ALTRIA GROUP, INC. - Quarter Report: 2019 March (Form 10-Q)

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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, 2019



¨	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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 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.

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 15, 2019, there were 1,870,919,863 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share.

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ALTRIA GROUP, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS




		Page No.
PART I -	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)

	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018	3

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	5

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	6

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	7

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	8

	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	10

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	48

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	79

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	79

PART II -	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	80

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	80

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	80

Item 6.	Exhibits	81

Signature	Signature	82

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions of dollars)

(Unaudited)



	March 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,352	$	1,333
Receivables	158		142
Inventories:
Leaf tobacco	930		940
Other raw materials	190		186
Work in process	651		647
Finished product	585		558
	2,356		2,331
Income taxes	3		167
Other current assets	393		326
Total current assets	6,262		4,299
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	4,917		4,950
Less accumulated depreciation	2,995		3,012
	1,922		1,938
Goodwill	5,196		5,196
Other intangible assets, net	12,327		12,279
Investments in equity securities	32,015		30,496
Other assets	1,511		1,430
Total Assets	$	59,233	$	55,638

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, 2019			December 31, 2018
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	$	—		$	12,704
Current portion of long-term debt	2,144			1,144
Accounts payable	205			399
Accrued liabilities:
Marketing	490			586
Settlement charges	4,367			3,454
Other	1,412			1,403
Dividends payable	1,501			1,503
Total current liabilities	10,119			21,193
Long-term debt	27,024			11,898
Deferred income taxes	5,353			5,172
Accrued pension costs	497			544
Accrued postretirement health care costs	1,764			1,749
Other liabilities	357			254
Total liabilities	45,114			40,810
Contingencies (Note 12)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	38			39
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share (2,805,961,317 shares issued)	935			935
Additional paid-in capital	5,943			5,961
Earnings reinvested in the business	43,582			43,962
Accumulated other comprehensive losses	(2,717		)	(2,547		)
Cost of repurchased stock (934,207,054 shares at March 31, 2019 and 931,903,722 shares at December 31, 2018)	(33,664		)	(33,524		)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria	14,079			14,787
Noncontrolling interests	2			2
Total stockholders’ equity	14,081			14,789
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	59,233		$	55,638

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,
	2019			2018
Net revenues	$	5,628		$	6,108
Cost of sales	1,578			1,734
Excise taxes on products	1,239			1,438
Gross profit	2,811			2,936
Marketing, administration and research costs	533			618
Asset impairment and exit costs	40			2
Operating income	2,238			2,316
Interest and other debt expense, net	384			166
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost	(1		)	(7		)
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev	(86		)	(342		)
Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments	425			—
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination	—			33
Earnings before income taxes	1,516			2,466
Provision for income taxes	395			571
Net earnings	1,121			1,895
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1		)	(1		)
Net earnings attributable to Altria	$	1,120		$	1,894
Per share data:
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria	$	0.60		$	1.00

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,
	2019			2018
Net earnings	$	1,121		$	1,895
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes:
Benefit plans	29			45
AB InBev	(199		)	(75		)
Other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income taxes	(170		)	(30		)

Comprehensive earnings	951			1,865
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1		)	(1		)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria	$	950		$	1,864

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018

(in millions of dollars, except per share data)

(Unaudited)



	Attributable to Altria
	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, 2018	$	935	$	5,961		$	43,962		$	(2,547	)	$	(33,524	)	$	2	$	14,789
Net earnings ⁽¹⁾	—		—			1,120			—			—			—		1,120
Other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income taxes	—		—			—			(170		)	—			—		(170		)
Stock award activity	—		(18		)	—			—			11			—		(7		)
Cash dividends declared ($0.80 per share)	—		—			(1,500		)	—			—			—		(1,500		)
Repurchases of common stock	—		—			—			—			(151		)	—		(151		)
Balances, March 31, 2019	$	935	$	5,943		$	43,582		$	(2,717	)	$	(33,664	)	$	2	$	14,081



	Attributable to Altria
	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, 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, 2019 and 2018 exclude net earnings of $1 million 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.

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,
	2019			2018
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net earnings	$	1,121		$	1,895
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows:
Depreciation and amortization	53			53
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	(72		)	54
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev	(86		)	(342		)
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination	—			33
Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments	425			—
Asset impairment and exit costs, net of cash paid	17			(7		)
Cash effects of changes:
Receivables	(16		)	9
Inventories	(25		)	(30		)
Accounts payable	(189		)	(164		)
Income taxes	471			521
Accrued liabilities and other current assets	(513		)	(267		)
Accrued settlement charges	913			1,018
Pension plan contributions	(3		)	(7		)
Pension provisions and postretirement, net	(8		)	—
Other, net	201			43
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,289			2,809
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(38		)	(34		)
Investment in Cronos	(1,831		)	—
Other, net	(81		)	(7		)
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(1,950	)	$	(41	)

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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,
	2019			2018
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	$	(12,800	)	$	—
Long-term debt issued	16,265			—
Repurchases of common stock	(151		)	(513		)
Dividends paid on common stock	(1,502		)	(1,257		)
Other	(129		)	(23		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,683			(1,793		)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase	2,022			975
Balance at beginning of period	1,433			1,314
Balance at end of period	$	3,455		$	2,289

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the amounts reported on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheets:
	At March 31, 2019			At December 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,352		$	1,333
Restricted cash included in other current assets ⁽¹⁾	68			57
Restricted cash included in other assets ⁽¹⁾	35			43
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	3,455		$	1,433

⁽¹⁾ Restricted cash consisted of cash deposits collateralizing appeal bonds posted by PM USA to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. See Note 12. 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, 2019, Altria Group, Inc.’s (“Altria”) 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; 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; and Philip Morris Capital Corporation (“PMCC”), which maintains a portfolio of finance assets, substantially all of which are leveraged leases. In December 2018, Altria announced the decision to refocus its innovative product efforts, which included the discontinuation of production and distribution of all e-vapor products by Nu Mark LLC (“Nu Mark”). Prior to that time, Nu Mark was engaged in the manufacture and sale of innovative tobacco products. Other Altria wholly-owned subsidiaries included Altria Group Distribution Company, which provides sales and distribution services to certain Altria 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 and its subsidiaries. Altria’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, 2019, Altria’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, 2019, Altria had a 10.1% economic and voting interest of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“AB InBev”), which Altria accounts for under the equity method of accounting using a one-quarter lag. Altria receives cash dividends on its interest in AB InBev and will continue to do so as long as AB InBev pays dividends.

In December 2018, Altria, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, purchased shares of non-voting convertible common stock of JUUL Labs, Inc. (“JUUL”), the U.S. leader in e-vapor, representing a 35% economic interest for $12.8 billion. JUUL is engaged in the manufacture and sale of e-vapor products globally. If and when antitrust clearance is obtained, Altria’s non-voting shares will automatically convert to voting shares (“Share Conversion”). At March 31, 2019, Altria had a 35% economic interest in JUUL, which Altria accounts for as an investment in an equity security. Upon Share Conversion, Altria expects to account for its investment in JUUL under the equity method of accounting. Altria has agreed to non-competition obligations generally requiring that it participate in the e-vapor business only through JUUL as long as Altria is supplying JUUL services, which Altria is committed to doing for at least six years.

On March 8, 2019, Altria, through a subsidiary, completed its acquisition of a 45% economic and voting interest in Cronos Group Inc. (“Cronos”), a global cannabinoid company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. At March 31, 2019, Altria had a 45% economic and voting interest in Cronos, which Altria accounts for under the equity method of accounting using a one-quarter lag. As a result of the one-quarter lag, no earnings/losses from Altria’s equity investment in Cronos were recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

For further discussion of Altria’s investments in equity securities, see Note 4. Investments in Equity Securities.

Share Repurchases

In July 2015, Altria’s Board of Directors (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 completed the July 2015 share repurchase program, under which it purchased 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 in January 2018 that it expanded to $2.0 billion in May 2018 (as expanded, the “January 2018 share

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repurchase program”). At March 31, 2019, Altria had $195 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’s share repurchase activity was as follows:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018
	(in millions, except per share data)
Total number of shares repurchased	2.7		8.0
Aggregate cost of shares repurchased	$	151	$	513
Average price per share of shares repurchased	$	56.34	$	64.33

Basis of Presentation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Altria are unaudited. It is the opinion of Altria’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’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

On January 1, 2019, Altria adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and all related ASU amendments (collectively “ASU No. 2016-02”), which requires entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Altria has elected to apply the guidance retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption. As a result, comparative periods prior to adoption will continue to be presented in accordance with prior lease guidance, including disclosures. The impact of the adoption was not material to Altria’s consolidated financial statements. As a result of the adoption, Altria and its subsidiaries, as lessees, recorded right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of $179 million at January 1, 2019 for its leases, which were all operating leases. There was no cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of earnings reinvested in the business. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019 were not materially different than the amounts recorded upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-02.

Additionally, in accordance with ASU No. 2016-02, lessor accounting for leveraged leases that commenced before the January 1, 2019 adoption date of ASU No. 2016-02 is unchanged unless there is a change in the scope of, or the consideration for, such leases. As a result, adoption of ASU No. 2016-02 as it relates to PMCC’s leveraged leases had no impact on Altria’s financial statements at the adoption date. During the first three months of 2019, PMCC had no new leases nor any changes in the scope of or the consideration for its existing leveraged leases.

For a description of issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria, see Note 14. New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted.

Note 2. Revenues from Contracts with Customers:

Altria disaggregates net revenues based on product type. For further discussion, see Note 9. Segment Reporting.

Altria’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’s businesses record an allowance for cash discounts, which is included as a contra-asset against receivables on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. There was no allowance for cash discounts at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and there were no differences between amounts recorded as an allowance for cash discounts and cash discounts subsequently given to customers.

Altria’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’s condensed consolidated balance sheets until control of such products is obtained by the customer. Deferred revenue was $233 million and $288 million at March 31, 2019 and December

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31, 2018, respectively. When cash is received in advance of product shipment, Altria’s businesses satisfy their performance obligations within three days of receiving payment. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, 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 $158 million and $142 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, there were no expected differences between amounts recorded and subsequently received, and Altria’s businesses did not record an allowance for doubtful accounts against these receivables.

Altria’s businesses record an allowance for returned goods, which is included in other accrued liabilities on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. While all of Altria’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’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’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 material impact on Altria’s condensed consolidated financial statements. All returned goods are destroyed upon return and not included in inventory. Consequently, Altria’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’s businesses. Altria’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’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’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 material impact on Altria’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Note 3. Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs:

Pre-tax asset impairment, exit and implementation costs consisted of the following:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019								For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Asset Impairment and Exit Costs			Implementation Costs ⁽¹⁾		Total			Asset Impairment and Exit Costs		Implementation Costs ⁽²⁾		Total
	(in millions)
Smokeable products	$	36		$	8	$	44		$	—	$	1	$	1
Smokeless products	8			1		9			2		—		2
All other	(5		)	—		(5		)	—		—		—
General corporate	1			—		1			—		—		—
Total	40			9		49			2		1		3
Plus amounts included in net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost ⁽³⁾	12			—		12			—		—		—
Total	$	52		$	9	$	61		$	2	$	1	$	3

⁽¹⁾ Included in marketing, administration and research costs in Altria’s condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

⁽²⁾ Included in cost of sales in Altria’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

⁽³⁾ Represents curtailment costs. See Note 6. Benefit Plans.

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The 2019 pre-tax asset impairment, exit and implementation costs are related to the cost reduction program discussed below.

The movement in the restructuring liabilities, substantially all of which are severance liabilities, was as follows:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	(in millions)
Balances at December 31, 2018	$	155
Charges	40
Cash spent	(35		)
Balances at March 31, 2019	$	160

Cost Reduction Program

In December 2018, Altria announced a cost reduction program that includes, among other things, reducing third-party spending and workforce reductions across the businesses. As a result of the cost reduction program, Altria expects to record total pre-tax restructuring charges of approximately $210 million. Of this amount, Altria incurred pre-tax charges of $121 million in 2018 and expects to record the remainder in 2019. The total estimated charges, substantially all of which will result in cash expenditures, relate primarily to employee separation costs of approximately $180 million and other costs of approximately $30 million. Total pre-tax charges incurred since the inception of this cost reduction program were $182 million. Cash payments related to this cost reduction program of $22 million were made during the three months ended March 31, 2019. There were no cash payments related to this program in 2018.

Note 4. Investments in Equity Securities:

Altria’s investments consisted of the following:



	Carrying Amount
	March 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
	(in millions)
AB InBev	$	17,476	$	17,696
JUUL	12,800		12,800
Cronos⁽¹⁾	1,739		—
Total	$	32,015	$	30,496

⁽¹⁾Includes investment in Acquired Common Shares ($397 million), the Cronos warrant ($949 million) and the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights ($393 million) as discussed further below.

Investment in AB InBev

At March 31, 2019, Altria had a 10.1% economic and voting interest of AB InBev, consisting of 185 million restricted shares of AB InBev (the “Restricted Shares”) and 12 million ordinary shares of AB InBev. Altria accounts for its investment in AB InBev under the equity method of accounting because Altria has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of AB InBev, including having active representation on AB InBev’s Board of Directors (“AB InBev Board”) and certain AB InBev Board committees. Through this representation, Altria participates in AB InBev policy making processes.

At December 31, 2018, AB InBev had derivative financial instruments used to hedge the share price related to 92.4 million of its share commitments. AB InBev’s share price in Euros at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was €74.76 and €57.70, respectively. Consistent with the one-quarter lag for reporting AB InBev’s results in Altria’s financial results, Altria will record its share of AB InBev’s first quarter 2019 mark-to-market gains associated with these derivative financial instruments in the second quarter of 2019.

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Altria reviews its investment in AB InBev for impairment by comparing the fair value of its investment to its carrying value. If the carrying value of Altria’s investment exceeds its fair value and the loss in value is other than temporary, the investment is considered impaired and impairment is recognized in the period identified. The factors used to make this determination include the duration and magnitude of the fair value decline, AB InBev’s financial condition and near-term prospects, and Altria’s intent and ability to hold its investment in AB InBev until recovery.

The fair value of Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev is based on: (i) unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for AB InBev’s ordinary shares and was classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy and (ii) observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets for the Restricted Shares, and was classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Altria may, in certain instances, pledge or otherwise grant a security interest in all or part of its Restricted Shares. In the event the pledgee or security interest holder forecloses on the Restricted Shares, the relevant Restricted Shares will be automatically converted, one-for-one, into ordinary shares. Therefore, the fair value of each Restricted Share is based on the value of an ordinary share.

The fair value of Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $16.6 billion and $13.1 billion, respectively, compared with its carrying value of $17.5 billion and $17.7 billion, respectively. At March 31, 2019, the fair value of Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev was less than its carrying value by 5%, as compared to 26% at December 31, 2018. At April 18, 2019, the fair value of Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev approximated its carrying value. Based on Altria’s evaluation of the factors identified above, Altria concluded that the decline in fair value of its investment in AB InBev below its carrying value at March 31, 2019 is temporary and, therefore, Altria has not recorded any impairment.

Investment in JUUL

In December 2018, Altria, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, purchased shares of JUUL’s non-voting Class C-1 Common Stock for an aggregate price of $12.8 billion, which will convert automatically to shares of voting Class C Common Stock upon antitrust clearance, and a security convertible into additional shares of Class C-1 Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, for no additional payment upon settlement or exercise of certain JUUL convertible securities (the “JUUL Transaction”). At March 31, 2019, Altria owned 35% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of JUUL.

Upon Share Conversion, Altria will possess 35% of JUUL’s outstanding voting power, except to the extent that Altria’s percentage ownership has decreased, and have the right to designate one-third of the members of the JUUL Board of Directors, subject to proportionate downward adjustment if Altria’s percentage ownership falls below 30%.

Altria received a broad preemptive right to purchase JUUL shares to maintain its ownership percentage and is subject to a standstill restriction under which it may not acquire additional JUUL shares above its 35% interest. Furthermore, Altria agreed not to sell or transfer any of its JUUL shares for six years from December 20, 2018.

At March 31, 2019, Altria accounted for its investment in JUUL as an investment in an equity security. Since the JUUL shares do not have a readily determinable fair value, Altria has elected to measure its investment in JUUL at its cost minus any impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. There have been no such upward or downward adjustments to the carrying value of Altria’s investment in JUUL resulting from observable price changes since the JUUL Transaction. Upon Share Conversion, Altria expects to account for its investment in JUUL under the equity method of accounting.

Investment in Cronos

On March 8, 2019, Altria, through a subsidiary, completed its acquisition of:


▪	149.8 million newly issued common shares of Cronos (“Acquired Common Shares”), representing a 45% economic and voting interest.

▪

anti-dilution protections to purchase Cronos common shares to maintain its ownership percentage. Certain of the anti-dilution protections provide Altria the ability to purchase additional Cronos common shares at a per share exercise price of CAD $16.25 upon the occurrence of specified events (“Fixed-price Preemptive Rights”). Based on Altria’s assumptions as of March 31, 2019, Altria estimates the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights will allow Altria to purchase up to an additional approximately 40 million common shares of Cronos.

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▪	a warrant providing Altria the ability to purchase up to an additional approximately 74 million common shares of Cronos at a per share exercise price of CAD $19.00, which expires on March 8, 2023.

The total purchase price for the Acquired Common Shares, Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant (collectively, “Investment in Cronos”) was CAD $2.4 billion (USD $1.8 billion). Upon full exercise of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights, to the extent such rights become available, and the warrant, Altria would own a maximum of 55% of the outstanding common shares of Cronos.

In accounting for the acquisition of these assets as of the date of closing, the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant were recorded at each of their fair values using Black-Scholes option-pricing models, based on the assumptions described in Note 5. Financial Instruments. In addition, a deferred tax liability related to the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant was recorded. The residual of the purchase price was allocated to the Acquired Common Shares. Accordingly, the CAD $2.4 billion (USD $1.8 billion) purchase price was recorded in USD as follows:


▪	$1.2 billion to the warrant;


▪	$0.5 billion to the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights;


▪	$0.4 billion to the Acquired Common Shares; and


▪	$0.3 billion to a deferred tax liability.

For a discussion of derivatives related to Altria’s Investment in Cronos, including Altria’s accounting for changes in the fair value of these derivatives, see Note 5. Financial Instruments.

At March 31, 2019, Altria had a 45% economic and voting interest in Cronos, which Altria accounts for under the equity method of accounting. Altria reports its share of Cronos’s results using a one-quarter lag because Cronos’s results are not available in time for Altria to record them in the concurrent period. As a result of the one-quarter lag, no earnings/losses from Altria’s equity investment in Cronos were recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

Altria nominated four directors, including one director who is independent from Altria, who were elected to serve on Cronos’s seven member Board of Directors.

Note 5. Financial Instruments:

Altria enters into derivative financial instruments to mitigate the potential impact of certain market risks, including foreign currency exchange rate risk. Altria uses various types of derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts, options and swaps. Altria does not enter into or hold derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Altria’s investment in AB InBev, whose functional currency is the Euro, exposes Altria to foreign currency exchange risk on the carrying value of its investment. To manage this risk, Altria designates certain foreign exchange contracts, including cross-currency swap contracts and forward contracts (collectively “foreign currency contracts”), and Euro denominated notes (“foreign currency denominated debt”) as net investment hedges of Altria’s investment in AB InBev.

At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, Altria had foreign currency contracts with aggregate notional amounts of $1,226 million. At March 31, 2019, Altria had foreign currency denominated debt with an aggregate fair value and carrying value of $4,851 million and $4,740 million, respectively. At December 31, 2018, Altria had no foreign currency denominated debt.

Altria’s estimates of the fair values of its foreign currency contracts are determined using valuation models with significant inputs that are readily available in public markets, or can be derived from observable market transactions, and therefore are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. An adjustment for credit risk and nonperformance risk is included in the fair values of foreign currency contracts. See Note 10. Debt for a discussion of the fair value hierarchy related to Altria’s debt.

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Altria’s Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant related to its investment in Cronos, which is further discussed in Note 4. Investments in Equity Securities, are derivative financial instruments, which are required to be recorded at fair value. The fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant are estimated using Black-Scholes option-pricing models, adjusted for unobservable inputs, including probability factors and weighting of expected life, volatility levels and risk-free interest rates (which are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy) based on the following assumptions at:



	March 31, 2019	March 8, 2019	March 31, 2019	March 8, 2019
	Fixed-price Preemptive Rights		Warrant
Expected life ⁽¹⁾	2.27 years	2.32 years	3.94 years	4 years
Expected volatility ⁽²⁾	92.86%	93.02%	92.86%	93.02%
Risk-free interest rate ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾	1.54%	1.61%	1.52%	1.67%
Expected dividend yield ⁽⁵⁾	—%	—%	—%	—%

⁽¹⁾ Based on the weighted-average remaining expected life of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights (with a range from 1.75 years to 7 years) and the March 8, 2023 expiration date of the warrant.

⁽²⁾ Based on a blend of historical volatility levels of the underlying equity security and peer companies.

⁽³⁾ Based on the implied yield currently available on Canadian Treasury zero coupon issues weighted for the remaining expected life of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights.

⁽⁴⁾ Based on the implied yield currently available on Canadian Treasury zero coupon issues and the expected life of the warrant.

⁽⁵⁾ Based on Cronos’s expected dividend payments.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant, which are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:



	(in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	—
Investment in Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant	1,736
Pre-tax losses recognized in net earnings	(394		)
Balance at March 31, 2019	$	1,342

Altria elects to record the gross assets and liabilities of derivative financial instruments executed with the same counterparty on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair values of Altria’s derivative financial instruments on a gross basis included on the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows:



	Fair Value of Assets					Fair Value of Liabilities
	Balance Sheet Classification	March 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		Balance Sheet Classification	March 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:	(in millions)
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	$	48	$	37	Other accrued liabilities	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	15		4		Other liabilities	—		4
Total		$	63	$	41		$	—	$	4

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Cronos warrant	Investments in equity securities	$	949	$	—
Fixed-price Preemptive Rights	Investments in equity securities	393		—
Total		$	1,342	$	—

Total derivatives		$	1,405	$	41		$	—	$	4

Altria records changes in the fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant as gains or losses in the periods in which the changes occur. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Altria recognized pre-tax unrealized losses of $132 million and $262 million, representing the changes in the fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant,

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respectively, which were recorded in loss on Cronos-related financial instruments in Altria’s condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

In January and February 2019, Altria entered into derivative financial instruments in the form of forward contracts, which were settled on March 7, 2019, to hedge Altria’s exposure to CAD to USD foreign currency exchange rate movements, in relation to the CAD $2.4 billion purchase price for the Cronos transaction. The aggregate notional amounts of the forward contracts were USD $1.8 billion (CAD $2.4 billion). The forward contracts did not qualify for hedge accounting; therefore, for the three months ended March 31, 2019, pre-tax losses of USD $31 million representing changes in the fair values of the forward contracts were recorded in loss on Cronos-related financial instruments in Altria’s condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

Counterparties to Altria’s foreign currency contracts are domestic and international financial institutions. Altria is exposed to potential losses due to non-performance by these counterparties. Altria manages its credit risk by entering into transactions with counterparties with investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of exposure Altria has with each counterparty, and monitoring the financial condition of each counterparty. No amounts of collateral were received or posted related to derivative assets and liabilities at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

Net Investment Hedging

The pre-tax effects of Altria’s net investment hedges on accumulated other comprehensive losses and the condensed consolidated statements of earnings were as follows:



	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses					Gain Recognized in Net Earnings ⁽¹⁾
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018			2019		2018
	(in millions)
Foreign currency contracts	$	23	$	(33	)	$	9	$	8
Foreign currency denominated debt	33		—			—		—
Total	$	56	$	(33	)	$	9	$	8

⁽¹⁾ Related to amounts excluded from effectiveness testing.

The changes in the fair value of the foreign currency contracts and in the carrying value of the foreign currency denominated debt due to changes in the Euro to USD exchange rate were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive losses related to AB InBev. Gains on the foreign currency contracts arising from components excluded from effectiveness testing were recognized in interest and other debt expense, net in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings based on an amortization approach.

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Note 6. Benefit Plans:

Components of Net Periodic Benefit (Income) Cost

Net periodic benefit (income) cost consisted of the following:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	Pension						Postretirement
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	17		$	21		$	4		$	4
Interest cost	77			68			20			19
Expected return on plan assets	(145		)	(146		)	(4		)	(5		)
Amortization:
Net loss	42			57			3			9
Prior service cost (credit)	1			1			(7		)	(10		)
Curtailment	7			—			5			—
Net periodic benefit (income) cost	$	(1	)	$	1		$	21		$	17

Curtailment costs shown in the table above were related to the cost reduction program discussed in Note 3. Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs.

Employer Contributions

Altria 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 (“IRS”) regulations. Altria made employer contributions of $3 million to its pension plans during the three months ended March 31, 2019. Currently, Altria anticipates making additional employer contributions to its pension plans during the remainder of 2019 of up to approximately $45 million, based on current tax law. Altria did not make any employer contributions to its postretirement plans during the three months ended March 31, 2019. Currently, Altria anticipates making employer contributions to its postretirement plans of up to approximately $60 million in 2019. However, estimates for current-year contributions to Altria’s pension and postretirement plans may be 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 assets, changes in interest rates or other considerations.

Note 7. Earnings Per Share:

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) were calculated using the following:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Net earnings attributable to Altria	$	1,120		$	1,894
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to share-based awards	(2		)	(2		)
Earnings for basic and diluted EPS	$	1,118		$	1,892

Weighted-average shares for basic and diluted EPS	1,874			1,899

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Note 8. 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:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	Benefit Plans			AB InBev					Currency Translation Adjustments and Other			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses
	(in millions)
Balances, December 31, 2018	$	(2,168	)	$	(374	)			$	(5	)	$	(2,547	)

Other comprehensive losses before reclassifications	—			(238		)			—			(238		)
Deferred income taxes	—			49					—			49
Other comprehensive losses before reclassifications, net of deferred income taxes	—			(189		)			—			(189		)

Amounts reclassified to net earnings	39			(12		)			—			27
Deferred income taxes	(10		)	2					—			(8		)
Amounts reclassified to net earnings, net of deferred income taxes	29			(10		)			—			19

Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes	29			(199		)	⁽¹	⁾	—			(170		)

Balances, March 31, 2019	$	(2,139	)	$	(573	)			$	(5	)	$	(2,717	)



	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	)

⁽¹⁾ Primarily reflects Altria’s share of AB InBev’s currency translation adjustments and the impact of Altria’s designated net investment hedges. For further discussion of designated net investment hedges, see Note 5. Financial Instruments.

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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,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Benefit Plans: ⁽¹⁾
Net loss	$	49		$	70
Prior service cost/credit	(10		)	(9		)
	39			61

AB InBev ⁽²⁾	(12		)	(13		)

Pre-tax amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive losses to net earnings	$	27		$	48

⁽¹⁾ Amounts are included in net defined benefit plan costs. For further details, see Note 6. Benefit Plans.

⁽²⁾ Amounts are primarily included in earnings from equity investment in AB InBev.

Note 9. Segment Reporting:

The products of Altria’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’s reportable segments of smokeable products, smokeless products and wine. The financial services and the innovative tobacco products businesses are included in all other.

Altria’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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Segment data were as follows:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Net revenues:
Smokeable products	$	4,935		$	5,414
Smokeless products	540			525
Wine	151			142
All other	2			27
Net revenues	$	5,628		$	6,108
Earnings before income taxes:
Operating companies income (loss):
Smokeable products	$	1,932		$	2,038
Smokeless products	358			338
Wine	15			17
All other	(12		)	(26		)
Amortization of intangibles	(8		)	(5		)
General corporate expenses	(46		)	(46		)
Corporate asset impairment and exit costs	(1		)	—
Operating income	2,238			2,316
Interest and other debt expense, net	(384		)	(166		)
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost	1			7
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev	86			342
Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments	(425		)	—
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination	—			(33		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	1,516		$	2,466

The comparability of operating companies income for the reportable segments was affected by the following:

Non-Participating Manufacturer (“NPM”) Adjustment Items - For the three months ended March 31, 2018, pre-tax income of $68 million for NPM adjustment items was recorded by PM USA as a reduction to cost of sales, which increased operating companies income in the smokeable products segment. 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 12. Contingencies).

Tobacco and Health Litigation Items - Pre-tax charges related to certain tobacco and health litigation items were recorded in Altria’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018
	(in millions)
Smokeable products segment	$	15	$	24
Interest and other debt expense, net	2		4
Total	$	17	$	28

The amounts shown in the table above for the smokeable products segment were recorded in marketing, administration and research costs. For further discussion, see Note 12. Contingencies.

Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs - See Note 3. Asset Impairment, Exit and Implementation Costs for a breakdown of these costs by segment.

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Note 10. Debt:

Short-term Borrowings and Borrowing Arrangements

At March 31, 2019, Altria had no short-term borrowings. At December 31, 2018, Altria had $12.7 billion of short-term borrowings, net of $96 million of debt issuance costs, under the term loan agreement discussed below.

On December 20, 2018, Altria entered into a senior unsecured term loan agreement in connection with its investments in JUUL and Cronos (the “Term Loan Agreement”). At December 31, 2018, Altria had aggregate short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement of $12.8 billion. Borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement were set to mature on December 19, 2019. In February 2019, Altria repaid all of the outstanding $12.8 billion of short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement with net proceeds from the issuance of long-term senior unsecured notes. See Long-term Debt below. Upon repayment, the Term Loan Agreement terminated in accordance with its terms. In the first quarter of 2019, Altria recorded $96 million of pre-tax acquisition-related costs for the write-off of the debt issuance costs related to the Term Loan Agreement, which were recorded in interest and other debt expense, net in Altria’s condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

At December 31, 2018, Altria’s estimate of the fair value of its short-term borrowings was derived from discounted future cash flows based on the contractual terms of the Term Loan Agreement and observable interest rates and was classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of Altria’s short-term borrowings at December 31, 2018 approximated its carrying value.

At December 31, 2018, accrued interest on short-term borrowings of $15 million was included in other accrued liabilities on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Long-term Debt

In February 2019, Altria issued USD denominated and Euro denominated long-term senior unsecured notes in the aggregate principal amounts of $11.5 billion and €4.25 billion, respectively (collectively, the “Notes”). Altria immediately converted the proceeds of the Euro denominated notes into USD of $4.8 billion. The net proceeds from the Euro notes and a portion of the net proceeds from the USD notes were used to repay in full the $12.8 billion of short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement, which were incurred to fund Altria’s investment in JUUL. The remaining net proceeds from the USD notes were used to fund Altria’s investment in Cronos in the first quarter of 2019 and for other general corporate purposes. The Notes contain the following terms:

USD denominated notes


▪	$1.0 billion at 3.490%, due 2022, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019;


▪	$1.0 billion at 3.800%, due 2024, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019;


▪	$1.5 billion at 4.400%, due 2026, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019;


▪	$3.0 billion at 4.800%, due 2029, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019;


▪	$2.0 billion at 5.800%, due 2039, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019;


▪	$2.5 billion at 5.950%, due 2049, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019; and


▪	$0.5 billion at 6.200%, due 2059, interest payable semiannually beginning August 14, 2019.

Euro denominated notes


▪	€1.25 billion at 1.000%, due 2023, interest payable annually beginning February 15, 2020;


▪	€0.75 billion at 1.700%, due 2025, interest payable annually beginning June 15, 2020;


▪	€1.0 billion at 2.200%, due 2027, interest payable annually beginning June 15, 2020; and


▪	€1.25 billion at 3.125%, due 2031, interest payable annually beginning June 15, 2020.

The Notes are Altria’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Altria’s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Altria and (ii) the notes ceasing to be rated investment grade by each of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Fitch Ratings Ltd. within a specified time period, Altria will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase as and to the extent set forth in the terms of the Notes.

Altria designated its Euro denominated notes as a net investment hedge of its investment in AB InBev. For further discussion, see Note 5. Financial Instruments.

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The obligations of Altria under the Notes are guaranteed by PM USA. For further discussion, see Note 13. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information.

Altria’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’s total long-term debt at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, was $29.9 billion and $12.5 billion, respectively, as compared with its carrying value of $29.2 billion and $13.0 billion, respectively.

At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, accrued interest on long-term debt of $210 million and $207 million, respectively, was included in other accrued liabilities on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Note 11. Income Taxes:

The income tax rate of 26.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 increased 2.9 percentage points from the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase was due primarily to the following:


▪	tax benefits of $22 million in 2018 related to prior audit years;


•	tax benefits of $20 million in 2018 related to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; and


•	tax expense of $11 million in 2019 for a valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryforwards that are not realizable;

partially offset by:


▪	tax benefits of $11 million related to the effective settlement in March 2019 of the IRS audit of Altria and its consolidated subsidiaries’ 2014-2015 tax years.

Altria is subject to income taxation in many jurisdictions. Unrecognized tax benefits 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. At March 31, 2019, Altria’s total unrecognized tax benefits were $55 million. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate at March 31, 2019 was $45 million, along with $10 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 $14 million. At December 31, 2018, Altria’s total unrecognized tax benefits were $85 million. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate at December 31, 2018 was $59 million, along with $26 million affecting deferred taxes.

Note 12. Contingencies:

Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various United States and foreign jurisdictions against Altria 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, shareholders 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 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 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 or its subsidiaries may also be required to pay interest and attorneys’ fees.

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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 cannot predict the outcome of such challenges, it is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria, 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 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 12. 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.

Altria 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, 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 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 and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria to do so.

Overview of Altria 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.

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The table below lists the number of certain tobacco-related cases pending in the United States against PM USA and, in some instances, Altria as of April 22, 2019, April 23, 2018 and April 27, 2017:



	April 22, 2019	April 23, 2018	April 27, 2017
Individual Smoking and Health Cases⁽¹⁾	98	102	80
Smoking and Health Class Actions and Aggregated Claims Litigation ⁽²⁾	2	4	5
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions ⁽³⁾	1	1	1
“Lights/Ultra Lights” Class Actions	2	3	5

⁽¹⁾ Includes 29 cases filed in Massachusetts and 38 non-Engle cases filed in Florida. 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). Also does not include 1,490 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 of these cases were voluntarily dismissed without prejudice.

⁽²⁾ The 2017 pending cases include 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 was a defendant in nine of the 30 cases. The parties resolved these cases for an immaterial amount and in the second quarter of 2018, the court dismissed all 30 cases.

⁽³⁾ See Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - Federal Government’s Lawsuit below.

International Tobacco-Related Cases

As of April 22, 2019, PM USA is a named defendant in 10 health care cost recovery actions in Canada, eight of which also name Altria as a defendant. PM USA and Altria 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 and Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

Tobacco-Related Cases Set for Trial

As of April 22, 2019, 4 Engle progeny cases are set for trial through June 30, 2019. In addition, there are no individual smoking and health cases against PM USA set for trial during this period. Cases against other companies in the tobacco industry may also 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 65 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 43 of the 65 cases. These 43 cases were tried in Alaska (1), California (7), Connecticut (1), Florida (10), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), 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 jury returned a verdict in favor of PM USA in April 2018 in the third trial of this case. In May 2018, plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial, which the court denied.

Of the 22 non-Engle progeny cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs, 20 have reached final resolution.

See Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Progeny Trial Results below for a discussion of verdicts in state and federal Engle progeny cases involving PM USA as of April 22, 2019.

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 $668 million and interest totaling approximately $211 million as of March 31, 2019. These amounts include payments for Engle progeny judgments (and related costs and fees) totaling approximately $276 million and interest totaling approximately $49 million.

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The changes in Altria’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,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at beginning of period⁽¹⁾	$	112		$	106
Pre-tax charges for:
Tobacco and health litigation	15			24
Related interest costs	2			4
Payments ⁽¹⁾	(109		)	(23		)
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at end of period ⁽¹⁾	$	20		$	111

⁽¹⁾ Includes amounts related to the costs of implementing the corrective communications remedy related to the Federal Government’s Lawsuit discussed below.

The accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items, including related interest costs, was included in liabilities on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Pre-tax charges for tobacco and health litigation were included in marketing, administration and research costs on Altria’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Pre-tax charges for related interest costs were included in interest and other debt expense, net on Altria’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

Security for Judgments

To obtain stays of judgments pending appeal, PM USA has posted various forms of security. As of March 31, 2019, PM USA has posted appeal bonds totaling approximately $103 million, which have been collateralized with restricted cash 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 2019 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.

Capone: In December 2018, a jury in a Florida state court returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, awarding $225,000 in compensatory damages. In the first quarter of 2019, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $325,000 for the judgment and related costs and paid this amount in April 2019, concluding this litigation.

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). In April 2018, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In May 2018, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal.

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.

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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. 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.

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 expired in January 2008. As of April 22, 2019, approximately 2,000 state court cases were pending against PM USA or Altria asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 2,600 state court plaintiffs. Because of a number of factors, including, 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 22, 2019, approximately 4 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”). Federal cases that were in trial and those that previously reached final verdict were not included in the Federal Engle Agreement.

Engle Progeny Trial Results

As of April 22, 2019, 130 federal and state Engle progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the Florida Supreme Court Engle decision. Seventy-three verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs and seven verdicts (Skolnick, Calloway, McCoy, Gloger, Duignan, Caprio and Oshinsky-Blacker) 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 on plaintiff’s concealment and conspiracy claims; 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; McCoy and Gloger were reversed and remanded for a new trial on appellate findings that the trial court erred in admitting certain materials into evidence that deprived defendants of fair trials; 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; and Oshinsky-Blacker was reversed post-trial based on plaintiff’s counsel’s improper arguments at trial.

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Forty-six verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA, of which 41 were state cases. In addition, there have been a number of mistrials, only some of which have resulted in new trials as of April 22, 2019. Four verdicts (Pearson, D. Cohen, Collar and Chacon) that were returned in favor of PM USA were subsequently reversed for new trials. Juries in two cases (Reider and Banks) returned zero damages verdicts in favor of PM USA. Juries in two other cases (Weingart and Hancock) returned verdicts against PM USA awarding no damages, but the trial court in each case decided to award the plaintiffs damages. One case, Pollari, resulted in a verdict in favor of PM USA following a retrial of an initial verdict returned in favor of plaintiff. Plaintiff has filed a motion for a new trial.

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 22, 2019 where PM USA has recorded a provision in its condensed consolidated financial statements because an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated; the second chart lists other such cases that are pending as of April 22, 2019 but where an unfavorable outcome is not probable and the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated; and the third chart lists other such cases that have concluded within the previous 12 months. 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). Further, the damages noted reflect adjustments based on post-trial or appellate rulings.

Currently Pending Engle Cases with Accrued Liabilities (rounded to nearest $ million)

Plaintiff	Verdict Date	Defendant(s)	Court	Compensatory Damages (All Defendants)	Punitive Damages (PM USA)	Appeal Status	Accrual⁽¹⁾
Berger (Cote)	September 2014	PM USA	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	$6 million	$21 million	The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the punitive and compensatory damages awards and remanded the case to the district court. PM USA’s challenge to the punitive damages award in the district court is pending.	$6 million accrual in the fourth quarter of 2018

⁽¹⁾Accrual amounts include interest and associated costs, if applicable. For cases with multiple defendants, if any, accrual amounts reflect the portion of compensatory damages PM USA believes it will have to pay if the case is ultimately decided in plaintiff’s favor after taking into account any portion potentially payable by the other defendant(s).

Other Currently Pending Engle Cases with Verdicts Against PM USA (rounded to nearest $ million)

Plaintiff	Verdict Date	Defendant(s)	Court	Compensatory Damages⁽¹⁾	Punitive Damages (PM USA)	Appeal Status
McCall	March 2019	PM USA	Broward	<$1 million (<$1 million PM USA)	<$1 million	New trial ordered on punitive damages.
Neff	March 2019	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	$4 million	$2 million	Post-trial motions pending.
Frogel	March 2019	PM USA	Palm Beach	<$1 million (<$1 million PM USA)	$0	Post-trial motions pending.
Mahfuz	February 2019	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	$12 million	$10 million	Post-trial motions pending.
Holliman	February 2019	PM USA	Miami-Dade	$3 million	$0	Post-trial motions pending.

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Other Currently Pending Engle Cases with Verdicts Against PM USA (rounded to nearest $ million)

Plaintiff	Verdict Date	Defendant(s)	Court	Compensatory Damages⁽¹⁾	Punitive Damages (PM USA)	Appeal Status
Chadwell	September 2018	PM USA	Miami-Dade	$2 million	$0	Appeals by plaintiff and defendant to Third District Court of Appeal pending.
Kaplan	July 2018	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	$2 million	$2 million	Appeals by plaintiff and defendants to Fourth District Court of Appeal pending.
Landi	June 2018	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	$8 million	$5 million	Appeals by plaintiff and defendants to Fourth District Court of Appeal pending.
Theis	May 2018	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Sarasota	$7 million	$10 million	Defendants’ appeal to Second District Court of Appeal pending.
Freeman	March 2018	PM USA	Alachua	$4 million	$0	Defendant’s appeal to First District Court of Appeal pending.
Gloger	February 2018	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Miami-Dade	$8 million	$5 million	Third District Court of Appeal reversed judgment and ordered a new trial; plaintiff’s motion for rehearing pending.
Bryant	December 2017	PM USA	Escambia	<$1 million	<$1 million	Defendant’s appeal to First District Court of Appeal pending.
R. Douglas	November 2017	PM USA	Duval	<$1 million	$0	Awaiting entry of final judgment by the trial court.
Wallace	October 2017	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Brevard	$12 million	$16 million	Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed trial court judgment.
Sommers	April 2017	PM USA	Miami-Dade	$1 million	$0	New trial ordered on punitive damages; appeals by plaintiff and defendant to Third District Court of Appeal pending.
Santoro	March 2017	PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group	Broward	$2 million	$0	Trial court set aside punitive damages award; appeals by plaintiff and defendants to Fourth District Court of Appeal pending.
Cooper	September 2015	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	$5 million (<$1 million PM USA)	$0	Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed judgment and granted a new trial on punitive damages.
McCoy	July 2015	PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard	Broward	$2 million (<$1 million PM USA)	$3 million	Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed judgment and ordered a new trial; plaintiff requested review by the Florida Supreme Court; case currently stayed.
D. Brown	January 2015	PM USA	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	$8 million	$9 million	Appeal to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit pending.
Kerrivan	October 2014	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	$16 million	$16 million	Appeals by plaintiff and defendants to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit pending.
Harris	July 2014	PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	$2 million (<$ 1 million PM USA)	$0	Awaiting entry of amended final judgment applying comparative fault.

⁽¹⁾PM USA’s portion of the compensatory damages award is noted parenthetically where the court has ruled that comparative fault applies.

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Engle Cases Concluded Within Past 12 Months (rounded to nearest $ million)

Plaintiff	Verdict Date	Defendant(s)	Court	Accrual Date	Payment Amount (if any)	Payment Date
J. Brown	February 2017	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Pinellas	First quarter of 2019	$4 million	April 2019
L. Martin	May 2017	PM USA	Miami-Dade	First quarter of 2019	$2 million	April 2019
Danielson	November 2015	PM USA	Escambia	First quarter of 2019	$3 million	March 2019
S. Martin	November 2016	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	First quarter of 2019	$5 million	March 2019
Searcy	April 2013	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	Third quarter of 2018	$2 million	March 2019
Boatright	November 2014	PM USA and Liggett Group	Polk	Second quarter of 2018	$42 million	March 2019
M. Brown	May 2015	PM USA	Duval	Second quarter of 2018	$8 million	March 2019
Jordan	August 2015	PM USA	Duval	Second quarter of 2018	$11 million	March 2019
Pardue	December 2016	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Alachua	Second and Third quarters of 2018	$11 million	March 2019
McKeever	February 2015	PM USA	Broward	Fourth quarter of 2017	$21 million	March 2019
Boulter	December 2018	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Lee	Fourth quarter of 2018	<$1 million	January 2019
Simon	September 2018	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	Fourth quarter of 2018	<$1 million	October 2018
Perrotto	November 2014	PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard	Palm Beach	Third quarter of 2018	$1 million	September 2018
Gore	March 2015	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Indian River	First quarter of 2018	$1 million	September 2018
Putney	April 2010	PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group	Broward	Third quarter of 2018	$5 million	September 2018
Sermons	July 2016	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Duval	Third quarter of 2018	<$1 million	August 2018
Tognoli	November 2015	PM USA	Broward	Fourth quarter of 2017	$1 million	May 2018
Howles	November 2016	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Broward	First quarter of 2018	$6 million	May 2018
Purdo	April 2016	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Palm Beach	First quarter of 2018	$10 million	May 2018
Griffin	June 2014	PM USA	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	Second quarter of 2017	$1 million	May 2018
Ledoux	December 2015	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Miami-Dade	Fourth quarter of 2017	$20 million	May 2018
Burkhart	May 2014	PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard	Federal Court - Middle District of Florida	Second quarter of 2018	$2 million	May 2018

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Engle Cases Concluded Within Past 12 Months (rounded to nearest $ million)

Plaintiff	Verdict Date	Defendant(s)	Court	Accrual Date	Payment Amount (if any)	Payment Date
Barbose	November 2015	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Pasco	Fourth quarter of 2017	$12 million	May 2018
Allen	November 2014	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Duval	First quarter of 2018	$10 million	May 2018
Ahrens	February 2016	PM USA and R.J. Reynolds	Pinellas	Fourth quarter of 2017	$7 million	May 2018

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 Burkhart and Searcy, Engle progeny cases against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds, defendants argued that application of the Engle findings to the Engle progeny plaintiffs’ concealment and conspiracy claims violated defendants’ due process rights. In March 2018, in Burkhart, 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, which the Eleventh Circuit denied. In September 2018, in Searcy, the Eleventh Circuit also affirmed the judgment in plaintiff’s favor and in February 2019, the United States Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition for writ of certiorari.

In Soffer, an Engle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in 2016 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, another Engle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in 2016 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 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.

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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. 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 22, 2019, PM USA and Altria 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. In March 2019, these cases were stayed as a result of three Canadian tobacco manufacturers (none of which are related to Altria or its subsidiaries) seeking protection under Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (which is similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S.). The companies entered into these proceedings following a Canadian appellate court upholding two smoking and health class action verdicts against those companies totaling approximately CAD $13 billion. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products.

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 appeal.

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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 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 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. All of these cases have been stayed pending resolution of proceedings in Canada involving three tobacco manufacturers (none of which are affiliated with Altria or its subsidiaries). See Smoking and Health Litigation - Other Smoking and Health Class Actions above for a discussion of these proceedings. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria 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, 2019 and 2018, the aggregate amount recorded in cost of sales with respect to the State Settlement Agreements was approximately $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively. These amounts include PM USA’s estimate of amounts related to NPM Adjustments discussed below.

NPM Adjustment Disputes

PM USA is participating in proceedings regarding the NPM Adjustment for 2003-2018. The “NPM Adjustment” is a reduction in MSA payments made by the OPMs and those manufacturers that are subsequent signatories to the 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 36 States and Territories and Settlement with New York.

PM USA has entered into two settlements of NPM Adjustment disputes with a total of 37 states and territories, one with 36 states and territories (the “multi-state settlement”) and the other with the State of New York. In the multi-state settlement, PM USA, by the end of October 2017, had settled the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2003-2015 with 26 states in exchange for a total of $740 million. In 2018, there were three principal developments with respect to this settlement. First, in the first quarter of 2018, PM USA settled the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2004-2017 with nine additional states. As a result of these additional nine states joining the multi-state settlement, PM USA will receive approximately $81 million for 2004-2017 ($13 million of which relates to the 2015-2017 “transition years”), $68 million of which it received in April 2018 and another $5 million of which it received in April 2019. In connection with this settlement, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $81 million in the first quarter of 2018. Second, in the second quarter of 2018, Pennsylvania joined the multi-state settlement for 2004-2017. As a result, PM USA will receive approximately $90 million for 2004-2017 ($13 million of which relates to the 2015-2017 “transition years”), $77 million of which it received in April 2019. In connection with this settlement, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $90 million in the second quarter of 2018. Third, in the second quarter of 2018, PM USA agreed to settle the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2016 and 2017 with the 26 states

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mentioned above. As a result, PM USA will receive approximately $77 million for 2016 and 2017, $39 million of which it received in April 2019. In connection with this settlement, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $38 million for the 2017 NPM Adjustment in the second quarter of 2018, having previously recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $39 million for the 2016 NPM Adjustment in the third quarter of 2017 based on PM USA’s then best estimate regarding 2016. In the first quarter of 2019, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $52 million for its estimate of the 2018 NPM Adjustment it expects to receive for the multi-state settlement.

In the NPM Adjustment settlement with New York, which was entered into in 2015, PM USA has received approximately $265 million for 2004-2017. Both the New York settlement and the multi-state settlement also contain provisions resolving certain disputes regarding the application of the NPM Adjustment going forward, although the applicability of those provisions with respect to the signatory states that joined the multi-state settlement after 2017 is contingent on satisfaction, in the PMs’ sole discretion, of certain conditions.

2003 and Subsequent NPM Adjustments - 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 multi-state 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 due to PM USA 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 a multi-state arbitration and the PMs have agreed not to contest the applicability of the 2004 NPM Adjustment to Montana.

The 2004 multi-state arbitration is currently proceeding 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 2004-2018 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; $258 million for 2014; $299 million for 2015; $292 million for 2016; $285 million for 2017 and $332 million for 2018. 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’s 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 Settlement Agreements or include the ITG brands for purposes of certain calculations under the State Settlement Agreements. PM USA believes that R.J. Reynolds’s 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 2015-2018; (ii) may improperly increase PM USA’s payments for subsequent years; (iii) improperly decreased PM USA’s share of the 2015-2018 NPM Adjustments and of the settlements of related disputes; and (iv) may improperly decrease PM USA’s share of NPM Adjustments and related settlements for subsequent years.

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In January 2017, 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 August 2018, the Florida trial court entered final judgment ruling that R.J. Reynolds (and not ITG) must make settlement payments under the Florida State Settlement Agreement on the ITG brands, and ordering R.J. Reynolds to pay PM USA approximately $9.8 million (inclusive of interest) for the 2015-2017 period. R.J. Reynolds and PM USA have each filed notices of appeal of the trial court’s decision, which proceedings 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, similar to those made in Florida, and seeking to enforce the Minnesota State Settlement Agreement.

In December 2018, PM USA filed a motion in Mississippi state court seeking to enforce the Mississippi State Settlement Agreement against R.J. Reynolds and ITG with respect to the accuracy of certain submissions made by R.J. Reynolds and ITG relating to payments on the ITG brands.

In January 2019, PM USA and the State of Texas each filed a motion in federal court for the Eastern District of Texas against R.J. Reynolds and ITG seeking to enforce the Texas 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, asserting claims under three federal statutes. The case ultimately proceeded only under the civil provisions of RICO. In August 2006, the district court held that certain defendants, including Altria 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.

Defendants appealed and, in May 2009, the U.S. 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:

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▪	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 D.C. Court of Appeals remanded the case for the trial court to reconsider these four aspects of the injunction and to reformulate its remedial order accordingly.

Following several years of appeals relating to the content of the corrective statements remedy described above, in October 2017, the district court approved the parties’ proposed consent order implementing corrective statements in newspapers and on television. The corrective statements began appearing in newspapers and on television in the fourth quarter of 2017. In April 2018, the parties reached agreement on the implementation details of the corrective statements on websites and onserts. The corrective statements began appearing on websites in the second quarter of 2018 and the onserts began appearing in the fourth quarter of 2018.

In 2014, Altria and PM USA recorded provisions totaling $31 million for the estimated costs of implementing the corrective communications remedy.

The requirements related to corrective statements at point-of-sale remain outstanding. In May 2014, the district court ordered further briefing on the issue, which was completed in June 2014. In May 2018, the parties submitted a joint status report on point-of-sale signage to the district court and the court approved the parties’ proposed briefing schedule. The briefing is complete and the matter is pending before the district court.

“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 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 under state statutory provisions exempting conduct that complies with federal regulatory directives, and the First Amendment. As of April 22, 2019, a total of two 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 22, 2019, 21 state courts in 23 “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

E-vapor Litigation

In April 2019, Altria, PM USA and JUUL were named as defendants in a tobacco and health class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit involves JUUL e-vapor products and proposes various classes of plaintiffs. The theories of recovery include: violation of RICO; fraud; failure to warn; design defect; negligence; unjust enrichment and deceptive and unfair trade practices. Plaintiffs seek various forms of relief including compensatory and punitive damages. Altria and PM USA are preparing their responses to the lawsuit.

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UST Litigation

UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries have been named in a number of individual tobacco and health suits over time. Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in these cases have been 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 have typically sought 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 were named as defendants, along with other named defendants, in one such case in California (Gwynn). In August 2018, the parties agreed to settle the Gwynn case and in September 2018, plaintiffs dismissed their claims with prejudice.

Environmental Regulation

Altria 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 are involved in several matters subjecting them to potential costs of remediation and natural resource damages under Superfund or other laws and regulations. Altria’s subsidiaries expect to continue to make capital and other expenditures in connection with environmental laws and regulations.

Altria 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 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’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 have agreed to indemnify a limited number of third parties in the event of future litigation. At March 31, 2019, Altria 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 of surety bonds, related to their own performance; and (iii) had a redeemable noncontrolling interest of $38 million recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, from time to time, subsidiaries of Altria issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on Altria’s liquidity.

Under the terms of a distribution agreement between Altria and PMI (the “Distribution Agreement”), entered into as a result of Altria’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 and PM USA for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PMI or contract manufactured for PMI by PM USA, and PM USA will indemnify PMI for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PM USA, excluding tobacco products contract manufactured for PMI. Altria does not have a related liability recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019 as the fair value of this indemnification is insignificant.

As more fully discussed in Note 13. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria’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 13. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information:

PM USA, which is a 100% owned subsidiary of Altria, has guaranteed Altria’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’s obligations under the guaranteed debt instruments (the “Obligations”), subject to release under certain customary circumstances as noted below.

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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 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 or any successor;


▪	the date, if any, on which Altria 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’s long-term senior unsecured debt by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services of A or higher.

At March 31, 2019, the respective principal 100% owned subsidiaries of Altria 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, 2019 and December 31, 2018, condensed consolidating statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, and condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 for Altria, PM USA and, collectively, Altria’s other subsidiaries that are not guarantors of Altria’s debt instruments (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”).

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 and PM USA account for investments in their subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting.

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

March 31, 2019

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria		PM USA		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries		Total Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,318	$	—	$	34	$	—		$	3,352
Receivables	—		19		139		—			158
Inventories:
Leaf tobacco	—		544		386		—			930
Other raw materials	—		122		68		—			190
Work in process	—		10		641		—			651
Finished product	—		159		426		—			585
	—		835		1,521		—			2,356
Due from Altria and subsidiaries	82		4,574		1,166		(5,822		)	—
Income taxes	189		3		—		(189		)	3
Other current assets	62		225		106		—			393
Total current assets	3,651		5,656		2,966		(6,011		)	6,262
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	—		2,931		1,986		—			4,917
Less accumulated depreciation	—		2,128		867		—			2,995
	—		803		1,119		—			1,922
Goodwill	—		—		5,196		—			5,196
Other intangible assets, net	—		2		12,325		—			12,327
Investments in equity securities	17,476		—		14,539		—			32,015
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	27,378		2,825		—		(30,203		)	—
Due from Altria and subsidiaries	4,790		—		—		(4,790		)	—
Other assets	204		1,030		947		(670		)	1,511
Total Assets	$	53,499	$	10,316	$	37,092	$	(41,674	)	$	59,233

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Continued)

March 31, 2019

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria			PM USA			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Total Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated
Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	$	2,144		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	2,144
Accounts payable	1			66			138			—			205
Accrued liabilities:
Marketing	—			418			72			—			490
Settlement charges	—			4,359			8			—			4,367
Other	311			715			575			(189		)	1,412
Dividends payable	1,501			—			—			—			1,501
Due to Altria and subsidiaries	5,192			433			197			(5,822		)	—
Total current liabilities	9,149			5,991			990			(6,011		)	10,119
Long-term debt	27,024			—			—			—			27,024
Deferred income taxes	2,992			—			3,031			(670		)	5,353
Accrued pension costs	188			—			309			—			497
Accrued postretirement health care costs	—			1,074			690			—			1,764
Due to Altria and subsidiaries	—			—			4,790			(4,790		)	—
Other liabilities	67			93			197			—			357
Total liabilities	39,420			7,158			10,007			(11,471		)	45,114
Contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	—			—			38			—			38
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock	935			—			9			(9		)	935
Additional paid-in capital	5,943			3,310			26,994			(30,304		)	5,943
Earnings reinvested in the business	43,582			64			1,903			(1,967		)	43,582
Accumulated other comprehensive losses	(2,717		)	(216		)	(1,861		)	2,077			(2,717		)
Cost of repurchased stock	(33,664		)	—			—			—			(33,664		)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria	14,079			3,158			27,045			(30,203		)	14,079
Noncontrolling interests	—			—			2			—			2
Total stockholders’ equity	14,079			3,158			27,047			(30,203		)	14,081
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	53,499		$	10,316		$	37,092		$	(41,674	)	$	59,233

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

December 31, 2018

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria		PM USA		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries		Total Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,277	$	—	$	56	$	—		$	1,333
Receivables	—		18		124		—			142
Inventories:
Leaf tobacco	—		561		379		—			940
Other raw materials	—		123		63		—			186
Work in process	—		2		645		—			647
Finished product	—		128		430		—			558
	—		814		1,517		—			2,331
Due from Altria and subsidiaries	46		3,828		1,194		(5,068		)	—
Income taxes	100		94		—		(27		)	167
Other current assets	41		167		118		—			326
Total current assets	1,464		4,921		3,009		(5,095		)	4,299
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	—		2,928		2,022		—			4,950
Less accumulated depreciation	—		2,111		901		—			3,012
	—		817		1,121		—			1,938
Goodwill	—		—		5,196		—			5,196
Other intangible assets, net	—		2		12,277		—			12,279
Investments in equity securities	17,696		—		12,800		—			30,496
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	25,996		2,825		—		(28,821		)	—
Due from Altria and subsidiaries	4,790		—		—		(4,790		)	—
Other assets	193		955		952		(670		)	1,430
Total Assets	$	50,139	$	9,520	$	35,355	$	(39,376	)	$	55,638

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Continued)

December 31, 2018

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria			PM USA			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Total Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	$	12,704		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	12,704
Current portion of long-term debt	1,144			—			—			—			1,144
Accounts payable	1			91			307			—			399
Accrued liabilities:
Marketing	—			483			103			—			586
Settlement charges	—			3,448			6			—			3,454
Other	295			524			611			(27		)	1,403
Dividends payable	1,503			—			—			—			1,503
Due to Altria and subsidiaries	4,499			407			162			(5,068		)	—
Total current liabilities	20,146			4,953			1,189			(5,095		)	21,193
Long-term debt	11,898			—			—			—			11,898
Deferred income taxes	3,010			—			2,832			(670		)	5,172
Accrued pension costs	187			—			357			—			544
Accrued postretirement health care costs	—			1,072			677			—			1,749
Due to Altria and subsidiaries	—			—			4,790			(4,790		)	—
Other liabilities	111			47			96			—			254
Total liabilities	35,352			6,072			9,941			(10,555		)	40,810
Contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	—			—			39			—			39
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock	935			—			9			(9		)	935
Additional paid-in capital	5,961			3,310			25,047			(28,357		)	5,961
Earnings reinvested in the business	43,962			359			2,201			(2,560		)	43,962
Accumulated other comprehensive losses	(2,547		)	(221		)	(1,884		)	2,105			(2,547		)
Cost of repurchased stock	(33,524		)	—			—			—			(33,524		)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria	14,787			3,448			25,373			(28,821		)	14,787
Noncontrolling interests	—			—			2			—			2
Total stockholders’ equity	14,787			3,448			25,375			(28,821		)	14,789
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	50,139		$	9,520		$	35,355		$	(39,376	)	$	55,638

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria			PM USA			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Total Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated
Net revenues	$	—		$	4,725		$	913		$	(10	)	$	5,628
Cost of sales	—			1,340			248			(10		)	1,578
Excise taxes on products	—			1,185			54			—			1,239
Gross profit	—			2,200			611			—			2,811
Marketing, administration and research costs	35			384			114			—			533
Asset impairment and exit costs	1			35			4			—			40
Operating (expense) income	(36		)	1,781			493			—			2,238
Interest and other debt expense (income), net	355			(25		)	54			—			384
Net periodic benefit cost (income), excluding service cost	1			—			(2		)	—			(1		)
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev	(86		)	—			—			—			(86		)
Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments	—			—			425			—			425
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries	(306		)	1,806			16			—			1,516
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(75		)	459			11			—			395
Equity earnings of subsidiaries	1,351			95			—			(1,446		)	—
Net earnings	1,120			1,442			5			(1,446		)	1,121
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			—			(1		)	—			(1		)
Net earnings attributable to Altria	$	1,120		$	1,442		$	4		$	(1,446	)	$	1,120


Net earnings	$	1,120		$	1,442		$	5		$	(1,446	)	$	1,121
Other comprehensive (losses) earnings, net of deferred income taxes	(170		)	5			23			(28		)	(170		)
Comprehensive earnings	950			1,447			28			(1,474		)	951
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			—			(1		)	—			(1		)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria	$	950		$	1,447		$	27		$	(1,474	)	$	950

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria			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	$	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	$	1,864		$	1,521		$	344		$	(1,865	)	$	1,864

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria			PM USA			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Total Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,642		$	2,520		$	166		$	(2,039	)	$	2,289
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	—			(9		)	(29		)	—			(38		)
Investment in Cronos	—			—			(1,831		)	—			(1,831		)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(1,947		)	—			—			1,947			—
Other, net	(3		)	—			(78		)	—			(81		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,950		)	(9		)	(1,938		)	1,947			(1,950		)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	(12,800		)	—			—			—			(12,800		)
Long-term debt issued	16,265			—			—			—			16,265
Repurchases of common stock	(151		)	—			—			—			(151		)
Dividends paid on common stock	(1,502		)	—			—			—			(1,502		)
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	657			(771		)	2,061			(1,947		)	—
Cash dividends paid to parent	—			(1,737		)	(302		)	2,039			—
Other	(120		)	—			(9		)	—			(129		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,349			(2,508		)	1,750			92			1,683
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ⁽¹⁾:
Increase (decrease)	2,041			3			(22		)	—			2,022
Balance at beginning of period	1,277			100			56			—			1,433
Balance at end of period	$	3,318		$	103		$	34		$	—		$	3,455

⁽¹⁾ Restricted cash consisted of cash deposits collateralizing appeal bonds posted by PM USA to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. See Note 12. Contingencies.

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

(in millions of dollars)



	Altria			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		)
Net 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 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 appeal bonds posted by PM USA to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals. See Note 12. Contingencies.

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Note 14. New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted:

The following table provides a description of issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria:



Standards	Description	Effective Date for Public Entity	Effect on Financial Statements
ASU Nos. 2016-13 and 2018-19 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.	The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on Altria’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-15 Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (Subtopic 350-40)	The guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license).	The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period.	Altria 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

For a description of Altria Group, Inc. (“Altria”), see Background 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”).

Altria’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.

Executive Summary

Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019: The changes in Altria’s net earnings and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) attributable to Altria for the three months ended March 31, 2019, from the three months ended March 31, 2018, were due primarily to the following:



	Net Earnings			Diluted EPS
	(in millions, except per share data)
For the three months ended March 31, 2018	$	1,894		$	1.00

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		)

2019 Asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs	(125		)	(0.06		)
2019 Tobacco and health litigation items	(13		)	(0.01		)
2019 AB InBev special items	(90		)	(0.05		)
2019 Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments	(328		)	(0.17		)
2019 Tax items	(19		)	(0.01		)
Subtotal 2019 special items	(575		)	(0.30		)

Fewer shares outstanding	—			0.01
Change in tax rate	(17		)	(0.01		)
Operations	(88		)	(0.05		)
For the three months ended March 31, 2019	$	1,120		$	0.60

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, 2019 compared with the prior-year period were due primarily to shares repurchased by Altria under its share repurchase programs.

Change in Tax Rate: The change in tax rate was driven primarily by lower dividends from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“AB InBev”).

Operations: The decrease of $88 million in operations shown in the table above was due primarily to the following:


▪	higher interest and other debt expense, net due to debt incurred from the Cronos Group Inc. (“Cronos”) and JUUL Labs, Inc. (“JUUL”) transactions; and


▪	lower earnings from Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev;

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partially offset by:


▪	higher income from the smokeless products segment.

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

2019 Forecasted Results: In April 2019, Altria reaffirmed its expectation for its 2019 full-year adjusted diluted EPS growth rate to be in the range of 4% to 7% over its 2018 full-year adjusted diluted EPS base of $3.99. This forecasted growth rate excludes the 2019 forecasted expense items in the second table below. Altria’s 2019 guidance reflects its expectation for a higher full-year adjusted effective tax rate, primarily resulting from lower dividends from AB InBev; increased interest expense from the debt incurred to fund the Cronos and JUUL transactions; savings from the cost reduction program announced in December 2018, which Altria expects to build over the course of the year to an annualized level of approximately $575 million; and increased investments related to Philip Morris USA Inc.’s (“PM USA”) lead market plans for launching IQOS, once authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The guidance assumes little-to-no earnings or cash contributions from the Cronos and JUUL investments. Altria also reaffirmed its expectation for its 2019 full-year adjusted effective tax rate to be in a range of 23.5% to 24.5%.



Reconciliation of 2018 Reported Diluted EPS to 2018 Adjusted Diluted EPS
	2018
2018 Reported diluted EPS	$	3.68
NPM Adjustment Items	(0.06		)
Asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs	0.23
Tobacco and health litigation items	0.05
AB InBev special items	(0.03		)
Loss on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination	0.01
Tax items	0.11
2018 Adjusted diluted EPS	$	3.99

Altria’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, restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, gain/loss on AB InBev/SABMiller plc (“SABMiller”) business combination, AB InBev special items, gain/loss on Cronos-related financial instruments, 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 12. Contingencies to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 12”)).

Altria’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’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 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.

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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 Excluded from 2019 Forecasted Adjusted Diluted EPS
	2019
Tobacco and health litigation items	$	0.01
Asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs ⁽¹⁾	0.08
AB InBev special items	0.05
Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments	0.17
Tax items ⁽²⁾	0.04
	$	0.35

⁽¹⁾ Represents acquisition-related costs associated with the Cronos and JUUL transactions and charges for the cost reduction program announced in December 2018.

⁽²⁾ Primarily represents a partial reversal of the tax basis benefit recorded in 2017 attributable to the deemed repatriation tax related to Altria’s investment in AB InBev.

Altria reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Altria’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’s management does not view any of these special items to be part of Altria’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’s management also reviews income tax rates on an adjusted basis. Altria’s adjusted effective tax rate may exclude certain tax items from its reported effective tax rate. Altria’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’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,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Net revenues:
Smokeable products	$	4,935		$	5,414
Smokeless products	540			525
Wine	151			142
All other	2			27
Net revenues	$	5,628		$	6,108

Excise taxes on products:
Smokeable products	$	1,203		$	1,401
Smokeless products	31			32
Wine	5			5
Excise taxes on products	$	1,239		$	1,438

Operating income:
Operating companies income (loss):
Smokeable products	$	1,932		$	2,038
Smokeless products	358			338
Wine	15			17
All other	(12		)	(26		)
Amortization of intangibles	(8		)	(5		)
General corporate expenses	(46		)	(46		)
Corporate asset impairment and exit costs	(1		)	—
Operating income	$	2,238		$	2,316

As discussed further in Note 9. Segment Reporting to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 9”), 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, 2019 and 2018 affected the comparability of statement of earnings amounts:


▪	NPM Adjustment Items: For a discussion of NPM Adjustment Items and a breakdown of these items by segment, see Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - NPM Adjustment Disputes in Note 12 and NPM Adjustment Items in Note 9, respectively.


▪	Tobacco and Health Litigation Items: For a discussion of tobacco and health litigation items and a breakdown of these costs by segment, see Note 12 and Note 9, respectively.


▪	Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Acquisition-Related Costs: Pre-tax asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs were $159 million and $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

In December 2018, Altria announced a cost reduction program (which includes, among other things, reducing third-party spending and workforce reductions across the businesses) that it expects will deliver approximately $575 million in

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annualized cost savings by the end of 2019.

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.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Altria incurred pre-tax acquisition-related costs of $98 million associated with its investments in JUUL and Cronos. Substantially all of these costs were for the write-off of debt issuance costs related to Altria’s short-term borrowings under the term loan agreement that Altria entered into in connection with its investments in JUUL and Cronos.


▪	AB InBev Special Items: Altria’s earnings from its equity investment in AB InBev for the three months ended March 31, 2019 included pre-tax charges of $114 million, consisting primarily of Altria’s share of AB InBev’s mark-to-market losses on AB InBev’s derivative financial instruments used to hedge certain share commitments.

Altria’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’s share of AB InBev’s estimated effect of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”), partially offset by Altria’s share of AB InBev’s mark-to-market losses on AB InBev’s derivative financial instruments used to hedge certain share commitments.

▪

Loss on Cronos-Related Financial Instruments: For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Altria recognized a pre-tax unrealized loss of $394 million related to the warrant and certain anti-dilution protections (the “Fixed-price Preemptive Rights”) acquired in the Cronos transaction. Additionally, for the three months ended March 31, 2019, Altria recorded pre-tax losses of $31 million representing changes in the fair values of the forward contracts used to hedge Altria’s foreign currency exchange rate risk related to the Cronos transaction. For further discussion, see Note 5. Financial Instruments to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1.

▪

Tax Items: Tax items for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were due primarily to tax expense of $21 million resulting from a partial reversal of the tax basis benefit associated with the deemed repatriation tax recorded in 2017 and tax expense of $11 million for a valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryforwards that are not realizable, partially offset by tax benefits of $11 million related to the effective settlement in March 2019 of the Internal Revenue Service audit of Altria and its consolidated subsidiaries’ 2014-2015 tax years.

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 recorded in 2017, 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.

Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 versus the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $480 million (7.9%), due to lower net revenues in the smokeable products segment.

Cost of sales decreased $156 million (9.0%), due primarily to lower shipment volume in the smokeable products segment, partially offset by favorable NPM Adjustment Items in 2018.

Excise taxes on products decreased $199 million (13.8%), due to lower smokeable products shipment volume.

Marketing, administration and research costs decreased $85 million (13.8%), due primarily to lower spending as a result of the cost reduction program, which includes Altria’s decision in 2018 to refocus its innovative product efforts.

Operating income decreased $78 million (3.4%), due primarily to lower operating results from the smokeable products segment, partially offset by higher operating results from the smokeless products segment and lower spending related to Altria’s decision in 2018 to refocus its innovative product efforts.

Interest and other debt expense, net, increased $218 million (100+%), due primarily to higher interest costs and debt issuance costs for borrowings associated with the Cronos and JUUL transactions.

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Earnings from Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev, which decreased $256 million (74.9%), were negatively impacted by AB InBev special items.

Altria’s income tax rate increased 2.9 percentage points to 26.1%, due primarily to tax benefits recorded in 2018 related to prior audit years and the Tax Reform Act. For further discussion, see Note 11. Income Taxes to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1.

Net earnings attributable to Altria of $1,120 million decreased $774 million (40.9%), due primarily to the 2019 loss on Cronos-related financial instruments, lower earnings from Altria’s equity investment in AB InBev, higher interest and other debt expense, net, and lower operating income. Diluted and basic EPS attributable to Altria of $0.60, each decreased by 40.0%, due to lower net earnings attributable to Altria, partially offset by 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 investees and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position. These challenges, some of which are discussed in more detail below, in Note 12, and in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results include:


▪	pending and threatened litigation and bonding requirements;


▪	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 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:


▪	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;


▪	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’s tobacco subsidiaries. Our tobacco subsidiaries believe that a significant number of adult tobacco consumers switch among tobacco categories, use multiple forms of tobacco products and try innovative tobacco products, such as e-vapor products and oral tobacco-derived nicotine products. The e-vapor category grew rapidly from 2012 through early 2015 off a small base, but then plateaued. The growth trend resumed in 2017 and accelerated rapidly in 2018. Growth of the e-vapor category and other innovative tobacco products has negatively impacted consumption levels and sales volume of other tobacco product categories, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. In connection with this rapid growth trend in the e-vapor category, Altria

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anticipates that the U.S. cigarette industry volume decline rate may exceed the recent historical long-term decline rate. In April 2019, Altria revised its estimated U.S. cigarette industry volume decline rate for 2019 from 3.5% - 5% to 4% - 5% and reaffirmed its estimated average U.S. annual cigarette industry volume decline rate of 4% - 5% over the next five years. Altria and its tobacco subsidiaries believe the innovative tobacco product categories will continue to be dynamic as adult tobacco consumers explore a variety of tobacco product options and as the regulatory environment for these innovative tobacco products evolves.

Altria 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.

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 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;


▪	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, flavors in cigars, 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 permits the continued sale of tobacco products that were commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007, and for which no modifications have been made to the products since that date (“Grandfathered Products”). For new and modified tobacco products, however, the FSPTCA imposes restrictions on marketing, 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 subject 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

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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, are not “substantially equivalent” to products commercially marketed as of February 15, 2007, or reject 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 comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation that is to 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 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.

In September 2018, the FDA announced that, while it continues to be committed to the approach outlined in the July 2017 Comprehensive Plan, it is taking a number of steps to address underage use of e-vapor products, including (i) re-examining the FDA’s compliance policy that extended the dates for manufacturers of certain e-vapor products to submit applications for pre-market authorization and (ii) issuing letters to the manufacturers of certain e-vapor products requiring them to submit to the FDA plans for addressing youth access and use of e-vapor products. See FDA Regulatory Actions - Underage Access and Use of E-vapor Products below for steps Altria has taken in response to this request from the FDA.

In November 2018, the FDA announced additional steps it is considering taking with respect to certain flavored tobacco products because of concerns that these products are appealing to youth, including:


▪	revisiting its compliance policy regarding sales of flavored e-vapor products other than tobacco, mint and menthol by restricting sales to age-restricted, in-person locations and, if sold online, under heightened practices for age verification;


▪	proposing rulemaking for a product standard to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars;

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▪	revisiting the extended timeline to submit applications for flavored cigars that were on the market as of August 8, 2016; and


▪	proposing rulemaking for a product standard to ban flavors in all cigars.

The FDA said it is monitoring youth tobacco usage rates, particularly usage rates of e-vapor products, and that it may exercise its regulatory authority by implementing measures designed to decrease youth tobacco use; potentially including the removal of certain e-vapor products from the market.

In March 2019, the FDA issued draft guidance (the “March 2019 Draft Guidance”):


▪	proposing a potential revision to its compliance policy for flavored e-vapor products (other than tobacco, mint and menthol flavors) that would move the deadline for filing pre-market applications from August 2022 to August 2021, and impose restrictions on sales of such tobacco products at in-person locations and online in order to reduce underage access;


▪	taking enforcement action against those that target underage users and/or promote underage use of e-vapor and similar tobacco products; and


▪	prioritizing enforcement action, beginning 30 days after issuance of final guidance, against flavored cigars (other than tobacco flavor) that either are not Grandfathered Products or have not received market authorization from the FDA to remain on the market.

The March 2019 Draft Guidance is subject to a public comment period, after which the FDA could issue final guidance. In the March 2019 Draft Guidance, the FDA stated that 30 days after issuing final guidance, it will begin taking enforcement action against those failing to comply with such guidance. FDA enforcement action could result in tobacco products that are subject to such action being taken off the market. See FDA Regulatory Actions - Potential Product Standards below for further discussion.

Also in March 2019, the FDA reiterated its intention to issue a proposed rule for a product standard that would ban all characterizing flavors in cigars, including flavored cigars that are either Grandfathered Products or have received market authorization. See FDA Regulatory Actions - Potential Product Standards below for further discussion.

Implementation Timing, Rulemaking and Guidance

The implementation of the FSPTCA began in 2009 for cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products and in 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 certain 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, which may be issued in draft or final form, and generally involves public comment.

Altria’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 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;

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▪	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 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, 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.

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 or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria 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 certain limitations arising from legal challenges, 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,”

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which would establish restrictions on the placement of outdoor tobacco advertising in relation to schools and playgrounds. PM USA and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (“USSTC”) submitted comments on this ANPRM.

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, the FDA announced its plans to propose a new graphic warnings rule in the future.

In March 2019, in a case filed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other plaintiffs, a federal court in Massachusetts ordered the FDA to propose a new rule relating to graphic health warnings by August 2019, and to submit the final version of the rule for publication by March 2020. Any proposed rule issued by the FDA will be subject to public comment.

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. Most cigarette and smokeless tobacco products currently marketed by PM USA and USSTC are provisional products, as are some of the products currently marketed by Sherman Group Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (“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. The FDA has communicated 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 as discussed below. 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. In June 2018, the FDA reversed its determination and found that such products were substantially equivalent. As a result, USSTC dismissed its lawsuit.

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 reports that the FDA has said it will not review. 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 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 all filing deadlines for combustible Other Tobacco Products, such as cigars and pipe tobacco, to August 8, 2021, and

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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. However, as discussed above under FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation, and below under Underage Access and Use of E-vapor Products, the FDA announced that it is re-examining these timelines for certain e-vapor products.

Because of the limited number of e-vapor products on the market as of February 15, 2007, e-vapor manufacturers may not be able to file substantial equivalence reports with the FDA on their e-vapor products on the market as of August 8, 2016. In such case, the e-vapor manufacturer 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.

None of the cigar products currently marketed by John Middleton Co. (“Middleton”), and only some cigar products currently marketed by Nat Sherman, are Grandfathered Products; therefore, most of the cigar products currently marketed by these tobacco subsidiaries must proceed through the substantial equivalence process unless these tobacco subsidiaries replace them with Grandfathered Products. Substantial equivalence reports for cigars are due to be filed with the FDA by August 2021. Although Middleton has received market authorization from the FDA for some cigar products, there is a significant number of Middleton cigar products for which no market authorization has been received.

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, before introducing the products into the market, 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.

The FDA issued guidance on the substantial equivalence process in 2015 entitled “Guidance for Industry: Demonstrating the Substantial Equivalence of a New Tobacco Product: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions” (“Substantial Equivalence Guidance”). The guidance provides 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 tobacco products with such changes, even when the tobacco product itself is not changed. In a 2016 industry legal challenge, the court concluded that a modification to an existing product’s label does not result in a “new tobacco product” subject to the substantial equivalence review process and upheld the Substantial Equivalence Guidance in all other respects. Our tobacco subsidiaries market various products that fall within the scope of the Substantial Equivalence Guidance.

In March 2019, the FDA issued a proposed rule that would, if finalized, require for all tobacco products, that all substantial equivalence reports filed after the effective date of the final rule meet certain content and format requirements. Such requirements would not apply to substantial equivalence reports for provisional products or to any substantial equivalence report submitted to the FDA before this proposed rule becomes final. Various products marketed by our tobacco subsidiaries may fall within the scope of this proposed rule if finalized.

Deeming Regulations

As discussed above under FSPTCA and FDA Regulation - The Regulatory Framework, in 2016, the FDA issued final regulations for all Other Tobacco Products, imposing the FSPTCA regulatory framework on the cigar products manufactured, marketed and sold by Middleton and Nat Sherman. 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 connection with a 2016 lawsuit initiated by Middleton, 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,

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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.

Underage Access and Use of E-vapor Products

The FDA announced in September 2018 that it is using its regulatory authority to address underage access and use of e-vapor products. As part of this effort, the FDA issued letters to manufacturers of certain e-vapor products, including Nu Mark and JUUL, requiring them to (1) discuss with the FDA the steps each manufacturer intends to take to address youth access and use of its e-vapor products and (2) within 60 days provide a detailed written plan to address underage access and use.

In October 2018, Altria responded to the FDA’s request for a written plan setting forth the actions it was taking to address underage access and met with the FDA. In December 2018, Altria refocused its innovative product efforts, which included the discontinuation of all Nu Mark e-vapor products. Altria’s decision was based on current and expected financial performance of its innovative products, as well as regulatory restrictions limiting the ability to quickly improve such products. Later in December, Altria purchased, through a wholly owned subsidiary, a 35% economic interest in JUUL. Following the announcement of this investment, Altria requested a meeting with the FDA to discuss the transaction and its ongoing support for underage tobacco prevention. In February 2019, the FDA sent Altria a letter expressing concern about this investment given the rise in underage use of e-vapor products and issued a statement indicating that, if the increased trend in underage use of e-vapor products does not reverse, the FDA may unilaterally take action to address the trend. Altria responded by reaffirming its ongoing and long-standing investment in underage tobacco prevention efforts. For example, Altria is advocating raising the minimum legal age to purchase all tobacco products to 21 at the federal and state levels to further address underage tobacco use.

If the FDA determines that it should use its regulatory authority, such as through enforcement of the pre-market authorization requirements for e-vapor products, manufacturers of such products could be required to remove the products from the market until they receive pre-market authorization. For further details, see FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation above.

Potential Product Standards


▪	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 sought comments on the consequences of such a 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 also sought comments on whether a nicotine product standard should apply to other combustible tobacco products, including cigars.

PM USA, Middleton and Nat Sherman submitted public comments in response to the ANPRM regarding nicotine in cigarettes and potentially other combustible tobacco products in July 2018. This ANPRM process may ultimately lead to the FDA’s development of product standards for nicotine in combustible tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. If such regulations 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, PM USA, Middleton and Nat Sherman.

▪

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. The FDA previously released its preliminary scientific evaluation on menthol, which states “that menthol cigarettes pose a public health risk above that seen with non-menthol cigarettes.” The FDA’s evaluation followed an earlier report to the FDA from TPSAC on the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health and included a recommendation that the “[r]emoval of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States” and an observation that any ban on menthol cigarettes could lead to an increase in contraband cigarettes and other potential unintended consequences. As discussed above under FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation, in November 2018, the FDA indicated that it is considering proposing rulemaking for a product standard that would seek to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars, and that it intends to propose a product standard that would ban characterizing flavors in all cigars. No future

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action can be taken by the FDA to ban characterizing flavors in all cigars or regulate the manufacture, marketing or sale of menthol cigarettes (including a possible ban) until the completion of a full rulemaking process. In the March 2019 Draft Guidance, discussed above under FDA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation, the FDA also announced its intention to restrict certain flavors of e-vapor products in order to deter underage usage of such products, and that it would prioritize enforcement action against flavored cigars (other than tobacco flavor) that either are not Grandfathered Products or have not received market authorization from the FDA to remain on the market. FDA enforcement action could result in cigars that are subject to such action being taken off the market. Also, in March 2019, the FDA reiterated its intention to issue a proposed rule for a product standard banning all cigars with characterizing flavors, that would include Grandfathered Products and cigars that have received market authorization from the FDA. While the FDA has yet to define “characterizing flavors” with respect to cigars, most of Middleton’s cigar products contain added flavors and may be subject to any action by the FDA to ban flavors in cigars. None of Middleton’s currently marketed cigar products are Grandfathered Products and, due to the August 2021 filing deadline for substantial equivalence reports for cigars, there is a significant number of Middleton cigar products for which Middleton has not yet received market authorization from the FDA.

Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries submitted public comments in response to the ANPRM regarding flavors in tobacco products in July 2018. This ANPRM process, the March 2019 Draft Guidance or any proposed rule may ultimately lead to the FDA banning characterizing flavors in all tobacco products. If such regulations 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 and its tobacco subsidiaries.

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.

▪

NNN in Smokeless Tobacco: In January 2017, the FDA proposed a product standard for N-nitrosonornicotine (“NNN”) levels in finished smokeless tobacco products. 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 and USSTC.

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 22, 2019, the weighted-average state and certain local cigarette excise taxes increased from $0.36 to $1.79 per pack. As of April 22, 2019, only one state, New Mexico, has increased its cigarette excise tax in 2019, but various increases are under consideration or have been proposed 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’s tobacco subsidiaries.

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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’s subsidiaries support legislation to convert ad valorem taxes on smokeless tobacco to a weight-based methodology because, unlike the ad valorem tax, a weight-based tax subjects cans of equal weight to the same tax. As of April 22, 2019, 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 22, 2019, 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 12, 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, see Financial Review - Debt and Liquidity - Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation below and Note 12. 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.

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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 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’s tobacco subsidiaries have challenged and will continue to challenge certain state and local legislation, including through litigation.

Federal, 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 all tobacco products, including e-vapor products, above the current federal minimum age of 18. The following states have enacted such legislation: Delaware (21), Illinois (21), Arkansas (21), Washington (21), Utah (21), Virginia (21), California (21), Hawaii (21), Alabama (19), Alaska (19), New Jersey (21), Oregon (21), Maine (21) and Massachusetts (21). Of these states, as of April 22, 2019, six enacted legislation since the beginning of 2019. Many localities have taken similar actions. These laws have varying effective dates. Similar legislation is under consideration in various other states and has been proposed at the federal level. Although an increase in the minimum age to purchase tobacco products may have a negative impact on sales volume of our tobacco businesses, as discussed above under Underage Access and Use of E-vapor Products, Altria supports raising the minimum legal age to purchase all tobacco products to 21 at the federal and state levels, reflecting its longstanding commitment to combat underage tobacco use.

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 and its tobacco subsidiaries believe that the public should be guided by the messages of the U.S. 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 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

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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 and its tobacco subsidiaries.

Governmental Investigations

From time to time, Altria and its subsidiaries are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. Altria 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 and its tobacco subsidiaries. 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’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’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 and its tobacco subsidiaries devote resources to help prevent illicit trade in tobacco products and protect legitimate trade channels. For example, Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries communicate with wholesale and retail trade members regarding illicit trade in tobacco products and how they can help prevent such activities; enforce wholesale and retail trade programs and policies that address illicit trade in tobacco products and, when necessary, litigate to protect their trademarks.

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 impair our subsidiaries’ ability to continue marketing existing products or 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 table summarizes operating results for the smokeable and smokeless products segments:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	Net Revenues				Operating Companies Income
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions)
Smokeable products	$	4,935	$	5,414	$	1,932	$	2,038
Smokeless products	540		525		358		338
Total smokeable and smokeless products	$	5,475	$	5,939	$	2,290	$	2,376

Smokeable products segment

The following table summarizes the smokeable products segment shipment volume performance:



	Shipment Volume
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019	2018	Change
	(sticks in millions)
Cigarettes:
Marlboro	20,467	23,653	(13.5	)%
Other premium	1,165	1,409	(17.3	)%
Discount	1,962	2,460	(20.2	)%
Total cigarettes	23,594	27,522	(14.3	)%
Cigars:
Black & Mild	380	375	1.3	%
Other	2	3	(33.3	)%
Total cigars	382	378	1.1	%
Total smokeable products	23,976	27,900	(14.1	)%

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.

The following table summarizes cigarettes retail share performance:



	Retail Share
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		Percentage Point Change
Cigarettes:
Marlboro	43.1	%	43.3	%	(0.2	)
Other premium	2.5		2.6		(0.1	)
Discount	4.2		4.6		(0.4	)
Total cigarettes	49.8	%	50.5	%	(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

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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.

For a discussion of volume trends and factors that impact volume and retail share performance, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment above.

PM USA and Middleton executed the following pricing and promotional allowance actions during 2019 and 2018:


▪	Effective February 24, 2019, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro and L&M by $0.11 per pack and Parliament and Virginia Slims by $0.16 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price on all of its other cigarette brands by $0.31 per pack.


▪	Effective September 23, 2018, PM USA increased the list price on Marlboro and L&M by $0.10 per pack and Parliament and Virginia Slims by $0.15 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price on all of its other cigarette brands by $0.50 per pack.


▪	Effective May 6, 2018, Middleton increased various list prices across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.11 per five-pack.


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

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $479 million (8.8%), due primarily to lower shipment volume ($872 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($399 million), which includes lower promotional investments. Operating companies income decreased $106 million (5.2%), due primarily to lower shipment volume ($483 million), 2018 NPM Adjustment items ($68 million) and higher asset impairment, exit and implementation costs ($43 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($396 million), which includes lower promotional investments, and lower costs ($72 million).

The smokeable products segment’s reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased 14.3%, driven primarily by trade inventory movements, the industry’s rate of decline, retail share declines and one fewer shipping day. When adjusted for trade inventory movements and one fewer shipping day, the smokeable products segment’s domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased by an estimated 7%. When adjusted for trade inventory movements and one fewer shipping day, total domestic cigarette industry volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2019 declined by an estimated 5%.

Shipments of premium cigarettes accounted for 91.7% of smokeable products’ reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2019, versus 91.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Marlboro’s retail share declined 0.2 share points to 43.1 and is unchanged sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2018.

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Smokeless products segment

The following table summarizes smokeless products segment shipment volume performance:



	Shipment Volume
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019	2018	Change
	(cans and packs in millions)
Copenhagen	125.2	124.4	0.6	%
Skoal	50.3	55.0	(8.5	)%
Copenhagen and Skoal	175.5	179.4	(2.2	)%
Other	15.9	16.3	(2.5	)%
Total smokeless products	191.4	195.7	(2.2	)%

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 moist smokeless tobacco (“MST”) products on a can-for-can basis. 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,
	2019		2018		Percentage Point Change
Copenhagen	35.0	%	34.3	%	0.7
Skoal	15.4		16.2		(0.8	)
Copenhagen and Skoal	50.4		50.5		(0.1	)
Other	3.5		3.3		0.2
Total smokeless products	53.9	%	53.8	%	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.

For a discussion of volume trends and factors that impact volume and retail share performance, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment above.

USSTC executed the following pricing actions during 2018:


▪	Effective November 20, 2018, USSTC increased the list price on its Skoal X-TRA products and select Copenhagen products by $0.17 per can. USSTC also increased the list price on its Husky brand and on the balance of its Copenhagen and Skoal products by $0.07 per can. In addition, USSTC decreased the price on its Red Seal brand by $0.08 per can.


▪	Effective June 5, 2018, USSTC increased the list price on all its brands by $0.07 per can.

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In addition on April 24, 2019, USSTC announced a list price increase effective April 30, 2019, on its Skoal X-TRA products and select Copenhagen products of $0.17 per can. USSTC also announced a list price increase on its Husky and Red Seal brands and its Copenhagen and Skoal popular price products of $0.12 per can. In addition, USSTC announced a list price increase on the balance of its Copenhagen and Skoal products of $0.07 per can.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $15 million (2.9%), due primarily to higher pricing ($36 million), which includes lower promotional investments, partially offset by lower shipment volume ($20 million). Operating companies income increased $20 million (5.9%), due primarily to higher pricing ($36 million), which includes lower promotional investments, and lower costs ($10 million), partially offset by lower shipment volume ($18 million) and higher asset impairment, exit and implementation costs ($7 million).

The smokeless products segment’s reported domestic shipment volume declined 2.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, driven primarily by the industry’s rate of decline and one fewer shipping Monday. When adjusted for trade inventory movements and calendar differences, the smokeless products segment’s domestic shipment volume declined an estimated 1%.

The smokeless products category volume declined an estimated 1.5% over the six months ended March 31, 2019.

Wine segment

Business Environment

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (“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.

Operating Results

The following table summarizes operating results for the wine segment:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018
	(in millions)
Net revenues	$	151	$	142
Operating companies income	$	15	$	17

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $9 million (6.3%), due primarily to higher shipment volume, partially offset by higher promotional investments. Operating companies income decreased $2 million (11.8%), due primarily to higher costs and higher promotional investments, partially offset by higher shipment volume.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Ste. Michelle’s reported wine shipment volume of 1,909 thousand cases, increased 8.0%.

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Financial Review

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

During the first three months of 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was $2,289 million compared with $2,809 million during the first three months of 2018. This decrease was due primarily to lower net revenues in the smokeable products segment and higher payments for tobacco and health litigation items in 2019.

Altria had a working capital deficit at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Altria’s management believes that Altria has the ability to fund working capital deficits with cash provided by operating activities and/or short-term borrowings under its commercial paper program and borrowings through its access to credit and capital markets as discussed in the Debt and Liquidity section below.

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

During the first three months of 2019, net cash used in investing activities was $1,950 million compared with $41 million during the first three months of 2018. This increase was due primarily to the investment in Cronos in 2019.

Net Cash Provided by/Used in Financing Activities

During the first three months of 2019, net cash provided by financing activities was $1,683 million compared with net cash used in financing activities of $1,793 million during the first three months of 2018. This change was due primarily to proceeds from the issuance of long-term senior unsecured notes during the first three months of 2019 and lower repurchases of common stock during the first three months of 2019, partially offset by repayments of short-term borrowings during the first three months of 2019.

Debt and Liquidity

Credit Ratings - Altria’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’s credit agreement is discussed below. See the discussion below regarding the potential adverse impact of certain events on Altria’s credit ratings in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results.

At March 31, 2019, the credit ratings and outlook for Altria’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	Negative
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”)	A-2	BBB	Stable
Fitch Ratings Ltd.	F2	BBB	Stable

Credit Lines - From time to time, Altria 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, 2019, and 2018, and at December 31, 2018, Altria had no short-term borrowings under its commercial paper program.

On December 20, 2018, Altria entered into a senior unsecured term loan agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) in connection with its investments in JUUL and Cronos. At December 31, 2018, Altria had aggregate short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement of $12.8 billion, which were incurred to fund Altria’s investment in JUUL. Borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement were set to mature on December 19, 2019. In February 2019, Altria repaid all of the outstanding $12.8 billion of short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement with net proceeds from the issuance of long-term senior unsecured notes. Upon repayment, the Term Loan Agreement terminated in accordance with its terms. For further discussion, set the Debt section below.

At March 31, 2019, Altria had in place a senior unsecured 5-year revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which is used for general corporate purposes, provides for borrowings up to an aggregate principal amount of $3.0 billion. The Credit Agreement expires on August 1, 2023 and includes an option, subject to certain conditions, for Altria to extend the Credit Agreement for two additional one-year periods.

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Pricing for interest and fees under the Credit Agreement may be modified in the event of a change in the rating of Altria’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’s long-term senior unsecured debt from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. The applicable percentage based on Altria’s long-term senior unsecured debt ratings at March 31, 2019 for borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 1.0%. The Credit Agreement does not include any other rating triggers or any provisions that could require the posting of collateral. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, Altria had no borrowings under the Credit Agreement. At March 31, 2019, credit available to Altria under the Credit Agreement was $3.0 billion.

The Credit Agreement includes various covenants, one of which requires Altria to maintain a ratio of consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to Consolidated Interest Expense of not less than 4.0 to 1.0, calculated as of the end of the applicable quarter on a rolling four quarters basis. At March 31, 2019, the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense, calculated in accordance with the Credit Agreement, was 10.9 to 1.0. At March 31, 2019, Altria was in compliance with its covenants in the Credit Agreement. Altria expects to continue to meet its covenants in the Credit Agreement. The terms “Consolidated EBITDA” and “Consolidated Interest Expense,” each as defined in the Credit Agreement, include certain adjustments.

Any commercial paper issued by Altria and borrowings under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by PM USA as further discussed in Note 13. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 13”).

Financial Market Environment - Altria believes it has adequate liquidity and access to financial resources to meet its anticipated obligations and ongoing business needs in the foreseeable future. Altria monitors the credit quality of its bank group and is not aware of any potential non-performing credit provider in that group. Altria 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.

Debt - At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, Altria’s total debt was $29.2 billion and $25.7 billion, respectively. The increase in debt, as further discussed below, was due to Altria’s February 2019 issuance of long-term senior unsecured notes, partially offset by the repayment in full in February 2019 of $12.8 billion of short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement.

In February 2019, Altria issued U.S. dollar and Euro denominated long-term senior unsecured notes in the aggregate principal amounts of $11.5 billion and €4.25 billion, respectively. Altria immediately converted the proceeds of the Euro denominated notes into U.S. dollars of $4.8 billion. The net proceeds from the Euro notes and a portion of the net proceeds from the U.S. dollar notes were used to repay in full the $12.8 billion of short-term borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement. The remaining net proceeds from the U.S. dollar notes were used to fund Altria’s investment in Cronos in the first quarter of 2019 and for other general corporate purposes. Altria designated its Euro denominated notes as a net investment hedge of its investment in AB InBev. For further discussion, see Note 10. Debt to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1.

Guarantees and Other Similar Matters - As discussed in Note 12, Altria 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, 2019. From time to time, subsidiaries of Altria also issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. In addition, as discussed in Note 13, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under its 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’s liquidity.

Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation - As discussed previously and in Note 12, 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. Altria’s subsidiaries recorded $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion of charges to cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, 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 12.

Based on current agreements, 2018 market share and estimated annual industry volume decline rates, the estimated amounts that Altria’s subsidiaries may charge to cost of sales for payments related to State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees

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approximate $4.7 billion in 2019 and 2020 and $4.6 billion 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, 2019, PM USA had posted appeal bonds totaling $103 million, which have been collateralized with restricted cash that is 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 LLC (“UST”) or Altria in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as more fully disclosed in Note 12 and in Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results, management expects cash flow from operations, together with Altria’s access to capital markets, to provide sufficient liquidity to meet ongoing business needs.

Equity and Dividends

On February 26, 2019, Altria granted an aggregate of 0.7 million restricted stock units and 0.2 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 2022. 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’s adjusted diluted EPS compounded annual growth rate and Altria’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 February 26, 2019 was $51.88 on the date of grant.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, 0.6 million shares of restricted stock units vested. The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $28 million. The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of these awards was $59.07.

Dividends paid during the first three months of 2019 and 2018 were $1,502 million and $1,257 million, respectively, an increase of 19.5%, reflecting a higher dividend rate, partially offset by fewer shares outstanding as a result of shares repurchased by Altria under its share repurchase programs. Altria expects to continue to maintain a dividend payout ratio target of approximately 80% of its adjusted diluted EPS. The current annualized dividend rate is $3.20 per share. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of Altria’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”).

For a discussion of Altria’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.

New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

See Note 14. New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 for a discussion of issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria.

Contingencies

See Note 12 for a discussion of contingencies.

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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 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’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 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 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, shareholders and distributors.

In certain cases, plaintiffs claim that defendants’ liability is joint and several. In such cases, Altria 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 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 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 12, 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, 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.

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⁽¹⁾ This section uses the terms “we,” “our” and “us” when it is not necessary to distinguish among Altria and its various operating subsidiaries or when any distinction is clear from the context.

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In certain litigation, Altria 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 12, the district court did not impose monetary penalties but ordered significant non-monetary remedies, including the issuance of “corrective statements.”

Altria 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, 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 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 and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria to do so. See Note 12 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 us and 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.

More broadly, 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, rulemaking that bans menthol or other flavors, a determination by the FDA that one or more tobacco products do not satisfy the statutory requirements for substantial equivalence, because the FDA requires that a currently-marketed tobacco product proceed through the pre-market review process or because the FDA otherwise determines that removal is necessary for the protection of public health), 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 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’s tobacco subsidiaries.

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 federal, state 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’s tobacco subsidiaries. For further discussion, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Excise Taxes above.

Our tobacco businesses face significant competition (including across categories) and their failure to compete effectively could have an adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations or cash flows of Altria, or the business of Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries.

Each of Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries operates in highly competitive tobacco categories. This competition also exists across categories as adult tobacco consumer preferences evolve. Significant methods of competition include product quality, taste,

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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. See Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Summary above for additional discussion concerning evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences, including e-vapor products. Growth of the e-vapor product category and other innovative tobacco products has further contributed to reductions in cigarette consumption levels and cigarette industry sales volume and has adversely affected the growth rates of other tobacco products. Continued growth in these categories could have a material adverse impact on the business, results of operations, cash flows or financial position of PM USA and USSTC.

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, 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.

Altria 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, which could have an adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Altria or the business of Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries.

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 new and innovative 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 and the immediately preceding risk factor for additional discussion concerning evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences, specifically the growth of e-vapor and other innovative tobacco products and the effects on our tobacco operating companies.

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 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.

Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries and investees 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 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

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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, such as e-vapor products. These efforts include arrangements with, or investments in, third parties such as our minority investment in JUUL. This minority investment subjects us to non-competition obligations restricting us from investing or engaging in the e-vapor business other than through JUUL, subject to limited exceptions. Our tobacco subsidiaries and investees 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. See Tobacco Space - Business Environment - FSPTCA and FDA Regulation above for further discussion. 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 or investees 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 does succeed, our tobacco subsidiaries or investees may be at a competitive disadvantage, which could have an adverse effect on their financial performance.

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’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’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 and its tobacco subsidiaries.

Altria’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’s tobacco subsidiaries, the operations of any key suppliers of any of Altria’s tobacco subsidiaries (including a key supplier’s unwillingness to supply goods or services to a tobacco company) or any other disruption in the supply of goods or services from a key supplier, could adversely impact the operations of the affected subsidiaries. An extended disruption in operations experienced by one or more of Altria’s subsidiaries or in the supply of goods or services by a key supplier could have a material adverse effect on the business, the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria and its tobacco subsidiaries.

Altria’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 and its subsidiaries.

In addition to a recall required by the FDA, as referenced above, our subsidiaries could decide, or other 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. Product recalls could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria and its subsidiaries.

The failure of Altria’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 and its subsidiaries.

Altria 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

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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 and its subsidiaries.

Unfavorable outcomes of any governmental investigations could materially affect the businesses of Altria and its subsidiaries.

From time to time, Altria 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.

A challenge to our tax positions could adversely affect our tax rate, earnings or cash flow.

Tax laws and regulations, such as the Tax Reform Act, are complex and subject to varying interpretations. A successful challenge to one or more of Altria’s tax positions could give rise to additional liabilities, including interest and potential penalties, as well as adversely affect our tax rate, earnings or cash flows.

International business operations subject Altria 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 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, investees or third parties. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could result in reputational harm, legal challenges and/or significant costs.

Altria 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’s credit rating, and Altria may not achieve its anticipated strategic or financial objectives of a transaction.

From time to time, Altria considers acquisitions or investments and may engage in confidential 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 investment or the occurrence of other events could negatively impact our credit ratings or the outlook for those ratings as occurred following our investment in JUUL (although we continue to maintain investment grade 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.

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 or an investment.

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Disruption and uncertainty in the credit and capital markets could adversely affect Altria’s access to these markets, earnings and dividend rate.

Access to the credit and capital markets is important for us to satisfy our liquidity and financing needs. Disruption and uncertainty in these 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 may be required to write down intangible assets, including goodwill, due to impairment, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.

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 could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position. In the fourth quarter of 2018, Altria incurred $209 million in goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges related to Altria’s decision to refocus its innovative product efforts and the impairment of the Columbia Crest trademark.

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’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 may be adversely affected by various factors, including foreign currency exchange rates and AB InBev’s business results and stock price.

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. For example, in October 2018, AB InBev announced a 50% rebase in the dividends it pays to its shareholders, which will result in a reduction of cash dividends Altria receives from AB InBev. If the carrying value of our investment in AB InBev exceeds its fair value and the loss in value is other than temporary, the investment is considered impaired, which would result in impairment losses and could have a material adverse effect on Altria’s consolidated financial position or earnings. 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 AB InBev 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.

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Upon completion of the AB InBev 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 AB InBev Transaction, subject to limited exceptions. These transfer 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 received in the AB InBev Transaction may be challenged and the tax treatment of the AB InBev investment may not be as favorable as Altria anticipates.

While we expect the equity consideration that we received from the AB InBev 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.

Antitrust clearance required for the conversion of our non-voting JUUL shares into voting shares may not be obtained in a timely manner or at all, and the expected benefits of the JUUL transaction may not materialize in the expected manner or timeframe or at all.

Antitrust clearance required for the conversion of the non-voting JUUL shares held by us into voting shares may not be obtained in a timely manner or at all, and such clearance may be subject to unanticipated conditions. Unless and until such antitrust clearance is obtained, including expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period (or extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, our JUUL shares will not have voting rights and we will not be entitled to certain other rights, including the right to appoint any directors to the JUUL Board of Directors. Accordingly, failure to obtain antitrust clearance would adversely affect us, including because it would substantially limit our rights with respect to our investment in JUUL and would prevent us from accounting for our investment in JUUL using the equity method.

In April 2019, Altria received a request for additional information (commonly referred to as a “second request”) from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) as part of the antitrust review process. A second request extends the waiting period, while the FTC conducts its review, until 30 days after the parties have substantially complied with the second request or as otherwise agreed to by the parties.

In addition, regardless of whether antitrust clearance is obtained, the expected benefits of the JUUL transaction, such as any equity earnings and receipt of cash dividends, may not materialize in the expected manner or timeframe or at all, including due to the risks encountered by JUUL in its business, such as operational risks and regulatory risks at the international, federal and state levels, including actions by the FDA; unanticipated impacts on JUUL’s relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and other third parties; potential disruptions to JUUL’s management or current or future plans and operations due to the JUUL transaction; or domestic or international litigation developments, investigations, or otherwise. See Tobacco Space - Business Environment above for a discussion of certain FDA-related regulatory risks applicable to the e-vapor category. Failure to realize the expected benefits of our JUUL investment could adversely affect the value of the investment. If a qualitative assessment of impairment of our JUUL investment were to indicate that its fair value is less than its carrying value, the investment would be written down to its fair value, which could have a material adverse effect on Altria’s consolidated financial position or earnings.

Our investment in JUUL includes non-competition, standstill and transfer restrictions that prevent us from gaining control of JUUL. Furthermore, if our percentage ownership in JUUL were to decrease below certain levels, we would lose certain of our governance, consent, preemptive and other rights with respect to our investment in JUUL and may be unable to account for the investment under the equity method.

The shares of JUUL we hold generally cannot be sold or otherwise transferred for a six-year period that expires on December 20, 2024, subject to limited exceptions. We have also generally agreed not to compete with JUUL in the e-vapor space for at least six years, which may be extended at our election. In addition, following receipt of antitrust clearance, our designees will comprise no more than one third of the members of the JUUL Board of Directors. As a result, JUUL’s strategy and its material decisions are not controlled by us, and the terms of our agreements with JUUL mean that we are required to bear the risks associated with our investment in JUUL for at least a six-year period. Further, in the event that our ownership percentage in JUUL were to decrease below certain levels due to transfers by us or otherwise, or if we elect not to extend our non-competition obligations beyond six years, we would lose some or all of our board designation rights, preemptive rights, consent rights and

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other rights with respect to our investment in JUUL. Loss of these rights could adversely affect us by impairing our ability to influence JUUL and may prevent us from accounting for our investment under the equity method.

The expected benefits of the Cronos transaction may not materialize in the expected manner or timeframe or at all.

In March 2019, we acquired common shares representing a 45% equity interest in Cronos, a warrant to acquire common shares representing an additional 10% equity interest in Cronos and anti-dilution protections to purchase Cronos shares to maintain our ownership percentage. There can be no assurance that we will realize the expected benefits of the Cronos transaction, including due to the risks encountered by Cronos in its business, such as operational risks and legal and regulatory risks; unanticipated impacts on Cronos’s relationships with third parties, its management, or its current or future plans and operations due to the Cronos transaction; or domestic or international litigation developments, tax disputes, investigations, or otherwise. Further, a failure by Cronos to comply with applicable laws, including cannabis laws, could result in criminal, civil or tax liability for Altria. If the carrying value of our investment in Cronos exceeds its fair value and the loss in value is other than temporary, the investment is considered impaired, which would result in impairment losses and could have a material adverse effect on Altria’s consolidated financial position or earnings.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rates

At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the fair value of Altria’s long-term debt, all of which is fixed-rate debt, was $29.9 billion and $12.5 billion, respectively. The fair value of Altria’s long-term debt is subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in market interest rates. A 1% increase in market interest rates at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 would decrease the fair value of Altria’s long-term debt by $2.2 billion and $0.8 billion, respectively. A 1% decrease in market interest rates at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 would increase the fair value of Altria’s long-term debt by $2.6 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively.

Interest rates on borrowings under the Credit Agreement are expected to be based on LIBOR plus a percentage based on the higher of the ratings of Altria’s long-term senior unsecured debt from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. The applicable percentage based on Altria’s long-term senior unsecured debt ratings at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 for borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 1.0%. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, Altria had no borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

Equity Price Risk

The estimated fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and the Cronos warrant are subject to equity price risk. The Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant are recorded at fair value, which is estimated using Black-Scholes option-pricing models. The fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and warrant are subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in the quoted market price of Cronos shares, the underlying equity security.

At March 31, 2019, the fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and Cronos warrant were $393 million and $949 million, respectively. A 10% increase or decrease in the quoted market price of Cronos shares at March 31, 2019 would increase or decrease the fair values of the Fixed-price Preemptive Rights and Cronos warrant by approximately $60 million and $120 million, respectively.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Altria carried out an evaluation, with the participation of Altria’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its 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’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Altria’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There have been no changes in Altria’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

Part II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

See Note 12 for a discussion of legal proceedings pending against Altria 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 2018 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 2018 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

In January 2018, the Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion share repurchase program that it expanded to $2.0 billion in May 2018 (as expanded, the “January 2018 share repurchase program”), which Altria expects to complete by the end of the second quarter of 2019. 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’s share repurchase activity for each of the three months in the period ended March 31, 2019, 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

January 1 - 31, 2019	—	$	—	—	$	345,671,297
February 1 - 28, 2019	194,438	$	48.84	—	$	345,671,297
March 1 - 31, 2019	2,678,885	$	56.34	2,678,300	$	194,780,598
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2019	2,873,323	$	55.83	2,678,300


⁽¹⁾	The total number of shares purchased includes (a) shares purchased under the January 2018 share repurchase program (which totaled 2,678,300 shares in March) and (b) shares withheld by Altria in an amount equal to the statutory withholding taxes for holders who vested in stock-based awards (which totaled 194,438 shares in February and 585 shares in March).

Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits.


10.1	Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated January 25, 2019, among Altria Group, Inc., the Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agents. Incorporated by reference to Altria Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2019 (File No. 1-08940).


10.2	Form of Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement.


10.3	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019.


10.4	Form of Performance Stock Unit Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019.


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.

101.INS XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL 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.

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.

Vice Chairman and

Chief Financial Officer

April 25, 2019