Background And Basis Of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Background And Basis Of Presentation

Background and Basis of Presentation

▪Background: At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. ("PM USA"), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smokeless products in the United States; John Middleton Co. ("Middleton"), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA; and UST LLC ("UST"), which through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries including U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC ("USSTC") and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. ("Ste. Michelle"), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless products and wine. Philip Morris Capital Corporation ("PMCC"), another wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc., maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. held approximately 26.9% of the economic and voting interest of SABMiller plc ("SABMiller") at December 31, 2012, which Altria Group, Inc. accounts for under the equity method of accounting. Altria Group, Inc.'s access to the operating cash flows of its wholly-owned subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans by its subsidiaries. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in SABMiller if and when SABMiller pays such dividends. At December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s principal wholly-owned subsidiaries were not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their common stock.

▪ Dividends and Share Repurchases:During the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors approved a 7.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.44 per common share versus the previous rate of $0.41 per common share. The current annualized dividend rate is $1.76 per Altria Group, Inc. common share. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors.

In January 2011, Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion one-year share repurchase program (the "January 2011 share repurchase program"). Altria Group, Inc. completed the January 2011 share repurchase program during the third quarter of 2011. Under the January 2011 share repurchase program, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased a total of 37.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $26.62 per share.

In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program, which was expanded to $1.5 billion in October 2012 (the "October 2011 share repurchase program"). During 2011 and 2012, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 11.7 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $327 million, and $27.84 average price per share) and 34.9 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $1.1 billion, and $32.00 average price per share), respectively, under the October 2011 share repurchase program.

During 2011, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased a total of 49.3 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $1.3 billion, and $26.91 average price per share) under the January 2011 and October 2011 share repurchase programs described above.

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

▪Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include Altria Group, Inc., as well as its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Investments in which Altria Group, Inc. exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions include, among other things, pension and benefit plan assumptions, lives and valuation assumptions for goodwill and other intangible assets, marketing programs, income taxes, and the allowance for losses and estimated residual values of finance leases. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Balance sheet accounts are segregated by two broad types of businesses. Consumer products assets and liabilities are classified as either current or non-current, whereas financial services assets and liabilities are unclassified, in accordance with respective industry practices.

Altria Group, Inc.'s chief operating decision maker has been evaluating the operating results of the former cigarettes and cigars segments as a single smokeable products segment since January 1, 2012. The combination of these two formerly separate segments is related to the restructuring associated with the cost reduction program announced in October 2011 (the "2011 Cost Reduction Program"). Also, in connection with the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, effective January 1, 2012, Middleton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA, reflecting management's goal to achieve efficiencies in the management of these businesses. Effective with the first quarter of 2012 and at December 31, 2012, Altria Group, Inc.'s reportable segments were smokeable products, smokeless products, wine and financial services. For further discussion on the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, see Note 4. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation due primarily to Altria Group, Inc.'s revised reportable segments and Middleton becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA.

Effective January 1, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. adopted new authoritative guidance that eliminated the option of presenting components of other comprehensive earnings as part of the statement of stockholders' equity. With the adoption of this guidance, Altria Group, Inc. is reporting other comprehensive earnings in separate statements immediately following the statements of earnings.