 2004. The Montana state courts ruled that Montana may litigate its claims in state court, rather than participate in arbitration.

The 2004 multi-state arbitration is currently pending with all of the states that have not settled other than Montana and New Mexico. Decisions are not expected until the middle of 2019 at the earliest.
No assurance can be given as to when proceedings for 2005 and subsequent years will be scheduled or the precise form those proceedings will take.
The IA has calculated that PM USA’s share of the maximum potential NPM Adjustments for 2004-2016 is (exclusive of interest or earnings): $388 million for 2004; $181 million for 2005; $154 million for 2006; $185 million for 2007; $250 million for 2008; $211 million for 2009; $218 million for 2010; $166 million for 2011; $214 million for 2012; $224 million for 2013; $253 million for 2014; $300 million for 2015; $295 million for 2016 and $288 million for 2017. These maximum amounts will be reduced, likely substantially, to reflect the settlements with the signatory states and New York, and potentially for current and future calculation disputes and other developments. Finally, PM USA’s recovery of these amounts, even as reduced, is dependent upon subsequent determinations regarding state-specific defenses and disputes with other PMs.
Other Disputes Under the State Settlement Agreements
The payment obligations of the tobacco product manufacturers that are parties to the State Settlement Agreements, as well as the allocations of any NPM Adjustments and related settlements, have been and may continue to be affected by R.J. Reynolds’ acquisition of Lorillard and its related sale of certain cigarette brands to ITG (the “ITG brands”). In particular, R.J. Reynolds and ITG have asserted that they do not have to make payments on the ITG brands under the Florida, Minnesota and Texas State
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Settlement Agreements or include the ITG brands for purposes of certain calculations under the State Settlement Agreements. PM USA believes that R.J. Reynolds’ and ITG’s position violates the State Settlement Agreements and applicable law. PM USA further believes that these actions: (i) improperly increased PM USA’s payments for 2015-2017 by at least $146 million; (ii) may improperly increase PM USA’s payments for subsequent years; (iii) may improperly decrease PM USA’s share of the 2015-2017 NPM Adjustments and the settlements of related disputes; and (iv) may improperly decrease PM USA’s share of NPM Adjustments and related settlements for subsequent years.
PM USA and the State of Florida each filed a motion in Florida state court against R.J. Reynolds and ITG seeking to enforce the Florida State Settlement Agreement. In December 2017, the Florida trial court ruled that R.J. Reynolds (and not ITG) must make settlement payments under the Florida State Settlement Agreement on the ITG brands. After the Florida court ruled, the IA issued revised calculations for the 2015-2017 period, which reduced the amount by which PM USA’s payments were improperly increased. The Florida court’s ruling is subject to further proceedings, which may result in further modifications to PM USA’s settlement payments under the Florida State Settlement Agreement.
In March 2018, PM USA and the State of Minnesota filed pleadings in Minnesota state court asserting claims against R.J. Reynolds and ITG seeking to enforce the Minnesota State Settlement Agreement.
Federal Government’s Lawsuit
In 1999, the United States government filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against various cigarette manufacturers, including PM USA, and others, including Altria Group, Inc., asserting claims under three federal statutes, namely the Medical Care Recovery Act (“MCRA”), the MSP provisions of the Social Security Act and the civil provisions of RICO. The case ultimately proceeded only under the civil provisions of RICO, and the trial ended in June 2005. In August 2006, the district court entered judgment in favor of the government. The court held that certain defendants, including Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA, violated RICO and engaged in seven of the eight “sub-schemes” to defraud that the government had alleged. Specifically, the court found that:

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

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

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

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

▪ | defendants falsely denied that they intentionally marketed to youth;

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

▪ | defendants suppressed scientific research.

The court did not impose monetary penalties on defendants, but ordered the following relief: (i) an injunction against “committing any act of racketeering” relating to the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, health consequences or sale of cigarettes in the United States; (ii) an injunction against participating directly or indirectly in the management or control of the Council for Tobacco Research, the Tobacco Institute, or the Center for Indoor Air Research, or any successor or affiliated entities of each; (iii) an injunction against “making, or causing to be made in any way, any material false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation or engaging in any public relations or marketing endeavor that is disseminated to the United States public and that misrepresents or suppresses information concerning cigarettes”; (iv) an injunction against conveying any express or implied health message or health descriptors on cigarette packaging or in cigarette advertising or promotional material, including “lights,” “ultra lights” and “low tar,” which the court found could cause consumers to believe one cigarette brand is less hazardous than another brand; (v) the issuance of “corrective statements” in various media regarding the adverse health effects of smoking, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine, the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking “low tar” or “light” cigarettes, defendants’ manipulation of cigarette design to ensure optimum nicotine delivery and the adverse health effects of exposure to ETS; (vi) the disclosure on defendants’ public document websites and in the Minnesota document repository of all documents produced to the government in the lawsuit or produced in any future court or administrative action concerning smoking and health until 2021, with certain additional requirements as to documents withheld from production under a claim of privilege or confidentiality; (vii) the disclosure of disaggregated marketing data to the government in the same form and on the same schedule as defendants now follow in disclosing such data to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) for a period of 10 years; (viii) certain restrictions on the sale or transfer by defendants of any cigarette brands, brand names, formulas or cigarette businesses within the United States; and (ix) payment of the government’s costs in bringing the action.
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Defendants appealed and, in May 2009, a three judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“D.C. Court of Appeals”) largely affirmed the trial court’s remedial order, but vacated the following aspects of the order:

▪ | its application to defendants’ subsidiaries;

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

▪ | its point-of-sale display provisions; and

▪ | its application to Brown & Williamson Holdings.

The appellate panel remanded the case for the trial court to reconsider these four aspects of the injunction and to reformulate its remedial order accordingly.
In November 2012, the district court issued its order specifying the content of the corrective communications described above and defendants appealed. In April 2014, the parties submitted a motion for entry of a consent order in the district court, setting forth their agreement on the implementation details of the corrective communications remedy, which the district court approved in June 2014. In May 2015, the D.C. Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part the appeal on the content of the corrective communications, concluding that certain portions of the statements exceeded the district court’s jurisdiction under RICO, but upheld other portions challenged by defendants. The D.C. Court of Appeals remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings.
In February 2016, the district court issued an order adopting modified corrective statements. Defendants appealed and, in April 2017, the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed in part the district court’s decision on the content of the corrective communications, striking certain content and remanding to the district court the decision on how to revise certain other content. In June 2017, the district court issued an order adopting modified corrective statements. In October 2017, the court approved the parties’ proposed consent order implementing the corrective communications remedy for newspapers and television. The corrective statements began appearing in newspapers and on television in the fourth quarter of 2017. In January 2018, the parties submitted a status report and a request for a status conference to address open issues regarding onsert and website implementation details. The defendants also filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to mediate the remaining implementation details and for an order clarifying that the DOJ may not enforce the previous consent order with respect to onserts and websites prior to resolution of all implementation details. In February 2018, the U.S. District Court agreed not to enforce the previous consent order and, in April 2018, the parties reached agreement on the implementation details of the corrective communications remedy for onserts and websites. Under the agreement, the corrective statements will begin appearing on websites in the second quarter of 2018 and the onserts will begin appearing in the fourth quarter of 2018.
In the second quarter of 2014, Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA recorded provisions on each of their respective balance sheets totaling $31 million for the estimated costs of implementing the corrective communications remedy.
The consent order approved by the district court in June 2014 did not address the requirements related to point-of-sale signage. In May 2014, the district court ordered further briefing by the parties on the issue of corrective statements on point-of-sale signage, which was completed in June 2014.
In December 2011, the parties to the lawsuit entered into an agreement as to the issues concerning the document repository. Pursuant to this agreement, PM USA agreed to deposit an amount of approximately $3.1 million into the district court in installments over a five-year period.
“Lights/Ultra Lights” Cases
Overview
Plaintiffs have sought certification of their cases as class actions, alleging among other things, that the uses of the terms “Lights” and/or “Ultra Lights” constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices, common law or statutory fraud, unjust enrichment or breach of warranty, and have sought injunctive and equitable relief, including restitution and, in certain cases, punitive damages. These class actions have been brought against PM USA and, in certain instances, Altria Group, Inc. or its other subsidiaries, on behalf of individuals who purchased and consumed various brands of cigarettes, including Marlboro Lights, Marlboro Ultra Lights, Virginia Slims Lights and Superslims, Merit Lights and Cambridge Lights. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of misrepresentation, lack of causation, injury and damages, the statute of limitations, non-liability
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
under state statutory provisions exempting conduct that complies with federal regulatory directives, and the First Amendment. As of April 23, 2018, a total of three such cases are pending in various U.S. state courts, none of which is active.
State “Lights” Cases Dismissed, Not Certified or Ordered De-Certified
As of April 23, 2018, 21 state courts in 22 “Lights” cases have refused to certify class actions, dismissed class action allegations, reversed prior class certification decisions or have entered judgment in favor of PM USA.
State Trial Court Class Certifications
State trial courts have certified classes against PM USA in several jurisdictions. Over time, all such cases have been dismissed by the courts at the summary judgment stage, were settled by the parties or were resolved in favor of PM USA.
Certain Other Tobacco-Related Litigation
Ignition Propensity Cases
PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. are currently facing litigation alleging that a fire caused by cigarettes led to individuals’ deaths. In a Kentucky case (Walker), the federal district court denied plaintiffs’ motion to remand the case to state court and dismissed plaintiffs’ claims in February 2009. Plaintiffs subsequently filed a notice of appeal. In October 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the portion of the district court decision that denied remand of the case to Kentucky state court and remanded the case to Kentucky state court. The Sixth Circuit did not address the merits of the district court’s dismissal order. Defendants’ petition for rehearing with the Sixth Circuit was denied in December 2011. Defendants filed a renewed motion to dismiss in state court in March 2013. Based on new evidence, in June 2013, defendants removed the case for a second time to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and re-filed their motion to dismiss in June 2013. In July 2013, plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case to Kentucky state court, which was granted in March 2014. In November 2016, defendants filed renewed motions to dismiss the case, which the court granted in March 2017.
Argentine Grower Cases
PM USA and Altria Group, Inc. were sued in six cases (Hupan, Chalanuk, Rodriguez Da Silva, Aranda, Taborda and Biglia) filed in Delaware state court against multiple defendants by the parents of Argentine children born with alleged birth defects. Plaintiffs in these cases allege that they grew tobacco in Argentina under contract with Tabacos Norte S.A., an alleged subsidiary of PMI, and that they and their infant children were exposed directly and in utero to Monsanto Company’s (“Monsanto”) Roundup herbicide during the production and cultivation of tobacco. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages against all defendants. Altria Group, Inc. and certain other defendants were dismissed from the Hupan, Chalanuk, Rodriguez Da Silva, Aranda, Taborda and Biglia cases. The three remaining defendants in the six cases were PM USA, Philip Morris Global Brands Inc. (a subsidiary of PMI) and Monsanto. Following discussions regarding indemnification for these cases pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between PMI and Altria Group, Inc., PMI and PM USA agreed to resolve conflicting indemnity demands after final judgments are entered. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement. In April 2014, all three defendants in the Hupan case filed motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, and PM USA and Philip Morris Global Brands filed separate motions to dismiss based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens. All proceedings in the other five cases were stayed pending the court’s resolution of the motions to dismiss filed in Hupan. In November 2015, the trial court granted PM USA’s motion to dismiss on forum non conveniens grounds. Plaintiffs filed a motion for clarification or re-argument in December 2015, which the court denied in August 2016. Later in August 2016, PM USA and Philip Morris Global Brands moved for entry of final judgment in the Hupan case and also moved to lift the stays in the other five cases for the limited purpose of entering final judgment of dismissal in those cases as well based on the forum non conveniens decision in Hupan. The court granted those motions in September 2016, and entered final judgment of dismissal in all six cases. In October 2016, plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court. Oral argument occurred before a panel of the Delaware Supreme Court in September 2017. In January 2018, the case was re-argued before the Delaware Supreme Court en banc. In March 2018, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of all six cases.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
UST Litigation
Claims related to smokeless tobacco products generally fall within the following categories:
First, UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries were named in certain actions in West Virginia (See In re: Tobacco Litigation above) brought by or on behalf of individual plaintiffs against cigarette manufacturers, smokeless tobacco manufacturers and other organizations seeking damages and other relief in connection with injuries allegedly sustained as a result of tobacco usage, including smokeless tobacco products. Included among the plaintiffs were six individuals alleging use of USSTC’s smokeless tobacco products and alleging the types of injuries claimed to be associated with the use of smokeless tobacco products. USSTC, along with other non-cigarette manufacturers, remained severed from such proceedings since December 2001. In March 2018, the court dismissed all smokeless claims, concluding this litigation for UST and its tobacco subsidiaries.
Second, UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries have been named in a number of other individual tobacco and health suits over time. Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in these cases are based on various theories of recovery, such as negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of implied warranty, addiction and breach of consumer protection statutes. Plaintiffs seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, and certain equitable relief, including but not limited to disgorgement. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of causation, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, and statutes of limitations. In July 2016, USSTC and Altria Group, Inc. were named as defendants, along with other named defendants, in one such case in California (Gwynn). In August 2016, defendants removed the case to federal court. In September 2016, plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case back to state court, which the court granted in January 2017. In May 2017, the court granted plaintiffs’ motion to dismiss all defendants except USSTC. Trial is currently scheduled to begin September 20, 2019.
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.
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.
Guarantees and Other Similar Matters
In the ordinary course of business, certain subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. have agreed to indemnify a limited number of third parties in the event of future litigation. At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (i) had $56 million of unused letters of credit obtained in the ordinary course of business; (ii) were contingently liable for $30 million of guarantees, consisting primarily of surety bonds, related to their own performance; and (iii) had a redeemable noncontrolling interest of $37 million recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, from time to time, subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s liquidity.
Under the terms of a distribution agreement between Altria Group, Inc. and PMI (the “Distribution Agreement”), entered into as a result of Altria Group, Inc.’s 2008 spin-off of its former subsidiary PMI, liabilities concerning tobacco products will be allocated based in substantial part on the manufacturer. PMI will indemnify Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA for liabilities
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
related to tobacco products manufactured by PMI or contract manufactured for PMI by PM USA, and PM USA will indemnify PMI for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PM USA, excluding tobacco products contract manufactured for PMI. Altria Group, Inc. does not have a related liability recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2018 as the fair value of this indemnification is insignificant.
As more fully discussed in Note 11. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under its $3.0 billion senior unsecured 5-year revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program.
Note 11. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information:
PM USA, which is a 100% owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc., has guaranteed Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under its Credit Agreement and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program (the “Guarantees”). Pursuant to the Guarantees, PM USA fully and unconditionally guarantees, as primary obligor, the payment and performance of Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under the guaranteed debt instruments (the “Obligations”), subject to release under certain customary circumstances as noted below.
The Guarantees provide that PM USA guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of the Obligations. The liability of PM USA under the Guarantees is absolute and unconditional irrespective of: any lack of validity, enforceability or genuineness of any provision of any agreement or instrument relating thereto; any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any agreement or instrument relating thereto; any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations; or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Altria Group, Inc. or PM USA.
The obligations of PM USA under the Guarantees are limited to the maximum amount as will not result in PM USA’s obligations under the Guarantees constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of PM USA that are relevant under Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to the Guarantees. For this purpose, “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
PM USA will be unconditionally released and discharged from the Obligations upon the earliest to occur of:

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

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

▪ | the payment in full of the Obligations pertaining to such Guarantees; and

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

At March 31, 2018, the respective principal 100% owned subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA were not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their equity interests.
The following sets forth the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, condensed consolidating statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 for Altria Group, Inc., PM USA and, collectively, Altria Group, Inc.’s other subsidiaries that are not guarantors of Altria Group, Inc.’s debt instruments (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The financial information is based on Altria Group, Inc.’s understanding of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) interpretation and application of Rule 3-10 of SEC Regulation S-X.
The financial information may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations or financial position had PM USA and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries operated as independent entities. Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA account for investments in their subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting.
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
March 31, 2018
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 2,152 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 38 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,191 |
Receivables |  | — |  |  | 11 |  |  | 122 |  |  | — |  |  | 133 |
Inventories: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Leaf tobacco |  | — |  |  | 543 |  |  | 377 |  |  | — |  |  | 920 |
Other raw materials |  | — |  |  | 112 |  |  | 72 |  |  | — |  |  | 184 |
Work in process |  | — |  |  | 7 |  |  | 540 |  |  | — |  |  | 547 |
Finished product |  | — |  |  | 174 |  |  | 432 |  |  | — |  |  | 606 |
|  | — |  |  | 836 |  |  | 1,421 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,257 |
Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | — |  |  | 4,874 |  |  | 676 |  |  | (5,550 | ) |  | — |
Other current assets |  | 20 |  |  | 217 |  |  | 83 |  |  | (77 | ) |  | 243 |
Total current assets |  | 2,172 |  |  | 5,939 |  |  | 2,340 |  |  | (5,627 | ) |  | 4,824 |
Property, plant and equipment, at cost |  | — |  |  | 2,924 |  |  | 1,955 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,879 |
Less accumulated depreciation |  | — |  |  | 2,101 |  |  | 887 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,988 |
|  | — |  |  | 823 |  |  | 1,068 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,891 |
Goodwill |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,307 |  |  | — |  |  | 5,307 |
Other intangible assets, net |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 12,398 |  |  | — |  |  | 12,400 |
Investment in AB InBev |  | 18,199 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 18,199 |
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries |  | 14,018 |  |  | 2,825 |  |  | — |  |  | (16,843 | ) |  | — |
Finance assets, net |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 854 |  |  | — |  |  | 854 |
Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 4,790 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,790 | ) |  | — |
Other assets |  | 56 |  |  | 689 |  |  | 154 |  |  | (475 | ) |  | 424 |
Total Assets |  | $ | 39,235 |  |  | $ | 10,278 |  |  | $ | 22,121 |  |  | $ | (27,735 | ) |  | $ | 43,899 |

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Continued)
March 31, 2018
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current portion of long-term debt |  | $ | 864 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 864 |
Accounts payable |  | 5 |  |  | 78 |  |  | 120 |  |  | — |  |  | 203 |
Accrued liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Marketing |  | — |  |  | 613 |  |  | 94 |  |  | — |  |  | 707 |
Employment costs |  | 12 |  |  | 11 |  |  | 45 |  |  | — |  |  | 68 |
Settlement charges |  | — |  |  | 3,451 |  |  | 7 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,458 |
Other |  | 267 |  |  | 313 |  |  | 342 |  |  | (77 | ) |  | 845 |
Dividends payable |  | 1,330 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,330 |
Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 5,128 |  |  | 342 |  |  | 80 |  |  | (5,550 | ) |  | — |
Total current liabilities |  | 7,606 |  |  | 4,808 |  |  | 688 |  |  | (5,627 | ) |  | 7,475 |
Long-term debt |  | 13,033 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 13,033 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 2,854 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,913 |  |  | (475 | ) |  | 5,292 |
Accrued pension costs |  | 202 |  |  | — |  |  | 180 |  |  | — |  |  | 382 |
Accrued postretirement health care costs |  | — |  |  | 1,214 |  |  | 773 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,987 |
Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,790 |  |  | (4,790 | ) |  | — |
Other liabilities |  | 146 |  |  | 43 |  |  | 107 |  |  | — |  |  | 296 |
Total liabilities |  | 23,841 |  |  | 6,065 |  |  | 9,451 |  |  | (10,892 | ) |  | 28,465 |
Contingencies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 37 |  |  | — |  |  | 37 |
Stockholders’ Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock |  | 935 |  |  | — |  |  | 9 |  |  | (9 | ) |  | 935 |
Additional paid-in capital |  | 5,938 |  |  | 3,310 |  |  | 12,045 |  |  | (15,355 | ) |  | 5,938 |
Earnings reinvested in the business |  | 42,816 |  |  | 1,167 |  |  | 2,043 |  |  | (3,210 | ) |  | 42,816 |
Accumulated other comprehensive losses |  | (1,927 | ) |  | (264 | ) |  | (1,467 | ) |  | 1,731 |  |  | (1,927 | )
Cost of repurchased stock |  | (32,368 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (32,368 | )
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | 15,394 |  |  | 4,213 |  |  | 12,630 |  |  | (16,843 | ) |  | 15,394 |
Noncontrolling interests |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |
Total stockholders’ equity |  | 15,394 |  |  | 4,213 |  |  | 12,633 |  |  | (16,843 | ) |  | 15,397 |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |  | $ | 39,235 |  |  | $ | 10,278 |  |  | $ | 22,121 |  |  | $ | (27,735 | ) |  | $ | 43,899 |

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
December 31, 2017
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 1,203 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 49 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,253 |
Receivables |  | 1 |  |  | 10 |  |  | 131 |  |  | — |  |  | 142 |
Inventories: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Leaf tobacco |  | — |  |  | 579 |  |  | 362 |  |  | — |  |  | 941 |
Other raw materials |  | — |  |  | 111 |  |  | 59 |  |  | — |  |  | 170 |
Work in process |  | — |  |  | 5 |  |  | 555 |  |  | — |  |  | 560 |
Finished product |  | — |  |  | 128 |  |  | 426 |  |  | — |  |  | 554 |
|  | — |  |  | 823 |  |  | 1,402 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,225 |
Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 2 |  |  | 2,413 |  |  | 1,022 |  |  | (3,437 | ) |  | — |
Income taxes |  | — |  |  | 542 |  |  | 17 |  |  | (98 | ) |  | 461 |
Other current assets |  | 11 |  |  | 147 |  |  | 105 |  |  | — |  |  | 263 |
Total current assets |  | 1,217 |  |  | 3,936 |  |  | 2,726 |  |  | (3,535 | ) |  | 4,344 |
Property, plant and equipment, at cost |  | — |  |  | 2,930 |  |  | 1,949 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,879 |
Less accumulated depreciation |  | — |  |  | 2,086 |  |  | 879 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,965 |
|  | — |  |  | 844 |  |  | 1,070 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,914 |
Goodwill |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,307 |  |  | — |  |  | 5,307 |
Other intangible assets, net |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 12,398 |  |  | — |  |  | 12,400 |
Investment in AB InBev |  | 17,952 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 17,952 |
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries |  | 13,111 |  |  | 2,818 |  |  | — |  |  | (15,929 | ) |  | — |
Finance assets, net |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 899 |  |  | — |  |  | 899 |
Due from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 4,790 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,790 | ) |  | — |
Other assets |  | 34 |  |  | 671 |  |  | 157 |  |  | (476 | ) |  | 386 |
Total Assets |  | $ | 37,104 |  |  | $ | 8,271 |  |  | $ | 22,557 |  |  | $ | (24,730 | ) |  | $ | 43,202 |

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Continued)
December 31, 2017
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current portion of long-term debt |  | $ | 864 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 864 |
Accounts payable |  | 2 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 281 |  |  | — |  |  | 374 |
Accrued liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Marketing |  | — |  |  | 578 |  |  | 117 |  |  | — |  |  | 695 |
Employment costs |  | 21 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 153 |  |  | — |  |  | 188 |
Settlement charges |  | — |  |  | 2,437 |  |  | 5 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,442 |
Other |  | 389 |  |  | 433 |  |  | 247 |  |  | (98 | ) |  | 971 |
Dividends payable |  | 1,258 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,258 |
Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 3,040 |  |  | 317 |  |  | 80 |  |  | (3,437 | ) |  | — |
Total current liabilities |  | 5,574 |  |  | 3,870 |  |  | 883 |  |  | (3,535 | ) |  | 6,792 |
Long-term debt |  | 13,030 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 13,030 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 2,809 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,914 |  |  | (476 | ) |  | 5,247 |
Accrued pension costs |  | 206 |  |  | — |  |  | 239 |  |  | — |  |  | 445 |
Accrued postretirement health care costs |  | — |  |  | 1,214 |  |  | 773 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,987 |
Due to Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,790 |  |  | (4,790 | ) |  | — |
Other liabilities |  | 108 |  |  | 49 |  |  | 126 |  |  | — |  |  | 283 |
Total liabilities |  | 21,727 |  |  | 5,133 |  |  | 9,725 |  |  | (8,801 | ) |  | 27,784 |
Contingencies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 38 |  |  | — |  |  | 38 |
Stockholders’ Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock |  | 935 |  |  | — |  |  | 9 |  |  | (9 | ) |  | 935 |
Additional paid-in capital |  | 5,952 |  |  | 3,310 |  |  | 12,045 |  |  | (15,355 | ) |  | 5,952 |
Earnings reinvested in the business |  | 42,251 |  |  | 96 |  |  | 2,243 |  |  | (2,339 | ) |  | 42,251 |
Accumulated other comprehensive losses |  | (1,897 | ) |  | (268 | ) |  | (1,506 | ) |  | 1,774 |  |  | (1,897 | )
Cost of repurchased stock |  | (31,864 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (31,864 | )
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | 15,377 |  |  | 3,138 |  |  | 12,791 |  |  | (15,929 | ) |  | 15,377 |
Noncontrolling interests |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |
Total stockholders’ equity |  | 15,377 |  |  | 3,138 |  |  | 12,794 |  |  | (15,929 | ) |  | 15,380 |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |  | $ | 37,104 |  |  | $ | 8,271 |  |  | $ | 22,557 |  |  | $ | (24,730 | ) |  | $ | 43,202 |

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Net revenues |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,214 |  |  | $ | 904 |  |  | $ | (10 | ) |  | $ | 6,108 |
Cost of sales |  | — |  |  | 1,487 |  |  | 257 |  |  | (10 | ) |  | 1,734 |
Excise taxes on products |  | — |  |  | 1,383 |  |  | 55 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,438 |
Gross profit |  | — |  |  | 2,344 |  |  | 592 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,936 |
Marketing, administration and research costs |  | 38 |  |  | 449 |  |  | 131 |  |  | — |  |  | 618 |
Asset impairment and exit costs |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |
Operating (expense) income |  | (38 | ) |  | 1,895 |  |  | 459 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,316 |
Interest and other debt expense (income), net |  | 122 |  |  | (9 | ) |  | 53 |  |  | — |  |  | 166 |
Net periodic benefit cost (income), excluding service cost |  | 1 |  |  | (6 | ) |  | (2 | ) |  | — |  |  | (7 | )
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev |  | (342 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (342 | )
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination |  | 33 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 33 |
Earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries |  | 148 |  |  | 1,910 |  |  | 408 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,466 |
(Benefit) provision for income taxes |  | (13 | ) |  | 482 |  |  | 102 |  |  | — |  |  | 571 |
Equity earnings of subsidiaries |  | 1,733 |  |  | 89 |  |  | — |  |  | (1,822 | ) |  | — |
Net earnings |  | 1,894 |  |  | 1,517 |  |  | 306 |  |  | (1,822 | ) |  | 1,895 |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1 | )
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,894 |  |  | $ | 1,517 |  |  | $ | 305 |  |  | $ | (1,822 | ) |  | $ | 1,894 |
Net earnings |  | $ | 1,894 |  |  | $ | 1,517 |  |  | $ | 306 |  |  | $ | (1,822 | ) |  | $ | 1,895 |
Other comprehensive (losses) earnings, net of deferred income taxes |  | (30 | ) |  | 4 |  |  | 39 |  |  | (43 | ) |  | (30 | )
Comprehensive earnings |  | 1,864 |  |  | 1,521 |  |  | 345 |  |  | (1,865 | ) |  | 1,865 |
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1 | )
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,864 |  |  | $ | 1,521 |  |  | $ | 344 |  |  | $ | (1,865 | ) |  | $ | 1,864 |

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Net revenues |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,271 |  |  | $ | 820 |  |  | $ | (8 | ) |  | $ | 6,083 |
Cost of sales |  | — |  |  | 1,539 |  |  | 282 |  |  | (8 | ) |  | 1,813 |
Excise taxes on products |  | — |  |  | 1,446 |  |  | 48 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,494 |
Gross profit |  | — |  |  | 2,286 |  |  | 490 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,776 |
Marketing, administration and research costs |  | 40 |  |  | 382 |  |  | 111 |  |  | — |  |  | 533 |
Asset impairment and exit costs |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |
Operating (expense) income |  | (40 | ) |  | 1,904 |  |  | 375 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,239 |
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | 123 |  |  | — |  |  | 56 |  |  | — |  |  | 179 |
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost |  | — |  |  | (5 | ) |  | (3 | ) |  | — |  |  | (8 | )
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev |  | (23 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (23 | )
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries |  | (140 | ) |  | 1,909 |  |  | 322 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,091 |
(Benefit) provision for income taxes |  | (72 | ) |  | 663 |  |  | 98 |  |  | — |  |  | 689 |
Equity earnings of subsidiaries |  | 1,469 |  |  | 72 |  |  | — |  |  | (1,541 | ) |  | — |
Net earnings |  | 1,401 |  |  | 1,318 |  |  | 224 |  |  | (1,541 | ) |  | 1,402 |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1 | )
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,401 |  |  | $ | 1,318 |  |  | $ | 223 |  |  | $ | (1,541 | ) |  | $ | 1,401 |
Net earnings |  | $ | 1,401 |  |  | $ | 1,318 |  |  | $ | 224 |  |  | $ | (1,541 | ) |  | $ | 1,402 |
Other comprehensive (losses) earnings, net of deferred income taxes |  | (160 | ) |  | 3 |  |  | 28 |  |  | (31 | ) |  | (160 | )
Comprehensive earnings |  | 1,241 |  |  | 1,321 |  |  | 252 |  |  | (1,572 | ) |  | 1,242 |
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1 | )
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. |  | $ | 1,241 |  |  | $ | 1,321 |  |  | $ | 251 |  |  | $ | (1,572 | ) |  | $ | 1,241 |

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Cash Provided by Operating Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash provided by operating activities |  | $ | 648 |  |  | $ | 2,923 |  |  | $ | 189 |  |  | $ | (951 | ) |  | $ | 2,809 |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | (33 | ) |  | — |  |  | (34 | )
Other |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (7 | ) |  | — |  |  | (7 | )
Cash used in investing activities |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | (40 | ) |  | — |  |  | (41 | )
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchases of common stock |  | (513 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (513 | )
Dividends paid on common stock |  | (1,257 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,257 | )
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 2,091 |  |  | (2,439 | ) |  | 348 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Cash dividends paid to parent |  | — |  |  | (446 | ) |  | (505 | ) |  | 951 |  |  | — |
Other |  | (20 | ) |  | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | — |  |  | (23 | )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |  | 301 |  |  | (2,885 | ) |  | (160 | ) |  | 951 |  |  | (1,793 | )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase (decrease) |  | 949 |  |  | 37 |  |  | (11 | ) |  | — |  |  | 975 |
Balance at beginning of period |  | 1,203 |  |  | 62 |  |  | 49 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,314 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 2,152 |  |  | $ | 99 |  |  | $ | 38 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,289 |

(1) Restricted cash consisted of cash deposits collateralizing various forms of security posted by PM USA to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. See Note 10. Contingencies.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions of dollars)

|  | Altria Group, Inc. |  |  | PM USA |  |  | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  | Total Consolidating Adjustments |  |  | Consolidated |
Cash Provided by Operating Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash provided by operating activities |  | $ | 1,469 |  |  | $ | 3,017 |  |  | $ | 14 |  |  | $ | (1,825 | ) |  | $ | 2,675 |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | — |  |  | (8 | ) |  | (25 | ) |  | — |  |  | (33 | )
Proceeds from finance assets |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |
Other |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (199 | ) |  | — |  |  | (199 | )
Net cash used in investing activities |  | — |  |  | (8 | ) |  | (222 | ) |  | — |  |  | (230 | )
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchases of common stock |  | (551 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (551 | )
Dividends paid on common stock |  | (1,187 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,187 | )
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries |  | 952 |  |  | (1,675 | ) |  | 723 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Cash dividends paid to parent |  | — |  |  | (1,325 | ) |  | (500 | ) |  | 1,825 |  |  | — |
Other |  | (34 | ) |  | — |  |  | (4 | ) |  | — |  |  | (38 | )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |  | (820 | ) |  | (3,000 | ) |  | 219 |  |  | 1,825 |  |  | (1,776 | )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase |  | 649 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 11 |  |  | — |  |  | 669 |
Balance at beginning of period |  | 4,521 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 47 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,651 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 5,170 |  |  | $ | 92 |  |  | $ | 58 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,320 |

(1) Restricted cash consisted of cash deposits collateralizing various forms of security posted by PM USA to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. See Note 10. Contingencies.
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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 12. Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted:
The following table provides a description of the recently issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria Group, Inc.:

Standards | Description | Effective Date for Public Entity | Effect on Financial Statements
ASU Nos. 2016-02; 2018-01 Leases (Topic 842) | The guidance increases transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. | The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. | Altria Group, Inc. is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, including identifying and analyzing all contracts that contain a lease. As a lessor, PMCC maintains a portfolio of finance assets, substantially all of which are leveraged leases, the accounting of which will be unchanged under the new guidance and is not expected to change unless there is a contract modification to an existing lease. As a lessee, Altria Group, Inc.’s various leases under existing guidance are classified as operating leases that are not recorded on its consolidated balance sheets but are recorded in its consolidated statements of earnings as expense is incurred. Upon adoption of the new guidance, Altria Group, Inc. will record substantially all leases on its balance sheets as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements. The guidance will result in expanded footnote disclosures.
ASU No. 2016-13 Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326) | The guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology for recognizing credit losses for financial assets with a methodology that reflects the entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information for estimating credit losses. | The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. | Altria Group, Inc. is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Altria Group, Inc.’s financial assets that are within the scope of the new guidance were approximately 2% of Altria Group, Inc.’s total assets at March 31, 2018.
ASU No. 2018-02 Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) | The guidance allows an entity to elect to reclassify the income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. | The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period for which financial statements have not yet been issued. | Altria Group, Inc. is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Description of the Company
At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. (“PM USA”), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes 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; Sherman Group Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (“Nat Sherman”), which are engaged in the manufacture and sale of super premium cigarettes and the sale of premium cigars; and UST LLC (“UST”), which through its 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 tobacco products and wine. Altria Group, Inc.’s other operating companies included Nu Mark LLC (“Nu Mark”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that is engaged in the manufacture and sale of innovative tobacco products, and Philip Morris Capital Corporation (“PMCC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that maintains a portfolio of finance assets, substantially all of which are leveraged leases. Other Altria Group, Inc. wholly-owned subsidiaries included Altria Group Distribution Company, which provides sales and distribution services to certain Altria Group, Inc. operating subsidiaries, and Altria Client Services LLC, which provides various support services in areas such as legal, regulatory, consumer engagement, finance, human resources and external affairs to Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. In addition, Nu Mark, Middleton and Nat Sherman use third-party arrangements in the manufacture of their products. 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. At March 31, 2018, 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 equity interests.
At March 31, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. had an approximate 10.2% ownership of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“AB InBev”), which Altria Group, Inc. accounts for under the equity method of accounting using a one-quarter lag. Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in AB InBev if and when AB InBev pays such dividends.
As discussed in Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Item 1”), on January 1, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. adopted several accounting standard updates (“ASU”). In connection with the adoption of two of these ASUs (ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash and ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost), Altria Group, Inc. reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform with the current period’s presentation.
Altria Group, Inc.’s reportable segments are smokeable products, smokeless products and wine. The financial services and the innovative tobacco products businesses are included in an all other category.
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Executive Summary
The following executive summary is intended to provide significant highlights of the Discussion and Analysis that follows.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018: The changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s net earnings and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) attributable to Altria Group, Inc. for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from the three months ended March 31, 2017, were due primarily to the following:

| Net Earnings |  | Diluted EPS
| (in millions, except per share data)
For the three months ended March 31, 2017 | $ | 1,401 |  |  | $ | 0.72 |
2017 NPM Adjustment Items | (1 | ) |  | — |
2017 Asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs | 19 |  |  | 0.01 |
2017 Tobacco and health litigation items | 1 |  |  | — |
2017 AB InBev special items | 48 |  |  | 0.03 |
2017 Tax items | (58 | ) |  | (0.03 | )
Subtotal 2017 special items | 9 |  |  | 0.01 |
2018 NPM Adjustment Items | 51 |  |  | 0.03 |
2018 Asset impairment, exit and implementation costs | (2 | ) |  | — |
2018 Tobacco and health litigation items | (20 | ) |  | (0.01 | )
2018 AB InBev special items | 92 |  |  | 0.04 |
2018 Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination | (26 | ) |  | (0.01 | )
2018 Tax items | (1 | ) |  | — |
Subtotal 2018 special items | 94 |  |  | 0.05 |
Fewer shares outstanding | — |  |  | 0.02 |
Change in tax rate | 293 |  |  | 0.15 |
Operations | 97 |  |  | 0.05 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2018 | $ | 1,894 |  |  | $ | 1.00 |

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.
Fewer Shares Outstanding: Fewer shares outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with the prior-year period were due primarily to shares repurchased by Altria Group, Inc. under its share repurchase programs.
Change in Tax Rate: The change in tax rate was driven primarily by the Tax Reform Act (as defined below), which reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.
Operations: The increase of $97 million in operations shown in the table above was due primarily to the following:

▪ | higher earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in AB InBev; and

▪ | higher income from the smokeless products segment;

partially offset by:

▪ | lower income from the smokeable products segment.

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

2018 Forecasted Results: In April 2018, Altria Group, Inc. reaffirmed that its 2018 full-year adjusted diluted EPS growth rate is expected to be in the range of 15% to 19% over 2017 full-year adjusted diluted EPS. This forecasted growth rate excludes the income and expense items in the table below. Altria Group, Inc.’s 2018 guidance reflects investments in focus areas for
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long-term growth, including innovative product development and launches, regulatory science, brand equity, retail fixtures and future retail concepts. Altria Group, Inc. expects its 2018 full-year adjusted effective tax rate will be in a range of approximately 23% to 24%.
Altria Group, Inc.’s full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance and full-year forecast for its adjusted effective tax rate exclude the impact of certain income and expense items that management believes are not part of underlying operations. These items may include, for example, loss on early extinguishment of debt, restructuring charges, gain/loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination, AB InBev special items, certain tax items, charges associated with tobacco and health litigation items, and resolutions of certain non-participating manufacturer (“NPM”) adjustment disputes under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (such dispute resolutions are referred to as “NPM Adjustment Items” and are more fully described in Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - NPM Adjustment Disputes in Note 10. Contingencies to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 10”).
Altria Group, Inc.’s management cannot estimate on a forward-looking basis the impact of certain income and expense items, including those items noted in the preceding paragraph, on Altria Group, Inc.’s reported diluted EPS and reported effective tax rate because these items, which could be significant, may be infrequent, are difficult to predict and may be highly variable. As a result, Altria Group, Inc. does not provide a corresponding United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) measure for, or reconciliation to, its adjusted diluted EPS guidance or its adjusted effective tax rate forecast.
In addition, the factors described in the Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results section of the following Discussion and Analysis represent continuing risks to this forecast and to the other forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”).

Expense (Income), Net Excluded from Adjusted Diluted EPS
| 2018 |  | 2017
NPM Adjustment Items | $ | (0.03 | ) |  | $ | — |
Asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs | — |  |  | 0.03 |
Tobacco and health litigation items | 0.01 |  |  | 0.03 |
AB InBev special items | (0.04 | ) |  | 0.05 |
Loss (gain) on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination | 0.01 |  |  | (0.15 | )
Settlement charge for lump sum pension payments | — |  |  | 0.03 |
Tax items | 0.07 |  | (1) | (1.91 | )
| $ | 0.02 |  |  | $ | (1.92 | )

(1) Primarily represents tax expense resulting from the Tax Reform Act (as defined below). This tax expense represents a partial reversal of the tax basis benefit recorded in 2017 attributable to the deemed repatriation tax related to Altria Group, Inc.’s investment in AB InBev. For further discussion see Note 9. Income Taxes to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 9”).
Altria Group, Inc. reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Altria Group, Inc.’s management reviews certain financial results, including diluted EPS, on an adjusted basis, which excludes certain income and expense items, including those items noted above. Altria Group, Inc.’s management does not view any of these special items to be part of Altria Group, Inc.’s underlying results as they may be highly variable, may be infrequent, are difficult to predict and can distort underlying business trends and results. Altria Group, Inc.’s management also reviews income tax rates on an adjusted basis. Altria Group, Inc.’s adjusted effective tax rate may exclude certain tax items from its reported effective tax rate. Altria Group, Inc.’s management believes that adjusted financial measures provide useful additional insight into underlying business trends and results and provide a more meaningful comparison of year-over-year results. Adjusted financial measures are used by management and regularly provided to Altria Group, Inc.’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) for planning, forecasting and evaluating business and financial performance, including allocating resources and evaluating results relative to employee compensation targets. These adjusted financial measures are not consistent with U.S. GAAP and may not be calculated the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies. These adjusted financial measures should thus 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.
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Discussion and Analysis
Consolidated Operating Results

| For the Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017
| (in millions)
Net revenues: |  |  |
Smokeable products | $ | 5,414 |  |  | $ | 5,458 |
Smokeless products | 525 |  |  | 466 |
Wine | 142 |  |  | 140 |
All other | 27 |  |  | 19 |
Net revenues | $ | 6,108 |  |  | $ | 6,083 |
Excise taxes on products: |  |  |
Smokeable products | $ | 1,401 |  |  | $ | 1,460 |
Smokeless products | 32 |  |  | 30 |
Wine | 5 |  |  | 4 |
Excise taxes on products | $ | 1,438 |  |  | $ | 1,494 |
Operating income: |  |  |
Operating companies income (loss): |  |  |
Smokeable products | $ | 2,038 |  |  | $ | 2,036 |
Smokeless products | 338 |  |  | 246 |
Wine | 17 |  |  | 21 |
All other | (26 | ) |  | (13 | )
Amortization of intangibles | (5 | ) |  | (5 | )
General corporate expenses | (46 | ) |  | (46 | )
Operating income | $ | 2,316 |  |  | $ | 2,239 |

As discussed further in Note 7. Segment Reporting to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1, the CODM 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 general corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles. Management believes it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze the business performance and trends of the various business segments.
The following events that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 affected the comparability of statement of earnings amounts:

▪ | NPM Adjustment Items: Pre-tax (income) expense for NPM Adjustment Items was recorded in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Smokeable products segment |  | $ | (68 | ) |  | $ | (8 | )
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | — |  |  | 7 |
Total |  | $ | (68 | ) |  | $ | (1 | )

The amounts shown in the table above for the smokeable products segment were recorded by PM USA as reductions to cost of sales, which increased operating companies income in the smokeable products segment. For further discussion, see Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - NPM Adjustment Disputes in Note 10.
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▪ | Tobacco and Health Litigation Items: Pre-tax charges related to certain tobacco and health litigation items were recorded in Altria Group, Inc.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Smokeable products segment |  | $ | 24 |  |  | $ | 1 |
Interest and other debt expense, net |  | 4 |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 28 |  |  | $ | 1 |

During the first quarter of 2018, PM USA recorded pre-tax charges of $24 million in marketing, administration and research costs and $4 million in interest costs, substantially all of which related to three Engle progeny cases. For further discussion, see Note 10.

▪ | Smokeless Products Recall: During the first quarter of 2017, USSTC voluntarily recalled certain smokeless tobacco products manufactured at its Franklin Park, Illinois facility due to a product tampering incident (the “Recall”). USSTC estimated that the Recall reduced smokeless products segment operating companies income by approximately $60 million in the first quarter of 2017.

▪ | Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs: Pre-tax asset impairment, exit and implementation costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $3 million and $27 million, respectively.

In October 2016, Altria Group, Inc. announced the consolidation of certain of its operating companies’ manufacturing facilities to streamline operations and achieve greater efficiencies. The consolidation was completed in the first quarter of 2018 and is expected to deliver approximately $50 million in annualized cost savings by the end of 2018.
For further discussion on asset impairment, exit and implementation costs, including a breakdown of these costs by segment, see Note 3. Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1.

▪ | AB InBev Special Items: Altria Group, Inc.’s earnings from its equity investment in AB InBev for the three months ended March 31, 2018 included net pre-tax income of $117 million, consisting primarily of Altria Group, Inc.’s share of AB InBev’s estimated effect of the Tax Reform Act (as defined below), partially offset by Altria Group, Inc.’s share of AB InBev’s mark-to-market losses on AB InBev’s derivative financial instruments used to hedge certain share commitments.

Altria Group, Inc.’s earnings from its equity investment in AB InBev for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included net pre-tax charges of $73 million, consisting primarily of Altria Group, Inc.’s share of AB In Bev’s mark-to-market losses on AB InBev’s derivative financial instruments used to hedge certain share commitments.

▪ | Tax Items: On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”). For further discussion, see Note 9.

Tax items for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were due primarily to tax expense of $41 million resulting from a partial reversal of the tax basis benefit associated with the deemed repatriation tax, substantially all of which was offset by tax benefits of $22 million related to prior audit years and an adjustment of $11 million to the provisional estimates recorded in 2017 for the Tax Reform Act.
Tax items for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included tax benefits of $42 million related to prior audit years and excess tax benefits of $16 million for share-based awards that vested during the first quarter of 2017.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
The following discussion compares consolidated operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 with the three months ended March 31, 2017.
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $25 million (0.4%) due primarily to higher net revenues in the smokeless products segment, mostly offset by lower net revenues in the smokeable products segment.
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Cost of sales decreased $79 million (4.4%), due primarily to higher NPM Adjustment Items and lower shipment volume in the smokeable products segment, partially offset by higher per unit settlement charges.
Excise taxes on products decreased $56 million (3.7%), due primarily to lower smokeable products shipment volume.
Marketing, administration and research costs increased $85 million (15.9%), due primarily to higher costs in the smokeable products segment.
Operating income increased $77 million (3.4%), due primarily to higher operating results from the smokeless products segment (which included the impact of the Recall in 2017).
Earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in AB InBev, which increased $319 million (100.0%+), were positively impacted by AB InBev special items.
Altria Group, Inc.’s income tax rate decreased 9.8 percentage points to 23.2%, due primarily to a reduction in tax expense from the decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate as a result of the Tax Reform Act. For further discussion, see Note 9.
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $1,894 million increased $493 million (35.2%), due primarily to a lower income tax rate, higher earnings from Altria Group, Inc.’s equity investment in AB InBev and higher operating income. Diluted and basic EPS attributable to Altria Group, Inc. of $1.00, each increased by 38.9%, due to higher net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. and fewer shares outstanding.
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 or financial position. These challenges, some of which are discussed in more detail below, in Note 10 and in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results below include:

▪ | pending and threatened litigation and bonding requirements;

▪ | the requirement to issue “corrective statements” in various media in connection with the federal government’s lawsuit;

▪ | restrictions and requirements imposed by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“FSPTCA”), and restrictions and requirements (and related enforcement actions) that have been, and in the future will be, imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”);

▪ | 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:

▪ | increases in the minimum age to purchase tobacco products above the current federal minimum age of 18;

▪ | restrictions on the sale of tobacco products by certain retail establishments, the sale of certain tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors (such as menthol) 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 retail establishments) to further restrict tobacco use;

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▪ | changes in adult tobacco consumer purchase behavior, which is influenced by various factors such as economic conditions, excise taxes and price gap relationships, may result in adult tobacco consumers switching to discount products or other lower priced tobacco products;

▪ | the highly competitive nature of the tobacco categories in which our tobacco subsidiaries operate, including competitive disadvantages related to cigarette price increases attributable to the settlement of certain litigation;

▪ | illicit trade in tobacco products; and

▪ | potential adverse changes in prices, availability and quality of tobacco, other raw materials and component parts.

In addition to and in connection with the foregoing, evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences pose challenges for Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries. Our tobacco subsidiaries believe that a significant number of adult tobacco consumers switch between tobacco categories, use multiple forms of tobacco products and try innovative tobacco products, such as e-vapor products. The e-vapor category grew rapidly from 2012 through early 2015 off a small base, but then slowed. The growth trend resumed in 2017. Growth of the e-vapor category could contribute to a reduction in consumption levels and sales volume of other tobacco product categories. Nu Mark believes the e-vapor category will continue to be dynamic as adult tobacco consumers explore a variety of tobacco product options.
Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries work to meet these evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences over time by developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing products both within and outside the United States through innovation and adjacency growth strategies (including, where appropriate, arrangements with, or investments in, third parties). See the discussions regarding new product technologies, adjacency growth strategy and evolving consumer preferences in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results 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 in Tobacco Products;

▪ | Price, Availability and Quality of Raw Materials and Component Parts; and

▪ | Timing of Sales.

FSPTCA and FDA Regulation
The Regulatory Framework
The FSPTCA expressly establishes certain restrictions and prohibitions on our tobacco businesses and authorizes or requires further FDA action. Under the FSPTCA, the FDA has broad authority to (1) regulate the design, manufacture, packaging, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of tobacco products; (2) require disclosures of related information; and (3) enforce the FSPTCA and related regulations. The FSPTCA went into effect in 2009 for cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products and in August 2016 for all other tobacco products, including cigars, e-vapor products, pipe tobacco and oral tobacco-derived nicotine products (“Other Tobacco Products”). See FDA Regulatory Actions - Deeming Regulations below.
Among other measures, the FSPTCA or its implementing regulations:

▪ | imposes restrictions on the advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of tobacco products, including at retail;

▪ | bans descriptors such as “light,” “mild” or “low” or similar descriptors when used as descriptors of modified risk unless expressly authorized by the FDA;

▪ | requires extensive product disclosures to the FDA and may require public disclosures;

▪ | 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 recordkeeping and other obligations to address illicit trade in tobacco products;

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▪ | 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, establishes warning requirements for Other Tobacco Products and gives the FDA the authority to require new warnings for any type of tobacco products;

▪ | authorizes the FDA to adopt product regulations and related actions, including imposing tobacco product standards that are appropriate for the protection of the public health (e.g., related to the use of menthol in cigarettes, nicotine yields and other constituents or ingredients) and imposing manufacturing standards for tobacco products (see FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation, and FDA Regulatory Actions - Potential Product Standards below);

▪ | establishes pre-market review pathways for new and modified tobacco products for the FDA to follow (see Pre-Market Review Pathways Including Substantial Equivalence below); and

▪ | equips the FDA with a variety of investigatory and enforcement tools, including the authority to inspect tobacco product manufacturing and other facilities.

Pre-Market Review Pathways Including Substantial Equivalence
The FSPTCA imposes restrictions on marketing new and modified tobacco products, requiring FDA review to begin marketing a new product or continue marketing a modified product. Specifically, cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products modified or first introduced into the market after March 22, 2011, and Other Tobacco Products modified or first introduced into the market after August 8, 2016, are subjected to new tobacco product application and pre-market review and authorization requirements unless a manufacturer can demonstrate they are “substantially equivalent” to products commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007. The FDA could deny any such new tobacco product application, thereby preventing the distribution and sale of any product affected by such denial.
For cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products modified or first introduced into the market between February 15, 2007 and March 22, 2011 (“provisional products”) for which a manufacturer submitted substantial equivalence reports that the FDA determines are not “substantially equivalent” to products commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007, the FDA could require the removal of such products from the marketplace (see FDA Regulatory Actions - Substantial Equivalence and Other New Product Processes/Pathways below).
Similarly, the FDA could determine that Other Tobacco Products modified or first introduced into the market between February 15, 2007 and August 8, 2016 for which a manufacturer submits substantial equivalence reports that the FDA determines are not “substantially equivalent” to products commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007, or rejects a new tobacco product application submitted by a manufacturer, both of which could require the removal of such products from the marketplace (see FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation, and FDA Regulatory Actions - Substantial Equivalence and Other New Product Processes/Pathways below).
Modifications to currently-marketed products, including modifications that result from, for example, a supplier being unable to maintain the consistency required in ingredients or a manufacturer being unable to obtain the ingredients with the required specifications, can trigger the FDA’s pre-market review process described above. As noted, adverse determinations by the FDA during that process could restrict a manufacturer’s ability to continue marketing such products.
FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation
In July 2017, the FDA announced a new comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation that will serve as the FDA’s multi-year regulatory road map (the “July 2017 Comprehensive Plan”). The FDA has stated its belief that this approach will strike an appropriate balance between regulation and encouraging development of innovative tobacco products that may be less risky than cigarettes. Major components of the July 2017 Comprehensive Plan include the following:

▪ | issuance of advance notices of proposed rulemaking (“ANPRM”) seeking comments for potential future regulations establishing product standards for (i) nicotine in combustible cigarettes, (ii) flavors in tobacco products and (iii) e-vapor products (see FDA Regulatory Actions - Potential Product Standards below);

▪ | extension of the timelines to submit applications for Other Tobacco Products that were on the market as of August 8, 2016, which the FDA extended in August 2017 (see FDA Regulatory Actions - Substantial Equivalence and Other New Product Processes/Pathways below);

▪ | the FDA’s reconsideration of its approach to reviewing substantial equivalence reports for “provisional” products (see FDA Regulatory Actions - Substantial Equivalence and Other New Product Processes/Pathways below). As

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previously noted, a “provisional” product refers to cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products modified or first commercially available after February 15, 2007 and before March 22, 2011; and

▪ | the FDA’s planned issuance of foundational regulations identifying the information the FDA expects to be included in substantial equivalence reports and applications for “new tobacco products” and “modified risk tobacco products.” The FDA also plans to finalize guidance on how it intends to review new product applications for e-vapor products.

Implementation Timing, Rulemaking and Guidance
The implementation of the FSPTCA began in 2009 for cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products and in August 2016 for Other Tobacco Products and will continue over time. The provisions of the FSPTCA that require the FDA to take action through rulemaking generally involve consideration of public comment and, for some issues, scientific review. As required by the FSPTCA, the FDA has established a tobacco product scientific advisory committee (the “TPSAC”), which consists of voting and non-voting members, to provide advice, reports, information and recommendations to the FDA on scientific and health issues relating to tobacco products. TPSAC votes are considered by the FDA, but are not binding. From time to time, the FDA issues guidance that also generally involves public comment, which may be issued in draft or final form.
Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries participate actively in processes established by the FDA to develop and implement the FSPTCA’s regulatory framework, including submission of comments to various FDA proposals and participation in public hearings and engagement sessions.
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 and User Fees
Regulations imposed and other regulatory actions taken by the FDA under the FSPTCA could have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries in a number of different ways. For example, actions by the FDA could:

▪ | impact the consumer acceptability of tobacco products;

▪ | delay, discontinue or prevent the sale or distribution of existing, new or modified tobacco products;

▪ | limit adult tobacco consumer choices;

▪ | impose restrictions on communications with adult tobacco consumers;

▪ | create a competitive advantage or disadvantage for certain tobacco companies;

▪ | impose additional manufacturing, labeling or packaging requirements;

▪ | impose additional restrictions at retail;

▪ | result in increased illicit trade in tobacco products; or

▪ | otherwise significantly increase the cost of doing business.

The failure to comply with FDA regulatory requirements, even inadvertently, and FDA enforcement actions could also have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
The FSPTCA imposes user fees on cigarette, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, cigar and pipe tobacco manufacturers and importers to pay for the cost of regulation and other matters. The FSPTCA does not impose user fees on e-vapor product manufacturers. The cost of the FDA user fee is allocated first among tobacco product categories subject to FDA regulation and then among manufacturers and importers within each respective category based on their relative market shares, all as prescribed by the statute and FDA regulations. Payments for user fees are adjusted for several factors, including inflation, market share and industry volume. For a discussion of the impact of the FDA user fee payments on Altria Group, Inc., see Financial Review - Debt and Liquidity - Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation below. In addition, compliance with the FSPTCA’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 or year to date period but could become material, either individually or in the aggregate, to one or more of our tobacco subsidiaries.
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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, monetary penalties, product withdrawal and recall orders, 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, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
Final Tobacco Marketing Rule
As required by the FSPTCA, the FDA re-promulgated in March 2010 a wide range of 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 May 2016 amendments to the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule (instituted as part of the FDA’s deeming regulations) apply certain provisions to certain “covered tobacco products,” which include cigars, e-vapor products containing nicotine or other tobacco derivatives, pipe tobacco and oral tobacco-derived nicotine products, but do not include any component or part that is not made or derived from tobacco. The Final Tobacco Marketing Rule as so amended:

▪ | bans the use of color and graphics in cigarette and smokeless tobacco product labeling and advertising;

▪ | prohibits the sale of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and covered tobacco products to persons under the age of 18;

▪ | 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 covered tobacco products and prohibits sampling of smokeless tobacco products except in qualified adult-only facilities;

▪ | prohibits the sale or distribution of items such as hats and tee shirts with cigarette or smokeless tobacco brands or logos; and

▪ | prohibits cigarettes and smokeless tobacco 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 for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products and in August 2016 for covered tobacco products. At the time of the re-promulgation of the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule, the FDA also issued an ANPRM 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 ANPRM.
Since enactment in 2009, several lawsuits have been filed challenging various provisions of the FSPTCA, the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule and the deeming regulations, including their constitutionality and the scope of the FDA’s authority thereunder. One lawsuit 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. The case was dismissed and the FDA agreed not to enforce the current or any amended trade name rule until at least 180 days after rulemaking on the amended rule concludes. In November 2011, the FDA proposed an amended rule, but has not yet issued a final rule. PM USA and USSTC submitted comments on the proposed amended rule. Another lawsuit that challenged the ban on the use of color and graphics in labeling and advertising resulted in that provision being unenforceable by the FDA.
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 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% of the front and rear panels of cigarette packages and (ii) occupy 20% of a cigarette advertisement and be located at the top of the advertisement. After a legal challenge to the rule initiated by R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and several other plaintiffs, in which plaintiffs prevailed both at the federal trial and appellate levels, the FDA decided not to seek further review of the U.S. Court of Appeals’ decision and announced its plans to propose a new graphic warnings rule in the future.
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Substantial Equivalence and Other New Product Processes/Pathways
In general, in order to continue marketing provisional products, manufacturers of such products were required to send to the FDA a report demonstrating substantial equivalence by March 22, 2011 for the FDA to determine if such tobacco products are “substantially equivalent” to products commercially available as of February 15, 2007. Nearly all cigarette and smokeless tobacco products currently marketed by PM USA and USSTC are provisional products, as are some of the products currently marketed by Nat Sherman. Our subsidiaries submitted timely substantial equivalence reports for these provisional products and can continue marketing these products unless the FDA makes a determination that a specific provisional product is not substantially equivalent. If the FDA ultimately makes such a determination, it could require the removal of such products from the marketplace. In April 2018, the FDA announced that it will not review a certain subset of provisional product substantial equivalence reports and that those products can generally continue to be legally marketed without further FDA review. PM USA and USSTC have provisional products included in this subset of products, but also have provisional products that will continue to be subject to the substantial equivalence review process. In addition, PM USA and USSTC submitted substantial equivalence reports on products proposed to be marketed after March 22, 2011 (“non-provisional” products). While our cigarette and smokeless tobacco subsidiaries believe 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 to their various respective substantial equivalence reports or seek to enforce the law and regulations consistent with its guidance.
PM USA and USSTC have received decisions on certain provisional and non-provisional products. The provisional products that were found to be not substantially equivalent (all smokeless tobacco products) had been discontinued for business reasons prior to the FDA’s determination; therefore, the determinations did not impact business results. In February 2018, USSTC filed a lawsuit challenging the FDA’s determination that certain of its non-provisional products are not substantially equivalent. There remain a significant number of substantial equivalence reports for products for which the FDA has not announced decisions and that do not fall within the scope of the FDA’s April 2018 announcement discussed above. At the request of the FDA, our cigarette and smokeless tobacco subsidiaries have provided additional information with respect to certain of these substantial equivalence reports. We cannot predict whether this additional information will be satisfactory to the FDA to result in substantial equivalence determinations for the products covered by those reports. It is also not possible to predict how long reviews by the FDA of substantial equivalence reports or new tobacco product applications for any tobacco product will take. A “not substantially equivalent” determination or denial of a new tobacco product application on one or more products could 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.
In order to continue marketing Other Tobacco Products modified or introduced into the market for the first time between February 15, 2007 and August 8, 2016, manufacturers originally were required to send to the FDA a report demonstrating substantial equivalence by May 8, 2018 or a new tobacco product application by November 8, 2018. In August 2017, the FDA extended the filing deadlines for combustible Other Tobacco Products, such as cigars and pipe tobacco, to August 8, 2021, and for non-combustible Other Tobacco Products, such as e-vapor and oral nicotine products, to August 8, 2022. The FDA also announced that it will permit manufacturers to continue to market such Other Tobacco Products until the FDA renders a decision on the applicable substantial equivalence report or new tobacco product application.
Because of the limited number of e-vapor products on the market as of February 15, 2007, Nu Mark may not be able to file substantial equivalence reports with the FDA on its e-vapor products in the market as of August 8, 2016. In such case, Nu Mark would have to file new tobacco product applications which, among other things, demonstrate that the marketing of the e-vapor products would be appropriate for the protection of the public health. It is uncertain how the FDA will interpret the requirements for obtaining a “new tobacco product marketing order,” although as noted above the FDA has indicated its intention to issue appropriate regulations to clarify the requirements.
Manufacturers intending to first introduce new and modified cigarette, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products into the market after March 22, 2011 or intending to first introduce new and modified Other Tobacco Products into the market after August 8, 2016, must submit substantial equivalence reports to the FDA and obtain “substantial equivalence orders” from the FDA or submit new tobacco product applications to the FDA and obtain “new tobacco product marketing orders” from the FDA before introducing the products into the market.
In March 2015, the FDA issued a document entitled “Guidance for Industry: Demonstrating the Substantial Equivalence of a New Tobacco Product: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions” (“Substantial Equivalence Guidance”). In that document, the FDA announced that (i) certain label changes and (ii) changes to the quantity of tobacco product(s) in a package would each require submission of newly required substantial equivalence reports and authorization from the FDA prior to marketing
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tobacco products with such changes, even when the tobacco product itself is not changed. Our cigarette and smokeless tobacco subsidiaries market various products that fall within the scope of the Substantial Equivalence Guidance.
In September 2015, after industry objections to the Substantial Equivalence Guidance, the FDA issued a second edition of the guidance (the “Revised SE Guidance”), which continued to require FDA pre-authorization for certain label changes and for product quantity changes. PM USA, USSTC and other tobacco product manufacturers initiated litigation challenging the Revised SE Guidance. In August 2016, the court held that a modification to an existing product’s label does not result in a “new tobacco product” and therefore such a label change does not give rise to the substantial equivalence review process. However, the court upheld the Revised SE Guidance in all other respects, including its treatment of product quantity changes as modifications that give rise to a new tobacco product requiring substantial equivalence review.
Deeming Regulations
As discussed above under FSPTCA and FDA Regulation - The Regulatory Framework, in May 2016, the FDA issued final regulations for all Other Tobacco Products, imposing the FSPTCA regulatory framework on the tobacco products manufactured, marketed and sold by Middleton and Nu Mark. At the same time the FDA issued its final deeming regulations, it also amended the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule as described above in FSPTCA and FDA Regulation - Final Tobacco Marketing Rule. Under the new regulations, for Other Tobacco Products modified or introduced into the market for the first time between February 15, 2007 and August 8, 2016, manufacturers must demonstrate substantial equivalence to a product on the market as of February 15, 2007 or obtain a “new tobacco marketing order” by certain specified dates to continue marketing those products. For further details, see FSPTCA and FDA Regulation - FDA Regulatory Actions - Substantial Equivalence and Other New Product Processes/Pathways above.
Among the FSPTCA requirements that apply to Other Tobacco Products is a ban on descriptors, including “mild,” when used as descriptors of modified risk unless expressly authorized by the FDA. In May 2016, Middleton filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the FDA challenging the application of the descriptor ban on the use of the word “mild” as it relates to the “Black & Mild” trademark. In July 2016, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the FDA, informed Middleton that at present the FDA does not intend to bring an enforcement action against Middleton for the use of the term “mild” in the trademark “Black & Mild.” Consequently, Middleton dismissed its lawsuit without prejudice. If the FDA were to change its mind at some later date, Middleton would have the opportunity to make a submission to the FDA and ultimately, if necessary, to bring another lawsuit.
Potential Product Standards

▪ | Menthol in cigarettes: As required by the FSPTCA, the TPSAC submitted a report on the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health and related recommendations to the FDA in March 2011. It recommended, among other things, that the “[r]emoval of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States” and also noted that any ban on menthol cigarettes could lead to an increase in contraband cigarettes and other potential unintended consequences. Also in March 2011, PM USA submitted a report to the FDA outlining its position that regulatory actions related to the use of menthol cigarettes are not warranted based on available science and evidence and that any significant restrictions on the use of menthol in cigarettes would have unintended consequences detrimental to public health and society.

In July 2013, the FDA released its preliminary scientific evaluation on menthol, which states “that menthol cigarettes pose a public health risk above that seen with non-menthol cigarettes.” At the same time, the FDA also issued an ANPRM requesting comments on the FDA’s preliminary scientific evaluation and information that may inform potential regulatory actions regarding menthol in cigarettes. PM USA submitted comments to the FDA raising a number of concerns about the preliminary scientific evidence and unintended consequences.
Pursuant to the July 2017 Comprehensive Plan, in March 2018 the FDA issued an ANPRM seeking comments on the role that flavors including menthol in tobacco products play in attracting youth. No future action can be taken by the FDA to regulate the manufacture, marketing or sale of menthol cigarettes (including a possible ban) until the completion of a full rulemaking process.

▪ | NNN in Smokeless Tobacco: In January 2017, the FDA proposed a product standard for N-nitrosonornicotine (“NNN”) levels in finished smokeless tobacco products. USSTC believes that the FDA has not adequately considered whether the proposed standard is technically achievable and further believes it would have a significant negative impact on farmers and manufacturers. USSTC is advocating for withdrawal of the proposed rule. In March 2017, the

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FDA extended the comment period and acknowledged what it described as a “typographical error” in a formula it used in documentation supporting the proposed rule. USSTC submitted comments to the FDA in July 2017. If the proposed rule as presently proposed were to become final and upheld in the courts, it could have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and USSTC.

▪ | Nicotine and Flavors: Pursuant to the July 2017 Comprehensive Plan, in March 2018 the FDA issued an ANPRM on the following matters:

▪ | Nicotine in cigarettes and potentially other combustible tobacco products: The potential public health benefits and any possible adverse effects of lowering nicotine in combustible cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels through achievable product standards. Specifically, the FDA is seeking comments on the consequences of such product standard, including (i) smokers compensating by smoking more cigarettes to obtain the same level of nicotine as with their current product and (ii) the illicit trade of cigarettes containing nicotine at levels higher than a non-addictive threshold that may be established by the FDA. The FDA is also seeking comments on whether a nicotine product standard should apply to other combustible tobacco products, including cigars; and

▪ | Flavors in all tobacco products: The role that flavors (including menthol) in tobacco products play in attracting youth and may play in helping some smokers switch to potentially less harmful forms of nicotine delivery.

These ANPRM processes may ultimately lead to the FDA’s development of product standards for nicotine and flavors. The July 2017 Comprehensive Plan also includes the FDA’s intent to develop e-vapor product standards to protect against known public health risks such as battery issues and concerns about children’s exposure to liquid nicotine.
Good Manufacturing Practices
The FSPTCA requires that the FDA promulgate good manufacturing practice regulations (referred to by the FDA as “Requirements for Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice”) for tobacco product manufacturers, but does not specify a timeframe for such regulations.
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 (including with respect to e-vapor products) 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. By way of example, in 2009, the federal excise tax (“FET”) on cigarettes increased from $0.39 per pack to approximately $1.01 per pack, in 2010, the New York state excise tax increased by $1.60 to $4.35 per pack, in October 2014, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania enacted a $2.00 per pack local cigarette excise tax and in November 2016, California passed a ballot measure to increase its cigarette excise tax by $2.00 per pack and its smokeless tobacco ad valorem excise tax from 27.30% to 65.08%, which went into effect on April 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017, respectively. Between the end of 1998 and April 23, 2018, the weighted-average state and certain local cigarette excise taxes increased from $0.36 to $1.75 per pack. As of April 23, 2018, Kentucky and Oklahoma have enacted cigarette excise tax increases, which are effective July 1, 2018. Various other proposed increases are pending in other states.
Tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on sales of the tobacco products of our tobacco subsidiaries through lower consumption levels and the 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 sales volume and 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
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subjects cans of equal weight to the same tax. As of April 23, 2018, the federal government, 23 states, Puerto Rico, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cook County, Illinois have adopted a weight-based tax methodology for smokeless tobacco.
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 April 23, 2018, 180 countries, as well as the European Community, have become parties to the FCTC. While the United States is a signatory of the FCTC, it is not currently a party to the agreement, as the agreement has not been submitted to, or ratified by, the United States Senate. The FCTC is the first international public health treaty and its objective is to establish a global agenda for tobacco regulation with the purpose of reducing initiation of tobacco use and encouraging cessation. The treaty recommends (and in certain instances, requires) signatory nations to enact legislation that would, among other things: establish specific actions to prevent youth tobacco product use; restrict or eliminate all tobacco product advertising, marketing, promotion and sponsorship; initiate public education campaigns to inform the public about the health consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and the benefits of quitting; implement regulations imposing product testing, disclosure and performance standards; impose health warning requirements on packaging; adopt measures 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 in November 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 and until the President signs, and the Senate ratifies, the Protocol. 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 indirectly or 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 10, during 1997 and 1998, PM USA and other major domestic tobacco product manufacturers entered into the State Settlement Agreements. These settlements require participating manufacturers to make substantial annual payments, which are adjusted for several factors, including inflation, operating income, market share and industry volume. For a discussion of the impact of the State Settlement Agreements on Altria Group, Inc., see Financial Review - Debt and Liquidity - Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation below and Note 10. The State Settlement Agreements 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 Regulation
A number of states and localities have enacted or proposed legislation that imposes restrictions on tobacco products (including innovative tobacco products, such as e-vapor products), such as legislation that (1) prohibits the sale of certain tobacco products with certain characterizing flavors, including menthol cigarettes, (2) requires the disclosure of health information separate from
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or in addition to federally-mandated health warnings and (3) restricts commercial speech or imposes additional restrictions on the marketing or sale of tobacco products (including proposals to ban all tobacco product sales). The legislation varies in terms of the type of tobacco products, the conditions under which such products are or would be restricted or prohibited, and exceptions to the restrictions or prohibitions. For example, a number of proposals involving characterizing flavors would prohibit smokeless tobacco products with characterizing flavors without providing an exception for mint- or wintergreen-flavored products.
Whether other states or localities will enact legislation in these areas, and the precise nature of such legislation if enacted, cannot be predicted. Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries have challenged and will continue to challenge certain state and local legislation, including through litigation.
State and Local Legislation to Increase the Legal Age to Purchase Tobacco Products
An increasing number of states and localities have proposed legislation to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco products above the current federal minimum age of 18. The following states have enacted such legislation: California (21), Hawaii (21), Alabama (19), Alaska (19), New Jersey (21), Utah (19), Oregon (21) and Maine (21). Many localities (including New York City (21) and Chicago (21)) have taken similar actions. As of April 23, 2018, minimum age legislation is under consideration in various states, but no state has enacted such legislation in 2018.
Health Effects of Tobacco Product Consumption and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (“ETS”)
Reports with respect to the health effects of smoking have been publicized for many years, including various reports by the U.S. Surgeon General. 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.
Most jurisdictions within the United States have restricted smoking in public places. 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 transporting minors. 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 package sizes; require tax stamping of moist smokeless tobacco (“MST”) 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 that could have a material adverse impact on the business and volume of our tobacco subsidiaries and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
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 in Tobacco Products
Illicit trade in tobacco products can have an adverse impact on the businesses of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
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Illicit trade can take many forms, including the sale of counterfeit tobacco products; the sale of tobacco products in the United States that are intended for sale outside the country; the sale of untaxed tobacco products over the Internet and by other means designed to avoid the collection of applicable taxes; and diversion into one taxing jurisdiction of tobacco products intended for sale in another. Counterfeit tobacco products, for example, are manufactured by unknown third parties in unregulated environments. Counterfeit versions of our tobacco subsidiaries’ products can negatively affect adult tobacco consumer experiences with and opinions of those brands. Illicit trade in tobacco products also harms law-abiding wholesalers and retailers by depriving them of lawful sales and undermines the significant investment Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries have made in legitimate distribution channels. Moreover, illicit trade in tobacco products results in federal, state and local governments losing tax revenues. Losses in tax revenues can cause such governments to take various actions, including increasing excise taxes; imposing legislative or regulatory requirements that may adversely impact Altria Group, Inc.’s consolidated results of operations and cash flows and the businesses of its tobacco subsidiaries; or asserting claims against manufacturers of tobacco products or members of the trade channels through which such tobacco products are distributed and sold.
Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries devote significant resources to help prevent illicit trade in tobacco products and to protect legitimate trade channels. For example, Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries engage in a number of initiatives to help prevent illicit trade in tobacco products, including communication with wholesale and retail trade members regarding illicit trade in tobacco products and how they can help prevent such activities; enforcement of wholesale and retail trade programs and policies that address illicit trade in 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 illicit trade in 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.
Price, Availability and Quality of Tobacco, Other Raw Materials and Component Parts
Shifts in crops (such as those driven by economic conditions and adverse weather patterns), government mandated prices, economic trade sanctions, import duties and tariffs, geopolitical instability and production control programs may increase or decrease the cost or reduce the supply or quality of tobacco, other raw materials or component parts used to manufacture our companies’ products. Any significant change in the price, quality or availability of tobacco, other raw materials or component parts used to manufacture our products, could restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to continue marketing existing products or impact adult consumer product acceptability and adversely affect our subsidiaries’ profitability and businesses.
With respect to tobacco, 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 impact tobacco leaf prices and tobacco supply. Certain types of tobacco are only available in limited geographies, including geographies experiencing political instability, and loss of their availability could impact adult tobacco consumer product acceptability.
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.
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Operating Results
The following discussion compares operating results for the smokeable and smokeless products segments for the three months ended March 31, 2018, with the three months ended March 31, 2017.

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | Net Revenues |  | Operating Companies Income
|  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Smokeable products |  | $ | 5,414 |  |  | $ | 5,458 |  |  | $ | 2,038 |  |  | $ | 2,036 |
Smokeless products |  | 525 |  |  | 466 |  |  | 338 |  |  | 246 |
Total smokeable and smokeless products |  | $ | 5,939 |  |  | $ | 5,924 |  |  | $ | 2,376 |  |  | $ | 2,282 |

Smokeable products segment
The smokeable products segment’s operating companies income was essentially unchanged for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as higher pricing and NPM Adjustment Items were offset by lower shipment volume and higher costs.
The following table summarizes the smokeable products segment shipment volume performance:

| Shipment Volume
| For the Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
| (sticks in millions)
Cigarettes: |  |  |  |  |
Marlboro | 23,653 |  |  | 24,695 |  |  | (4.2 | )%
Other premium | 1,409 |  |  | 1,450 |  |  | (2.8 | )%
Discount | 2,460 |  |  | 2,582 |  |  | (4.7 | )%
Total cigarettes | 27,522 |  |  | 28,727 |  |  | (4.2 | )%
Cigars: |  |  |  |  |
Black & Mild | 375 |  |  | 363 |  |  | 3.3 | %
Other | 3 |  |  | 4 |  |  | (25.0 | )%
Total cigars | 378 |  |  | 367 |  |  | 3.0 | %
Total smokeable products | 27,900 |  |  | 29,094 |  |  | (4.1 | )%

Cigarettes shipment volume includes Marlboro; Other premium brands, such as Virginia Slims, Parliament and Benson & Hedges; and Discount brands, which include L&M and Basic. Cigarettes volume includes units sold as well as promotional units, but excludes units sold for distribution to Puerto Rico, and units sold in 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.
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The following table summarizes cigarettes retail share performance:

| Retail Share
| For the Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Percentage Point Change
Cigarettes: |  |  |  |  |
Marlboro | 43.2 | % |  | 43.7 | % |  | (0.5 | )
Other premium | 2.6 |  |  | 2.7 |  |  | (0.1 | )
Discount | 4.5 |  |  | 4.6 |  |  | (0.1 | )
Total cigarettes | 50.3 | % |  | 51.0 | % |  | (0.7 | )

Retail share results for cigarettes are based on data from IRI/Management Science Associates, Inc., a tracking service that uses a sample of stores and certain wholesale shipments to project market share and depict share trends. This service tracks sales in the food, drug, mass merchandisers, convenience, military, dollar store and club trade classes. For other trade classes selling cigarettes, retail share is based on shipments from wholesalers to retailers through the Store Tracking Analytical Reporting System (“STARS”). This service is not designed to capture sales through other channels, including the internet, direct mail and some illicitly tax-advantaged outlets. It is IRI’s standard practice to periodically refresh its services, which could restate retail share results that were previously released in this service.
IRI refreshed its cigarette database in the first quarter of 2018, which affected previously released retail share results. The smokeable products segment’s restated quarterly and year-to-date retail share results for cigarettes are summarized below.

| Restated Retail Share
| For the Three Months Ended
| 12/31/17 |  | 9/30/17 |  | 6/30/17 |  | 3/31/17
Cigarettes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Marlboro | 43.1 | % |  | 43.2 | % |  | 43.5 | % |  | 43.7 | %
Other premium | 2.6 |  |  | 2.7 |  |  | 2.7 |  |  | 2.7 |
Discount | 4.7 |  |  | 4.7 |  |  | 4.7 |  |  | 4.6 |
Total cigarettes | 50.4 | % |  | 50.6 | % |  | 50.9 | % |  | 51.0 | %

| Restated Retail Share
| For the Year Ended |  | For the Nine Months Ended |  | For the Six Months Ended |  | For the Year Ended
| 12/31/17 |  | 9/30/17 |  | 6/30/17 |  | 12/31/16
Cigarettes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Marlboro | 43.4 | % |  | 43.5 | % |  | 43.6 | % |  | 43.8 | %
Other premium | 2.7 |  |  | 2.7 |  |  | 2.7 |  |  | 2.8 |
Discount | 4.6 |  |  | 4.6 |  |  | 4.7 |  |  | 4.6 |
Total cigarettes | 50.7 | % |  | 50.8 | % |  | 51.0 | % |  | 51.2 | %

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PM USA and Middleton executed the following pricing and promotional allowance actions during 2018 and 2017:

▪ | Effective March 25, 2018, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.09 per pack.

▪ | Effective September 24, 2017, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.10 per pack.

▪ | Effective May 21, 2017, Middleton increased various list prices across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.10 per five-pack.

▪ | Effective March 19, 2017, PM USA increased the list price on Parliament by $0.12 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price on all of its other cigarette brands by $0.08 per pack.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $44 million (0.8%), due primarily to lower shipment volume ($252 million), mostly offset by higher pricing ($200 million), which includes higher promotional investments. Operating companies income was essentially unchanged, due primarily to higher pricing ($200 million), which includes higher promotional investments, and higher NPM Adjustment Items ($60 million), offset by lower shipment volume ($138 million), higher marketing, administration and research costs ($64 million, which includes investments in strategic initiatives and higher tobacco and health litigation items) and higher per unit settlement costs.
The smokeable products segment’s reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased 4.2%, driven primarily by the industry’s rate of decline and retail share declines, partially offset by trade inventory movements. When adjusted for trade inventory movements, the smokeable products segment’s domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased an estimated 7%. Total cigarette industry volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2018 declined by an estimated 5.5%.
Shipments of premium cigarettes accounted for 91.1% of smokeable products’ reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2018, versus 91.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
The smokeable products segment’s reported cigars shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased 3.0%.
Marlboro’s retail share for the three months ended March 31, 2018 declined 0.5 share points to 43.2%, driven in part by continued effects from the April 2017 California state excise tax increase. Marlboro retail share grew 0.1 share point sequentially. The smokeable products segment’s total cigarette retail share declined 0.7 share points to 50.3% and declined 0.1 share point sequentially.
Smokeless products segment
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the smokeless products segment grew net revenues and operating companies income, due primarily to the impact of the Recall in 2017 and higher pricing.
The following table summarizes smokeless products segment shipment volume performance:

|  | Shipment Volume
|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
|  | (cans and packs in millions)
Copenhagen |  | 124.4 |  |  | 124.5 |  |  | (0.1 | )%
Skoal |  | 55.0 |  |  | 55.6 |  |  | (1.1 | )%
Copenhagen and Skoal |  | 179.4 |  |  | 180.1 |  |  | (0.4 | )%
Other |  | 16.3 |  |  | 15.7 |  |  | 3.8 | %
Total smokeless products |  | 195.7 |  |  | 195.8 |  |  | (0.1 | )%

Smokeless products shipment volume includes cans and packs sold, as well as promotional units, but excludes international volume, which is not material to the smokeless products segment. 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.
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To calculate volumes of cans and packs shipped, one pack of snus, irrespective of the number of pouches in the pack, is assumed to be equivalent to one can of MST.
The following table summarizes smokeless products segment retail share performance (excluding international volume):

|  | Retail Share
|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Percentage Point Change
Copenhagen |  | 34.3 | % |  | 33.2 | % |  | 1.1 |
Skoal |  | 16.2 |  |  | 17.4 |  |  | (1.2 | )
Copenhagen and Skoal |  | 50.5 |  |  | 50.6 |  |  | (0.1 | )
Other |  | 3.3 |  |  | 3.1 |  |  | 0.2 |
Total smokeless products |  | 53.8 | % |  | 53.7 | % |  | 0.1 |

Retail share results for smokeless products are based on data from IRI InfoScan, a tracking service that uses a sample of stores to project market share and depict share trends. This service tracks sales in the food, drug, mass merchandisers, convenience, military, dollar store and club trade classes on the number of cans and packs sold. Smokeless products is defined by IRI as moist smokeless and spit-free tobacco 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. For example, one pack of snus, irrespective of the number of pouches in the pack, is assumed to be equivalent to one can of MST. Because this service represents retail share performance only in key trade channels, it should not be considered a precise measurement of actual retail share. It is IRI’s standard practice to periodically refresh its InfoScan services, which could restate retail share results that were previously released in this service.
IRI refreshed its smokeless products database in the first quarter of 2018, which affected previously released retail share results. USSTC’s restated quarterly and year-to-date retail share results for smokeless products are summarized below.

| Restated Retail Share
| For the Three Months Ended
| 12/31/17 |  | 9/30/17 |  | 6/30/17 |  | 3/31/17
Copenhagen | 34.1 | % |  | 34.1 | % |  | 34.3 | % |  | 33.2 | %
Skoal | 16.3 |  |  | 16.6 |  |  | 16.8 |  |  | 17.4 |
Copenhagen and Skoal | 50.4 |  |  | 50.7 |  |  | 51.1 |  |  | 50.6 |
Other | 3.4 |  |  | 3.3 |  |  | 3.2 |  |  | 3.1 |
Total smokeless products | 53.8 | % |  | 54.0 | % |  | 54.3 | % |  | 53.7 | %

| Restated Retail Share
| For the Year Ended |  | For the Nine Months Ended |  | For the Six Months Ended |  | For the Year Ended
| 12/31/17 |  | 9/30/17 |  | 6/30/17 |  | 12/31/16
Copenhagen | 34.0 | % |  | 33.9 | % |  | 33.8 | % |  | 33.5 | %
Skoal | 16.7 |  |  | 16.9 |  |  | 17.0 |  |  | 18.2 |
Copenhagen and Skoal | 50.7 |  |  | 50.8 |  |  | 50.8 |  |  | 51.7 |
Other | 3.3 |  |  | 3.2 |  |  | 3.2 |  |  | 3.3 |
Total smokeless products | 54.0 | % |  | 54.0 | % |  | 54.0 | % |  | 55.0 | %

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USSTC executed the following pricing actions during 2017:

▪ | Effective September 26, 2017, USSTC increased the list price on Copenhagen and Skoal popular price products by $0.12 per can. In addition, USSTC increased the list price on all its brands, except for Copenhagen and Skoal popular price products, by $0.07 per can.

▪ | Effective April 25, 2017, USSTC increased the list price on all its brands by $0.07 per can.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $59 million (12.7%), due primarily to the impact of the Recall during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and higher pricing. Operating companies income increased $92 million (37.4%), due primarily to the impact of the Recall during the three months ended March 31, 2017 ($60 million) and higher pricing.
USSTC’s reported domestic shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was essentially unchanged. This volume comparison was impacted by the unusual effects of the Recall in the first quarter of 2017, which involved removing significant volume from the marketplace and then replenishing that volume with fresh product.
The smokeless products category volume declined an estimated 1% over the six months ended March 31, 2018.
Copenhagen’s retail share grew 1.1 share points to 34.3% and Skoal’s share declined 1.2 share points to 16.2%.
Copenhagen and Skoal’s combined retail share for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased 0.1 share point to 50.5%.
Total smokeless products retail share for the three months ended March 31, 2018 grew 0.1 share point to 53.8%
Wine segment
Business Environment
Ste. Michelle is a leading producer of Washington state wines, primarily Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest and 14 Hands, and owns wineries in or distributes wines from several other domestic and foreign wine regions. 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, Patz & Hall in Sonoma and Erath in Oregon. In addition, Ste. Michelle imports and markets Antinori, Torres 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 in the United States through state-licensed distributors. Ste. Michelle also sells to domestic consumers through retail and e-commerce channels and exports wines to international distributors.
Federal, state and local governmental agencies regulate the beverage alcohol industry through various means, including licensing requirements, pricing rules, 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.
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Operating Results
Ste. Michelle’s operating companies income decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2018, due primarily to higher selling, general and administrative costs and unfavorable premium mix, partially offset by higher shipment volume.
The following discussion compares wine segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2018, with the three months ended March 31, 2017.

|  | For the Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017
|  | (in millions)
Net revenues |  | $ | 142 |  |  | $ | 140 |
Operating companies income |  | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | 21 |

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $2 million (1.4%), due primarily to higher shipment volume, partially offset by unfavorable premium mix. Operating companies income decreased $4 million (19.0%), due primarily to one-time employee bonuses and unfavorable premium mix, partially offset by higher shipment volume.
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, Ste. Michelle’s reported wine shipment volume of 1,768 thousand cases, increased 6.1%.
Financial Review
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
During the first three months of 2018, net cash provided by operating activities was $2,809 million compared with $2,675 million during the first three months of 2017. This increase was due primarily to a lower use of cash to fund working capital.
Altria Group, Inc. had a working capital deficit at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Altria Group, Inc.’s management believes that Altria Group, Inc. 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 Used In Investing Activities
During the first three months of 2018, net cash used in investing activities was $41 million compared with $230 million during the first three months of 2017. This decrease was due primarily to the acquisition of a business during the first three months of 2017.
Cash Used in Financing Activities
During the first three months of 2018, cash used in financing activities of $1,793 million was essentially unchanged compared with $1,776 million during the first three months of 2017.
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. The impact of credit ratings on the cost of borrowings under Altria Group, Inc.’s credit agreement is discussed below. See the discussion below regarding the potential adverse impact of certain events on Altria Group, Inc.’s credit ratings in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results.
At March 31, 2018, 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 Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) | P-2 |  | A3 |  | Stable
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”) | A-1 |  | A- |  | Stable
Fitch Ratings Ltd. | F2 |  | A- |  | Stable

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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 March 31, 2018 and 2017, and at December 31, 2017, Altria Group, Inc. had no short-term borrowings.
At March 31, 2018, 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 August 19, 2020.
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 based on the higher of the ratings of Altria Group, Inc.’s long-term senior unsecured debt from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. The applicable percentage based on Altria Group, Inc.’s long-term senior unsecured debt ratings at March 31, 2018 for borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 1.125%. The Credit Agreement does not include any other rating triggers, nor does it contain any provisions that could require the posting of collateral. At March 31, 2018, credit available to Altria Group, Inc. under the Credit Agreement 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 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“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 March 31, 2018, the ratios of debt to consolidated EBITDA and consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, calculated in accordance with the Credit Agreement, were 1.3 to 1.0 and 14.9 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 Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2013 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 11. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 11”).
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. See the discussion below regarding access to debt capital markets in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results for certain risk factors associated with the foregoing discussion.
Tax Reform Act - As a result of the Tax Reform Act’s reduction in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. expects increased liquidity. Altria Group, Inc. plans to make strategic long-term investments with the increased liquidity, reinvesting approximately one-third of the total tax reform benefit in 2018, with a moderating level of investment in subsequent years.
Debt - At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Altria Group, Inc.’s total debt was $13.9 billion.
Guarantees and Other Similar Matters - As discussed in Note 10, Altria Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries had unused letters of credit obtained in the ordinary course of business, guarantees (including third-party guarantees) and a redeemable noncontrolling interest outstanding at March 31, 2018. From time to time, subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc. also issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. In addition, as discussed in Note 11, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria Group, Inc.’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under the Credit Agreement and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on Altria Group, Inc.’s liquidity.
Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation - As discussed previously and in Note 10, PM USA and Nat Sherman have entered into State Settlement Agreements with the states and territories of the United States that call for certain payments. In addition, PM USA, Middleton, Nat Sherman and USSTC are subject to quarterly user fees imposed by the FDA as a result of the FSPTCA. Payments under the State Settlement Agreements and the FDA user fees are based on variable factors, such as volume, operating income, market share and inflation, depending on the subject payment. Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries account for the cost of the State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees as a component of cost of sales. Altria
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Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries recorded approximately $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion of charges to cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in connection with the State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees. For further discussion of the resolutions of certain disputes with states and territories related to the NPM Adjustment provision under the MSA, see Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - NPM Adjustment Disputes in Note 10.
Based on current agreements, 2017 market share and historical annual industry volume decline rates, the estimated amounts that Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries may charge to cost of sales for payments related to State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees approximate $4.8 billion in 2018 and each year thereafter. These amounts exclude the potential impact of the NPM Adjustment provision applicable under the MSA and the revised NPM Adjustment provisions applicable under the resolutions of the NPM Adjustment disputes.
The estimated amounts due under the State Settlement Agreements charged to cost of sales in each year would generally be paid in the following year. The amounts charged to cost of sales for 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 and FDA user fees are subject to adjustment for several factors, including volume, operating income, inflation and certain contingent events and, in general, are allocated based on each manufacturer’s market share. The future payment amounts discussed above are estimates, and actual payment amounts will differ to the extent underlying assumptions differ from actual future results.
Litigation-Related Deposits and Payments - With respect to certain adverse verdicts currently on appeal, to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals, as of March 31, 2018, PM USA posted various forms of security totaling approximately $98 million, which have been collateralized with cash deposits. These cash deposits are included in assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Although litigation is subject to uncertainty and an adverse outcome or settlement of litigation could have a material adverse effect on 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 10 and in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results, 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
On January 30, 2018, Altria Group, Inc. granted an aggregate of 0.6 million restricted stock units and 0.1 million performance stock units to eligible employees. The service restrictions for the restricted stock units and the performance stock units lapse in the first quarter of 2021. In addition, the payout of the performance stock units requires the achievement of certain performance measures, which were predetermined at the time of grant, over a three-year performance cycle. These performance measures consist of Altria Group, Inc.’s adjusted diluted EPS compounded annual growth rate and Altria Group, Inc.’s total shareholder return relative to a predetermined peer group. The weighted-average market value per share of the restricted stock units and the performance stock units granted on January 30, 2018 was $69.26 on the date of grant.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, 0.8 million shares of restricted stock units and performance stock units vested. The total fair value of restricted stock units and performance stock units that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $57 million. The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of these awards was $55.34.
Dividends paid during the first three months of 2018 and 2017 were $1,257 million and $1,187 million, respectively, an increase of 5.9%, 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 first quarter of 2018, Altria Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) approved a 6.1% increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.70 per share of Altria Group, Inc. common stock versus the previous rate of $0.66 per 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 $2.80 per share. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
In July 2015, the Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion share repurchase program that it expanded to $3.0 billion in October 2016 and to $4.0 billion in July 2017 (as expanded, the “July 2015 share repurchase program”). In January 2018, Altria Group, Inc. completed the July 2015 share repurchase program. Following the completion of the July 2015 share repurchase program, the Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program (the “January 2018 share repurchase program”), which Altria Group, Inc. expects to complete by the end of 2018. For further discussion of Altria Group,
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Inc.’s share repurchase programs, see Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 and Part II, Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds of this Form 10-Q.
Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
See Note 12. Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 for a discussion of recently issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria Group, Inc.
Contingencies
See Note 10 for a discussion of contingencies.
Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
We (1) may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including earnings guidance and other statements contained in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), reports to security holders, 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, estimates 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 estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. You should bear this in mind as you 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, or implied by, 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 Form 10-Q particularly in the “Business Environment” sections preceding our discussion of the operating results of our subsidiaries’ businesses above. 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.
Unfavorable litigation outcomes could materially adversely affect the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc., or the businesses of one or more of its subsidiaries.
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-related claims, 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, have ranged 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
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1 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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judgment-related amounts. Furthermore, in those cases where plaintiffs are successful, Altria Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries may also be required to pay interest and attorneys’ fees.
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 47 states and Puerto Rico now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. As discussed in Note 10, 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 the businesses of one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially adversely affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome of one or more such challenges.
In certain litigation, Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may face potentially significant non-monetary remedies, which may cause reputational harm. For example, in the lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice, discussed in detail in Note 10, the district court did not impose monetary penalties but ordered significant non-monetary remedies, including the issuance of “corrective statements” that Altria Group, Inc. and PM USA began making in various media in the fourth quarter of 2017.
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 the businesses of one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially adversely 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 Note 10 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Form 10-Q for a discussion of pending tobacco-related litigation.
Significant federal, state and local governmental actions, including actions by the FDA, and various private sector actions may continue to have an adverse impact on our tobacco subsidiaries’ businesses and sales volumes.
As described in Tobacco Space - Business Environment above, our cigarette subsidiaries face significant governmental and private sector actions, including efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of tobacco use and efforts seeking to hold these subsidiaries responsible for the adverse health effects associated with both smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. These actions, combined with the diminishing social acceptance of 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 and other federal, state or local governments or agencies, including those specific actions described in Tobacco Space - Business Environment above, may impact the adult tobacco consumer acceptability of or access to tobacco products (for example, through product standards that may be proposed by the FDA for nicotine and flavors), limit adult tobacco consumer choices, delay or prevent the launch of new or modified tobacco products or products with claims of reduced risk, require the recall or other removal of tobacco products from the marketplace (for example as a result of product contamination, a determination by the FDA that one or more tobacco products do not satisfy the statutory requirements for substantial equivalence, or because the FDA requires that a modification to a currently-marketed tobacco product proceed through the pre-market review process), restrict communications to adult tobacco 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, interrupt manufacturing or otherwise significantly increase the cost of doing business, or restrict or prevent the use of specified tobacco products in certain locations or the sale of tobacco products by certain retail establishments. Any one or more of these actions 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. See Tobacco Space - Business Environment above for a more detailed discussion.
Tobacco products are subject to substantial taxation, which could have an adverse impact on sales of the tobacco products of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries.
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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 the tobacco products of our tobacco subsidiaries through lower consumption levels and the 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 above.
Our tobacco businesses face significant competition within their categories and their failure to compete effectively could have an adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations or cash flows of Altria Group, Inc., or the business of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries.
Each of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries operates in highly competitive tobacco categories. Significant methods of competition include product quality, taste, price, product innovation, marketing, packaging, distribution and promotional activities. A highly competitive environment could negatively impact the profitability, market share and shipment volume of our tobacco subsidiaries, which could have an adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations or cash flows of Altria Group, Inc.
PM USA also faces competition from lowest priced brands sold by certain United States and foreign manufacturers that have cost advantages because they are not parties to settlements of certain tobacco litigation in the United States. These settlements, among other factors, have resulted in substantial cigarette price increases. 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 imports of foreign lowest priced brands. USSTC faces significant competition in the smokeless tobacco category 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.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may be unsuccessful in anticipating changes in adult consumer preferences, responding to changes in consumer purchase behavior or managing through difficult competitive and economic conditions.
Each of our tobacco and wine subsidiaries is subject to intense competition and changes in adult consumer preferences. To be successful, they must continue to:

▪ | promote brand equity successfully;

▪ | anticipate and respond to new and evolving adult consumer preferences;

▪ | develop, manufacture, market and distribute products that appeal to adult consumers (including, where appropriate, through arrangements with, or investments in, third parties);

▪ | improve productivity; and

▪ | protect or enhance margins through cost savings and price increases.

See Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Summary above for additional discussion concerning evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences, including e-vapor products. Growth of this product category could contribute to reductions in cigarette consumption levels and cigarette industry sales volume and could adversely affect the growth rates of other tobacco products.
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, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. While our tobacco and wine subsidiaries work to broaden their brand portfolios to compete effectively with lower-priced products, the failure to do so could negatively impact our companies’ ability to compete in these circumstances.
Our financial services business (conducted through PMCC) holds investments in finance leases, principally in transportation (including aircraft), power generation, real estate and manufacturing equipment. Its lessees are subject to significant competition and uncertain 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.
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Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries may be unsuccessful in developing and commercializing adjacent products or processes, including innovative tobacco products that may reduce the health risks associated with current tobacco products and that appeal to adult tobacco consumers, which may have an adverse effect on their ability to grow new revenue streams and/or put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries have growth strategies involving moves and potential moves into adjacent products or processes, including innovative tobacco products. Some innovative tobacco products may reduce the health risks associated with current tobacco products, while continuing to offer adult tobacco consumers (within and outside the United States) products that meet their taste expectations and evolving preferences. Examples 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, or investments in, third parties. Our tobacco subsidiaries may not succeed in their efforts to introduce such new products, which would have an adverse effect on the ability to grow new revenue streams.
Further, we cannot predict whether regulators, including the FDA, will permit the marketing or sale of products with claims of reduced risk to adult consumers, the speed with which they may make such determinations or whether regulators will impose an unduly burdensome regulatory framework on such products. Nor can we predict whether adult tobacco consumers’ purchasing decisions would be affected by reduced risk claims if permitted. Adverse developments on any of these matters could negatively impact the commercial viability of such products.
If our tobacco subsidiaries do not succeed in their efforts to develop and commercialize innovative tobacco products or to obtain regulatory approval for the marketing or sale of products with claims of reduced risk, but one or more of their competitors do succeed, our tobacco subsidiaries may be at a competitive disadvantage.
Significant changes in price, availability or quality of tobacco, other raw materials or component parts could have an adverse effect on the profitability and business of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries.
Any significant change in prices, quality or availability of tobacco, other raw materials or component parts could adversely affect our tobacco subsidiaries’ profitability and business. For further discussion, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Price, Availability and Quality of Tobacco, Other Raw Materials and Component Parts above.
Because Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries rely on a few significant facilities and a small number of key suppliers, an extended disruption at a facility or in service by a supplier could have a material adverse effect on the business, the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries face risks inherent in reliance on a few significant facilities and a small number of key suppliers. A natural or man-made disaster or other disruption that affects the manufacturing operations of any of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries or the operations of any key suppliers of any of Altria Group, Inc.’s tobacco subsidiaries, including as a result of a key supplier’s unwillingness to supply goods or services to a tobacco company, could adversely impact the operations of the affected subsidiaries. An extended disruption in operations experienced by one or more of Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries or key suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the business, the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its tobacco subsidiaries.
Altria Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries could decide or be required to recall products, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
In addition to a recall required by the FDA, as referenced above, our subsidiaries could decide, or laws or regulations could require them, to recall products due to the failure to meet quality standards or specifications, suspected or confirmed and deliberate or unintentional product contamination, or other adulteration, product misbranding or product tampering. In January 2017, USSTC announced that it was voluntarily recalling certain of its smokeless tobacco products manufactured at a USSTC facility due to product tampering. USSTC recorded a charge during the first quarter of 2017 related to this recall. While this charge was not material to Altria Group, Inc.’s financial statements, future recalls (if any) could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
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The failure of Altria Group, Inc.’s information systems or service providers’ information systems to function as intended, or cyber-attacks or security breaches, could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries rely extensively on information systems, many of which are managed by third-party service providers (such as cloud providers), to support a variety of business processes and activities, including: complying with regulatory, legal, financial reporting and tax requirements; engaging in marketing and e-commerce activities; managing and improving the effectiveness of our operations; manufacturing and distributing our products; collecting and storing sensitive data and confidential information; and communicating internally and externally with employees, investors, suppliers, trade customers, adult consumers and others. We continue to make investments in administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect our information systems and data from cyber-threats, including human error and malicious acts. Our safeguards include employee training, testing and auditing protocols, backup systems and business continuity plans, maintenance of security policies and procedures, monitoring of networks and systems, and third-party risk management.
To date, interruptions of our information systems have been infrequent and have not had a material impact on our operations. However, because technology is increasingly complex and cyber-attacks are increasingly sophisticated and more frequent, there can be no assurance that such incidents will not have a material adverse effect on us in the future. Failure of our systems or service providers’ systems to function as intended, or cyber-attacks or security breaches, could result in loss of revenue, assets, personal data, intellectual property, trade secrets or other sensitive and confidential data, violation of applicable privacy and data security laws, damage to the reputation of our companies and their brands, operational disruptions, legal challenges and significant remediation and other costs to Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Unfavorable outcomes of any governmental investigations could materially affect the businesses of Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
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 any such investigation, and it is possible that our business could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome of a future investigation.
International business operations subject Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries to various United States and foreign laws and regulations, and violations of such laws or regulations could result in reputational harm, legal challenges and/or significant costs.
While Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in business activities in the United States, they do engage (directly or indirectly) in certain international business activities that are subject to various United States and foreign laws and regulations, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws prohibiting bribery and corruption. Although we have a Code of Conduct and a compliance system designed to prevent and detect violations of applicable law, no system can provide assurance that it will always protect against improper actions by employees or third parties. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could result in reputational harm, legal challenges and/or significant costs.
Altria Group, Inc. may be unable to attract and retain the best talent due to the impact of decreasing social acceptance of tobacco usage and tobacco control actions.
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.
Acquisitions or other events may adversely affect Altria Group, Inc.’s credit rating, and Altria Group, Inc. may not achieve its anticipated strategic or financial objectives of a transaction.
From time to time, Altria Group, Inc. considers acquisitions and 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 the occurrence of other events could negatively impact our credit ratings or the outlook for those ratings. Any such change in ratings or outlook 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.
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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 acquire attractive businesses on favorable terms or that we will realize any of the anticipated benefits from an acquisition.
Disruption and uncertainty in the debt capital markets could adversely affect Altria Group, Inc.’s access to the debt capital markets, earnings and dividend rate.
Access to the debt capital markets is important for us to satisfy our liquidity and financing needs. Disruption and uncertainty in the credit and debt capital markets and any resulting adverse impact on credit availability, pricing, credit terms or credit rating 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.
Altria Group, Inc. may be required to write down intangible assets, including goodwill, due to impairment, which would reduce earnings.
We periodically calculate the fair value of our reporting units and 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 adult consumer preferences, success of planned new product introductions, competitive activity and tobacco-related taxes. Certain events can also trigger an immediate review of intangible assets. If an impairment is determined to exist in either situation, we will incur impairment losses, which will reduce our earnings.
Competition, unfavorable changes in grape supply and new governmental regulations or revisions to existing governmental regulations could adversely affect Ste. Michelle’s wine business.
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 above.
Altria Group, Inc.’s reported earnings from and carrying value of its equity investment in AB InBev and the dividends paid by AB InBev on shares owned by Altria Group, Inc. may be adversely affected by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates and other factors.
For purposes of financial reporting, the earnings from and carrying value of our equity investment in AB InBev are translated into U.S. dollars from various local currencies. In addition, AB InBev pays dividends in euros, which we convert into U.S. dollars. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar against these currencies, our reported earnings from and carrying value of our equity investment in AB InBev will be reduced because these currencies will translate into fewer U.S. dollars and the dividends that we receive from AB InBev will convert into fewer U.S. dollars.
Dividends and earnings from and carrying value of our equity investment in AB InBev are also subject to the risks encountered by AB InBev in its business. We cannot provide any assurance that AB InBev will successfully execute its business plans and strategies. Earnings from and carrying value of our equity investment in AB InBev are also subject to fluctuations in AB InBev’s stock price, for example through mark-to-market losses on AB InBev’s derivative financial instruments used to hedge certain share commitments.
We received a substantial portion of our consideration from the Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV business combination with SABMiller (the “Transaction”) in the form of restricted shares subject to a five-year lock-up. Furthermore, if our percentage ownership in AB InBev were to decrease below certain levels, we may be subject to additional tax liabilities, suffer a reduction in the number of directors that we can have appointed to the AB InBev Board of Directors and be unable to account for our investment under the equity method of accounting.
Upon completion of the Transaction, we received a substantial portion of our consideration in the form of restricted shares that cannot be sold or transferred for a period of five years following the Transaction, subject to limited exceptions. These transfer
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restrictions will require us to bear the risks associated with our investment in AB InBev for a five-year period that expires on October 10, 2021. Further, in the event that our ownership percentage in AB InBev were to decrease below certain levels, we may be subject to additional tax liabilities, the number of directors that we have the right to have appointed to the AB InBev Board of Directors could be reduced from two to one or zero and our use of the equity method of accounting for our investment in AB InBev could be challenged.
The tax treatment of the consideration Altria Group, Inc. received in the Transaction may be challenged and the tax treatment of the AB InBev investment may not be as favorable as Altria Group, Inc. anticipates.
While we expect the equity consideration that we received from the Transaction to qualify for tax-deferred treatment, we cannot provide any assurance that federal and state tax authorities will not challenge the expected tax treatment and, if they do, what the outcome of any such challenge will be. In addition, there is a risk that the tax treatment of our investment in AB InBev may not be as favorable as we anticipate.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There have been no material changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s market risk during the three months ended March 31, 2018. For additional information regarding quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, see Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk of Altria Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “2017 Form 10-K”).
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Altria Group, Inc. carried out an evaluation, with the participation of Altria Group, Inc.’s management, including Altria Group, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of Altria Group, Inc.’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Based upon that evaluation, Altria Group, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Altria Group, Inc.’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There have been no changes in Altria Group, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Altria Group, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
See Note 10 for a discussion of legal proceedings pending against Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. See also Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Form 10-Q.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Information regarding Risk Factors appears under Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results in Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q (“Item 2”) and in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of the 2017 Form 10-K. Other than as set forth in Item 2, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the 2017 Form 10-K.
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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Altria Group, Inc. completed the July 2015 share repurchase program during the first quarter of 2018. In January 2018, the Board of Directors authorized the January 2018 share repurchase program, which Altria Group, Inc. expects to complete by the end of 2018. The timing of share repurchases under this program depends upon marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Altria Group, Inc.’s share repurchase activity for each of the three months in the period ended March 31, 2018, 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 |  | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)
January 1 - 31, 2018 |  | 294,223 |  |  | $ | 71.54 |  |  | 256,866 |  |  | $ | 1,000,000,000 |
February 1 - 28, 2018 |  | 3,815,624 |  |  | $ | 65.34 |  |  | 3,554,460 |  |  | $ | 768,240,510 |
March 1 - 31, 2018 |  | 4,159,941 |  |  | $ | 63.12 |  |  | 4,158,636 |  |  | $ | 505,739,540 |
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2018 |  | 8,269,788 |  |  | $ | 64.45 |  |  | 7,969,962 |  |  |

(1) | The total number of shares purchased includes (a) shares purchased under the July 2015 share repurchase program and the January 2018 share repurchase program (which totaled 256,866 shares in January, 3,554,460 shares in February and 4,158,636 shares in March) and (b) shares withheld by Altria Group, Inc. in an amount equal to the statutory withholding taxes for holders who vested in stock-based awards (which totaled 37,357 shares in January, 261,164 shares in February and 1,305 shares in March).

(2) Reflects the $1.0 billion January 2018 share repurchase program that commenced in February 2018.
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Item 6. Exhibits.

10.1 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2018.

10.2 | Form of Performance Stock Unit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2018.

12 | Statements regarding computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges.

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

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

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

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

99.1 | Certain Litigation Matters.

99.2 | Trial Schedule for Certain Cases.

99.3 | Definitions of Terms Related to Financial Covenants included in Altria Group, Inc.’s Amended and Restated 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2013. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2013 (File No. 1-08940).

101.INS XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.
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Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ALTRIA GROUP, INC.
/s/ WILLIAM F. GIFFORD, JR.
William F. Gifford, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
April 26, 2018
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