<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001214659-24-007332.txt : 20240423
<SEC-HEADER>0001214659-24-007332.hdr.sgml : 20240423
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240422201621
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001214659-24-007332
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	PX14A6G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240423
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240422
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20240423

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALTRIA GROUP, INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000764180
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CIGARETTES [2111]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	04 Manufacturing
		IRS NUMBER:				133260245
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		PX14A6G
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08940
		FILM NUMBER:		24862462

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6601 WEST BROAD STREET
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(804) 274-2200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6601 WEST BROAD STREET
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23230

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALTRIA GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030127

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PHILIP MORRIS COMPANIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AS YOU SOW
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001086462
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		PX14A6G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2150 KITTREDGE ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			BERKELEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94704
		BUSINESS PHONE:		510-735-8155

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2150 KITTREDGE ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			BERKELEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94704
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    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: bottom; width: 10%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt; color: #00813D"><B>Main Post Office,
    P.O. Box 751&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 80%; white-space: nowrap"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt; color: #73C167"><B>www.asyousow.org</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt; color: #00813D"><B>Berkeley,
                                    CA 94704</B></FONT></P>
                                    <P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt; color: #00813D"><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 7.5pt; color: #73C167">BUILDING A SAFE, JUST, AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD SINCE 1992</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>





<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Notice of Exempt Solicitation Pursuant to Rule 14a-103</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Name of the Registrant: Altria Group Inc (MO)<BR>
Name of persons relying on exemption:&nbsp;As You Sow<sup>&reg;</sup><BR>
Address of persons relying on exemption: Main Post Office, P.O. Box 751, Berkeley, CA 94704</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Written materials are submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-6(g)(1) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.&nbsp;Submission is not required of this filer under the terms of the Rule, but is made voluntarily
in the interest of public disclosure and consideration of these important issues.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 9pt; background-color: #B8CCE4">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 16pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Altria Group Inc (MO)<BR>
Vote Yes: Proposal # <B>5</B> Producer Responsibility for</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 16pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Plastic Cigarette Waste</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Annual Meeting: May 16, 2024</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">CONTACT: Conrad MacKerron | mack@asyousow.org</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; text-indent: 1in"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 13pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 9pt; background-color: #B8CCE4">THE RESOLUTION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Shareholders request the Altria Board issue a public report, at reasonable
expense and excluding proprietary information,&nbsp;assessing the benefits to the Company of extended producer responsibility laws for
spent tobacco filters for tobacco companies operating in the U.S. market.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: #FCFCFC"><B>SUPPORTING STATEMENT</B>:&nbsp; The report
should assess at Board discretion:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; background-color: #FCFCFC"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>The reputational, financial, and operational risks associated with failing to take responsibility for filter cleanup costs;&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; background-color: #FCFCFC"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>An appropriate level of voluntary financial contributions to support state cigarette filter cleanup efforts.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 13pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 9pt; background-color: #B8CCE4">SUMMARY</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #080707"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Plastic pollution
has reached crisis levels. 24 - 34 million metric tons of plastic end up in the world&rsquo;s waterways annually,<SUP>1</SUP> en<FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt">gendering
serious harm to human health and the environment &mdash; and that figure may triple by 2040.<SUP>2</SUP></FONT></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #080707">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #080707"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">_____________________________</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #080707">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="color: #080707; background-color: white"><SUP>1</SUP></FONT>
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019L0904&amp;from=EN#page=8; https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/871061</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="color: #080707; background-color: white"><SUP>2</SUP></FONT>
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-trash-in-seas-will-nearly-triple-by-2040-if-nothing-done</P>

<P STYLE="color: #71C267; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; width: 10%"><IMG SRC="asyousowlogo.jpg" ALT=""><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; width: 90%"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0,129,61)"><B>2024
Proxy Memo</B></FONT></P>
                                                <P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0pt; color: #00813B"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; color: #00813D"><B></B></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal">Altria Group Inc | Producer Responsibility for Plastic
Cigarette Waste</FONT></P>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B></B></P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>


<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 117.35pt; text-indent: 1.75in"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #080707"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Cigarette filters
make up a significant portion of this pollution. Filters are likely the most littered form of plastic on the planet and the most littered
item overall in the United States. In total, more than 4.5 trillion non-biodegradable filters, containing more than 15,000 plastic microfibers
and thousands of toxic chemicals, are discarded every year, contributing up to 300,000 tons of plastic microfibers &mdash; along with
heavy metals and nicotine<SUP>3</SUP> &mdash; into the environment.<SUP>4</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="color: #080707; background-color: white">The urgency and
scale of the plastic pollution crisis has led to growing global momentum for extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies. EPR laws
make manufacturers financially responsible for the end-of-life costs of their plastic products. In the U.S., adoption of such laws</FONT>
has increased rapidly in the last 20 years. T<FONT STYLE="background-color: white">he European Union&rsquo;s Single-Use Plastics Directive
recently imposed EPR on tobacco producers to cover the costs of collecting and processing cigarette filters, and Denmark, France, and
Spain have already imposed cleanup fees.<SUP>5</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #080707"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Adopting EPR
may help mitigate the risks associated with pollution from a company&rsquo;s products. This Proposal asks Altria to assess the potential
benefits of adopting extended producer responsibility policies for the cleanup costs associated with the cigarette butt filters it manufacturers,
the costs of failing to do so, and what is an appropriate level of voluntary financial support to support cleanup efforts. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Taking steps now to integrate EPR into Altria&rsquo;s processes may
reduce costs down the road. EPR laws are coming, and they pose a significant financial risk to the Company. The global cost of marine
ecosystem damage and waste management for plastics in cigarette packaging and butts is estimated at $26 billion per year, according to
a recent study.<SUP>6</SUP> <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">China spends </FONT>$2.6 billion and India $766 million annually for
cleanup.<SUP>7</SUP> <FONT STYLE="color: #080707; background-color: white">San Francisco estimates it spends $11 million per year for
cigarette butt cleanup.<SUP>8</SUP> By preparing for EPR laws and making voluntary efforts to adopt EPR, Altria can reduce the financial
risk associated with transitioning to an EPR regime. Doing so now will put it in an advantageous position relative to its competitors
in terms of anticipating and efficiently meeting new EPR regulations. Adopting voluntary EPR practices and supporting EPR laws may also
help mitigate potential reputational risks faced by Altria associated with plastic pollution from its tobacco products.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 13pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 9pt; background-color: #B8CCE4">RATIONALE FOR A YES
VOTE</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt"><B>1.</B></FONT></TD><TD><B>Taking financial responsibility for cigarette butt cleanup could reduce financial risk associated with a global transition to a<FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt">n
EPR regime and reputational risk associated with plastic pollution.</FONT></B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><B>2.</B></TD><TD><B>Altria&rsquo;s efforts to address the problem are inadequate.</B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">_____________________________</P>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>3</SUP> https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240051287;
https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ICCCharter-REDUCE-Report-2023-TFSOceanConservancy.pdf</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>4</SUP> https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/gdpzqykgevw/Cigarette%20Litter%20Complaint%20filed%20copy.pdf;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>5</SUP> https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-000787_EN.html</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>6</SUP> https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-pollution-cigarettes.html</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>7</SUP> https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240051287</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>8</SUP> https://no-smoke.org/cigarette-butt-litter-an-expensive-hazard/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; width: 10%"><IMG SRC="asyousowlogo.jpg" ALT=""><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; width: 90%"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0,129,61)"><B>2024
Proxy Memo</B></FONT></P>
                                                <P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0pt; color: #00813B"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; color: #00813D"><B></B></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal">Altria Group Inc | Producer Responsibility for Plastic
Cigarette Waste</FONT></P>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B></B></P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>


<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 13pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B></B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: bold 13pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 9.35pt; background-color: #B8CCE4">DISCUSSION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><B>1.</B></TD><TD><B>Taking financial responsibility for cigarette butt cleanup could reduce financial risk associated with a global transition to an
EPR regime and reputational risk associated with plastic pollution.</B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Extended Producer Responsibility is a policy in which a producer&rsquo;s
responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of the product&rsquo;s life cycle. In other words, the producer bears
the responsibility to prevent or correct any damages resulting from use of its product.<SUP>9</SUP></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Cigarette plastic butt waste poses a potential $26 billion annual liability
for the tobacco industry.<SUP>10</SUP> This liability is not merely hypothetical. Already, the industry will be incurring substantial
new financial responsibility as the <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">European Union&rsquo;s 27 member states begin to impose cleanup
fees or taxes on the industry.<SUP>11</SUP> Three countries already have fees in place (Denmark, France, and Spain).<SUP>12</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">There is no reason to believe
that EPR for cigarette filter waste will remain in Europe. EPR policies addressing plastic packaging originated in Europe, then spread
rapidly to the United States. Today, </FONT>there are more than 136 EPR laws in 33 states covering 18 product categories including tires,
electronics, paint, batteries, carpet, and consumer packaging.<SUP>13</SUP> <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Some jurisdictions have
already acted with respect to EPR for cigarette waste. San Francisco imposes a litter abatement fee of $1.50 on each pack of cigarettes
sold in the city.<SUP>14</SUP> Baltimore filed a lawsuit with tobacco companies seeking compensatory and punitive damages for millions
of dollars spent cleaning up tobacco waste, as well as an order for companies to clean up cigarette litter.<SUP>15</SUP> The Network for
Public Health Law reports that, already, &ldquo;EPR undergirds some U.S. domestic laws relating to tobacco product waste,&rdquo; including
Maine and San Francisco.<SUP>16</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">In light of the growing momentum
toward EPR laws addressing tobacco waste, Altria can position itself to mitigate financial risk and enhance future competitiveness by
taking steps now to assess the impact of those laws, including voluntarily embracing EPR for its products. Proactive management of this
risk will mitigate future costs, demonstrat<FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt">e its good faith to lawmakers and regulators, and enhance the
Company&rsquo;s ability to compete in a post-EPR world.</FONT></FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>9</SUP></FONT> https://www.networkforphl.org/news-insights/short-and-long-term-considerations-in-reducing-the-environmental-harms-of-waste-from-tobacco-products/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>10</SUP></FONT> https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-pollution-cigarettes.html</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>11</SUP></FONT> https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-000787_EN.html</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>12</SUP></FONT> https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-000787_EN.html</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>13</SUP></FONT> https://productstewardship.us/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>14</SUP></FONT> https://sftreasurer.org/business/taxes-fees/cigarette-litter-abatement-fee-cig</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>15</SUP></FONT> https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/commentary/240126/1/25/24-victory-baltimore-tobacco-waste-lawsuit-case-returns-state-court.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white"><SUP>16</SUP></FONT> https://www.networkforphl.org/news-insights/short-and-long-term-considerations-in-reducing-the-environmental-harms-of-waste-from-tobacco-products/</P>

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    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; width: 90%"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0,129,61)"><B>2024
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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Taking financial responsibility
for the cleanup costs associated with its filters may also help to mitigate reputational risk associated with plastic pollution from cigarette
waste. Obviously, the tobacco industry faces intense reputational headwinds as it attempts to recover from the fallout of decades of failing
to admit the deadly effects of cigarettes and secondhand smoke.<SUP>17</SUP> As a consequence, more than 80% of Americans view cigarettes
as unsafe and addictive.<SUP>18</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">In this context, the reputational
risks associated with cigarette waste pollution pose a new challenge. Cigarette butt waste continues to proliferate on land and beaches,
threatening human health and the environment. One study indicated that small children who accidentally ingested cigarette butts exhibited
symptoms of illness such as vomiting, nausea, lethargy, gagging, and flushing.<SUP>19</SUP> Cigarette butts leach toxins into water, killing
or injuring various forms of wildlife.<SUP>20</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Altria also faces reputational
risk associated with plastic pollution. As plastic pollution becomes a growing matter of public concern and as EPR for cigarette waste
increases in momentum, more consumers are likely to become aware of the significant contribution to plastic pollution from cigarette butts.
For example, one survey found that only 13% of smokers knew filters were made of plastic, and 25% of smokers thought that discarding cigarette
butts on the ground was appropriate.<SUP>21</SUP> As awareness of the reality of this problem grows, so too will demand grow for stringent
laws targeting cigarette filters. One Dutch survey found that 35% of smokers and 63% of non-smokers supported a filter ban.<SUP>22</SUP></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">By endorsing the concept of EPR
for tobacco waste and by assessing the voluntary actions Altria could take toward EPR, the Company could help address negative perception
of the industry &mdash; and head off new concerns &mdash; by proactively taking responsibility for reducing the harm caused by improper
disposal of its products. Doing so may help head off potential punitive legislation or litigation in addition to promoting its brand among
consumers. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC">More than 100 leading companies
have recognized the potential benefits associated with endorsing EPR laws, and have committed to promoting a circular economy for packaging
through EPR.<SUP>23</SUP> Our Company should assess the benefits of endorsing EPR policies, the costs of failing to do so, and what voluntary
actions it can take to support efforts to cleanup waste associated with its products. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><B>2.</B></TD><TD><B>Altria&rsquo;s efforts to address the problem are inadequate.</B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC">Altria has yet to take meaningful
advantage of the tremendous opportunity presented to it by endorsing and taking voluntary steps toward EPR. Altria has not publicly <FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt">endorsed
EPR, and it makes only minimal voluntary efforts.</FONT></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC">_____________________________</FONT></P>
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<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>17</SUP></FONT> https://www.fightcancer.org/what-we-do/big-tobacco-lawsuit</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>18</SUP></FONT> https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-finds-americans-rate-cigarettes-as-mo</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>19</SUP></FONT> https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00046181.htm</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>20</SUP></FONT> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088407/;
https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i17</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>21</SUP></FONT> https://merg.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tobacco-Product-Waste-in-California_-A-White-Paper.pdf</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>22</SUP></FONT> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10644169/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC"><SUP>23</SUP></FONT> https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/extended-producer-responsibility/overview</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #FCFCFC">To date, the Company&rsquo;s
response to cigarette waste appears to be limited to funding the </FONT>Cigarette Litter Prevention Program operated by the non-profit
group Keep America Beautiful. Altria says it has provided $16 million in funding since 2002, or about $727,000 per year. Unfortunately,
this paltry sum barely moves the needle in terms of impact. San Francisco alone spends $11 million per year for cigarette butt cleanup.<SUP>24</SUP>
Studies indicate a range of annual cleanup costs of from $3 million to $16 million per U.S. city.<SUP>25</SUP> In total, plastic pollution
from cigarette butts costs roughly $26 billion per year &mdash; or roughly 36,000 times Altria&rsquo;s annual contribution.<SUP>26</SUP>
Further, the KAB program only spends a portion of its funds on actual cleanup, as opposed to promotion of enforcing litter laws and raising
issue awareness. Other industries collectively pay billions of dollars annually to EPR programs.<SUP>27</SUP> Altria&rsquo;s existing
contributions do not reflect the scale of the problem, indicating that it is not yet ready to operate in a world where EPR legislation
is increasingly common.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; color: #1A1B39">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 13pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 9pt; background-color: #B8CCE4">RESPONSE TO ALTRIA&rsquo;S
BOARD OF DIRECTORS&rsquo; STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 13.55pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 8.55pt 0pt 0">Altria&rsquo;s statement in opposition says it prioritizes
protecting the environment. However, none of its six &ldquo;Responsibility Focus&rdquo; areas deals directly with cigarette butt waste.
Altria&rsquo;s &ldquo;Protect the Environment&rdquo; focus area is centered on climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and
reduced landfill waste.<SUP>28</SUP> While the Company mentions cigarette butt litter, it does not disclose any actions it has taken to
address this problem beyond donating to Keep America Beautiful.<SUP>29</SUP></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 13.55pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 8.55pt 0pt 0">The Company&rsquo;s opposition statement notes that cigarettes
are already the most highly taxed consumer product in the U.S., and argues that states and localities have flexibility on how to use funds.
The Company suggests that these governmental entities should direct a portion of existing tax revenue to litter prevention. But it would
be harsh and unwise to divert funds intended to help mitigate the tragic health impacts of cigarette use to cleaning up plastic cigarette
pollution. The reality is that plastic pollution represents an <I>additional </I>source of harm from cigarettes, requiring additional
resources to address it.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 8.55pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 8.55pt 0pt 0">As set forth above, EPR laws are widespread and affect numerous
industries and products. Thousands of consumer goods companies in other business sectors have already been required to budget and price
their products to pay for voluntary and required EPR fees. Altria is capable of doing the same. More to the point: litigation and legislation
targeting cigarette butt pollution is coming &mdash; this Proposal is meant to place Altria in the best possible position to avoid litigation
and to be ready to comply with and compete effectively under such requirements. By taking voluntary actions now, Altria can reduce future
compliance costs and even potentially head off more significant litigation and legislation.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 8.55pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt">Finally, the Company says it is exploring
additional consumer engagement and retailer partnership opportunities to increase awareness of the cigarette butt pollution issue and
facilitate responsible cigarette butt disposal. While a positive step, this falls well short of moving toward taking responsibility for
the cleanup costs associated with the Company&rsquo;s non-biodegradable and toxic products. The Company must assess the costs and benefits
of efforts to ensure its poisonous com</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 11pt">ponents do not escape into the environment or are promptly captured
if they do. </FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>24</SUP> https://no-smoke.org/cigarette-butt-litter-an-expensive-hazard/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>25</SUP> https://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/extinct.html</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>26</SUP> https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/plastic-pollution-from-cigarette-butts-likely-costs-us26-billion-year-or-us186-billion-over-10-years/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>27</SUP> https://www.europen-packaging.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EUROPEN-factsheet-on-EPR-for-used-packaging.pdf</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>28</SUP> https://www.altria.com/responsibility/protect-the-environment?src=resp-at-a-glance</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><SUP>29</SUP> https://www.altria.com/responsibility/protect-the-environment/environmental-impact-of-products</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>We recommend a &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; vote on this Shareholder Proposal
5. </B>Toxic cigarette filters are a significant contributor to plastic pollution. In the U.S., taxpayers currently shoulder the burden
for cleaning up this waste, but EU regulators have required the tobacco industry to take financial responsibility for cleanup. With similar
legislation in place for a number of industries in the U.S., extended producer responsibility for cigarette waste is likely imminent.
The Proposal requests that Altria assess the benefits of endorsing EPR policies, factor in the costs of failing to do so, and assessing
what steps it can take now to voluntarily take responsibility for cleanup costs associated with its products.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>--</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><I>For questions, please contact: Conrad MacKerron, As You Sow, mack@asyousow.org</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><I></I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">THE FOREGOING INFORMATION MAY BE DISSEMINATED TO SHAREHOLDERS VIA TELEPHONE,
U.S. MAIL, E-MAIL, CERTAIN WEBSITES AND CERTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA VENUES, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT ADVICE OR AS A SOLICITATION
OF AUTHORITY TO VOTE YOUR PROXY. THE COST OF DISSEMINATING THE FOREGOING INFORMATION TO SHAREHOLDERS IS BEING BORNE ENTIRELY BY ONE OR
MORE OF THE CO-FILERS. PROXY CARDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY ANY CO-FILER. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR PROXY TO ANY CO-FILER. TO VOTE YOUR PROXY,
PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR PROXY CARD<I>.</I></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right; margin: 0pt 0">6</P>



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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
