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Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt
Debt:

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, Altria Group, Inc. had no short-term borrowings.

Long-term Debt

In September 2016, Altria Group, Inc. issued $0.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.625% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2026 and $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.875% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2046. Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually. The net proceeds from the issuance of these senior unsecured notes were added to Altria Group, Inc.’s general funds and were used to repurchase certain of its senior unsecured notes in connection with the 2016 debt tender offer described below and for other general corporate purposes, including voluntary contributions to Altria Group, Inc.’s pension plans.
The notes are Altria Group, Inc.’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Altria Group, Inc.’s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Altria Group, Inc. and (ii) the notes ceasing to be rated investment grade by each of Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings Ltd. within a specified time period, Altria Group, Inc. 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.

The obligations of Altria Group, Inc. under the notes are guaranteed by PM USA. For further discussion, see Note 12. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information.

During the third quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2015, Altria Group, Inc. completed debt tender offers to purchase for cash certain of its senior unsecured notes in aggregate principal amounts of $933 million and $793 million, respectively. Details of these debt tender offers were as follows:
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
(in millions)
Notes Purchased
 
 
 
 
 
9.95% Notes due 2038
 
$
441

 
$

 
10.20% Notes due 2039
 
492

 

 
9.70% Notes due 2018
 

 
793

 
Total
 
$
933

 
$
793

 

As a result of the debt tender offers, Altria Group, Inc. recorded the following pre-tax losses on early extinguishment of debt:
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in millions)
Premiums and fees
$
809

 
$
226

 
$
809

 
$

Write-off of unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs
14

 
2

 
14

 

Total
$
823

 
$
228

 
$
823

 
$



With respect to $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of Altria Group, Inc.’s senior unsecured long-term notes issued in 2008 and 2009, the interest rate payable on each series of notes was subject to adjustment from time to time if the rating assigned to the notes of such series by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s was downgraded (or subsequently upgraded) as and to the extent set forth in the terms of the notes. As a result of credit rating upgrades by both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s in the first quarter of 2016, this interest rate adjustment provision terminated in accordance with its terms.
On January 1, 2016, Altria Group, Inc. adopted ASU No. 2015-03. For further discussion, see Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation.

Altria Group, Inc.’s estimate of the fair value of its debt is based on observable market information derived from a third-party pricing source and is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The aggregate fair value of Altria Group, Inc.’s total long-term debt at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, was $16.1 billion and $14.5 billion, respectively, as compared with its carrying value of $13.9 billion and $12.8 billion, respectively.