Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

 

 

Commission file number: 1-32258

 

 

Reynolds American Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

North Carolina   20-0546644

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

401 North Main Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(336) 741-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed from 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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date: 558,948,471 shares of common stock, par value $.0001 per share, as of October 8, 2012.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

INDEX

 

     Page  

Part I — Financial Information

  

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) — Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     3   
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) — Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     4   
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     5   
  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 30, 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2011

     6   
  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

     7   

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     75   

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     97   

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     98   

Part II — Other Information

  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     98   

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     98   

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

     99   

Signature

     100   

 

2


Table of Contents

Part I Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

REYNOLDS AMERICAN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three  Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine  Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Net sales(1)

   $ 2,020      $ 2,063      $ 5,965      $ 6,078   

Net sales, related party

     97        137        261        380   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net sales

     2,117        2,200        6,226        6,458   

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of products sold(1)

     1,082        1,125        3,188        3,353   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     311        389        934        1,204   

Amortization expense

     5        6        16        18   

Restructuring charge

     —          —          149        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     719        680        1,939        1,883   

Interest and debt expense

     56        55        170        165   

Interest income

     (1     (3     (5     (9

Other expense, net

     1        2        6        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     663        626        1,768        1,725   

Provision for income taxes

     243        232        635        623   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 420      $ 394      $ 1,133      $ 1,102   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic income per share:

        

Net income

   $ 0.75      $ 0.68      $ 1.99      $ 1.89   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted income per share:

        

Net income

   $ 0.74      $ 0.67      $ 1.98      $ 1.88   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.59      $ 0.53      $ 1.74      $ 1.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Excludes excise taxes of $993 million and $1,050 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $2,944 million and $3,116 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

3


Table of Contents

REYNOLDS AMERICAN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in Millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three  Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011  

Net income

   $    420      $    394   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

    

Retirement benefits, net of tax expense (benefit) (2012 — $22; 2011 — $(2))

     37        (2

Unrealized gain (loss) on long-term investments, net of tax expense (benefit) (2012 — $1; 2011 — $(3))

     3        (5

Unrealized loss on hedging instruments, net of tax benefit (2012 — $2)

     (4     —     

Cumulative translation adjustment and other, net of tax expense (benefit) (2012 — $2; 2011 — $(9))

     8        (22
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 464      $ 365   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     For the Nine  Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011  

Net income

   $ 1,133      $ 1,102   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

    

Retirement benefits, net of tax expense (2012 — $88; 2011 — $14)

     137        22   

Unrealized gain (loss) on long-term investments, net of tax expense (benefit) (2012 — $2; 2011 — $(4))

     4        (7

Unrealized loss on hedging instruments, net of tax benefit (2012 — $10)

     (18     —     

Cumulative translation adjustment and other, net of tax

     3        (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 1,259      $ 1,115   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

4


Table of Contents

REYNOLDS AMERICAN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in Millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Nine  Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011  

Cash flows from (used in) operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 1,133      $ 1,102   

Adjustments to reconcile to net cash flows from (used in) continuing operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     99        104   

Restructuring charge, net of cash payments

     113        —     

Deferred income tax expense

     113        160   

Pension and postretirement

     (68     (160

Tobacco settlement

     (250     (245

Other, net

     (227     (120
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

     913        841   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (61     (142

Net proceeds from sale of business

     —          202   

Proceeds from termination of joint venture

     30        32   

Other, net

     5        13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities

     (26     105   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:

    

Dividends paid on common stock

     (977     (903

Repurchase of common stock

     (851     (6

Repayment of term loan credit facility

     (100     —     

Repayment of long-term debt

     (451     (400

Principal borrowings under term loan credit facility

     750        —     

Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps

     —          186   

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation plans

     33        1   

Other, net

     (2     (7
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities

     (1,598     (1,129
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (2     (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (713     (185

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     1,956        2,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 1,243      $ 2,010   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

   $ 582      $ 525   

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest (2011— $3)

   $ 145      $ 114   

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

5


Table of Contents

REYNOLDS AMERICAN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     September 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,243      $ 1,956   

Accounts receivable

     95        101   

Accounts receivable, related party

     62        67   

Other receivables

     50        46   

Inventories

     924        967   

Deferred income taxes, net

     921        945   

Prepaid expenses and other

     224        225   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     3,519        4,307   

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation (2012 — $1,609; 2011 — $1,615)

     1,038        1,070   

Trademarks and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization (2012 — $712; 2011 — $696)

     2,588        2,602   

Goodwill

     8,011        8,010   

Other assets and deferred charges

     238        265   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 15,394      $ 16,254   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 146      $ 113   

Tobacco settlement accruals

     2,282        2,530   

Due to related party

     1        2   

Deferred revenue, related party

     10        42   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     685        457   

Term loan credit facility

     650        —     

Other current liabilities

     979        1,132   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     4,753        4,276   

Long-term debt (less current maturities)

     2,502        3,206   

Deferred income taxes, net

     678        511   

Long-term retirement benefits (less current portion)

     1,504        1,759   

Other noncurrent liabilities

     226        251   

Commitments and contingencies:

    

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock (shares issued: 2012 — 558,948,471; 2011 — 576,135,199)

     —          —     

Paid-in capital

     7,504        8,293   

Accumulated deficit

     (1,517     (1,660

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (defined benefit pension and postretirement plans: 2012 — $(193); 2011 — $(330), net of tax)

     (256     (382
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     5,731        6,251   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 15,394      $ 16,254   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

6


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1 — Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Overview

The condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) include the accounts of Reynolds American Inc., referred to as RAI, and its wholly owned subsidiaries. RAI’s wholly owned operating subsidiaries include R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; American Snuff Company, LLC, referred to as American Snuff Co.; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc., referred to as SFNTC; and Niconovum AB.

RAI was incorporated as a holding company in the state of North Carolina in 2004, and its common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “RAI.” RAI was created to facilitate the business combination of the U.S. business of Brown & Williamson Holdings, Inc., referred to as B&W, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco p.l.c., referred to as BAT, with R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company on July 30, 2004, with such combination referred to as the B&W business combination.

References to RJR Tobacco prior to July 30, 2004, relate to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc., referred to as RJR. References to RJR Tobacco on and subsequent to July 30, 2004, relate to the combined U.S. assets, liabilities and operations of B&W and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, a North Carolina corporation.

RAI’s reportable operating segments are RJR Tobacco, American Snuff and Santa Fe. The RJR Tobacco segment consists of the primary operations of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The American Snuff segment consists of the primary operations of American Snuff Co. and, prior to its sale, Lane, Limited, referred to as Lane. The Santa Fe segment consists of the primary operations of SFNTC. Niconovum AB, among other RAI subsidiaries, is included in All Other. The segments were identified based on how RAI’s chief operating decision maker allocates resources and assesses performance. Certain of RAI’s operating subsidiaries have entered into intercompany agreements for products or services with other subsidiaries. As a result, certain activities of an operating subsidiary may be included in a different segment of RAI.

As a result of the B&W business combination, Lane became a wholly owned subsidiary of RAI. On February 28, 2011, RAI completed the sale of all of the capital stock of Lane and certain other assets related to the Lane operations, to an affiliate of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S, referred to as STG, for net proceeds of $202 million in cash. Its results of operations were included through February 28, 2011, in income from continuing operations in the American Snuff segment.

RAI’s operating subsidiaries primarily conduct their businesses in the United States.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, referred to as GAAP, for interim financial information and, in management’s opinion, contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. All material intercompany balances have been eliminated. RAI has no investments that are accounted for under the equity or cost methods. For interim reporting purposes, certain costs and expenses are charged to operations in proportion to the estimated total annual amount expected to be incurred primarily based on sales volumes. The results for the interim period ended September 30, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012.

The condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes, which appear in RAI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Certain reclassifications were made to conform prior years’ financial statements to the current presentation. Prior year results have been adjusted to reflect the change in method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for pension and postretirement benefits. All dollar amounts, other than per share amounts, are presented in millions, except for amounts set forth in note 9 and as otherwise noted.

 

7


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold includes the expenses for the Master Settlement Agreement, referred to as the MSA, and other settlement agreements with the states of Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota, which together with the MSA are collectively referred to as the State Settlement Agreements; the federal tobacco quota buyout; and the user fees charged by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, referred to as the FDA, which were as follows:

 

     For The Three Months
Ended September 30,
     For The Nine  Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

State Settlement Agreements

   $ 599       $ 628       $ 1,779       $ 1,850   

Federal tobacco quota buyout

     53         55         164         173   

FDA user fees

     30         28         91         88   

Pension and Postretirement

Pension and postretirement benefits require balance sheet recognition of the net asset or liability for the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, on a plan-by-plan basis, and recognition of changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur.

Gains or losses are annual changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from changes in assumptions. Prior service costs of pension expense, which are changes in benefit obligations due to plan amendments, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period for active employees, or average remaining life expectancies for inactive employees if most of the plan obligations are due to inactive employees. Prior service costs of postretirement benefits, which are changes in benefit obligations due to plan amendments, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected service period to full eligibility age for active employees, or average remaining life expectancies for inactive employees if most of the plan obligations are due to inactive employees. Differences between actual results and actuarial assumptions are accumulated and recognized in the year in which they occur as a mark-to-market adjustment, referred to as an MTM adjustment, to the extent such net gains and losses are in excess of 10% of the greater of the fair value of plan assets or the plan’s projected benefit obligation, referred to as the corridor. Actuarial gains and losses outside the corridor are recognized annually as of December 31 or when the plans are remeasured during an interim period.

The components of the pension benefits and the postretirement benefits are set forth below:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     Pension Benefits     Postretirement
Benefits
    Pension Benefits     Postretirement
Benefits
 
        
     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Service cost

   $ 6      $ 7      $ 1      $ 1      $ 17      $ 20      $ 2      $ 2   

Interest cost

     70        75        13        19        210        225        44        56   

Expected return on plan assets

     (89     (93     (3     (5     (268     (280     (8     (14

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

     1        1        (9     (7     3        3        (19     (21

Curtailment

     —          —          —          —          4        —          —          —     

Special termination benefits

     —          —          —          —          34        —          —          —     

MTM adjustment

     —          —          40        —          —          —          40        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefit cost (credit)

   $ (12   $ (10   $ 42      $ 8      $ —        $ (32   $ 59      $ 23   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

A workforce reduction in 2012 due to changes in the organizational structure of RJR Tobacco, RAI and RAI Services Company met RAI’s curtailment threshold as a major event for pension plans. As a result, curtailment

 

8


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

charges and special termination benefits were recognized as restructuring expense. The pension obligation and assets were re-measured, and a $90 million favorable change in the funded status was recorded. The MTM adjustment was insignificant. The workforce reduction did not exceed the minimum threshold for the postretirement plans, and no special postretirement termination benefits were offered. Accordingly, the postretirement plans were not re-measured. See note 4 for additional information regarding the restructuring.

In August 2012, the postretirement benefit plans were amended, and the changes are effective January 1, 2013. The changes primarily impact the Medicare-eligible retirees and will offer more choices in medical coverage available through the individual market. RAI will continue to help with the cost of post-65 medical coverage for eligible retirees and their dependents by making an annual contribution to a tax-free health reimbursement arrangement account, referred to as an HRA. These plan changes reduced the postretirement obligation by $157 million. Lastly, the plan changes necessitated a re-measurement of the obligation and a loss, due to a lower discount rate, resulting in an MTM adjustment of $40 million and a $27 million net decrease of the obligation.

As disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, RAI expects to contribute up to $309 million to its pension plans in 2012, of which $58 million was contributed during the first nine months of 2012.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, referred to as FASB, amended certain accounting and disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. For fair value measurements categorized as Level 1 and Level 2, requirements have been expanded to include disclosures of transfers between these levels. For fair value measurements categorized as Level 3, a reporting entity should disclose quantitative information of the unobservable inputs and assumptions, a description of the valuation processes and a qualitative discussion about the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs. The guidance was effective for RAI for interim and annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2012, and its adoption did not have a material impact on RAI’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance which requires comprehensive income to be reported in either a single statement or in two consecutive statements reporting net income and other comprehensive income. The amendment eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. The guidance was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning January 1, 2012. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the changes related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments. The adoption of the amendment did not have a material impact on RAI’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In September 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance that permits an entity to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the current two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit. The guidance was effective for RAI for interim and annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2012, and its adoption did not have a material impact on RAI’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the FASB issued amended guidance that permits an entity to make a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset, other than goodwill, is impaired. If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, it is not required to perform the quantitative impairment test for that asset. The FASB issued similar guidance for testing goodwill for impairment in September 2011. The guidance is effective for RAI for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, and is not expected to have a material impact on RAI’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

9


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Note 2 — Fair Value

RAI determines fair value of assets and liabilities using a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity, and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, essentially an exit price.

The levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

Level 1: inputs are quoted prices, unadjusted, in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2: inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. A Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3: inputs are unobservable and reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012, were as follows:

 

     Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Cash and cash equivalents:

          

Cash equivalents

   $ 799       $ —        $ —         $ 799   

Other assets and deferred charges:

          

Auction rate securities

     —           —          66         66   

Mortgage-backed security

     —           —          13         13   

Marketable equity security

     4         —          —           4   

Other current liabilities:

          

Interest rate contracts

     —           (28     —           (28

Financial assets carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011, were as follows:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Cash and cash equivalents:

           

Cash equivalents

   $ 1,473       $ —         $ —         $ 1,473   

Other assets and deferred charges:

           

Auction rate securities

     —           —           63         63   

Mortgage-backed security

     —           —           12         12   

Marketable equity security

     5         —           —           5   

There were no changes among the levels in the nine months ended September 30, 2012, or in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Investments

RAI reviews these investments on a quarterly basis to determine if it is probable that RAI will realize some portion of the unrealized loss and to determine the classification of the impairment as temporary or other-than-temporary.

 

10


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

For those securities in which RAI does not intend to sell and it is more likely than not that RAI will not be required to sell the securities prior to recovery, RAI recognizes the credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment of its debt securities in earnings and the noncredit component in other comprehensive loss.

In determining if the difference between amortized cost and estimated fair value of the auction rate securities or the mortgage-backed security was deemed either temporary or other-than-temporary impairment, RAI evaluated each type of long-term investment using a set of criteria, including decline in value, duration of the decline, period until anticipated recovery, nature of investment, probability of recovery, financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, RAI’s intent and ability to retain the investment, attributes of the decline in value, status with rating agencies, status of principal and interest payments and any other issues related to the underlying securities. To assess credit losses, RAI uses historical default rates, debt ratings, credit default swap spreads and recovery rates. RAI has the intent and ability to hold these investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for the recovery in market value.

Significantly all of the fair values of the auction rate securities, classified as Level 3, are linked to the longer-term credit risk of a diverse range of corporations, including, but not limited to, manufacturing, financial and insurance sectors. The fair value was determined by utilizing an income approach model, which was based upon the weighted average present value of future cash payments, given the probability of certain events occurring within the market. RAI considers the market for its auction rate securities to be inactive. The income approach model utilized observable inputs, including LIBOR-based interest rate curves, corporate credit spreads and corporate ratings/market valuations. Additionally, unobservable factors incorporated into the model included default probability assumptions based on historical migration tables, various default recovery rates and how these factors changed as ratings on the underlying collateral migrated from one level to another. As related to the unobservable factors, substantial changes, relative to historical trends, of the levels of corporate defaults or default recovery rates would impact the fair value measurement of these securities. Maturity dates for the auction rate securities begin in 2017.

The fair value for the mortgage-backed security, classified as Level 3, utilized a market approach and was based upon the calculation of an overall weighted average valuation, derived from the actual, or modeled, market pricing of the specific collateral. The market approach utilized actual pricing inputs when observable and modeled pricing, based upon changes in observable market pricing, when unobservable. Substantial changes in the observable market pricing would directly impact the unobservable pricing and the fair value measurement of this security. RAI has deemed the market for its mortgage-backed security to be inactive. The maturity of the mortgage-backed security has been extended to March 2013, with the annual option to extend an additional year. Given the underlying collateral and RAI’s intent to continue to extend this security, it is classified as a noncurrent asset.

RAI determined the change in the fair value of the investment in a marketable equity security using quoted market prices as of September 30, 2012.

Financial assets classified as Level 3 investments were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Loss (1)
    Estimated
Fair  Value
     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Loss(1)
    Estimated
Fair  Value
 

Auction rate securities

   $ 99       $ (33   $ 66       $ 99       $ (36   $ 63   

Mortgage-backed security

     23         (10     13         25         (13     12   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 122       $ (43   $ 79       $ 124       $ (49   $ 75   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

(1)

Unrealized losses, net of tax, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss in RAI’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and December 31, 2011.

 

11


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The changes in the Level 3 investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, were as follows:

 

     Auction Rate Securities  
     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
(Loss) Gain
    Estimated
Fair  Value
 

Balance as of January 1, 2012

   $ 99       $ (36   $ 63   

Unrealized gain

     —           3        3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ 99       $ (33   $ 66   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Mortgage-Backed Security  
     Cost     Gross
Unrealized
(Loss) Gain
    Estimated
Fair  Value
 

Balance as of January 1, 2012

   $ 25      $ (13   $ 12   

Unrealized gain

     —          3        3   

Redemptions

     (2     —          (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ 23      $ (10   $ 13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value of Debt

The estimated fair value of RAI’s and RJR’s outstanding debt, in the aggregate, was $4.3 billion and $4.0 billion with an effective average annual interest rate of approximately 5.5% and 5.9%, as of September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively. The fair values are based on available market quotes, credit spreads and discounted cash flows, as appropriate.

Interest Rate Management

From time to time, RAI and RJR use interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk on a portion of their respective debt obligations. In 2009, RAI and RJR entered into offsetting floating to fixed interest rate swap agreements in the notional amount of $1.5 billion with maturity dates ranging from June 1, 2012 to June 15, 2017. The floating to fixed interest rate swap agreements were entered into with the same financial institution that holds a notional amount of $1.5 billion of fixed to floating interest rate swaps. As a result of these actions, at September 30, 2012, RAI had economically decreased the fixed rate on $1.1 billion of debt to a fixed rate of interest of approximately 4.1%.

During September 2011, RAI and RJR terminated original and offsetting interest rate swap agreements, each with a notional amount of $1.5 billion and maturity dates ranging from June 1, 2012 to June 15, 2017. RAI and RJR received a total of $186 million cash in exchange for foregoing the future cash inflows associated with these swaps. These actions did not change the effective fixed rate of interest associated with the underlying debt.

The amortization of the gain upon termination of hedge accounting impacted the condensed consolidated statements of income (unaudited) as follows:

 

     For the Three  Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine  Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Interest and debt expense

   $ (7   $ (12   $ (26   $ (37

In May 2012, RAI entered into forward starting interest rate contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $1 billion. RAI has designated these derivatives as cash flow hedges of a forecasted transaction. These forward starting interest rate contracts mitigate RAI’s exposure to changes in the benchmark interest rate from the date of inception until the date of the forecasted transaction. Unrealized gains or losses associated with the cash flow hedges will be recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Upon realization of the forecasted transaction, gains or losses will be amortized over the life of the forecasted transaction.

 

12


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

These derivatives were determined to be highly effective at inception. There was no hedge ineffectiveness during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. The unrealized loss during 2012 on these derivative instruments was $28 million, which was recorded in other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012, with an offset to accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit of $10 million. The calculation of the fair value of interest rate swaps was derived from a discounted cash flow analysis based on the terms of the contracts and the observable market interest rate curve. In addition, the calculation of the fair value considered the risk of nonperformance, including counterparty credit risk.

Note 3 — Intangible Assets

There was no significant change to the carrying amount of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

The carrying amounts and changes therein of trademarks and other intangible assets by segment were as follows:

 

     RJR Tobacco     American
Snuff
    Santa Fe      All Other      Consolidated  
     Trademarks     Other     Trademarks     Trademarks      Other      Trademarks     Other  

Finite-lived:

                

Balance as of December 31, 2011

   $ 4      $ 39      $ 11      $ —         $ —         $ 15      $ 39   

Amortization

     (4     (11     (1     —           —           (5     (11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ —        $ 28      $ 10      $ —         $ —         $ 10      $ 28   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Indefinite-lived:

                

Balance as of December 31, 2011

   $ 1,109      $ 99      $ 1,136      $ 155       $ 49       $ 2,400      $ 148   

Foreign currency translation

     —          —          —          —           2         —          2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ 1,109      $ 99      $ 1,136      $ 155       $ 51       $ 2,400      $ 150   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Details of intangible assets as of September 30, 2012, were as follows:

 

     Gross      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Finite-lived:

        

Contract manufacturing agreements

   $ 151       $ 123       $ 28   

Trademarks

     96         86         10   

Indefinite-lived

     3,053         503         2,550   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 3,300       $ 712       $ 2,588   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The estimated remaining amortization associated with finite-lived intangible assets is expected to be expensed as follows:

 

Year

   Amount  

Remainder of 2012

   $ 5   

2013

     16   

2014

     10   

2015

     1   

2016

     1   

Thereafter

     5   
  

 

 

 
   $ 38   
  

 

 

 

 

13


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Note 4 — Restructuring

On March 14, 2012, RAI announced that it and its subsidiaries, RJR Tobacco and RAI Services Company, had completed a business analysis designed to identify resources to reinvest in their businesses. As a result of this initiative, the total U.S. workforce of RAI and its subsidiaries will decline by a net of approximately 10% upon the completion of the restructuring by the end of 2014.

Under existing severance plans, $111 million of cash severance, benefits and related costs and $38 million of non-cash pension-related benefits comprised a restructuring charge of $149 million during the first quarter of 2012. Of this charge, $138 million was recorded in the RJR Tobacco segment. Of the cash portion, $36 million had been paid as of September 30, 2012. Accordingly, in the condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012, $16 million was included in other current liabilities and $59 million was included in other noncurrent liabilities.

The component of the restructuring charge accrued and utilized was as follows:

 

     Employee
Severance
and Benefits
 

Original accrual

   $ 149   

Utilized in 2012

     (74
  

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ 75   
  

 

 

 

Note 5 — Income Per Share

The components of the calculation of income per share were as follows:

 

     For the Three  Months
Ended September 30,
     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

Net income

   $ 420       $ 394       $ 1,133       $ 1,102   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares, in thousands

     562,387         582,912         568,663         582,939   

Effect of dilutive potential shares:

           

Stock units

     2,008         3,170         2,292         2,929   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares, in thousands

     564,395         586,082         570,955         585,868   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 6 — Inventories

The major components of inventories were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Leaf tobacco

   $ 841       $ 885   

Other raw materials

     45         44   

Work in process

     62         60   

Finished products

     142         139   

Other

     30         24   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,120         1,152   

Less LIFO allowance

     196         185   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 924       $ 967   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

14


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

RJR Tobacco performs its annual LIFO inventory valuation at December 31. Interim periods represent an estimate of the expected annual valuation.

Note 7 — Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes from continuing operations was as follows:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Provision for income taxes from continuing operations

   $ 243      $ 232      $ 635      $ 623   

Effective tax rate

     36.7     37.1     35.9     36.1

The effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, were favorably impacted by the reversal of tax and interest reserves related to various state statute expirations and audit settlements. The effective income tax rate for each period includes the impact of federal and state taxes and certain nondeductible items, offset by the domestic production activities deduction of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

Note 8 — Borrowing Arrangements

RAI and RJR Notes

On June 1, 2012, RAI repaid $450 million in principal of debt due in 2012. In addition, in June 2012, RJR prepaid the remaining insignificant amount of RJR’s guaranteed, unsecured long-term debt that was due in 2015. As a result of the repayment of these notes, RAI is no longer required to present condensed consolidated financial statements relating to RJR’s remaining outstanding notes, none of which are guaranteed.

Credit Agreement

On July 29, 2011, RAI entered into a credit agreement, referred to as the Credit Agreement, with a syndicate of lenders, providing for a four-year $750 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which may be increased to $1 billion at the discretion of the lenders upon the request of RAI. This agreement replaced RAI’s Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2007, as amended.

The Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants that (a) limit the ability of RAI and its subsidiaries to (i) pay dividends and repurchase stock, (ii) engage in transactions with affiliates, (iii) create liens, and (iv) engage in sale-leaseback transactions involving a Principal Property, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and (b) limit the ability of RAI and its Material Subsidiaries, to sell or dispose of all or substantially all of their assets and engage in specified mergers or consolidations. The Credit Agreement also contains a restrictive covenant that limits the amount of debt that may be incurred by non-guarantor subsidiaries, together with certain financial covenants. The restrictive covenants in the Credit Agreement are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions. The financial covenant levels in the Credit Agreement are a maximum of 3.00 to 1.00 for the consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum of 4.00 to 1.00 for the consolidated interest coverage ratio. In addition, the maturity date of the Credit Agreement is July 29, 2015, which date may be extended, with the agreement of the requisite lenders, in two separate one-year increments. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including upon a change in control, as defined therein, that could result in the acceleration of all amounts and cancellation of all commitments outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

RAI is able to use the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement for borrowings and issuances of letters of credit at its option, subject to a $200 million sublimit on the aggregate amount of letters of credit. Issuances of letters of credit reduce availability under such revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2012, there were no borrowings, and $6 million of letters of credit outstanding, under the Credit Agreement.

The obligations of RAI under the Credit Agreement are unsecured. Certain of RAI’s subsidiaries, including its Material Subsidiaries, as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement, have guaranteed, on an unsecured basis, RAI’s obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

15


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On March 27, 2012, RAI and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a First Amendment to the Credit Agreement and First Amendment to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement to provide for the further guarantee by the subsidiary guarantors of RAI’s obligations to the lenders and affiliates thereof under certain designated swap, forward, future or derivative transactions or options or similar agreements from time to time entered into between RAI and such lenders or affiliates.

Term Loan

On February 24, 2012, RAI entered into a term loan, referred to as the Term Loan, with a syndicate of lenders, providing for an unsecured delayed draw term loan facility, with a maximum borrowing capacity of up to $750 million. On April 11, 2012, RAI borrowed the entire $750 million under the Term Loan. On September 13, 2012, RAI repaid $100 million of the Term Loan leaving the outstanding balance of $650 million as of September 30, 2012. The Term Loan matures on December 28, 2012, and bears interest at the rate of approximately 2.0%.

The Term Loan contains restrictive covenants that are substantially the same as those in the Credit Agreement. The Term Loan contains customary events of default, including upon a change in control, as defined therein, that could result in the acceleration of all amounts outstanding under the Term Loan.

Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest, at the option of RAI, at a rate equal to an applicable margin, which is based upon RAI’s senior unsecured long-term debt credit rating, plus:

 

   

the alternate base rate, which is the greatest of (a) the prime-rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus 0.5% and (c) the reserve-adjusted eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period plus 1%; or

 

   

the eurodollar rate, which is the reserve adjusted rate at which eurodollar deposits for one, two, three or six months (or shorter periods if agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the lenders) are offered in the interbank eurodollar market.

Certain of RAI’s subsidiaries, including its Material Subsidiaries, have guaranteed on an unsecured basis, RAI’s obligations under the Term Loan, pursuant to a subsidiary guarantee agreement.

Note 9 — Commitments and Contingencies

Tobacco Litigation — General

Introduction

Various legal proceedings or claims, including litigation claiming that cancer and other diseases, as well as addiction, have resulted from the use of, or exposure to, RAI’s operating subsidiaries’ products, are pending or may be instituted against RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. or their affiliates, including RAI and RJR, or indemnitees, including B&W. These pending legal proceedings include claims relating to cigarette products manufactured by RJR Tobacco or certain of its affiliates and indemnitees, as well as claims relating to smokeless tobacco products manufactured by American Snuff Co. A discussion of the legal proceedings relating to cigarette products is set forth below under the heading “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry.” All of the references under that heading to tobacco-related litigation, smoking and health litigation and other similar references are references to legal proceedings relating to cigarette products and are not references to legal proceedings involving smokeless tobacco products, and case numbers under that heading include only cases involving cigarette products. The legal proceedings relating to the smokeless tobacco products manufactured by American Snuff Co. are discussed separately under the heading “— Smokeless Tobacco Litigation” below.

In connection with the B&W business combination, RJR Tobacco has agreed to indemnify B&W and its affiliates, including its indirect parent, BAT, against certain liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by B&W or its affiliates arising out of the U.S. cigarette and tobacco business of B&W. As a result of this indemnity, RJR Tobacco

 

16


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

has assumed the defense of pending B&W-specific tobacco-related litigation, has paid the judgments and costs related to certain pre-business combination tobacco-related litigation of B&W, and has posted bonds on behalf of B&W, where necessary, in connection with cases decided since the B&W business combination. In addition, pursuant to this indemnity, RJR Tobacco expensed less than $1 million during the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 for funds to be reimbursed to BAT for costs and expenses incurred arising out of certain tobacco-related litigation.

Certain Terms and Phrases

Certain terms and phrases used in this disclosure may require some explanation. The term “judgment” or “final judgment” refers to the final decision of the court resolving the dispute and determining the rights and obligations of the parties. At the trial court level, for example, a final judgment generally is entered by the court after a jury verdict and after post-verdict motions have been decided. In most cases, the losing party can appeal a verdict only after a final judgment has been entered by the trial court.

The term “damages” refers to the amount of money sought by a plaintiff in a complaint, or awarded to a party by a jury or, in some cases, by a judge. “Compensatory damages” are awarded to compensate the prevailing party for actual losses suffered, if liability is proved. In cases in which there is a finding that a defendant has acted willfully, maliciously or fraudulently, generally based on a higher burden of proof than is required for a finding of liability for compensatory damages, a plaintiff also may be awarded “punitive damages.” Although damages may be awarded at the trial court stage, a losing party generally may be protected from paying any damages until all appellate avenues have been exhausted by posting a supersedeas bond. The amount of such a bond is governed by the law of the relevant jurisdiction and generally is set at the amount of damages plus some measure of statutory interest, modified at the discretion of the appropriate court or subject to limits set by court or statute.

The term “settlement” refers to certain types of cases in which cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, have agreed to resolve disputes with certain plaintiffs without resolving the case through trial. The principal terms of certain settlements entered into by RJR Tobacco and B&W are explained below under “— Accounting for Tobacco-Related Litigation Contingencies.”

Theories of Recovery

The plaintiffs seek recovery on a variety of legal theories, including negligence, strict liability in tort, design defect, special duty, voluntary undertaking, breach of warranty, failure to warn, fraud, misrepresentation, unfair trade practices, conspiracy, unjust enrichment, medical monitoring, public nuisance and violations of state and federal antitrust laws. In certain of these cases, the plaintiffs claim that cigarette smoking exacerbated injuries caused by exposure to asbestos.

The plaintiffs seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, treble or multiple damages and statutory damages and penalties, creation of medical monitoring and smoking cessation funds, disgorgement of profits, and injunctive and other equitable relief. Although alleged damages often are not determinable from a complaint, and the law governing the pleading and calculation of damages varies from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction, compensatory and punitive damages have been specifically pleaded in a number of cases, sometimes in amounts ranging into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.

Defenses

The defenses raised by RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and their affiliates and indemnitees include, where applicable and otherwise appropriate, preemption by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of some or all claims arising after 1969, or by the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act for claims arising after 1986, the lack of any defect in the product, assumption of the risk, contributory or comparative fault, lack of proximate cause, remoteness, lack of standing and statutes of limitations or repose. RAI and RJR have asserted additional defenses, including jurisdictional defenses, in many of the cases in which they are named.

Accounting for Tobacco-Related Litigation Contingencies

In accordance with GAAP, RAI and its subsidiaries, including RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and SFNTC, as applicable, record any loss concerning litigation at such time as an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and the

 

17


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

amount can be reasonably estimated on an individual case-by-case basis. For the reasons set forth below, RAI’s management continues to conclude that the loss of any particular pending smoking and health tobacco litigation claim against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees, or the loss of any particular claim concerning the use of smokeless tobacco against American Snuff Co., when viewed on an individual basis, is not probable.

RJR Tobacco and its affiliates believe that they have valid defenses to the smoking and health tobacco litigation claims against them, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts against them. RAI, RJR Tobacco and their affiliates and indemnitees have, through their counsel, filed pleadings and memoranda in pending smoking and health tobacco litigation that set forth and discuss a number of grounds and defenses that they and their counsel believe have a valid basis in law and fact. With the exception of Engle Progeny cases, described below, RJR Tobacco and its affiliates and indemnitees continue to win the majority of smoking and health tobacco litigation claims that reach trial, and a very high percentage of the tobacco-related litigation claims brought against them continue to be dismissed at or before trial. Based on their experience in the smoking and health tobacco litigation against them and the strength of the defenses available to them in such litigation, RJR Tobacco and its affiliates believe that their successful defense of smoking and health tobacco litigation in the past will continue in the future.

No liabilities for pending smoking and health litigation have been recorded as of September 30, 2012. During the third quarter of 2012, a payment of $8.3 million ($5.5 million for compensatory and punitive damages and $2.8 million for attorneys’ fees) extinguished an accrual for two Engle Progeny cases, Alexander and Huish, described below. As other cases proceed through the appellate process, RAI will consider making further accruals on an individual case-by-case basis if an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

It is the policy of RJR Tobacco and its affiliates to vigorously defend all tobacco-related litigation claims. Generally, RJR Tobacco and its affiliates and indemnitees have not settled any smoking and health tobacco litigation claims. Other than actions taken pursuant to “offering of judgement” statutes, as described below in “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry,” RJR Tobacco and its affiliates do not intend to settle such claims.

With respect to smoking and health tobacco litigation claims, the only significant settlements reached by RJR Tobacco and B&W involved:

 

   

the State Settlement Agreements and the funding by various tobacco companies of a $5.2 billion trust fund contemplated by the MSA to benefit tobacco growers; and

 

   

the original Broin flight attendant case discussed below under “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Broin II Cases.”

The circumstances surrounding the State Settlement Agreements and the funding of a trust fund to benefit the tobacco growers are readily distinguishable from the current categories of smoking and health cases involving RJR Tobacco or its affiliates and indemnitees. The claims underlying the State Settlement Agreements were brought on behalf of the states to recover funds paid for health care and medical and other assistance to state citizens suffering from diseases and conditions allegedly related to tobacco use. The State Settlement Agreements settled all the health-care cost recovery actions brought by, or on behalf of, the settling jurisdictions and contain releases of various additional present and future claims. In accordance with the MSA, various tobacco companies agreed to fund a $5.2 billion trust fund to be used to address the possible adverse economic impact of the MSA on tobacco growers. A discussion of the State Settlement Agreements, and a table depicting the related payment schedule, is set forth below under “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements.”

The states were a unique set of plaintiffs and are not involved in any of the smoking and health cases remaining against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates and indemnitees. Although RJR Tobacco and certain of its affiliates and indemnitees continue to be defendants in health-care cost recovery cases similar in theory to the state cases but involving other plaintiffs, such as Native American tribes and foreign governments, the vast majority of such cases have been dismissed on legal grounds. RJR Tobacco and its affiliates, including RAI, believe that the same legal principles that have resulted in dismissal of health-care cost recovery cases either at the trial court level or on appeal should compel dismissal of the similar pending cases.

 

18


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

As with claims that were resolved by the State Settlement Agreements, the other cases settled by RJR Tobacco can be distinguished from existing cases pending against RJR Tobacco and its affiliates and indemnitees. The original Broin case, discussed below under “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Broin II Cases,” was settled in the middle of trial during negotiations concerning a possible nation-wide settlement of claims similar to those underlying the State Settlement Agreements.

RJR Tobacco’s Comprehensive Agreement with the Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments resolved all civil claims related to the movement of contraband tobacco products in Canada during the period 1985 through 1999 that the Canadian governments could assert against RJR Tobacco and its affiliates. These claims were separate from any smoking and health tobacco litigation.

Likewise, RJR Tobacco and B&W separately settled the antitrust case DeLoach v. Philip Morris Cos., Inc., which was brought by a unique class of plaintiffs: a class of all tobacco growers and tobacco allotment holders. The plaintiffs asserted that the defendants conspired to fix the price of tobacco leaf and to destroy the federal government’s tobacco quota and price support program. Despite legal defenses they believed to be valid, RJR Tobacco and B&W separately settled this case to avoid a long and contentious trial with the tobacco growers. The DeLoach case and the antitrust case currently pending against RJR Tobacco and B&W involve different types of plaintiffs and different theories of recovery under the antitrust laws than the smoking and health cases pending against RJR Tobacco and its affiliates and indemnitees.

Finally, as discussed under “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — State Settlement Agreements — Enforcement and Validity; Adjustments,” RJR Tobacco and B&W each has settled certain cases brought by states concerning the enforcement of State Settlement Agreements. Despite legal defenses believed to be valid, these cases were settled to avoid further contentious litigation with the states involved. These enforcement actions involve alleged breaches of State Settlement Agreements based on specific actions taken by particular defendants. Accordingly, any future enforcement actions involving State Settlement Agreements will be reviewed by RJR Tobacco on the merits and should not be affected by the settlement of prior enforcement cases.

American Snuff Co. also believes that it has valid defenses to the smokeless tobacco litigation against it. American Snuff Co. asserted and will continue to assert some or all of these defenses in each case at the time and in the manner deemed appropriate by American Snuff Co. and its counsel. No verdict or judgment has been returned or entered against American Snuff Co. on any claim for personal injuries allegedly resulting from the use of smokeless tobacco. American Snuff Co. intends to defend vigorously all smokeless tobacco litigation claims asserted against it. No liability for pending smokeless tobacco litigation was recorded in RAI’s condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012.

Cautionary Statement

Even though RAI’s management continues to conclude that the loss of any particular pending smoking and health tobacco litigation claim against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees, or the loss of any particular case concerning the use of smokeless tobacco against American Snuff Co., when viewed on an individual case-by-case basis, is not probable, the possibility of material losses related to such litigation is more than remote. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and generally, it is not possible to predict the outcome of any particular litigation pending against RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. or their affiliates or indemnitees, or to reasonably estimate the amount or range of any possible loss.

Although RJR Tobacco believes that it has valid bases for appeals of adverse verdicts in its pending cases, and RJR Tobacco and RAI believe they have valid defenses to all actions, and intend to defend all actions vigorously, it is possible that there could be further adverse developments in pending cases, and that additional cases could be decided unfavorably against RAI, RJR Tobacco or their affiliates or indemnitees. Determinations of liability or adverse rulings in such cases or in similar cases involving other cigarette manufacturers as defendants, even if such judgments are not final, could have a material adverse effect on the litigation against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees and could encourage the commencement of additional tobacco-related litigation. In addition, a number of political, legislative, regulatory and other developments relating to the tobacco industry and cigarette smoking have received wide media attention. These developments may negatively affect the outcomes of tobacco-related legal actions and encourage the commencement of additional similar litigation.

 

19


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Although it is impossible to predict the outcome of such events on pending litigation and the rate new lawsuits are filed against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees, a significant increase in litigation or in adverse outcomes for tobacco defendants, or difficulties in obtaining the bonding required to stay execution of judgments on appeal, could have a material adverse effect on any or all of these entities. Moreover, notwithstanding the quality of defenses available to RJR Tobacco and its affiliates and indemnitees in litigation matters, it is possible that RAI’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position could be materially adversely affected by the ultimate outcome of certain pending litigation matters against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees.

Similarly, smokeless tobacco litigation is subject to many uncertainties. Notwithstanding the quality of defenses available to American Snuff Co., it is possible that RAI’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position could be materially adversely affected by the ultimate outcome of certain pending litigation matters against American Snuff Co.

Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry

Overview

Introduction. In connection with the B&W business combination, RJR Tobacco agreed to indemnify B&W and its affiliates against, among other things, certain litigation liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by B&W or its affiliates arising out of the U.S. cigarette and tobacco business of B&W. Accordingly, the cases discussed below include cases brought solely against RJR Tobacco and its affiliates, including RAI and RJR; cases brought against both RJR Tobacco, its affiliates and B&W; and cases brought solely against B&W and assumed by RJR Tobacco in the B&W business combination.

During the third quarter of 2012, 22 tobacco-related cases, including 17 Engle Progeny cases (as hereinafter defined), were served against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees. On September 30, 2012, there were 153 cases pending against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees: 139 in the United States and 14 in Canada, as compared with 171 total cases on September 30, 2011. The U.S. case number does not include the 564 individual smoker cases pending in West Virginia state court as a consolidated action, 5,804 Engle Progeny cases, involving approximately 6,979 individual plaintiffs, and 2,574 Broin II cases (as hereinafter defined), pending in the United States against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees. Of the U.S. cases pending on September 30, 2012, 17 are pending in federal court, and 121 in state court, primarily in the following states: Florida (28 cases); Missouri (19 cases); New York (16 cases); Louisiana (9 cases); California (9 cases); and Maryland (8 cases).

The following table lists the categories of the U.S. tobacco-related cases pending against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees as of September 30, 2012, compared with the number of cases pending against RJR Tobacco, its affiliates or indemnitees as of June 30, 2012, as reported in RAI’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on July 25, 2012, and a cross-reference to the discussion of each case type.

 

Case Type

   RJR Tobacco’s
Case  Numbers as
of September 30, 2012
   Change in
Number of
Cases Since
June 30,  2012
Increase/(Decrease)
   Page
Reference

Individual Smoking and Health

   86    (15)    29

West Virginia IPIC (Number of Plaintiffs)*

   1 (564)    No change    30

Engle Progeny (Number of Plaintiffs)**

   5,804 (6,979)    (746) (805)    30

Broin II

   2,574    (7)    41

Class-Action

   9    (1)    41

Health-Care Cost Recovery

   2    No change    45

State Settlement Agreements-Enforcement and Validity; Adjustments

   31    No change    51

Antitrust

   1    1    55

Other Litigation and Developments

   9    1    55

 

20


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

* Includes as one case the 564 cases pending as a consolidated action In Re: Tobacco Litigation Individual Personal Injury Cases, sometimes referred to as West Virginia IPIC cases, described below. The West Virginia IPIC cases have been separated from the Individual Smoking and Health cases for reporting purposes.
** The Engle Progeny cases have been separated from the Individual Smoking and Health cases for reporting purposes. The number of cases has decreased as the result of many of the multiple plaintiff federal court cases either being dismissed or consolidated.

The following cases against RJR Tobacco and B&W have attracted significant attention: the Florida state court class-action case, Engle v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and the related Engle Progeny cases; the Louisiana state court class-action case, Scott v. American Tobacco Co.; and the case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, referred to as RICO.

In 2000, a jury in Engle, a class action brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, rendered a $145 billion punitive damages verdict in favor of a class of Florida smokers allegedly harmed by their addiction to nicotine. In 2006, the Florida Supreme Court reversed that award, decertified the Engle class, and preserved several of the Engle findings for use in subsequent individual actions to be filed within one year of its decision. The preserved Engle findings include jury determinations that smoking causes various diseases, that nicotine is addictive, and that each defendant sold cigarettes that were defective and unreasonably dangerous. The Engle findings do not indicate that all cigarettes sold by each defendant were defective and unreasonably dangerous.

Thousands of individual progeny actions were filed in federal and state courts in Florida. As of September 30, 2012, 2,491 cases were pending in federal court, and 3,313 cases were pending in state court. These cases include approximately 6,979 plaintiffs. In addition, as of September 30, 2012, RJR Tobacco was aware of 36 additional cases that had been filed but not served. Seventy-eight trials have occurred in Florida state and federal courts since 2009, and numerous state court trials are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012 through September 30, 2013. Other reasons for the fluctuation in the number of pending cases are voluntary and involuntary dismissals. Voluntary dismissals include cases in which a plaintiff accepts an “offer of judgment,” referred to in Florida statutes

as “proposals for settlement,” from RJR Tobacco and/or its affiliates. An offer of judgment, if rejected by the plaintiff, preserves RJR Tobacco’s right to recover attorney’s fees under Florida law in the event of a favorable verdict and is sometimes made through court-ordered mediations.

In each Engle Progeny case, a central issue is the proper use of the Engle findings preserved by the Florida Supreme Court. The federal and state courts that have addressed the question have adopted conflicting views. For example, in Bernice Brown v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, referred to as the Eleventh Circuit, held that the preserved Engle findings establish only those issues “actually adjudicated” in the Engle class trial. In other words, those findings would not prevent RJR Tobacco and other defendants from raising issues and defenses that were not, or may not have been, resolved against them in Engle. The court further held that an Engle Progeny plaintiff bears the burden of showing, to a “reasonable degree of certainty,” that any issue the plaintiff seeks to treat as established in his favor was, in fact, actually decided in Engle. The court held that these standards were required by Florida preclusion law, and it reserved judgment on whether the same standards were also required by the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Prior to the Eleventh Circuit decision in Bernice Brown, three federal district court judges had concluded that any broader use of the preserved Engle findings would violate both Florida preclusion law and federal due process.

In contrast, the Florida intermediate appellate courts have permitted significantly broader use of the Engle findings. Four of the five Florida District Courts of Appeal, each referred to as a “District” or “DCA,” have held that the Engle findings automatically establish all tortious-conduct elements of every Engle Progeny claim, without any inquiry into whether the Engle findings relate in any way to the specific claims of the individual plaintiff. The First, Second, Third and Fourth Districts adopted this view in their respective decisions in Martin v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Douglas v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., Frazier v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., and Jimmie Lee Brown v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. However, these decisions disagree on the extent to which the Engle findings establish legal-cause elements of Engle Progeny claims. For example, in Martin, the First District held that an Engle Progeny plaintiff, to establish claims for strict liability and negligence, need only show class membership — i.e., that the individual was harmed as a result of his or her addiction to smoking. By contrast, in Jimmie Lee Brown, the Fourth District held that, in addition to proving that addiction caused an injury, the plaintiff also was required to prove that a product defect or negligence also caused that injury. And in Douglas, the Second District agreed with the First District as to claims for strict liability, but with the Fourth District as to claims for negligence.

The proper use of the Engle findings in progeny litigation is an issue currently pending before the Florida Supreme Court in Douglas. In that case, the Fourth District certified for Florida Supreme Court review the question of whether use of the Engle findings to establish individual elements in progeny cases is consistent with federal due process. The Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction and established a highly expedited briefing schedule. Oral argument occurred on September 6, 2012. A decision is pending.

 

21


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The same due process question is also now pending in the Eleventh Circuit. Following the state appellate decisions noted above, the federal district courts determined to follow those decisions, as opposed to Bernice Brown, on questions of state law. Then, in Waggoner v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida held that the preclusion standard set forth in Jimmie Lee Brown is consistent with federal due process. The Waggoner decision thus conflicts with the decisions of the other federal district judges who previously addressed the due process question. Several federal trials have gone forward under Waggoner. The defendants have prevailed in most of those trials, but adverse verdicts were entered against RJR Tobacco in Walker v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Duke v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. RJR Tobacco has already appealed Walker to the Eleventh Circuit, and it expects to appeal Duke as soon as post-trial motions are resolved. Both cases squarely present the question of whether use of the Engle findings to establish individual elements of progeny claims is consistent with federal due process.

Six cases have become final before the Engle defendants could obtain review of their due process argument in either the Florida Supreme Court or the Eleventh Circuit. In each of Martin, Campbell v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Gray v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Hall v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the First DCA rejected RJR Tobacco’s position, and both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined further review. Accordingly, Martin, Campbell, Gray and Hall resulted in a payment by RJR Tobacco of $66.5 million ($53 million for compensatory and punitive damages and $13.5 million for attorneys’ fees and statutory interest) in the second quarter of 2012. In Earline Alexander v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Huish v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the First DCA rejected RJR Tobacco’s position in an unpublished order. As a result, the Florida Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to conduct further review, and RJR Tobacco decided not to seek certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court. Alexander and Huish resulted in a payment by RJR Tobacco of $8.3 million ($5.5 million for compensatory and punitive damages and $2.8 million for attorneys’ fees and statutory interest) in the third quarter of 2012. As of September 30, 2012, no liabilities for pending smoking and health litigation have been recorded.

The following chart reflects verdicts in pending individual Engle Progeny cases in which a verdict has been returned against RJR Tobacco or B&W, or both, for which RJR Tobacco has reflected no liability as of September 30, 2012. It does not include the mistrials or verdicts returned in favor of RJR Tobacco or B&W, or both.

 

Plaintiff Case Name

   RJR
Tobacco
Allocation
of Fault
    Compensatory
Damages (as
adjusted)(1)
     Punitive
Damages
    

Appeal Status

Sherman

     50   $ 775,000       $ —         Notice to invoke discretionary jurisdiction of Florida Supreme Court pending

Jimmie Lee Brown

     50     600,000         —         Notice to invoke discretionary jurisdiction of Florida Supreme Court pending

Douglas

     5     250,000         —         Decision pending — Florida Supreme Court

Cohen

     33.3     3,300,000         10,000,000       Pending — Fourth DCA

Clay

     60     2,100,000         17,000,000       Petition for certiorari with U.S. Supreme Court filed August 31, 2012

Townsend

     51     5,500,000         20,000,000       Remittitur entered; notice of appeal filed with First DCA

Putney

     30     4,500,000         2,500,000       Pending — Fourth DCA

Grossman

     25     484,000         —         Liability affirmed; Reversed and remanded for new trial

Buonomo

     77.5     4,060,000         15,700,000       Pending — Fourth DCA

Piendle

     27.5     1,100,000         180,000       Affirmed by Fourth DCA per curiam; Deadline to seek certiorari with U.S. Supreme Court — November 17, 2012

 

22


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Koballa

     30     300,000        —         Pending — Fifth DCA(3)

Webb

     90     3,600,000        25,000,000       Remittitur entered; notice of appeal filed with First DCA in October 2012

Kirkland

     10     10,000        250,000       Pending — Second DCA

Mack

     51     510,000        —         Reversed and remanded for new trial

Andy Allen

     45     2,700,000        8,100,000       Pending — First DCA

Jewett

     20     218,600        —         Pending — First DCA

Reese

     30     1,070,000        —         Pending — Third DCA

Soffer

     40     2,000,000        —         Pending — First DCA

Ciccone

     30     1,000,000        50,000       Pending — Fourth DCA

Weingart

     3     4,500        —         Pending — Fourth DCA

Bowman

     30     450,000        —         Pending — First DCA

Sury

     20     500,000 (4)      —         Pending — First DCA

Hallgren

     25     500,000        750,000       Pending — Second DCA

Ward

     30     300,000        1,700,000       Pending — First DCA

Emmon Smith

     70     7,000,000        20,000,000       Pending — First DCA

Duke

     25     7,700        —         Pending — Eleventh Circuit

Calloway

     27     5,535,000        17,250,000       Pending — Fourth DCA

Walker

     10     27,500        —         Pending — Eleventh Circuit

Hiott

     40     730,000        —         Post-trial motions pending(2)

Hancock

     5     5,600        —         Post-trial motions pending(2)

Sikes

     51     2,100,000        2,000,000       Post-trial motions pending(2)
    

 

 

   

 

 

    

Totals

     $ 51,237,900      $ 140,480,000      
    

 

 

   

 

 

    

  

 

(1) 

Compensatory damages are adjusted to reflect the reduction required by the allocation of fault. Punitive damages are not adjusted and reflect the amount of the final judgment(s) signed by the trial court judge(s). The amounts listed above do not include attorneys’ fees or statutory interest that may apply to the judgments should they ever have to be paid.

(2) 

Should the pending post-trial motions be denied, RJR Tobacco will file a notice of appeal with the appropriate appellate court.

(3) 

The court in Koballa found RJR Tobacco not liable for the plaintiff’s injuries, but awarded damages. For a detailed description of the case, see “— Engle and Engle Progeny Cases” below.

(4) 

The trial court held the defendants jointly and severally liable for the entire $1 million, even though the jury had allocated 60% of fault to the plaintiff and 20% of fault to a co-defendant.

As of September 30, 2012, outstanding jury verdicts in favor of the Engle Progeny plaintiffs had been entered against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $51,237,900 in compensatory damages (as adjusted) and in the amount of $140,480,000 in punitive damages, for a total of $191,717,900. All of these verdicts are at various stages in the appellate process. No liability for pending smoking and health litigation related to Engle Progeny cases was recorded in RAI’s condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012, and RJR Tobacco continues to believe that it has valid defenses in these cases, including the state preclusion law and federal due process issues that impact all Engle Progeny cases. Should RJR Tobacco not prevail in any particular individual Engle Progeny case or determine that in any individual Engle Progeny case an unfavorable outcome has become probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, a loss would be recognized, which could have a material adverse effect on earnings and cash flows of RAI in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year.

This recognition of Engle Progeny cases as of September 30, 2012, is consistent with RAI’s and RJR Tobacco’s historic recognition related to such smoking and health litigation claims. It is the policy of RJR Tobacco and its affiliates to vigorously defend all such claims, including Engle Progeny cases. It is also the policy of RJR Tobacco to record any loss concerning litigation at such time as an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated on an individual case by case basis.

 

23


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

In 2004, a jury in Scott returned a verdict in favor of the “Louisiana class” for $591 million to establish a state-wide smoking cessation program. After multiple appeals, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal amended the final judgment in favor of the class requiring the defendants to deposit with the court $242 million with judicial interest from July 21, 2008, until paid. After further proceedings, the defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court was denied on June 27, 2011. RJR Tobacco paid $139 million, the portion of the judgment allocated to RJR Tobacco and B&W, in the third quarter of 2011. In December 2011, the plaintiffs filed a motion for assessment of attorneys’ fees and costs for the prosecution of the case. On January 6, 2012, the defendants filed exceptions and motion to strike seeking to dismiss the plaintiffs’ motions, which were denied by the trial court. On April 4, 2012, the defendants filed an application for supervisory writs with the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. In May 2012, the parties entered into an agreement that all fees and expenses will come from the fund, and no additional monies will come from the defendants. The agreement is pending approval from the court.

In the U.S. Department of Justice case, brought in 1999 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the government sought, among other forms of relief, the disgorgement of profits pursuant to the civil provisions of RICO. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in 2005 that disgorgement is not an available remedy in the case. The bench trial ended in June 2005, and the court, in August 2006, issued its ruling, among other things, finding certain defendants, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, liable for the RICO claims, imposing no direct financial penalties on the defendants, but ordering the defendants to make certain “corrective communications” in a variety of media and enjoining the defendants from using certain brand descriptors. Both sides appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In May 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals largely affirmed the findings against the tobacco company defendants and remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. The U.S. Supreme Court denied the parties’ petitions for writ of certiorari in June 2010. Post-remand proceedings are underway.

For a detailed description of these cases, see “— Engle and Engle Progeny Cases,” “— Class-Action Suits — Medical Monitoring and Smoking Cessation Case” and “— Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — Department of Justice Case” below.

In November 1998, the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, entered into the MSA with 46 U.S. states, Washington, D.C. and certain U.S. territories and possessions. These cigarette manufacturers previously settled four other cases, brought on behalf of Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota, by separate agreements with each state. These State Settlement Agreements:

 

   

settled all health-care cost recovery actions brought by, or on behalf of, the settling jurisdictions;

 

   

released the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers from various additional present and potential future claims;

 

   

imposed future payment obligations in perpetuity on RJR Tobacco, B&W and other major U.S. cigarette manufacturers; and

 

   

placed significant restrictions on their ability to market and sell cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.

Payments under the State Settlement Agreements are subject to various adjustments for, among other things, the volume of cigarettes sold, relevant market share and inflation. See “— Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements” below for a detailed discussion of the State Settlement Agreements, including RAI’s operating subsidiaries’ monetary obligations under these agreements. RJR Tobacco records the allocation of settlement charges as products are shipped.

Scheduled Trials. Trial schedules are subject to change, and many cases are dismissed before trial. It is likely, however, that RJR Tobacco and other cigarette manufacturers will continue to face an increased number of tobacco-related trials when compared to recent years. There are seven cases, exclusive of Engle Progeny cases, scheduled for trial as of September 30, 2012 through September 30, 2013, for RJR Tobacco or its affiliates and indemnitees: one other non-smoking and health case, five individual smoking and health cases and the West Virginia IPIC case. There are 62 Engle Progeny cases against RJR Tobacco and/or B&W set for trial through September 30, 2013, but it is not known how many of these cases will actually be tried.

 

24


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Trial Results. From January 1, 2009 through September 30, 2012, 85 smoking and health, Engle Progeny and health-care cost recovery cases in which RJR Tobacco or B&W were defendants were tried, including 9 trials for cases where mistrials were declared in the original proceedings. Verdicts in favor of RJR Tobacco, B&W and, in some cases, RJR Tobacco, B&W and other defendants, were returned in 46 cases, including 22 mistrials, tried in Florida (41), Missouri (2) and West Virginia (3). Verdicts in favor of the plaintiffs were returned in 36 cases tried in Florida and one in Connecticut. Two cases in Florida were dismissed during trial.

In the third quarter of 2012, six Engle Progeny cases in which RJR Tobacco was a defendant were tried:

 

   

In Hiott v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Kenneth Hiott, to be 60% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 40% at fault, and awarded $1.825 million in compensatory damages. Punitive damages were not awarded.

 

   

In Denton v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the jury found the defendants liable, but allocated 100% of fault to the decedent, Linda Denton.

 

   

In Hancock v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Edna Siwieck, to be 90% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 5% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 5% at fault, but awarded no compensatory or punitive damages.

 

   

In Starr-Blundell v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the court declared a mistrial due to a juror health issue.

 

   

In Baker v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants.

 

   

In Sikes v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Jimmie Sikes, to be 49% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 51% at fault, and awarded $4.1 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages.

For a detailed description of the above-described cases, see “— Engle and Engle Progeny Cases” below.

In the third quarter of 2012, no non-Engle Progeny individual smoking and health cases in which RJR Tobacco was a defendant were tried.

The following chart reflects the verdicts in the smoking and health cases, Engle Progeny or health-care cost recovery cases that have been tried and remain pending as of September 30, 2012, in which verdicts have been returned in favor of the plaintiffs and against RJR Tobacco or B&W, or both. For information on the post-trial status of individual smoking and health cases, Engle Progeny cases and the Governmental Health Care Cost Recovery Case, see “— Individual Smoking and Health Cases,” “— Engle and Engle Progeny Cases” and “— Health Care Cost Recovery Cases — Department of Justice,” respectively, below:

 

Date of Verdict

  

Case Name/Type

  

Jurisdiction

  

Verdict

December 18, 2003   

Frankson v. Brown & Williamson

Tobacco Corp. [Individual]

  

Supreme Court,

Kings County (Brooklyn, NY)

   $350,000 in compensatory damages; 50% fault assigned to B&W; $20 million in punitive damages, of which $6 million was assigned to B&W, and $2 million to a predecessor company.
February 2, 2005   

Smith v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco

Corp.

[Individual]

  

Circuit Court,

Jackson County

(Independence, MO)

   $2 million in compensatory damages; 25% of fault assigned to B&W, which reduced the award to $500,000; $20 million in punitive damages. In August 2009, a new trial on punitive damages was conducted and the jury awarded $1.5 million.

 

25


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

August 17, 2006   

United States v. Philip Morris USA,

Inc.

[Governmental Health-Care Cost

Recovery]

   U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington, DC)    RJR Tobacco and B&W were found liable for civil RICO claims; were enjoined from using certain brand descriptors and from making certain misrepresentations; and were ordered to make corrective communications on five subjects, including smoking and health and addiction, to reimburse the U.S. Department of Justice appropriate costs associated with the lawsuit, and to maintain document web sites.
May 5, 2009   

Sherman v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco

Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court, Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $1.55 million in compensatory damages; 50% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $775,000. No punitive damages awarded.
May 22, 2009   

Jimmie Lee Brown v.

R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $1.2 million in compensatory damages; 50% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $600,000. No punitive damages awarded.
March 10, 2010   

Douglas v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Hillsborough County,

(Tampa, FL)

   $5 million in compensatory damages; 5% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $250,000. No punitive damages awarded.
March 10, 2010   

Cohen v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $10 million in compensatory damages; 33.3% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $3.3 million; $20 million in punitive damages, of which $10 million was assigned to RJR Tobacco.
April 13, 2010   

Clay v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Escambia County,

(Pensacola, FL)

   $3.5 million in compensatory damages; 60% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $2.1 million; $18 million in punitive damages, of which $17 million was assigned to RJR Tobacco.
April 21, 2010   

Townsend v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Alachua County,

(Gainesville, FL)

   $10.8 million in compensatory damages and $80 million punitive damages; 51% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $5.5 million in compensatory damages; $40.8 million in punitive damages. In June 2012, punitive damages remitted to $20 million.
April 26, 2010   

Putney v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $15.1 million in compensatory damages; 30% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $4.5 million; $5 million in punitive damages, of which $2.5 million was assigned to RJR Tobacco.
April 29, 2010   

Grossman v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $1.9 million in compensatory damages; 25% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $484,000. No punitive damages awarded.

 

26


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

May 20,

2010

  

Buonomo v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

   Circuit Court, Broward County, (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)    $5.2 million in compensatory damages; 77.5% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $4.06 million; $25 million in punitive damages.

May 26,

2010

  

Izzarelli v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Individual]

  

U.S. District Court,

District of Connecticut,

(Bridgeport, CT)

   $13.9 million in compensatory damages; 58% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $8.08 million against RJR Tobacco; $3.97 million in punitive damages.

August 5,

2010

  

Piendle v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Palm Beach County,

(West Palm Beach, FL)

   $4 million in compensatory damages; 27.5% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $1.1 million; $180,000 in punitive damages.

November 15,

2010

  

Webb v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Levy County,

(Bronson, FL)

   $8 million in compensatory damages; 90% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $7.2 million; $72 million in punitive damages. In September 2012, the compensatory damages were remitted to $4 million, and the punitive damages were remitted to $25 million.

February 10,

2011

  

Kirkland v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Hillsborough County,

(Tampa, FL)

   $100,000 in compensatory damages; 10% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $10,000; $250,000 in punitive damages.

March 18,

2011

  

Mack v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Alachua County,

(Gainesville, FL)

   $1 million in compensatory damages; 51% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $510,000. No punitive damages awarded.

April 26,

2011

  

Andy Allen v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Duval County,

(Jacksonville, FL)

   $6 million in compensatory damages; 45% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $2.7 million; $17 million in punitive damages against each defendant awarded.

May 20,

2011

  

Jewett v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Duval County,

(Jacksonville, FL)

   $1.1 million in compensatory damages; 20% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $218,600. No punitive damages awarded.

May 20,

2011

  

Reese v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Miami-Dade County,

(Miami, FL)

   $3.6 million in compensatory damages; 30% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $1.07 million. No punitive damages awarded.

June 16,

2011

  

Soffer v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Alachua County,

(Gainesville, FL)

   $5 million in compensatory damages; 40% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $2 million. No punitive damages awarded.

July 15,

2011

  

Ciccone v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $3.2 million in compensatory damages; 30% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $1 million; $50,000 in punitive damages.

July 19,

2011

  

Weingart v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Palm Beach County,

(West Palm Beach, FL)

   Jury did not award damages; however, the plaintiff was awarded $150,000 on September 16, 2011.

 

27


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

September 23, 2011   

Bowman v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Duval County,

(Jacksonville, FL)

   $1.5 million in compensatory damages; 30% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $450,000. No punitive damages awarded.
November 28, 2011   

Sury v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Duval County,

(Jacksonville, FL)

   The trial court held the defendants jointly and severally liable for the entire $1 million, even though the jury had allocated 60% fault to the plaintiff and 20% of fault to a co-defendant. No punitive damages awarded.
January 24, 2012   

Hallgren v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Highlands County,

(Sebring, FL)

   $2 million in compensatory damages; 25% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $500,000; $750,000 in punitive damages.
January 25, 2012   

Ward v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Escambia County,

(Pensacola, FL)

   $1 million in compensatory damages; 30% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $300,000; $1.7 million in punitive damages.
March 27, 2012   

Emmon Smith v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Jackson County,

(Mariana, FL)

   $10 million in compensatory damages; 70% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $7 million; $20 million in punitive damages.
April 10, 2012   

Duke v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

U.S. District Court,

Middle District,

(Orlando, FL)

   $30,705 in compensatory damages; 25% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $7,700. No punitive damages awarded.

May 17,

2012

  

Calloway v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   $20.5 million in compensatory damages; 27% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $5.54 million; $17.25 million in punitive damages.

May 21,

2012

  

Walker v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

U.S. District Court,

Middle District

(Jacksonville, FL)

   $275,000 in compensatory damages; 10% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $27,500. No punitive damages awarded.
August 1, 2012   

Hiott v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Duval County,

(Jacksonville, FL)

   $1.825 million in compensatory damages; 40% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $730,000. No punitive damages awarded.
August 10, 2012   

Hancock v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Broward County,

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

   No compensatory or punitive damages awarded; however, parties stipulated to $110,200 in medical expenses; 5% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $5,600.
September 20, 2012   

Sikes v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

[Engle Progeny]

  

Circuit Court,

Duval County,

(Jacksonville, FL)

   $4.1 million in compensatory damages; 51% of fault assigned to RJR Tobacco, which reduced the award to $2.1 million; $2 million in punitive damages.

 

28


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Individual Smoking and Health Cases

As of September 30, 2012, 86 individual cases were pending in the United States against RJR Tobacco, B&W, as its indemnitee, or both. This category of cases includes smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought by or on behalf of individual plaintiffs, but does not include the Broin II, Engle Progeny or West Virginia IPIC cases discussed below. A total of 84 of the individual cases are brought by or on behalf of individual smokers or their survivors, while the remaining two cases are brought by or on behalf of individuals or their survivors alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, referred to as ETS.

Below is a description of the individual smoking and health cases against RJR Tobacco or B&W, or both, which went to trial or were decided during the period from January 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012, or remained on appeal as of September 30, 2012.

On December 18, 2003, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in Frankson v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., a case filed in August 2000 in Supreme Court, Kings County, New York, awarded $350,000 in compensatory damages and eventually returned a verdict of $20 million in punitive damages against the defendants in an action brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco, who was dismissed prior to trial, and B&W. Other manufacturers were dismissed before trial. The plaintiff, Gladys Frankson, alleged that Mr. Frankson became addicted to nicotine, was unable to stop smoking, developed lung cancer and died as a result. The defendants as a group and the deceased smoker were each found to be 50% at fault. On January 9, 2004, the jury awarded $20 million in punitive damages, assigning $6 million to B&W and $2 million to American Tobacco, a predecessor company to B&W. In June 2004, the parties’ post-trial motions were denied by the trial judge, except that the trial judge granted a new trial unless the parties consented to an increase in compensatory damages to $500,000 and a decrease in punitive damages to $5 million, of which $4 million would be assigned to B&W. The plaintiff stipulated to the reduction in punitive damages in January 2005. Defendants filed a notice of appeal of the orders on post-trial motions in January 2005. In July 2006, the Appellate Division, New York Supreme Court, Second Department, directed that the plaintiffs’ claims for design defect be dismissed, but otherwise affirmed the orders denying defendants’ post-trial motions. Following remand from this appellate decision, the plaintiff withdrew her request for additur of the compensatory damages, and in December 2006, the trial judge granted this request, and reinstated the original $350,000 compensatory damages jury verdict.

On June 26, 2007, final judgment was entered against the defendants in the amount of approximately $6.8 million, including interest through the date the judgment was entered and costs. The defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Appellate Division, New York Supreme Court, Second Department. Pursuant to its agreement to indemnify B&W, RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $8.018 million. In September 2009, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, affirmed the compensatory damages award, set aside the punitive damages award and remanded the case to the Kings County Supreme Court for a new trial on punitive damages. No date has been set for the punitive damages retrial. In July 2012, the defendants filed a motion for summary judgment dismissing the plaintiff’s claims for punitive damages. Argument on the motion occurred on August 28, 2012. A decision is pending. The plaintiff has told the court that she may renew her request for an additur as to the amount of compensatory damages, if the court grants the defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

On February 1, 2005, the jury returned a split verdict in Smith v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., a case filed in May 2003 in Circuit Court, Jackson County, Missouri, finding in favor of B&W on two counts, fraudulent concealment and conspiracy, and finding in favor of the plaintiffs on negligence, which incorporates failure to warn and product defect claims. The plaintiffs were awarded $2 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; however, the jury found the plaintiff to be 75% at fault and B&W 25% at fault, and thus the compensatory award was reduced to $500,000. The Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the compensatory damages award and ordered a new trial on punitive damages. On July 29, 2009, RJR Tobacco, on behalf of B&W, paid the compensatory damages verdict, plus interest, in the amount of approximately $700,000. In August 2009, the jury in the punitive damages retrial returned a verdict for the plaintiffs, finding B&W liable for damages for aggravating circumstances and awarded the plaintiffs $1.5 million in punitive damages. The court denied the plaintiffs’ and the defendant’s post-trial motions. B&W and the plaintiffs filed notices of appeal in December 2009. In October 2012, the Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the punitive damages award entered in August 2009, and remanded the case for a new trial on punitive damages.

 

29


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On May 26, 2010, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in Izzarelli v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in December 1999 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiff sought to recover damages for personal injuries that the plaintiff alleges she sustained as a result of unsafe and unreasonably dangerous cigarette products and for economic losses she sustained as a result of unfair trade practices of the defendant. The jury found RJR Tobacco to be 58% at fault and the plaintiff to be 42% at fault, awarded $13.9 million in compensatory damages and found the plaintiff to be entitled to punitive damages. In December 2010, the court awarded the plaintiff $3.97 million in punitive damages. Final judgment was entered on December 30, 2010, in the amount of $11.95 million. The court granted the plaintiff’s motion for offer of judgment interest, and awarded the plaintiff $15.8 million for the period of December 6, 1999 up to and including December 5, 2010, and approximately $4,000 per day thereafter until an amended judgment was entered. The amended judgment was entered in the amount of approximately $28.1 million on March 4, 2011. The court denied RJR Tobacco’s motion for a new trial in August 2011, and RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal in September 2011. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

On May 19, 2011, a jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco in Hargroves v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in December 2005 in the Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendant’s products, the decedent, Debra Hargroves, suffered from lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and other smoking-related diseases and/or conditions. Final judgment was entered, and the plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial. At a hearing in June 2011, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal, and RJR Tobacco filed a notice of cross appeal in August 2011. On April 30, 2012, RJR Tobacco dismissed its cross appeal. The plaintiff’s appeal remains pending. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

West Virginia IPIC

In West Virginia, as of September 30, 2012, 564 individual claims remain pending in a consolidated action, In re: Tobacco Litigation Individual Personal Injury Cases. The defendants are Philip Morris, Lorillard and RJR Tobacco (including claims concerning The American Tobacco Company and B&W). The Case Management Order currently calls for these cases to be resolved in a two phase procedure — a common issue trial in Phase I, and, if plaintiffs prevail on one or more issues, a Phase II, consisting of individual trials of liability, medical causation, compensatory damages and punitive damages for each of the individual plaintiffs. The Phase I trial will focus on whether defendants manufactured defective products, whether their conduct was tortious and whether their conduct meets the standard for a potential award of punitive damages under West Virginia law. There will be no lump sum award of punitive damages and the Phase I jury will not be asked to set a punitive multiplier. Instead, if the jury finds that a defendant’s conduct meets the punitive standard, then plaintiffs in their individual trials in Phase II will have the chance to ask Phase II juries to consider awarding punitive damages to each plaintiff on a case-by-case basis. Phase I trials were initiated twice in 2010 in Kanawha County (Charleston), resulting in mistrials in February and June 2010, due to an inability to find a sufficient number of impartial jurors from which to select a jury. The court moved the case to Ohio County (Wheeling), and the Phase I trial commenced again on October 19, 2011. The court declared a mistrial on November 8, 2011. A new trial has been scheduled for April 15, 2013.

Engle and Engle Progeny Cases

Trial began in July 1998 in Engle v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in May 1994, in Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County, Florida, in which a class consisting of Florida residents, or their survivors, alleged diseases or medical conditions caused by their alleged “addiction” to cigarettes. The action was brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, seeking actual damages and punitive damages in excess of $100 billion each and the creation of a medical fund to compensate individuals for future health-care costs. In July 1999, the jury found against RJR Tobacco, B&W and the other cigarette-manufacturer defendants in the initial phase, which included alleged common issues related to certain elements of liability, general causation and a potential award of, or entitlement to, punitive damages.

On July 14, 2000, in the second phase of the trial, the jury returned a punitive damages verdict in favor of the “Florida class” of approximately $145 billion against all the defendants, with approximately $36.3 billion and $17.6 billion being assigned to RJR Tobacco and B&W, respectively.

 

30


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

In November 2000, the trial judge denied all post-trial motions and entered judgment. The Third DCA reversed the trial court’s final judgment and remanded the case to the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court with instructions to decertify the class. The class appealed, and the Florida Supreme Court accepted the case in May 2004.

In July 2006, the court affirmed the dismissal of the punitive damages award and decertified the class, on a going-forward basis. The court preserved a number of class-wide findings from Phase I of the trial, including that cigarettes can cause certain diseases, that nicotine is addictive and that defendants placed defective and unreasonably dangerous cigarettes on the market, and authorized former class members to avail themselves of those findings under certain conditions in individual lawsuits, provided they commence those lawsuits within one year of the date the court’s decision became final. The court specified that the eligible plaintiffs are confined to those Florida citizen residents who suffered or died from smoking-related illnesses that “manifested” themselves on or before November 21, 1996, and that were caused by an addiction to cigarettes that contain nicotine.

In August 2006, RJR Tobacco and the other defendants filed a rehearing motion arguing, among other things, that the findings from the Engle trial were not sufficiently specific to serve as the basis for further proceedings and that the Florida Supreme Court’s decision denied the defendants due process. The plaintiffs also filed a rehearing motion arguing that some smokers who became sick after November 21, 1996, and who were therefore not class members, should nevertheless have the statute of limitations tolled since they may have refrained from filing suit earlier in the mistaken belief that they were Engle class members. In December 2006, the Florida Supreme Court withdrew its July 2006 decision, and issued a revised opinion, in which it set aside the jury’s findings of a conspiracy to misrepresent and clarified that the Engle jury’s finding on express warranty were preserved for use by eligible plaintiffs. The court also denied the plaintiffs’ motion and confirmed that the eligible plaintiffs were limited to those individuals who developed alleged smoking-related illnesses that manifested themselves on or before November 21, 1996.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, the defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari and petition for rehearing with the U.S. Supreme Court were both denied.

Pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court’s July 2006 ruling in Engle v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which decertified the class, eligible plaintiffs had one year from January 11, 2007, in which to file individual lawsuits. In addition, some individuals who filed suit prior to January 11, 2007, and who claimed they meet the conditions in Engle, also attempted to avail themselves of the Engle ruling. Lawsuits by individuals requesting the benefit of the Engle ruling, whether filed before or after the January 11, 2007, mandate, are referred to as the Engle Progeny cases. As of September 30, 2012, RJR Tobacco had been served in 5,804 Engle Progeny cases in both state and federal courts in Florida. These cases include approximately 6,979 plaintiffs. Many of these cases are in active discovery or nearing trial.

Three federal district courts ruled that the findings in the first phase of the Engle proceedings cannot be used to satisfy elements of plaintiffs’ claims, and two of those rulings, in Bernice Brown v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Burr v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., were certified by the trial court for interlocutory review. In July 2010, the Eleventh Circuit held, as a matter of Florida law, that the findings from the first phase of the Engle proceedings cannot be given greater effect than what the Engle jury found. Because it rejected plaintiffs’ approach on state-law grounds, the court did not find it necessary to consider whether that approach would violate the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

On December 14, 2010, the First DCA rejected the Eleventh Circuit’s holding and concluded, in the Martin v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. case, that the Engle findings “establish the conduct of elements” of plaintiffs’ claims. On July 19, 2011, the Florida Supreme Court denied RJR Tobacco’s request to review the decision of the intermediate state appellate court, and on March 26, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court denied RJR Tobacco’s petition for writ of certiorari. On September 21, 2011, the Fourth DCA in Jimmie Lee Brown disagreed on state-law grounds with the First DCA’s decision in Martin as well as the Eleventh Circuit in Bernice Brown. On March 30, 2012, the Second DCA in Douglas also disagreed with the First DCA’s decision in Martin, the Fourth DCA’s decision in Jimmie Lee Brown, and the Eleventh Circuit in Bernice Brown. On April 11, 2012, the Third DCA in Frazier approved the plaintiff’s preferred use of the Engle findings without further explanation. RJR Tobacco has sought review of both Jimmie Lee Brown and Douglas with the Florida Supreme Court. The defendants also asked the federal district

 

31


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

court in Jacksonville to rule on their constitutional due process objection to the use of the Engle findings to satisfy elements of plaintiffs’ claims. The court ruled that application of the Engle findings would not violate the defendants’ due process rights. RJR Tobacco sought interlocutory review of the decision in the Eleventh Circuit, but the district court declined to certify the order for review.

In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200 million bond cap that applied to all Engle Progeny cases in the aggregate. In May 2011, Florida removed the provision that allowed it to expire on December 31, 2012. The bond cap for any given individual Engle Progeny case varies depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time, but never exceeds $5 million per case. The legislation, which became effective in June 2009 and 2011, applies to judgments entered after the original 2009 effective date. The plaintiffs have challenged the constitutionality of the bond cap in four of the cases discussed below. The Alachua County court upheld the bond cap in three of those cases, and the Escambia County court upheld the bond cap in the fourth case. The First DCA affirmed the trial court’s decision in all four cases. The First DCA issued a written opinion in Hall v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., on July 12, 2011, explaining why the statute is constitutional. The court also stated that the issues are likely to continue until they are definitively resolved by the Florida Supreme Court. As a result, the court certified to the Florida Supreme Court the question of whether the bond cap violates the Florida Constitution by limiting the amount of the bond necessary to obtain an automatic stay of the judgment against a signatory to the tobacco settlement agreement with the State of Florida. On January 23, 2012, the Florida Supreme Court decided to accept jurisdiction over the issue. On August 31, 2012, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the bond cap statute.

Below is a description of the Engle Progeny cases against RJR Tobacco or B&W, or both, which went to trial or were decided during the period from January 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012, or remained on appeal as of September 30, 2012.

On May 5, 2009, in Sherman v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in September 2007 in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, Melba Sherman, alleged that as a result of using the defendant’s products, the decedent, John Sherman, developed lung cancer and died. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages and an unspecified amount of punitive damages. On May 8, 2009, the jury awarded compensatory damages of $1.55 million and found the decedent to be 50% at fault. No punitive damages were awarded. The court entered final judgment in the amount of $775,000 in June 2009. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA, and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $900,000. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal of the final judgment in July 2009. In February 2012, the Fourth DCA affirmed the trial court’s decision. In March 2012, RJR Tobacco filed a notice to invoke discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. RJR Tobacco’s motion to stay the appeal pending a decision by the Florida Supreme Court in Jimmie Lee Brown v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., discussed below, was denied. A decision is pending.

On May 20, 2009, in Jimmie Lee Brown v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in March 2007, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Roger Brown, developed smoking related diseases, which resulted in his death. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages and an unspecified amount of punitive damages. The jury later returned a verdict that the decedent was 50% at fault for his injuries and awarded compensatory damages of $1.2 million. No punitive damages were awarded. RJR Tobacco’s post-trial motions were denied, and the court entered final judgment in the amount of $600,000. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $700,000. The Fourth DCA affirmed the trial court’s judgment. RJR Tobacco’s motion for certification to the Florida Supreme Court was denied on October 21, 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice to invoke discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. A decision is pending.

On February 25, 2010, in Grossman v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in December 2007 in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, the court declared a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to reach a decision. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of an addiction to cigarettes, the decedent, Laura Grossman, developed lung cancer and died. The plaintiff sought damages in excess of $15,000 and all taxable costs and interest. Retrial began in March 2010. On April 21, 2010, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in Phase I. In April 2010, the jury awarded $1.9 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The jury also found RJR Tobacco to be 25% at fault, the decedent to be 70% at fault and the decedent’s spouse to be 5% at fault. Final judgment was entered in June 2010, in the amount of $483,682. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA and

 

32


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $484,000. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal. RJR Tobacco’s motion to stay the case pending the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in Douglas v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., discussed below, was denied. In June 2012, the Fourth DCA entered an opinion that affirmed the trial court’s judgment on liability, but remanded the case for a new trial on all damages issues. RJR Tobacco’s motion for rehearing or rehearing en banc was denied in September 2012.

On March 10, 2010, in Douglas v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., a case filed in October 2007 in Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, found the decedent, Charlotte Douglas, to be 50% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 5% at fault and the remaining defendants to be 45% at fault, and awarded $5 million in compensatory damages. No punitive damages were awarded. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the decedent’s addiction to smoking the defendants’ cigarettes, she suffered bodily injury and died. In March 2010, the court entered final judgment against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $250,000. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Second DCA, and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $250,000. On March 30, 2012, the Second DCA affirmed the trial court’s decision. However, the court agreed that the issue of due process is one that will be applicable to the many Engle Progeny cases being considered by the trial courts and certified the question regarding the due process issue to the Florida Supreme Court as being one of great importance. RJR Tobacco filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction in May 2012. Oral argument occurred on September 6, 2012. A decision is pending.

On March 10, 2010, in Cohen v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in May 2007 in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Nathan Cohen, developed lung cancer as a result of using the defendants’ products, and sought in excess of $15,000 compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages. On March 24, 2010, the jury awarded the plaintiff $10 million in compensatory damages, and found the decedent to be 33.3% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 33.3% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 33.3% at fault. The jury also awarded $20 million in punitive damages, of which $10 million was assigned to RJR Tobacco. In July 2010, the court entered final judgment against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $3.33 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages and the plaintiff filed a motion to amend or alter the final judgment. The court entered an amended judgment in September 2010 to include interest from the date of the verdict. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $2.5 million in October 2010. In September 2012, the Fourth DCA affirmed the liability finding and the compensatory damages award, but reversed the finding of entitlement to punitive damages. In October 2012, the defendants filed a motion for rehearing, and the plaintiff filed a motion for rehearing or for certification to the Florida Supreme Court.

On April 13, 2010, in Clay v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in December 2007 in the Circuit Court, Escambia County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Janie Mae Clay, to be 30% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 60% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 10% at fault, and awarded $3.5 million in compensatory damages. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent developed addiction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other conditions and diseases as a result of using the defendants’ products. On April 14, 2010, the jury awarded $18 million in punitive damages, of which $17 million was assigned to RJR Tobacco. The court entered final judgment against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $2.1 million in compensatory damages and $17 million in punitive damages in September 2010. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $4.7 million. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal. In January 2012, the First DCA affirmed per curiam the trial court’s decision based on its prior ruling in Martin. On April 4, 2012, RJR Tobacco’s motion for rehearing, or in the alternative, to stay issuance of the mandate was denied. RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $14 million. This bond replaced the original bond posted and stayed execution of the judgment to allow RJR Tobacco to seek review with the U.S. Supreme Court. RJR Tobacco filed a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court in August 2012. A decision is pending.

On April 21, 2010, in Townsend v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in December 2007 in the Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 51% at fault and the decedent, Frank Townsend, to be 49% at fault, and awarded $10.8 million in compensatory damages and $80 million in punitive damages. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent suffered from lung cancer and other conditions and diseases as a result of smoking the defendant’s products. Final judgment was entered on April 29, 2010, in the amount of $5.5 million in compensatory damages and $40.8 million in punitive damages, which represents 51% of the original damages awards. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a

 

33


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

supersedeas bond in the amount of $5 million. In February 2012, the First DCA affirmed the compensatory damages verdict, but remanded the case to the trial court for remittitur of the punitive damages or a potential new trial on punitive damages. RJR Tobacco’s motion for rehearing en banc or for certification to the Florida Supreme Court was denied on April 4, 2012. RJR Tobacco and the plaintiff filed motions to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court in May 2012. A decision is pending. In June 2012, the trial court entered an order that remitted the punitive damages award to $20 million. The plaintiff consented, and an amended final judgment was entered against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $5.5 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of rejection of the remittitur and a demand for a new trial on the punitive damages issue. RJR Tobacco also filed a notice of appeal of the amended final judgment entered in June 2012. Briefing is underway.

On April 26, 2010, in Putney v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in December 2007 in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, finding the decedent, Margot Putney, to be 35% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 30% at fault and the remaining defendants to be 35% at fault, and awarded $15.1 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages each against RJR Tobacco and the remaining defendants. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent suffered from nicotine addiction and lung cancer as a result of using the defendants’ products. In August 2010, final judgment was entered against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $4.5 million in compensatory damages, and $2.5 million in punitive damages. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal and the plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal. In December 2010, the court entered an amended final judgment to provide that interest would run from April 26, 2010. The defendants filed a joint notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA of the amended final judgment, and RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $2.4 million. Oral argument occurred on September 27, 2012. A decision is pending.

On May 20, 2010, in Buonomo v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in October 2007 in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 77.5% at fault and the decedent, Matthew Buonomo, to be 22.5% at fault, and awarded $5.2 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent was addicted to cigarettes and as a result developed one or more smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases. Post-trial motions were denied, but the court, in accordance with the Florida statutory limitation on punitive damage awards, ordered the punitive damage award of $25 million be reduced to $15.7 million – three times the compensatory damages award of $5.2 million. In August 2010, the court entered final judgment in the amount of $4.06 million in compensatory damages and $15.7 million in punitive damages. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $5 million. The plaintiff also filed a notice of appeal. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

On October 15, 2010, in Frazier v. Philip Morris USA Inc., a case filed in December 2007 in the Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County, Florida, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking defendants’, including RJR Tobacco’s, products she developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Final judgment was entered in February 2011. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Third DCA, and the defendants filed a cross appeal. On April 11, 2012, the Third DCA reversed the trial court’s judgment, directed entry of judgment in the plaintiff’s favor and ordered a new trial. The defendants’ motions for rehearing, rehearing en banc and for certification to the Florida Supreme Court were denied in June 2012. The Third DCA has issued its mandate. On July 9, 2012, the defendants filed a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court. A decision is pending.

On June 18, 2010, in Earline Alexander v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 51% at fault and the decedent, John Alexander, to be 49% at fault, and awarded $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendant’s products, the decedent suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and emphysema. In July 2010, the court entered final judgment in the amount of $1.275 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages. After exhausting its appeals, RJR Tobacco paid the judgment in the third quarter of 2012.

On August 5, 2010, in Piendle v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in November 2007, in the Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, Florida, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 27.5% at fault, the decedent, Charles Piendle, to be 45% at fault and the remaining defendants to be 27.5% at fault,

 

34


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

and awarded $4 million in compensatory damages. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendants’ products, the decedent suffered from lung cancer and other smoking-related medical conditions and/or diseases. On August 19, 2010, the jury returned a punitive damages verdict in the amount of $180,000 against RJR Tobacco. The plaintiff’s motion for new trial as to the amount of the punitive damages was denied. In September 2010, the court entered final judgment against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $1.1 million in compensatory damages and $180,000 in punitive damages. The defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $1.28 million. In June 2012, the Fourth DCA affirmed the judgment, per curiam. The deadline to file a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court is November 17, 2012.

On August 26, 2010, in Budnick v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Leonard Budnick, was addicted to cigarettes manufactured by the defendants, and as a result, developed one or more smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases. In September 2010, the court denied the motion for a new trial and entered final judgment pursuant to the jury’s verdict. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA. Oral argument occurred on October 3, 2012. A decision is pending.

On October 29, 2010, in Koballa v. Philip Morris USA Inc., the court declared a mistrial after the jury informed the court that they were unable to reach a verdict. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Volusia County, Florida against tobacco industry defendants, including RJR Tobacco. The plaintiff alleges that as a result of the use of the defendants’ defective and unreasonably dangerous tobacco products, she suffers from, or has suffered from, nicotine addiction, lung cancer and other smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases. Retrial began on March 21, 2011, and on March 31, 2011, the jury returned an inconsistent verdict. The jury found that RJR Tobacco was not liable for the plaintiff’s injuries, but found that her past injuries were worth $1 million with the plaintiff being 70% at fault and RJR Tobacco 30% at fault. In August 2011, the court denied RJR Tobacco’s post-trial motions and entered final judgment. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Fifth DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $300,000. In September 2012, the Fifth DCA affirmed the trial court’s judgment, per curiam. RJR Tobacco filed a motion for a written opinion and rehearing. The deadline to file a notice to invoke the discretionary jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court is October 29, 2012.

On November 4, 2010, in Vasko v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco. The jury found that the plaintiff’s claim was barred by the statute of limitations. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, John Vasko, was addicted to cigarettes manufactured by the defendants, and as a result, developed one or more smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases, including lung cancer. Final judgment was entered, and the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

On November 15, 2010, in Webb v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 90% at fault and the decedent, James Horner, to be 10% at fault, and awarded $8 million in compensatory damages and $72 million in punitive damages. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Levy County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendant’s products, the decedent developed one or more smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases. The court entered final judgment in November 2010. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $5 million. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal. In April 2012, the First DCA affirmed the liability verdict, but ordered a remittitur or a new trial on damages. The plaintiff’s motion for clarification of the opinion and RJR Tobacco’s motion for certification to the Florida Supreme Court were denied. The plaintiff filed a motion to set the remitted amount of compensatory and punitive damages. The trial court entered an order of remittitur or, alternatively, for a new trial. The court ordered that the compensatory damage award be reduced to $4 million and the punitive damage award be reduced to $25 million. The plaintiff consented to the remitted judgment, and RJR Tobacco filed a notice of rejection of the remittitur and demand for a new trial. The trial court entered an amended final judgment in September 2012. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal in October 2012.

On February 10, 2011, in Kirkland v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 10% at fault and the plaintiff to be 90% at fault, and awarded $100,000 in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded the plaintiff $250,000 in punitive damages. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that he was addicted to

 

35


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

cigarettes, and as a result, developed larynx cancer and other smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases. The plaintiff’s post-trial motions were denied, and final judgment was entered in March 2011. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Second DCA on April 12, 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a motion to dismiss the appeal as premature due to the trial court not ruling on RJR Tobacco’s post-trial motions. The motion to dismiss the appeal was denied, however, the appellate court relinquished jurisdiction for 45 days to allow the trial court to address the outstanding post-trial motions. RJR Tobacco’s post-trial motions were denied in July 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of cross appeal and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $260,000. In January 2012, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his appeal. RJR Tobacco’s appeal remains pending. Briefing is underway.

On February 22, 2011, in Huish v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 25% at fault, the decedent, John Huish, to be 50% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 25% at fault, and awarded $750,000 in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages, $1.5 million to each defendant. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendants’ products, the decedent suffered from lung cancer and other smoking related medical conditions and/or diseases. Final judgment was entered in the amount of $1.69 million against each defendant. After exhausting its appeals, RJR Tobacco paid the judgment in the third quarter of 2012.

On March 18, 2011, in Mack v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 51% at fault and the decedent, Peter Mack, Sr., to be 49% at fault, and awarded $1 million in compensatory damages. No punitive damages were awarded. The case was filed in June 2008, in the Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that due to the decedent’s addiction to cigarettes, he developed bronchitis and lung cancer. Final judgment was entered in April 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $510,000. The First DCA entered a per curiam opinion, reversing the trial court’s judgment and remanding the case for a new trial. The plaintiff’s motion for rehearing was denied in July 2012. Retrial is scheduled for December 3, 2012.

On March 28, 2011, in Oliva v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants, including RJR Tobacco. The case was filed in November 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendants’ cigarettes, he developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other smoking related diseases. Final judgment was entered, and the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial was denied. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA, and the defendants filed a notice of cross appeal in June 2011. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

On April 13, 2011, in Tullo v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco and the plaintiff, but against the remaining defendants. The jury awarded $4.5 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The jury found the decedent, Dominick Tullo, to be 45% at fault and the remaining defendants cumulatively to be 55% at fault. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent was addicted to cigarettes manufactured by the defendants, and as a result, developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other smoking related illnesses and/or diseases. The plaintiff sought in excess of $15,000 against each defendant, taxable costs and interest. The court denied the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial against RJR Tobacco and denied the remaining defendants’ post-trial motions in June 2011. The remaining defendants have filed an appeal to the Fourth DCA, and the plaintiff filed a cross appeal. The plaintiff also filed a notice of appeal of the order denying the plaintiff’s motion for new trial against RJR Tobacco. RJR Tobacco filed a cross appeal of the same order. Briefing is underway.

On April 26, 2011, in Andy Allen v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 45% at fault, the decedent, Patricia Allen, to be 40% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 15% at fault, and awarded $6 million in compensatory damages and $17 million in punitive damages against each defendant. The case was filed in September 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendants’ products, the decedent developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Final judgment was entered against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $19.7 million in May 2011. In October 2011, the court entered a remittitur of the punitive damages to $8.1 million and denied all other post-trial motions. The defendants filed a joint notice of appeal, and the plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal in November 2011. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

 

36


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On May 20, 2011, in Reese v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the plaintiff to be 70% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 30% at fault, and awarded $3.6 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The case was filed in September 2007, in the Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of smoking the defendant’s products, she became addicted and developed laryngeal cancer, peripheral vascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The court entered final judgment on May 25, 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the Third DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $1.07 million. Briefing is underway.

On May 20, 2011, in Jewett v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 20% at fault, the decedent, Barbara Jewett, to be 70% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 10% at fault, and awarded $1.1 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Barbara Jewett, was addicted to cigarettes and as a result of her addiction, developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and respiratory failure. Final judgment was entered in June 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $218,600. Oral argument occurred on July 17, 2012. A decision is pending.

On June 16, 2011, in Soffer v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found RJR Tobacco to be 40% at fault, the decedent, Maurice Soffer, to be 60% at fault, and awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent was addicted to cigarettes and, as a result, developed lung cancer and other smoking-related conditions and/or diseases. Final judgment was entered against RJR Tobacco in the amount of $2 million. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA in July 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of cross appeal and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $2 million. Oral argument occurred on July 17, 2012. A decision is pending.

On July 15, 2011, in Ciccone v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict finding the plaintiff is a member of the Engle class. The case was filed in August 2004, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s tobacco products, the decedent, George Ciccone, suffered from nicotine addiction and one or more smoking related diseases and/or medical conditions. On July 21, 2011, the jury awarded approximately $3.2 million in compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages. The jury found the decedent to be 70% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 30% at fault. In August 2011, the court denied RJR Tobacco’s post-trial motions. Final judgment was entered, and RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal. RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $1 million on October 17, 2011. Briefing is underway.

On July 19, 2011, in Weingart v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff; however, they refused to award compensatory or punitive damages and found the decedent, Claire Weingart, to be 91% at fault. The case was filed in November 2007, in the Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendants’ tobacco products, the decedent developed lung cancer and other smoking related diseases and/or medical conditions. In September 2011, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion for additur or new trial. The plaintiff was awarded $150,000 as an additur for pain and suffering damages. Final judgment was entered in the amount of $4,500, against each defendant and the defendants filed a joint notice of appeal to the Fourth DCA in November 2011. RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $4,500. Briefing is complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled.

On September 15, 2011, in Ojeda v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco. The case was filed in October 2007, in the Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s products, the decedent, Juan Ojeda, suffered from one or more smoking-related medical conditions and/or diseases. The plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial. Final judgment was entered September 26, 2011. The plaintiff filed a conditional notice of appeal in October 2011. The conditional status is based on the pending motion for new trial. RJR Tobacco filed a conditional notice of cross appeal in November 2011. In September 2012, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal in October 2012.

 

37


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On September 23, 2011, in Bowman v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Michael Bowman, to be 70% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 30% at fault, and awarded $1.5 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The case was filed in November 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s products, the decedent suffered from esophageal cancer. The court denied the defendant’s post-trial motions and entered final judgment in October 2011. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $450,000. Briefing is complete. A decision is pending.

On November 28, 2011, in Sury v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, William Sury, to be 60% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 20% at fault, and the remaining defendant to be 20% at fault, and awarded $1 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The case was filed in November 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendants’ products, the decedent suffered from lung cancer. Post-trial motions were denied in March 2012, and final judgment was entered. The court entered an amended final judgment that held the defendants jointly and severally liable for the entire $1 million, even though the jury had allocated 60% of fault to the plaintiff and 20% of fault to a co-defendant. The defendants filed a notice of appeal on April 20, 2012, and RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $500,000. Briefing is underway.

On December 16, 2011, in Cox v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s products, the decedent, Roland Cox, suffered from lung cancer. Final judgment was entered, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal and RJR Tobacco filed a notice of cross appeal in January 2012. In July 2012, the plaintiff and RJR Tobacco dismissed their appeals.

On January 24, 2012, in Hallgren v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Claire Hallgren, to be 50% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 25% at fault, and the remaining defendant to be 25% at fault, and awarded $2 million in compensatory damages and $750,000 in punitive damages against each defendant. The case was filed in April 2007, in the Circuit Court, Highlands County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent was addicted to the defendants’ products, and as a result, suffered from lung cancer. In March 2012, the court entered final judgment in the amount of approximately $1 million for which RJR Tobacco and the other defendant are jointly and severally liable; and $750,000 in punitive damages against each defendant and reserved jurisdiction to rule on post-trial motions. The defendants filed a motion to alter or amend the final judgment to conform the judgment to Florida law. The defendants contend that the final judgment is erroneous because it purports to hold the defendants jointly and severally liable, and its award of damages to Mr. Hallgren individually contravenes Florida’s wrongful death statute. The plaintiff filed a motion to amend the final judgment in accordance with the plaintiff’s position that the comparative fault statute does not apply, and not reduce the plaintiff’s compensatory award per the jury’s allocation of fault. The defendants filed a joint notice of appeal, and RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of approximately $1.3 million in May 2012. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal. Briefing is underway.

On January 25, 2012, in Ward v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Mattie Ward, to be 50% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 30% at fault, and the remaining defendants, collectively, to be 20% at fault, and awarded $1 million in compensatory damages and $1.7 million in punitive damages. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Escambia County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent was addicted to the defendants’ products, and as a result, suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other smoking related conditions and/or diseases. In March 2012, the court entered final judgment in the amount of $487,000 in compensatory damages, for which RJR Tobacco and the other defendants are jointly and severally liable; and $1.7 million in punitive damages against RJR Tobacco. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $2.187 million in June 2012. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross appeal. Briefing is underway.

On February 16, 2012, in Gollihue v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. The case was filed in August 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Manuel Gollihue, was addicted to cigarettes and suffered from tobacco related illnesses. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages for all injuries and losses, punitive damages, and all recoverable costs and interest. The court has entered final judgment. The plaintiff’s motion for a new trial was denied in May 2012. The deadline to file an appeal has passed.

 

38


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On February 21, 2012, in Kaplan v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the court declared a mistrial due to the health of the plaintiff. The case was filed in October 2007, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida. The plaintiff allegedly was addicted to cigarettes and developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. This is the third mistrial in the case. Retrial has not been scheduled.

On February 29, 2012, in Marotta v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the court declared a mistrial during jury prequalification. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Phil Marotta, was addicted to cigarettes and, as a result, suffered from lung cancer. The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, including compensatory and punitive damages, costs and pre-judgment interest. Retrial is scheduled for January 14, 2013.

On March 19, 2012, in McCray v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants, including RJR Tobacco. The case was filed in January 2008, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent, Mercedia Walker, was addicted to the defendants’ tobacco products, and as a result, suffered from one or more tobacco related diseases and/or medical conditions. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages for all injuries and losses, all recoverable costs of the case, and all legally recoverable interest. Final judgment was entered in March 2012. The plaintiff’s renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law and motion for a new trial were denied in June 2012. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal in July 2012. The Eleventh Circuit stayed the case pending resolution of Douglas v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., described above.

On March 26, 2012, in Pickett v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, but awarded $0 damages with no entitlement to punitive damages, and found the decedent, Oliver Pickett, Sr., to be 50% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 50% at fault. The case was filed in August 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s products, the decedent developed smoking related diseases. The plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages, including costs and interest. The court entered final judgment in favor of the defendants in March 2012. The plaintiff’s motion to alter or amend the judgment and motion for a new trial were denied in June 2012. The deadline to file an appeal has passed.

On March 27, 2012, in Emmon Smith v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found Mr. Smith to be 30% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 70% at fault, and awarded $10 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded $20 million in punitive damages. The case was filed in January 2008 in the Circuit Court, Jackson County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that he was addicted to cigarettes manufactured by the defendants, and as a result, developed lung cancer. Final judgment was entered on April 2, 2012. Post-trial motions were denied on May 3, 2012. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal to the First DCA and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $5 million. Briefing is underway.

On April 10, 2012, in Duke v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Sarah Duke, to be 75% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 25% at fault, and awarded $30,705 in compensatory damages and no entitlement to punitive damages. The case was filed in December 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s products, the decedent developed smoking related diseases. The plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages, including costs and interest. The plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on damages was denied in August 2012. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal in September 2012.

On May 21, 2012, in Walker v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Albert Walker, to be 90% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 10% at fault, and awarded $275,000 in compensatory damages with no entitlement to punitive damages. The case was filed in August 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of the use of the defendant’s products, the decedent suffered bodily injury. The plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages, including costs and interest. The court entered final judgment in May 2012. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal and posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $27,775. Briefing is underway.

 

39


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On May 17, 2012, in Calloway v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Johnnie Calloway, to be 20.5% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 27% at fault, and the remaining defendants collectively to be 52.5% at fault, and awarded $20.5 million in compensatory damages and $17.25 million in punitive damages against RJR Tobacco and $37.6 million collectively against the remaining defendants. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendants’ products, the decedent became addicted and developed smoking-related diseases and/or conditions. The plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages, including costs and interest. Post-trial motions were denied, and final judgment was entered in August 2012. In September 2012, the defendants filed a notice of appeal, and RJR Tobacco posted a supersedeas bond in the amount of $1.5 million. The plaintiff filed a notice of cross-appeal. Briefing is underway.

On June 28, 2012, in Frailey v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendant’s products, the decedent, Julius Frailey, suffered from addiction and smoking-related diseases and/or conditions and sought an unspecified amount of damages. The court entered final judgment in July 2012.

On August 1, 2012, in Hiott v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Kenneth Hiott, to be 60% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 40% at fault, and awarded $1.825 million in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendant’s product, the decedent suffered from addiction and smoking-related diseases and/or conditions. The plaintiff sought an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. Post-trial motions are pending.

On August 1, 2012, in Denton v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury found the defendants liable, but allocated 100% of fault to the decedent, Linda Denton. The case was filed in August 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendants’ products, the decedent suffered from smoking-related diseases and/or conditions. The plaintiff sought an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. Final judgment was entered in August 8, 2012. The plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial in September 2012. A decision is pending.

On August 10, 2012, in Hancock v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Edna Siwieck, to be 90% at fault, RJR Tobacco to be 5% at fault and the remaining defendant to be 5% at fault. However, the jury did not award compensatory damages and found that the plaintiff was not entitled to punitive damages. The court determined that the jury verdict was inconsistent due to the parties previously stipulating to $110,200 in medical expenses, which is subject to the allocation of fault. The defendants agreed to an additur for that amount. The case was filed in January 2008, in the Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendants’ products, the decedent suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The plaintiff sought an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages, costs and interest. The plaintiff’s motion for additur or new trial on damages was denied in September 2012.

On August 22, 2012, in Starr-Blundell v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the court declared a mistrial due to a juror’s health issue. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendants’ products, the decedent, Lucy Starr, suffered from lung cancer. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages in excess of $15,000, plus taxable costs and interest. Retrial is scheduled for May 13, 2013.

On September 19, 2012, in Baker v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. The case was filed in November 2007, in the Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendant’s products, the decedent, Elmer Baker, suffered from lung cancer. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages in excess of $15,000, costs and interest. Post-trial motions are pending.

On September 20, 2012, in Sikes v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, found the decedent, Jimmie Sikes, to be 49% at fault and RJR Tobacco to be 51% at fault, and awarded $4.1 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages. The case was filed in December 2007, in the Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida. The plaintiff alleged that as a result of using the defendant’s product, the decedent suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Post-trial motions are pending.

 

40


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Broin II Cases

RJR Tobacco, B&W and other cigarette manufacturer defendants settled Broin v. Philip Morris, Inc. in October 1997. This case had been brought in Florida state court on behalf of flight attendants alleged to have suffered from diseases or ailments caused by exposure to ETS in airplane cabins. The settlement agreement required the participating tobacco companies to pay a total of $300 million in three annual $100 million installments, allocated among the companies by market share, to fund research on the early detection and cure of diseases associated with tobacco smoke. It also required those companies to pay a total of $49 million for the plaintiffs’ counsel’s fees and expenses. RJR Tobacco’s portion of these payments was approximately $86 million; B&W’s portion of these payments was approximately $57 million. The settlement agreement bars class members from bringing aggregate claims or obtaining punitive damages and also bars individual claims to the extent that they are based on fraud, misrepresentation, conspiracy to commit fraud or misrepresentation, RICO, suppression, concealment or any other alleged intentional or willful conduct. The defendants agreed that, in any individual case brought by a class member, the defendant will bear the burden of proof with respect to whether ETS can cause certain specifically enumerated diseases, referred to as “general causation.” With respect to all other issues relating to liability, including whether an individual plaintiff’s disease was caused by his or her exposure to ETS in airplane cabins, referred to as “specific causation,” the individual plaintiff will have the burden of proof. On September 7, 1999, the Florida Supreme Court approved the settlement. The Broin II cases arose out of the settlement of this case.

On October 5, 2000, the Broin court entered an order applicable to all Broin II cases that the terms of the Broin settlement agreement do not require the individual Broin II plaintiffs to prove the elements of strict liability, breach of warranty or negligence. Under this order, there is a rebuttable presumption in the plaintiffs’ favor on those elements, and the plaintiffs bear the burden of proving that their alleged adverse health effects actually were caused by exposure to ETS in airplane cabins, that is, specific causation.

As of September 30, 2012, there were 2,574 Broin II lawsuits pending in Florida. There have been no Broin II trials since 2007.

Class-Action Suits

Overview. As of September 30, 2012, nine class-action cases were pending in the United States against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees. In 1996, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Castano v. American Tobacco Co. overturned the certification of a nation-wide class of persons whose claims related to alleged addiction to tobacco products. Since this ruling by the Fifth Circuit, most class-action suits have sought certification of state-wide, rather than nation-wide, classes. Class-action suits based on claims similar to those asserted in Castano or claims that class members are at a greater risk of injury or injured by the use of tobacco or exposure to ETS are pending against RJR Tobacco and its affiliates and indemnitees in state or federal courts in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, West Virginia and Arizona. All pending class-action cases are discussed below.

The pending class actions against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees include five cases alleging that the use of the term “lights” constitutes unfair and deceptive trade practices under state law or violates the federal RICO statute. Such suits are pending in state or federal courts in Illinois, Missouri and Arizona and are discussed below under “— ‘Lights’ Cases.”

Finally, certain third-party payers have filed health-care cost recovery actions in the form of class actions. These cases are discussed below under “— Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases.”

Few smoker class-action complaints have been certified or, if certified, have survived on appeal. Eighteen federal courts, including two courts of appeals, and most state courts that have considered the issue have rejected class certification in such cases. Apart from the Castano case discussed above, only two smoker class actions have been certified by a federal court — In re Simon (II) Litigation, and Schwab [McLaughlin] v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., both of which were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and ultimately decertified.

 

41


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Medical Monitoring and Smoking Cessation Case. On November 5, 1998, in Scott v. American Tobacco Co., a case filed in District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, the trial court certified a medical monitoring or smoking cessation class of Louisiana residents who were smokers on or before May 24, 1996. The case was brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, seeking to recover roughly $13.2 billion to pay for medical monitoring and smoking cessation programs. In July 2003, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants on the plaintiffs’ claim for medical monitoring but also found in favor of the plaintiffs on the claim for smoking cessation. In May 2004, the jury returned a verdict in the amount of $591 million on the class’s claim for a smoking cessation program.

The defendants appealed, and in February 2007, the Louisiana Court of Appeals upheld the class certification and found the defendants responsible for funding smoking cessation for eligible class members and remanded for further proceedings. The defendants’ applications for writ of certiorari with the Louisiana Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court were denied in 2008. In July 2008, the trial court entered an amended judgment in the case, finding that the defendants are jointly and severally liable for funding the cost of a court-supervised smoking cessation program and ordering the defendants to deposit approximately $263 million together with interest into the registry of the court for the funding of the program. In December 2008, the trial court judge signed an order granting the defendants an appeal from the amended judgment. In 2010, the court of appeals amended, but largely affirmed, the trial court’s July 2008 judgment and ordered the defendants to deposit with the court $278 million. The defendants’ motion for rehearing was denied, and their application for writ of certiorari or review and emergency motion to stay execution of judgment with the Louisiana Supreme Court were denied. In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the defendant’s petition for writ of certiorari. The defendants were thus required to pay the judgment and interest totaling approximately $278 million, with RJR Tobacco paying $139 million, the portions of the judgment allocated to RJR Tobacco and B&W.

In December 2011, after the judgment amount was paid in full, the plaintiffs filed a motion for assessment of attorneys’ fees and costs for the prosecution of the case against the defendants rather than the fund. On January 6, 2012, the defendants filed exceptions and motion to strike seeking to dismiss any claim for fees from the defendants, as opposed to the fund, which were denied by the trial court. On April 4, 2012, the defendants filed an application for supervisory writs with the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. In May 2012, the parties entered into an agreement that all fees and expenses will come from the fund and that no additional monies will come from the defendants. The defendants agreed to surrender 50% of their reversionary interest in any funds left over at the end of the 10-year program. The agreement specifically provides that it is binding on class counsel and is not contingent on any further action or ruling by the court. The defendants alerted the Louisiana Fourth Circuit that the issue of whether fees could be awarded against the defendants, as opposed to the fund, had been resolved by agreement. The writ application remains pending as the trial court has not yet entered any fee award. Class counsel have been working with the three trustees appointed by the court to assist in implementing the program to come to an agreement on a fee award from the fund that will meet with approval of the trustees. The cessation program began in July 2012 and is scheduled to last for 10 years.

California Business and Professions Code Cases. On April 11, 2001, in Brown v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., a case filed in June 1997 in Superior Court, San Diego County, California, the court granted in part the plaintiffs’ motion for certification of a class composed of residents of California who smoked at least one of the defendants’ cigarettes from June 10, 1993 through April 23, 2001, and who were exposed to the defendants’ marketing and advertising activities in California. The action was brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, seeking to recover restitution, disgorgement of profits and other equitable relief under California Business and Professions Code § 17200 et seq. and § 17500 et seq. However, the underlying substantive claims have been reduced to include primarily allegations regarding the use of the descriptor “lights” and statements made during the class period about the health risks of cigarettes. Certification was granted as to the plaintiffs’ claims that the defendants violated § 17200 of the California Business and Professions Code pertaining to unfair competition. The court, however, refused to certify the class under the California Legal Remedies Act and on the plaintiffs’ common law claims. In March 2005, the court granted the defendants’ motion to decertify the class, and in September 2006, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the order decertifying the class. In November 2006, the plaintiffs’ petition for review with the California Supreme Court was granted, and in May 2009, the court reversed the decision of the trial court, and the California Court of Appeal that decertified the class and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. In March 2010, the trial court found that the plaintiffs’ “lights” claims were not preempted by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and denied the defendants’ second motion for

 

42


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

summary judgment. The plaintiffs filed a tenth amended complaint in September 2010. RJR Tobacco and B&W filed their answers to the complaint. Subsequently, on February 24, 2011, the court found that the named class representatives were not adequate, were not typical, and lacked standing. The plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration was denied. The court granted the plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint by adding new class representatives and denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss. The plaintiffs filed an eleventh amended complaint adding new class representatives in July 2011. In May 2012, the court issued rulings that decertified the class on false statements concerning additives, nicotine manipulation and conspiracy to mislead concerning health risks of smoking. However, the court declined to decertify the class on the “lights” issue. In September 2012, the court granted the plaintiffs’ request for dismissal with prejudice as to certain defendants and dismissed RJR Tobacco and B&W with prejudice.

In Sateriale v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a class action filed in November 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all persons who tried unsuccessfully to redeem Camel Cash certificates from 1991 through March 31, 2007, or who held Camel Cash certificates as of March 31, 2007. The plaintiffs allege that in response to the defendants’ action to discontinue redemption of Camel Cash as of March 31, 2007, customers, like the plaintiffs, attempted to exchange their Camel Cash for merchandise and that the defendants, however, did not have any merchandise to exchange for Camel Cash. The plaintiffs allege unfair business practices, deceptive practices, breach of contract and promissory estoppel. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, actual damages, costs and expenses. In January 2010, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, which prompted the plaintiffs to file an amended complaint in February 2010. The class definition changed to a class consisting of all persons who reside in the U.S. and tried unsuccessfully to redeem Camel Cash certificates, from October 1, 2006 (six months before the defendant ended the Camel Cash program) or who held Camel Cash certificates as of March 31, 2007. The plaintiffs also brought the class on behalf of a proposed California subclass, consisting of all California residents meeting the same criteria. In May 2010, RJR Tobacco’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint for lack of jurisdiction over subject matter and, alternatively, for failure to state a claim was granted with leave to amend. The plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. In July 2010, RJR Tobacco’s motion to dismiss the second amended complaint was granted with leave to amend. The plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint, and RJR Tobacco filed a motion to dismiss in September 2010. In December 2010, the court granted RJR Tobacco’s motion to dismiss with prejudice. Final judgment was entered by the court and the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal in January 2011. In July 2012, the appellate court affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiffs’ claims under the Unfair Competition Law and the Consumer Legal Remedies Acts and reversed the dismissal of the plaintiffs’ claims for promissory estoppel and breach of contract. RJR Tobacco filed a motion for rehearing or rehearing en banc in August 2012.

“Lights” Cases. As noted above, “lights” class-action cases are pending against RJR Tobacco or B&W in Illinois (2), Missouri (2) and Arizona (1). The classes in these cases generally seek to recover $50,000 to $75,000 per class member for compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and other forms of relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs from RJR Tobacco and/or B&W. In general, the plaintiffs allege that RJR Tobacco or B&W made false and misleading claims that “lights” cigarettes were lower in tar and nicotine and/or were less hazardous or less mutagenic than other cigarettes. The cases typically are filed pursuant to state consumer protection and related statutes.

Many of these “lights” cases were stayed pending review of the Good v. Altria Group, Inc. case by the U.S. Supreme Court. In that “lights” class-action case against Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris USA, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that these claims are not preempted by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act or by the Federal Trade Commission’s, referred to as FTC, historic regulation of the industry. Since this decision in December 2008, a number of the stayed cases have become active again.

The seminal “lights” class-action case involves RJR Tobacco’s competitor, Philip Morris, Inc. Trial began in Price v. Philip Morris, Inc. in January 2003. In March 2003, the trial judge entered judgment against Philip Morris in the amount of $7.1 billion in compensatory damages and $3 billion in punitive damages. Based on Illinois law, the bond required to stay execution of the judgment was set initially at $12 billion. Philip Morris pursued various avenues of relief from the $12 billion bond requirement. On December 15, 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision and sent the case back to the trial court with instructions to dismiss the case. On December 5, 2006, the trial court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss and for entry of final judgment. The case was dismissed with prejudice the same day. In December 2008, the plaintiffs filed a petition for relief from

 

43


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

judgment, stating that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Good v. Altria Group, Inc. rejected the basis for the reversal. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ petition for relief from judgment in February 2009. In March 2009, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth Judicial District, requesting a reversal of the February 2009 order and remand to the circuit court. On February 24, 2011, the appellate court entered an order, concluding that the two-year time limit for filing a petition for relief from a final judgment began to run when the trial court dismissed the plaintiffs’ lawsuit on December 18, 2006. The appellate court therefore found that the petition was timely, reversed the order of the trial court, and remanded the case for further proceedings. Philip Morris filed a petition for leave to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. On September 28, 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court denied Philip Morris’s petition for leave to appeal and returned the case to the trial court for further proceedings. The plaintiffs filed a petition for relief from the judgment in February 2012. A hearing occurred on August 21, 2012. A decision is pending.

In Turner v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in February 2000 in Circuit Court, Madison County, Illinois, a judge certified a class in November 2001. In June 2003, RJR Tobacco filed a motion to stay the case pending Philip Morris’s appeal of the Price v. Philip Morris Inc. case mentioned above, which the judge denied in July 2003. In October 2003, the Illinois Fifth District Court of Appeals denied RJR Tobacco’s emergency stay/supremacy order request. In November 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court granted RJR Tobacco’s motion for a stay pending the court’s final appeal decision in Price. On October 11, 2007, the Illinois Fifth District Court of Appeals dismissed RJR Tobacco’s appeal of the court’s denial of its emergency stay/supremacy order request and remanded the case to the Circuit Court. A status conference is scheduled for January 30, 2013.

In Howard v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., another case filed in February 2000 in Circuit Court, Madison County, Illinois, a judge certified a class in December 2001. In June 2003, the trial judge issued an order staying all proceedings pending resolution of the Price v. Philip Morris, Inc. case mentioned above. The plaintiffs appealed this stay order to the Illinois Fifth District Court of Appeals, which affirmed the Circuit Court’s stay order in August 2005. There is currently no activity in the case.

A “lights” class-action case is pending against each of RJR Tobacco and B&W in Missouri. In Collora v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in May 2000 in Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Missouri, a judge in St. Louis certified a class in December 2003. In April 2007, the court granted the plaintiffs’ motion to reassign Collora and the following cases to a single general division: Craft v. Philip Morris Companies, Inc. and Black v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., discussed below. In April 2008, the court stayed the case pending U.S. Supreme Court review in Good v. Altria Group, Inc. A nominal trial date of January 10, 2011 was scheduled, but it did not proceed at that time. There is currently no activity in the case.

In Black v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., a case filed in November 2000 in Circuit Court, City of St. Louis, Missouri, B&W removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The plaintiffs filed a motion to remand, which was granted in March 2006. In April 2008, the court stayed the case pending U.S. Supreme Court review in Good v. Altria Group, Inc. A nominal trial date of January 10, 2011, was scheduled, but it did not proceed at that time. A status conference is scheduled for February 4, 2013.

In Shaffer v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed in October 2009 in the Superior Court of Pima County, Arizona against RJR Tobacco, RAI and other defendants, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all persons residing in Arizona who purchased, not for resale, defendants’ cigarettes labeled as “light” or “ultra-light” from the date of the defendants’ first sales of such cigarettes in Arizona to the date of judgment. The plaintiffs allege consumer fraud, concealment, non-disclosure, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs seek a variety of damages, including compensatory, restitutionary and punitive damages. In November 2009, the defendants removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and RJR Tobacco and RAI filed their answers to the complaint. On April 26, 2012, the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment on the grounds of the purported collateral estoppel effect of certain findings in United States v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., was denied. In September 2012, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal, and the court dismissed the case with prejudice.

Finally, also see the above discussion of Brown v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., under “— California Business and Professions Code Cases.”

 

44


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

As referred to in the “Cautionary Statements,” in the event RJR Tobacco and its affiliates or indemnitees lose one or more of the pending “lights” class-action suits, RJR Tobacco could face bonding difficulties depending upon the amount of damages ordered, if any, which could have a material adverse effect on RJR Tobacco’s, and consequently RAI’s, results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Other Class Actions. In Young v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., a case filed in November 1997 in Circuit Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, the plaintiffs brought an ETS class action against U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, and parent companies of U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR, on behalf of all residents of Louisiana who, though not themselves cigarette smokers, have been exposed to secondhand smoke from cigarettes which were manufactured by the defendants, and who allegedly suffered injury as a result of that exposure. The plaintiffs seek to recover an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. In October 2004, the trial court stayed this case pending the outcome of the appeal in Scott v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., discussed above under “— Medical Monitoring and Smoking Cessation Case.” There is currently no activity in the case.

In Parsons v. A C & S, Inc., a case filed in February 1998 in Circuit Court, Ohio County, West Virginia, the plaintiff sued asbestos manufacturers, U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, and parent companies of U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR, seeking to recover $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages individually and an unspecified amount for the class in both compensatory and punitive damages. The class was brought on behalf of persons who allegedly have personal injury claims arising from their exposure to respirable asbestos fibers and cigarette smoke. The plaintiffs allege that Mrs. Parsons’ use of tobacco products and exposure to asbestos products caused her to develop lung cancer and to become addicted to tobacco. In December 2000, three defendants, Nitral Liquidators, Inc., Desseaux Corporation of North American and Armstrong World Industries, filed bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, In re Armstrong World Industries, Inc. Pursuant to section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, Parsons is automatically stayed with respect to all defendants.

Finally, in Jones v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., a case filed in December 1998 in Circuit Court, Jackson County, Missouri, the defendants removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in February 1999. The action was brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, and parent companies of U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR, by tobacco product users and purchasers on behalf of all similarly situated Missouri consumers. The plaintiffs allege that their use of the defendants’ tobacco products has caused them to become addicted to nicotine. The plaintiffs seek to recover an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. The case was remanded to the Circuit Court in February 1999. There has been limited activity in this case.

Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases

Health-care cost recovery cases have been brought by a variety of plaintiffs. Other than certain governmental actions, these cases largely have been unsuccessful on remoteness grounds, which means that one who pays an injured person’s medical expenses is legally too remote to maintain an action against the person allegedly responsible for the injury.

As of September 30, 2012, two health-care cost recovery cases were pending in the United States against RJR Tobacco, B&W, as its indemnitee, or both, as discussed below after the discussion of the State Settlement Agreements. A limited number of claimants have filed suit against RJR Tobacco, its current or former affiliates, B&W and other tobacco industry defendants to recover funds for health care, medical and other assistance paid by foreign provincial governments in treating their citizens. For more information on these cases, see “— International Cases” below.

State Settlement Agreements. In June 1994, the Mississippi Attorney General brought an action, Moore v. American Tobacco Co., against various industry members, including RJR Tobacco and B&W. This case was brought on behalf of the state to recover state funds paid for health care and other assistance to state citizens suffering from diseases and conditions allegedly related to tobacco use. Most other states, through their attorneys general or other state agencies, sued RJR Tobacco, B&W and other U.S. cigarette manufacturers based on similar theories. The cigarette manufacturer defendants, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, settled the first four of these cases scheduled for trial — Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota — by separate agreements with each such state.

 

45


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On November 23, 1998, the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, entered into the Master Settlement Agreement with attorneys general representing the remaining 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. Effective on November 12, 1999, the MSA settled all the health-care cost recovery actions brought by, or on behalf of, the settling jurisdictions and released various additional present and future claims.

In the settling jurisdictions, the MSA released RJR Tobacco, B&W, and their affiliates and indemnitees, including RAI, from:

 

   

all claims of the settling states and their respective political subdivisions and other recipients of state health-care funds, relating to past conduct arising out of the use, sale, distribution, manufacture, development, advertising, marketing or health effects of, the exposure to, or research, statements or warnings about, tobacco products; and

 

   

all monetary claims of the settling states and their respective political subdivisions and other recipients of state health-care funds, relating to future conduct arising out of the use of or exposure to, tobacco products that have been manufactured in the ordinary course of business.

Set forth below are tables depicting the unadjusted tobacco industry settlement payment schedule and the settlement payment schedule for RAI’s operating subsidiaries under the State Settlement Agreements, and related information for 2010 and beyond:

 

Unadjusted Original Participating Manufacturers’ Settlement Payment Schedule   
     2010     2011      2012 and
thereafter
 

First Four States’ Settlements:(1)

       

Mississippi Annual Payment

   $ 136      $ 136       $ 136   

Florida Annual Payment

     440        440         440   

Texas Annual Payment

     580        580         580   

Minnesota Annual Payment

     204        204         204   

Remaining States’ Settlement:

       

Annual Payments(1)

     8,004        8,004         8,004   

Growers’ Trust(2)

     295        —           —     

Offset by federal tobacco buyout(2)

     (295     —           —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9,364      $ 9,364       $ 9,364   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
RAI’s Operating Subsidiaries’ Settlement Expenses and Payment Schedule   

Settlement expenses

   $ 2,496      $ 2,435         —     

Settlement cash payments

   $ 2,519      $ 2,492         —     

Projected settlement expenses

        $ >2,300   

Projected settlement cash payments

        $ >2,300   

 

(1) 

Subject to adjustments for changes in sales volume, inflation and other factors. All payments are to be allocated among the companies on the basis of relative market share. For further information, see “— State Settlement Agreements-Enforcement and Validity; Adjustments” below.

(2) 

The Growers’ Trust payments expired December 2010 and were offset by certain obligations resulting from the federal tobacco buyout legislation, not included in this table, signed in October 2004. See “—Tobacco Buyout Legislation and Related Litigation” below.

The State Settlement Agreements also contain provisions restricting the marketing of tobacco products. Among these provisions are restrictions or prohibitions on the use of cartoon characters, brand-name sponsorships, apparel and other merchandise, outdoor and transit advertising, payments for product placement, free sampling and lobbying. Furthermore, the State Settlement Agreements required the dissolution of three industry-sponsored research and trade organizations.

The State Settlement Agreements have materially adversely affected RJR Tobacco’s shipment volumes. RAI believes that these settlement obligations may materially adversely affect the results of operations, cash flows or

 

46


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

financial position of RAI and RJR Tobacco in future periods. The degree of the adverse impact will depend, among other things, on the rate of decline in U.S. cigarette sales in the premium and value categories, RJR Tobacco’s share of the domestic premium and value cigarette categories, and the effect of any resulting cost advantage of manufacturers not subject to the State Settlement Agreements.

Department of Justice Case. On September 22, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice brought an action against RJR Tobacco, B&W and other tobacco companies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The government initially sought to recover federal funds expended by the federal government in providing health care to smokers who developed diseases and injuries alleged to be smoking-related, based on several federal statutes. In addition, the government sought, pursuant to the civil provisions of RICO, disgorgement of profits the government contends were earned as a consequence of a RICO racketeering “enterprise.” In September 2000, the court dismissed the government’s claims asserted under the Medical Care Recovery Act as well as those under the Medicare Secondary Payer provisions of the Social Security Act, but did not dismiss the RICO claims. In February 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that disgorgement is not an available remedy in this case. The government’s petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court was denied in October 2005. The non-jury, bench trial began in September 2004, and closing arguments concluded in June 2005.

On August 17, 2006, the court found certain defendants, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, liable for the RICO claims, but did not impose any direct financial penalties. The court instead enjoined the defendants from committing future racketeering acts, participating in certain trade organizations, making misrepresentations concerning smoking and health and youth marketing, and using certain brand descriptors such as “low tar,” “light,” “ultra light,” “mild” and “natural.” The court also ordered defendants to issue “corrective communications” on five subjects, including smoking and health and addiction, and to comply with further undertakings, including maintaining web sites of historical corporate documents and disseminating certain marketing information on a confidential basis to the government. In addition, the court placed restrictions on the ability of the defendants to dispose of certain assets for use in the United States, unless the transferee agrees to abide by the terms of the court’s order, and ordered the defendants to reimburse the U.S. Department of Justice its taxable costs incurred in connection with the case.

Certain defendants, including RJR Tobacco, filed notices of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in September 2006. The government filed its notice of appeal in October 2006. In addition, the defendants, including RJR Tobacco, filed joint motions asking the district court to clarify and to stay its order pending the defendants’ appeal. On September 28, 2006, the district court denied the defendants’ motion to stay. On September 29, 2006, the defendants, including RJR Tobacco, filed a motion asking the court of appeals to stay the district court’s order pending the defendants’ appeal. The court granted the motion in October 2006.

In November 2006, the court of appeals stayed the appeals pending the trial court’s ruling on the defendants’ motion for clarification. The defendants’ motion was granted in part and denied in part. The defendants’ motion as to the meaning and applicability of the general injunctive relief of the August 2006 order was denied. The request for clarification as to the scope of the provisions in the order prohibiting the use of descriptors and requiring corrective statements at retail point of sale was granted. The court also ruled that the provisions prohibiting the use of express or implied health messages or descriptors do apply to the actions of the defendants taken outside of the United States.

In May 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals largely affirmed the finding of liability against the tobacco defendants and remanded to the trial court for dismissal of the trade organizations. The court also largely affirmed the remedial order, including the denial of additional remedies, but vacated the order and remanded for further proceedings as to the following four discrete issues:

 

   

the issue of the extent of Brown & Williamson Holdings’ control over tobacco operations was remanded for further fact finding and clarification;

 

   

the remedial order was vacated to the extent that it binds all defendants’ subsidiaries and was remanded to the lower court for determination as to whether inclusion of the subsidiaries and which of the subsidiaries satisfy Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;

 

   

the court held that the provision found in paragraph four of the injunction, concerning the use of any express or implied health message or health descriptor for any cigarette brand, should not be read to govern overseas sales. The issue was remanded to the lower court with instructions to reformulate it so as to exempt foreign activities that have no substantial, direct and foreseeable domestic effects; and

 

   

the remedial order was vacated regarding “point of sale” displays and remanded for the district court to evaluate and make due provisions for the rights of innocent persons, either by abandoning this part of the remedial order or re-crafting a new version reflecting the rights of third parties.

 

47


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

RJR Tobacco and the other defendants, as well as the Department of Justice, filed petitions for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court in February 2010. In June 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the parties’ petitions for writ of certiorari. Post-remand proceedings are underway to determine the extent to which the original order will be implemented. The defendants filed a motion for vacatur, in which they moved to vacate the trial court’s injunctions and factual findings and dismiss the case in its entirety, on March 3, 2011. The court denied the motion on June 1, 2011. The defendants filed a notice of appeal. The trial court also issued an opinion on January 26, 2012, stating that it will not defer its decision on the corrective action statements pending the outcome of pending FDA litigation. In addition, the parties to the lawsuit entered into an agreement concerning certain technical obligations regarding their public websites. Pursuant to this agreement, RJR Tobacco agreed to deposit $3.125 million over the next three years into the registry of the district court. In July 2012, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the trial court’s denial of the defendants’ motion to vacate the injunctions.

Native American Tribe Cases. As of September 30, 2012, one Native American tribe case was pending before a tribal court against RJR Tobacco and B&W, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe v. American Tobacco Co., a case filed in September 1997 in Tribal Court, Crow Creek Sioux, South Dakota. The plaintiffs seek to recover actual and punitive damages, restitution, funding of a clinical cessation program, funding of a corrective public education program, and disgorgement of unjust profits from sales to minors. The plaintiffs claim that the defendants are liable under the following theories: unlawful marketing and targeting of minors, contributing to the delinquency of minors, unfair and deceptive acts or practices, unreasonable restraint of trade and unfair method of competition, negligence, negligence per se, conspiracy and restitution of unjust enrichment. The case is dormant.

International Cases. Eight health-care reimbursement cases have been filed against RJR Tobacco, its current or former affiliates, or B&W outside the United States, by eight Canadian provinces. Both of the remaining Canadian provinces have either indicated an intention to file similar cases or filed actions that have not been served on RJR Tobacco or its current or former affiliates. In these actions, foreign governments are seeking to recover for health care, medical and other assistance paid and to be paid in treating their citizens for tobacco-related disease. No such actions are pending in the United States. Pursuant to the terms of the 1999 sale of RJR Tobacco’s international tobacco business, RJR Tobacco has tendered the defense of these actions to JTI. Subject to a reservation of rights, JTI has assumed the defense of RJR Tobacco and its current or former affiliates.

 

   

British Columbia — In 1997, British Columbia enacted a statute, subsequently amended, which created a civil cause of action for the government to recover the costs of health-care benefits incurred for insured populations of British Columbia residents resulting from tobacco-related disease. An action brought on behalf of the Province of British Columbia pursuant to the statute against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and certain of its affiliates, was dismissed in February 2000 when the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that the legislation was unconstitutional and set aside service ex juris against the foreign defendants for that reason. British Columbia then enacted a revised statute, pursuant to which an action was filed in January 2001 against many of the same defendants, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in Supreme Court, British Columbia. In that action, the British Columbia government seeks to recover the present value of its total expenditures for health-care benefits provided for insured persons resulting from tobacco-related disease or the risk of tobacco-related disease caused by alleged breaches of duty by the manufacturers, the present value of its estimated total expenditures for health-care benefits that reasonably could be expected to be provided for those insured persons resulting from tobacco-related disease or the risk of tobacco-related disease in the future, court ordered interest, and costs, or in the alternative, special or increased costs. The government alleges that the defendants are liable under the British Columbia statute by reason of their “tobacco related wrongs,” which are alleged to include: selling defective products, failure to warn, sale of cigarettes to children and adolescents, illegal importation, strict liability, deceit and misrepresentation, violation of trade practice and competition acts, concerted action, and joint liability. RJR Tobacco and its affiliate filed statements of defense in January 2007. In February 2010, the trial date was adjourned, and no new date has been set.

 

48


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

   

New Brunswick — In March 2008, a case was filed on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco’s predecessor and one of RJR Tobacco’s affiliates, in the Trial Division in the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick. The claim is brought pursuant to New Brunswick legislation enacted in 2008, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the New Brunswick government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia action described above based on analogous theories of liability. RJR Tobacco and its affiliate filed statements of defense in March 2010.

 

   

Ontario — In September 2009, a case was filed on behalf of the Province of Ontario, Canada, against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The claim is brought pursuant to Ontario legislation enacted in 2009, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the Ontario government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia and New Brunswick actions described above based on analogous theories of liability, although the government also asserted claims based on the illegal importation of cigarettes, which claims were deleted in an amended statement of claim filed in August 2010. The jurisdictional challenge brought by RJR Tobacco and its affiliate was denied by the motions court on January 4, 2012, and RJR Tobacco and its affiliate have filed an appeal.

 

   

Newfoundland and Labrador — In February 2011, a case was filed on behalf of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in the General Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. The claim is brought pursuant to legislation passed in Newfoundland in 2001 and proclaimed in February 2011, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the Newfoundland government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia and other provincial actions described above based on analogous theories of liability. RJR Tobacco and its affiliate have brought a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the Newfoundland court. A decision is pending.

 

   

Quebec — In June 2012, a case was filed on behalf of the Province of Quebec, Canada, against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal. The claim is brought pursuant to legislation enacted in Quebec in 2009, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the Quebec government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia and other provincial actions described above based on analogous theories of liability. Attorneys representing RJR Tobacco and its affiliate have entered an appearance. Separately, in August 2009, certain Canadian manufacturers filed a constitutional challenge to the Quebec statute, and that challenge is pending.

 

   

Manitoba — In May 2012, a case was filed on behalf of the Province of Manitoba, Canada, against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in the Court of Queen’s Bench, Winnipeg Judicial Centre, Manitoba. The claim is brought pursuant to legislation assented to in 2006 and proclaimed in 2012, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the Manitoba government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia and other provincial actions described above based on analogous theories of liability.

 

   

Saskatchewan — In June 2012, a case was filed on behalf of the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in the Court of Queen’s Bench, Judicial Centre of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The claim is brought pursuant to legislation assented to in 2007 and proclaimed in 2012, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the Saskatchewan government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia and other provincial actions described above based on analogous theories of liability.

 

49


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

   

Alberta — In June 2012, a case was filed on behalf of the Province of Alberta, Canada, against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta Judicial Centre, Calgary, Alberta. The claim is brought pursuant to legislation assented to in 2009 and proclaimed in 2012, which legislation is substantially similar to the revised British Columbia statute described above. In this action, the Alberta government seeks to recover essentially the same types of damages that are being sought in the British Columbia and other provincial actions described above based on analogous theories of liability.

The following six putative Canadian class actions were filed against various Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, in courts in the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, although the plaintiffs’ counsel have been actively pursuing only the action pending in Saskatchewan at this time:

 

   

In Adams v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council, a case filed in July 2009 in the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all individuals who were alive on July 10, 2009, and who have suffered, or who currently suffer, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, heart disease or cancer, after having smoked a minimum of 25,000 cigarettes designed, manufactured, imported, marketed or distributed by the defendants.

 

   

In Dorion v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council, a case filed in June 2009, in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all individuals, including their estates, dependents and family members, who purchased or smoked cigarettes designed, manufactured, marketed or distributed by the defendants.

 

   

In Kunka v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council, a case filed in 2009 in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all individuals, including their estates, and their dependents and family members, who purchased or smoked cigarettes manufactured by the defendants.

 

   

In Semple v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council, a case filed in June 2009 in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all individuals, including their estates, dependents and family members, who purchased or smoked cigarettes designed, manufactured, marketed or distributed by the defendants for the period of January 1, 1954, to the expiry of the opt out period as set by the court.

 

   

In Bourassa v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, a case filed in June 2010 in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all individuals, including their estates, who were alive on June 12, 2007, and who have suffered, or who currently suffer from chronic respiratory diseases, after having smoked a minimum of 25,000 cigarettes designed, manufactured, imported, marketed, or distributed by the defendants.

 

   

In McDermid v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, a case filed in June 2010 in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Canadian and non-Canadian tobacco-related entities, including RJR Tobacco and one of its affiliates, the plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of all individuals, including their estates, who were alive on June 12, 2007, and who have suffered, or who currently suffer from heart disease, after having smoked a minimum of 25,000 cigarettes designed, manufactured, imported, marketed, or distributed by the defendants.

 

50


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

In each of these six cases, the plaintiffs allege fraud, fraudulent concealment, breach of warranty, breach of warranty of merchantability and of fitness for a particular purpose, failure to warn, design defects, negligence, breach of a “special duty” to children and adolescents, conspiracy, concert of action, unjust enrichment, market share liability, joint liability, and violations of various trade practices and competition statutes. The plaintiffs seek compensatory and aggravated damages; punitive or exemplary damages; the right to waive the torts described above and claim disgorgement of the amount of revenues or profits the defendants received from the sale of tobacco products to putative class members; interest pursuant to the Pre-judgment Interest Act and other similar legislation; and other relief the court deems just. Pursuant to the terms of the 1999 sale of RJR Tobacco’s international tobacco business, RJR Tobacco has tendered the defense of these six actions to JTI. Subject to a reservation of rights, JTI has assumed the defense of RJR Tobacco and its current or former affiliates in these actions.

State Settlement Agreements-Enforcement and Validity; Adjustments

As of September 30, 2012, there were 31 cases concerning the enforcement, validity or interpretation of the State Settlement Agreements in which RJR Tobacco or B&W is a party. This number includes those cases, discussed below, relating to disputed payments under the State Settlement Agreements.

The Vermont Attorney General filed suit in July 2005, in the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden County, alleging that certain advertising for the Eclipse cigarette brand violated both the MSA and the Vermont Consumer Fraud Statute. The State of Vermont is seeking declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief. The bench trial in this action began on October 6, 2008, and lasted a total of five weeks. Closing arguments occurred on March 11, 2009. On March 10, 2010, the court issued its opinion, finding that three of the advertising claims made by RJR Tobacco were not supported by the appropriate degree of scientific evidence. The court did, however, rule that the remaining six advertising claims challenged by the State of Vermont were not actionable. The court indicated that remedies and any damages to be awarded, as well as the issue of attorney’s fees and litigation expenses, will be addressed in additional proceedings. On March 22, 2010, RJR Tobacco filed a motion to amend findings of fact that it believes are demonstrably contrary to, or unsupported by, the record. On December 14, 2010, the court issued an order granting in part and denying in part RJR Tobacco’s motion. The parties conducted a mediation on the remaining issues on February 14, 2012, but failed to reach an agreement. On April 6, 2012, the court entered a stipulated scheduling order outlining a schedule for pre-trial briefs on the relief/remedies sought by the State. That briefing was completed on September 26, 2012. A schedule for further trial proceedings, if any, will be established.

In April 2005, the Mississippi Attorney General notified B&W of its intent to seek approximately $3.9 million in additional payments under the Mississippi Settlement Agreement. The Mississippi Attorney General asserts that B&W failed to report in its net operating profit or its shipments, cigarettes manufactured by B&W under contract for Star Tobacco or its parent, Star Scientific, Inc. B&W advised the State that it did not owe the state any money. In August 2005, the Mississippi Attorney General filed in the Chancery Court of Jackson County, Mississippi, a Notice of Violation, Motion to Enforce Settlement Agreement, and Request for an Accounting by Defendant Brown & Williamson Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. In this filing, Mississippi estimated that its damages exceeded $5.0 million. On August 24, 2011, the court entered an order finding in favor of the State on the Star contract manufacturing issue, that the total amount of the underpayment from B&W was approximately $3.8 million and that interest on the underpayment was approximately $4.3 million. The court also appointed a special master to undertake an accounting of the benefit received by B&W for failure to include its profits from Star contract manufacturing in its net operating profits reported to the State. Finally, the court awarded the State attorneys’ fees and costs in an amount to be determined. B&W filed a motion to certify the Star contract issue for interlocutory appeal, pursuant to Rule 54 (b) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. On January 9, 2012, that motion was denied.

In addition, in February 2010, the Mississippi Attorney General filed a motion alleging that RJR Tobacco had improperly failed to report shipments of certain categories of cigarette volumes, and for certain years had improperly reported its net operating profit. As a result, the State alleges that settlement payments to it were improperly reduced. RJR Tobacco disputes these allegations and is vigorously defending against them. Hearings on these issues were held on January 24-25, 2012, and May 9, 2012. On May 15, 2012, the court entered an order finding in favor of RJR Tobacco on the claim related to RJR Tobacco’s reported net operating profits in the year used as a baseline for future calculations of the State’s net operating profits payment. The State had sought $3.8 million in damages for this issue, with an additional $2.7 million in interest. On June 19, 2012, the court entered an order

 

51


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

finding in favor of the State on the remaining issues, holding that the total amount of the underpayment was approximately $3.3 million and that interest on the underpayment was also approximately $3.3 million, though the court also held that this amount should be offset by additional payments previously made by Lorillard Tobacco Company on some of these issues. The court further ordered RJR Tobacco to perform an accounting of its profits and shipments from 1999-2011. Finally, the court awarded the State attorneys’ fees and costs in an amount to be determined. On July 10, 2012, RJR Tobacco filed a petition with the Mississippi Supreme Court requesting leave to immediately appeal the court’s ordered accounting and its entry of judgment for the State without first conducting an evidentiary hearing. On August 15, 2012, the request was denied. An accountant acceptable to both the State and RJR Tobacco has been identified and retained, and the accounting process is now underway.

In May 2006, the State of Florida filed a motion, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, to enforce the Settlement Agreement, for an Accounting by Brown & Williamson Holdings, Inc., and for an Order of Contempt, raising substantially the same issues as raised by the Mississippi Attorney General and seeking approximately $12.4 million in additional payments under the Florida Settlement Agreement, as well as $17.0 million in interest payments. This matter is currently in the discovery phase.

In December 2007, nine states sued RJR Tobacco claiming that an advertisement published in Rolling Stone magazine the prior month violated the MSA’s ban on the use of cartoons. The states asserted that the magazine’s content adjacent to a Camel gatefold advertisement included cartoon images prohibited by the MSA and that certain images used in the Camel ad itself were prohibited cartoons. Each state sought injunctive relief and punitive monetary sanctions. Eight of the nine courts have since ruled that the states are not entitled to the punitive sanctions being sought. There has been resolution of all of the cases except for California.

The court in California ruled that the company was not liable for preventing the use of cartoons in magazine-created content next to the RJR Tobacco advertisement, but that a few of the images in the RJR Tobacco advertisement itself were “technical” and unintentional cartoons. No monetary sanctions were awarded by the California court. The California Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment on the merits. In April 2011, the California Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s award of attorneys’ fees to the State and remanded the case to the trial court with instructions to use the correct legal standard and prevailing market rates in determining the award of fees to either party. A final order was issued on October 6, 2011, finding the State to be the prevailing party for purposes of entitlement to attorneys’ fees. On March 22, 2012, the court entered an order granting the State’s request for approximately $3 million in attorneys’ fees. RJR Tobacco filed a notice of appeal in April 2012. Briefing is underway.

NPM Adjustment. The MSA includes an adjustment, referred to as an NPM Adjustment, that potentially reduces the annual payment obligations of RJR Tobacco and the other PMs. Certain requirements, collectively referred to as the Adjustment Requirements, must be satisfied before the NPM Adjustment for a given year is available:

 

   

an independent auditor designated under the MSA must determine that the PMs have experienced a market share loss beyond a triggering threshold to those manufacturers that do not participate in the MSA, such non-participating manufacturers referred to as NPMs; and

 

   

in a binding arbitration proceeding, a firm of independent economic consultants must find that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the loss.

When the Adjustment Requirements are satisfied, the MSA provides that the NPM Adjustment applies to reduce the annual payment obligation of the PMs. However, an individual settling state may avoid its share of the NPM Adjustment if it had in place and diligently enforced during the entirety of the relevant year a “Qualifying Statute” that imposes escrow obligations on NPMs that are comparable to what the NPMs would have owed if they had joined the MSA. In such event, the state’s share of the NPM Adjustment is reallocated to other settling states, if any, that did not have in place and diligently enforce a Qualifying Statute.

NPM Adjustment Claim for 2003. For 2003, the Adjustment Requirements were satisfied. As a result, in April 2006, RJR Tobacco placed approximately $647 million of its MSA payment into a disputed payments account, in accordance with a procedure established by the MSA. That amount represented RJR Tobacco’s share of the 2003 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the MSA independent auditor. In March 2007, the independent auditor issued

 

52


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

revised calculations that reduced RJR Tobacco’s share of the NPM Adjustment for 2003 to approximately $615 million. As a result, in April 2007, RJR Tobacco instructed the independent auditor to release to the settling states approximately $32 million from the disputed payments account.

Following RJR Tobacco’s payment of a portion of its 2006 MSA payment into the disputed payments account, 37 of the settling states filed legal proceedings in their respective MSA courts seeking declaratory orders that they diligently enforced their Qualifying Statutes during 2003 and/or orders compelling RJR Tobacco and the other PMs that placed money in the disputed payments account to pay the disputed amounts to the settling states. In response, RJR Tobacco and other PMs, pursuant to the MSA’s arbitration provisions, moved to compel arbitration of the parties’ dispute concerning the 2003 NPM Adjustment, including the States’ diligent enforcement claims, before a single, nationwide arbitration panel of three former federal judges. The settling states opposed these motions, arguing, among other things, that the issue of diligent enforcement must be resolved by MSA courts in each of the 52 settling states and territories.

As of September 30, 2012, 47 of the 48 courts that had addressed the question whether the dispute concerning the 2003 NPM Adjustment is arbitrable had ruled that arbitration is required under the MSA. The orders compelling arbitration in these states are now final and/or non-appealable. The Montana Supreme Court ruled that the state of Montana did not agree to arbitrate the question of whether it diligently enforced a qualifying statute. Trial on Montana’s assertion of its diligent enforcement defense to the 2003 NPM Adjustment was set for trial on September 10, 2012. On June 22, 2012, Montana and the PMs reached an agreement that the PMs do not contest Montana’s claim that it diligently enforced the Qualifying Statute during 2003.

As of January 2009, RJR Tobacco and certain other PMs entered into an Agreement Regarding Arbitration, referred to as the Arbitration Agreement, with 45 of the settling states, representing approximately 90% of the allocable share of the settling states. Pursuant to the Arbitration Agreement, signing states will have their ultimate liability (if any) with respect to the 2003 NPM Adjustment reduced by 20%, and RJR Tobacco and the other PMs that placed their share of the disputed 2005 NPM Adjustment (discussed below) into the disputed payments account have, without releasing or waiving any claims, authorized the release of those funds to the settling states.

The arbitration panel contemplated by the MSA and the Arbitration Agreement has been selected, and proceedings before the panel with respect to the 2003 NPM Adjustment Claim have begun. An initial administrative conference was held in July 2010, and subsequent proceedings have been held since then. Document and deposition discovery has been conducted pursuant to various orders of the arbitration panel. On November 3, 2011, RJR Tobacco and the other PMs advised the arbitration panel that they were not contesting the “diligent enforcement” of 12 states and the four pacific territories with a combined allocable share of less than 14%. The “diligent enforcement” of the remaining 33 settling states, DC and Puerto Rico was contested and will be the subject of further proceedings. A common issues hearing was held in April 2012 and state specific evidentiary hearings began in May 2012. To date, evidentiary hearings for eight states have been held. State specific hearings will continue on a monthly basis until proceedings with respect to all contested states have been completed. It is anticipated that it will be 12 to 15 months before a decision on the merits with respect to the 2003 NPM Adjustment is reached.

Other NPM Adjustment Claims. From 2006 to 2008, proceedings were initiated with respect to an NPM Adjustment for 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Adjustment Requirements were satisfied with respect to the NPM Adjustment for each of 2004, 2005 and 2006. As a result:

 

   

in April 2007, RJR Tobacco placed approximately $561 million of its 2007 MSA payment (representing its share of the 2004 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the MSA independent auditor), and in April 2008, placed approximately $431 million of its 2008 MSA payment (representing its share of the 2005 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the independent auditor, net of certain slight adjustments to reflect revised independent auditor calculations of RJR Tobacco’s share of the 2003 and 2004 NPM Adjustments) into the disputed payments account. In 2009 and 2010, revised independent auditor calculations resulted in increases in RJR Tobacco’s 2005 NPM Adjustment, bringing the total amount of the adjustment to approximately $445 million; and

 

   

in April 2009, RJR Tobacco retained approximately $406.5 million of its 2009 MSA payment to reflect its share of the 2006 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the independent auditor. Based on revised calculations

 

53


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

by the MSA independent auditor, in April 2010, RJR Tobacco withheld an additional amount, bringing the total amount withheld with respect to the 2006 NPM Adjustment to approximately $420 million. Again based on revised calculations by the MSA independent auditor, in April 2011, RJR Tobacco paid approximately $1 million extra to account for a downward adjustment in its share of the 2006 NPM Adjustment.

The MSA permits PMs to retain disputed payment amounts pending resolution of the dispute. If the resolution of the dispute ultimately requires a PM to pay some or all of the disputed amount, then the amount deemed to be due includes interest calculated from the date the payment was originally due at the prime rate plus three percent.

In June 2009, RJR Tobacco, certain other PMs and the settling states entered into an agreement with respect to the 2007, 2008 and 2009 significant factor determinations. This agreement provides that the settling states will not contest that the disadvantages of the MSA were “a significant factor contributing to” the market share loss experienced by the PMs in those years. The stipulation pertaining to each of the three years became effective in February of the year a final determination by the firm of independent economic consultants would otherwise have been expected (2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively), if the issue had been arbitrated on the merits. RJR Tobacco and the PMs will pay a total amount of $5 million into the States’ Antitrust/Consumer Protection Tobacco Enforcement Fund established under Section VIII(c) of the MSA for each year covered by that agreement, with RJR Tobacco paying approximately 47% of such amounts. On January 9, 2012, a new agreement with respect to significant factor determinations was entered into on terms essentially identical to the earlier agreement, but pertaining to 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Based on the payment calculations of the MSA independent auditor and the agreement described above regarding the 2007, 2008 and 2009 significant factor determinations, the Adjustment Requirements were satisfied with respect to the NPM Adjustments for 2007, 2008 and 2009. As a result, in April 2010, RJR Tobacco placed approximately $448 million of its 2010 MSA payment (representing its share of the 2007 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the MSA independent auditor) into the disputed payments account; in April 2011, it placed approximately $477 million of its 2011 MSA payment (representing its share of the 2008 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the MSA independent auditor) into the disputed payments account; and in April 2012, it placed approximately $469 million of its 2012 MSA payment (representing its share of the 2009 NPM Adjustment as calculated by the MSA independent auditor) into the disputed payments account. RJR Tobacco’s 2011 payment into the disputed payments account was reduced by approximately $1.1 million to adjust for a downward revision by the independent auditor to RJR Tobacco’s share of the 2007 NPM Adjustment. RJR Tobacco’s 2012 payment into the disputed payments account was reduced by approximately $12.4 million to adjust for a downward revision by the independent auditor to RJR Tobacco’s share of the 2007 NPM Adjustment, and by approximately $7.7 million to adjust for a downward revision to RJR Tobacco’s share of the 2008 NPM Adjustment.

The table below summarizes the information discussed above with respect to the disputed portions of RJR Tobacco’s MSA payment obligations from 2003 through 2009 — the years as to which the Adjustment Requirements have been met:

 

Year for which NPM Adjustment Calculated

     2003         2004         2005         2006         2007         2008         2009   

Year in which deduction from NPM Adjustment was taken

     2006         2007         2008         2009         2010         2011         2012   

RJR Tobacco’s approximate share of disputed NPM Adjustment (millions)

   $ 615       $ 562       $ 445       $ 419       $ 435       $ 469       $ 469   

In addition to the NPM Adjustment claims described above, RJR Tobacco has filed dispute notices with respect to its 2010 and 2011 annual MSA payments relating to the NPM Adjustments potentially applicable to those years. The amount at issue for those two years is approximately $871 million.

Due to the uncertainty over the final resolution of the NPM Adjustment claims asserted by RJR Tobacco, no assurances can be made related to the amounts, if any, that will be realized or any amounts (including interest) that will be owed.

Separately, on August 19, 2011, Idaho sent a letter on behalf of itself and 31 other states, stating their intent to initiate arbitration with respect to whether amounts used to measure the domestic cigarette market and to calculate

 

54


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

PM payment obligations under the MSA should be the adjusted gross or the net number of cigarettes on which federal excise tax (including arbitrios de cigarillos) is paid. The parties also agreed to arbitrate the Independent Auditor’s calculation of the Volume Adjustment with respect to the treatment of “roll your own,” referred to as RYO, tobacco. On December 15, 2011, the parties entered into an agreement regarding procedures for formation of an arbitration panel with respect to this arbitration. Selection of arbitrators has been completed, an initial hearing has been held, and discovery is now underway.

Antitrust Cases

A number of tobacco wholesalers and consumers have sued U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, in federal and state courts, alleging that cigarette manufacturers combined and conspired to set the price of cigarettes in violation of antitrust statutes and various state unfair business practices statutes. In these cases, the plaintiffs asked the court to certify the lawsuits as class actions on behalf of other persons who purchased cigarettes directly or indirectly from one or more of the defendants. As of September 30, 2012, all of the federal and state court cases on behalf of indirect purchasers had been dismissed.

In Smith v. Philip Morris Cos., Inc., a case filed in February 2000, and pending in District Court, Seward County, Kansas, the court granted class certification in November 2001, in an action brought against the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR Tobacco and B&W, and the parent companies of the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, including RJR, seeking to recover an unspecified amount in actual and punitive damages. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants participated in a conspiracy to fix or maintain the price of cigarettes sold in the United States. In an opinion dated March 23, 2012, the court granted summary judgment in favor of RJR Tobacco and B&W on the plaintiffs’ claims. On July 18, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal.

Other Litigation and Developments

JTI Claims for Indemnification. By purchase agreement dated May 12, 1999, referred to as the 1999 Purchase Agreement, RJR and RJR Tobacco sold the international tobacco business to JTI. Under the 1999 Purchase Agreement, RJR and RJR Tobacco retained certain liabilities relating to the international tobacco business sold to JTI. Under its reading of the indemnification provisions of the 1999 Purchase Agreement, JTI has requested indemnification for damages allegedly arising out of these retained liabilities. As previously reported, a number of the indemnification claims between the parties relating to the activities of Northern Brands in Canada have been resolved. The other matters for which JTI has requested indemnification for damages under the indemnification provisions of the 1999 Purchase Agreement are described below:

 

   

In a letter dated March 31, 2006, counsel for JTI stated that JTI would be seeking indemnification under the 1999 Purchase Agreement for any damages it may incur or may have incurred arising out of a Southern District of New York grand jury investigation, a now-terminated Eastern District of North Carolina grand jury investigation, and various actions filed by the European Community and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, referred to as the EDNY, against RJR Tobacco and certain of its affiliates on November 3, 2000, August 6, 2001, and (as discussed in greater detail below) October 30, 2002, and against JTI on January 11, 2002.

 

   

JTI also has sought indemnification relating to a Statement of Claim filed on April 23, 2010, against JTI Macdonald Corp., referred to as JTI-MC, by the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board, referred to as the Board, Andy J. Jacko, Brian Baswick, Ron Kichler, and Aprad Dobrenty, proceeding on their own behalf and on behalf of a putative class of Ontario tobacco producers that sold tobacco to JTI-MC during the period between January 1, 1986 and December 31, 1996, referred to as the Class Period, through the Board pursuant to certain agreements. The Statement of Claim seeks recovery for damages allegedly incurred by the class representatives and the putative class for tobacco sales during the Class Period made at the contract price for duty free or export cigarettes with respect to cigarettes that, rather than being sold duty free or for export, purportedly were sold in Canada, which allegedly breached one or more of a series of contracts dated between June 4, 1986, and July 3, 1996. A motion to dismiss has been filed.

 

55


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

   

Finally, JTI has advised RJR and RJR Tobacco of its view that, under the terms of the 1999 Purchase Agreement, RJR and RJR Tobacco are liable for a roughly $1.7 million judgment entered in 1998, plus interest and costs, in an action filed in Brazil by Lutz Hanneman, a former employee of a former RJR Tobacco subsidiary. RJR and RJR Tobacco deny that they are liable for this judgment under the terms of the 1999 Purchase Agreement.

Although RJR and RJR Tobacco recognize that, under certain circumstances, they may have these and other unresolved indemnification obligations to JTI under the 1999 Purchase Agreement, RJR and RJR Tobacco disagree with JTI as to (1) what circumstances relating to any such matters may give rise to indemnification obligations by RJR and RJR Tobacco, and (2) the nature and extent of any such obligation. RJR and RJR Tobacco have conveyed their position to JTI, and the parties have agreed to resolve their differences at a later time.

European Community. On October 30, 2002, the European Community and ten of its member states filed a complaint in the EDNY against RJR, RJR Tobacco and several currently and formerly related companies. The complaint contains many of the same or similar allegations found in an earlier complaint, now dismissed, filed in August 2001 and also alleges that the defendants, together with certain identified and unidentified persons, engaged in money laundering and other conduct violating civil RICO and a variety of common laws. The complaint also alleges that the defendants manufactured cigarettes that were eventually sold in Iraq in violation of U.S. sanctions. The plaintiffs seek compensatory, punitive and treble damages among other types of relief. This matter has been stayed and largely inactive since November 24, 2009 when, with the court’s permission, the European Community and member states filed and served a second amended complaint. The second amended complaint added 16 member states as plaintiffs and RAI, RJR Tobacco and R. J. Reynolds Global Products Inc., referred to as GPI, as defendants. The allegations contained in the second amended complaint are in most respects either identical or similar to those found in the prior complaint, but now add new allegations primarily regarding the activities of RAI, RJR Tobacco and GPI following the B&W business combination. Pursuant to a stipulation and order, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ second amended complaint on February 15, 2010. Ruling on part of the defendants’ motion to dismiss, on March 8, 2011, the court dismissed the plaintiffs’ RICO claims, and reserved decision as to dismissal of the plaintiffs’ state-law claims. Thereafter, on May 13, 2011, the court granted the remaining portion of the defendants’ motion and dismissed the plaintiffs’ state-law claims based on the court’s lack of subject matter jurisdiction. On May 16, 2011, the clerk of court entered a judgment dismissing the action in its entirety. On June 10, 2011, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, appealing from the May 16, 2011 judgment, as well as the March 8, 2011 and May 13, 2011 orders that respectively resulted in the dismissal of their RICO and state-law claims. Oral argument occurred on February 24, 2012. A decision is pending.

Star Patent Infringement. On May 23, 2001, and July 30, 2002, Star Scientific, Inc. filed two patent infringement actions, later consolidated, against RJR Tobacco in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The consolidated action, known as Star I, involved two patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,202,649 and 6,425,401), both entitled “Method of Treating Tobacco to Reduce Nitrosamine Content, and Products Produced Thereby.” Star accused RJR Tobacco of infringing certain claims of these patents during the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons and asked the court to: enter an injunction restraining RJR Tobacco from further acts of infringement; award Star damages, including a reasonable royalty, to compensate for the infringement; increase the damages due to willfulness; award pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and reasonable attorney fees; and order RJR Tobacco to deliver up to the court for destruction all products manufactured from any process that infringes any claim of either patent. RJR Tobacco filed counterclaims seeking a declaration that the asserted claims of Star’s patents are invalid, unenforceable and not infringed by RJR Tobacco. Between January 31 and February 8, 2005, the court held a first bench trial on RJR Tobacco’s affirmative defense and counterclaim based upon inequitable conduct. Additionally, in response to the court’s invitation, RJR Tobacco filed two summary judgment motions in January 2005.

In January 2007, the court granted RJR Tobacco’s motion for summary judgment of invalidity based on indefiniteness. The court granted in part and denied in part, RJR Tobacco’s other summary judgment motion concerning the effective filing date of Star’s patents. In June 2007, the court ruled that Star’s patents were unenforceable due to inequitable conduct by Star and its representatives in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, referred to as the PTO, and entered final judgment in favor of RJR Tobacco and against Star. Star filed a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

 

56


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

In August 2008, the Federal Circuit issued a decision reversing the district court’s rulings against Star and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings on the issues of validity and infringement. Star updated its reasonable royalty damages calculation to a range of $294.9 million to $362.1 million.

In late 2008, RJR Tobacco petitioned the PTO to reexamine the claims of Star’s patents at issue in Star I based on substantial new questions of patentability. The PTO agreed to reexamine the claims ex parte. The district court decided to move forward with the trial in Star I rather than await the outcome of the reexamination proceedings.

Trial began on May 18, 2009, and on June 16, 2009, the jury returned a verdict in favor of RJR Tobacco on every question put to it. The jury decided that RJR Tobacco had not infringed either of Star’s patents and that the patents were invalid on four independent bases.

Shortly after the start of the Star I jury trial, in May 2009, Star filed a follow-on lawsuit – Star II – in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland seeking damages for alleged infringement during the 2003 growing season and beyond of the two Star patents found invalid and not infringed in Star I. The district court stayed Star II pending the outcome of proceedings in Star I, and Star II was administratively closed pending further order of the district court upon the application, by December 31, 2012, of any party.

In November 2009, RJR Tobacco filed a bill of costs (later renewed) seeking reimbursement of its recoverable costs as the prevailing party in Star I, and also filed a motion seeking reimbursement of its attorney fees and excess costs incurred in defending Star I. In December 2009, the district court upheld the jury verdict by denying Star’s combined motion for judgment as a matter of law or new trial. The court entered judgment in RJR Tobacco’s favor and awarded RJR Tobacco all assessable costs. The court deferred proceedings with respect to RJR Tobacco’s motion for attorneys’ fees and excess costs pending final resolution of the reexamination and any appellate proceedings.

On Star’s request and without objection from RJR Tobacco, the district court deferred briefing on RJR Tobacco’s renewed bill of costs until after the resolution of appellate proceedings.

In December 2009, Star filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Circuit from the district court’s final judgment order. On August 26, 2011, the Federal Circuit issued a decision affirming the jury’s finding of non-infringement but reversing, in a split decision, on invalidity. Writing in dissent, Judge Dyk stated that he would affirm the jury’s finding of invalidity based upon indefiniteness.

On September 26, 2011, RJR Tobacco filed a combined petition for panel rehearing and rehearing en banc with the Federal Circuit seeking rehearing on whether Star’s patents at issue are invalid based upon indefiniteness. The Federal Circuit denied RJR Tobacco’s combined petition on November 29, 2011, and the Federal Circuit’s judgment issued as a mandate on December 15, 2011. Star I has now returned to the district court for further proceedings on RJR Tobacco’s bill of cost and motion for attorneys’ fees and excess costs. Star I and Star II have been stayed and referred to the magistrate judge for mediation purposes. A mediation conference occurred in August 2012.

On March 28, 2012, RJR Tobacco filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking review of whether the Federal Circuit’s test for definiteness faithfully implements the definiteness requirement of 35 U.S.C. § 112, par. 2 as interpreted by the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. Star filed its opposition to RJR Tobacco’s petition on May 29, 2012, and RJR Tobacco filed its reply on June 11, 2012.

In the PTO reexamination proceeding, the PTO in March and April 2011 issued ex parte reexamination certificates confirming the patentability of the claims of the Star patents at issue in Star I. The PTO reexamination proceeding did not address the question of whether Star’s patents are invalid based upon indefiniteness.

On September 26, 2012, RJR Tobacco paid Star $5 million pursuant to a confidential settlement agreement resolving Star I and Star II. RJR Tobacco withdrew its Supreme Court petition in Star I on September 21, 2012, and Star I and Star II were dismissed with prejudice on September 24, 2012.

 

57


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

FDA Litigation. In August 2009, RJR Tobacco and American Snuff Co. joined other tobacco manufacturers and a tobacco retailer in filing a lawsuit, Commonwealth Brands, Inc. v. United States of America, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, challenging certain provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, referred to as the FDA Tobacco Act, that severely restricts the few remaining channels available to communicate with adult tobacco consumers. RAI believes these provisions cannot be justified on any basis consistent with the demands of the First Amendment. The suit does not challenge the U.S. Congress’s decision to give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products, nor does it challenge the vast majority of the provisions of the new law. In November 2009, the court denied certain plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction as to the modified risk tobacco products provision of the FDA Tobacco Act. In January 2010, the court granted summary judgment for the plaintiffs so as to allow the continued use of color and imagery in labeling and advertising and the right to make statements that their products conform to FDA regulatory requirements. The court granted summary judgment to the U.S. Government as to all other challenged provisions. In March 2010, each side filed a notice of appeal with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 29, 2012, the Sixth Circuit issued its opinion affirming the district court’s decision in all respects but two: (1) holding as constitutional the ban on manufacturers making statements that their products conform to FDA regulatory requirements; and (2) holding as unconstitutional the ban on continuity programs. On May 31, 2012, the Sixth Circuit denied the plaintiffs’ motion for rehearing en banc. The parties now have until October 26, 2012 to file a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.

On February 25, 2011, RJR Tobacco, Lorillard, Inc., and Lorillard Tobacco Company jointly filed a lawsuit, Lorillard, Inc. v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the composition of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, referred to as the TPSAC, which had been established by the FDA. The complaint alleges that certain members of the TPSAC and certain members of its Constituents Subcommittee have financial and appearance conflicts of interest that are disqualifying under federal ethics law and regulations, and that the TPSAC is not “fairly balanced,” as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to as FACA. In March 2011, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which added an additional claim, based on a nonpublic meeting of members of the TPSAC, in violation of the FACA. The court granted the plaintiffs’ unopposed motion to file a second amended complaint adding a count addressing the FDA’s refusal to produce all documents generated by the TPSAC and its subcommittee in preparation of the menthol report. The FDA filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. On August 1, 2012, the court denied the FDA’s motion to dismiss. The FDA filed its answer to the complaint on October 12, 2012.

On August 16, 2011, RJR Tobacco and SFNTC joined other tobacco manufacturers in a lawsuit, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the final regulation specifying nine new graphic “warnings” pursuant to the FDA Tobacco Act violates the plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act, referred to as the APA. On November 7, 2011, the court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction, which stays the imposition of the graphic warning rule for 15 months following a final ruling from the district court as to the merits of the parties claims. On December 1, 2011, the government appealed the district court’s preliminary injunction ruling to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. On February 29, 2012, the district court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, finding that these mandatory graphic warnings violated the First Amendment by unconstitutionally compelling speech. In so finding, the court issued a permanent injunction preventing the FDA from requiring the companies to implement new textual and graphic warnings until 15 months after the issuance of new regulations that are constitutionally permissible. The government filed a notice of appeal of this order with the Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit on March 4, 2012, and moved the appellate court to consolidate this appeal with the government’s appeal of the preliminary injunction decision. The Court of Appeals granted the government’s motion and heard argument on both appeals on April 10, 2012. On August 24, 2012, the Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit affirmed the District Court’s decision invalidating graphic warning regulation. The Government filed a motion for rehearing en banc with the Court of Appeals.

For a detailed description of the FDA Tobacco Act, see “— Governmental Activity” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in Part I, Item 2.

Other Matters. RJR Tobacco and others brought suit against the City of Providence, Rhode Island challenging ordinances that prohibit the acceptance of tobacco product coupons, offering of certain pricing discounts for tobacco products, and certain flavored tobacco products in Providence, Rhode Island. The case, National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc. v. City of Providence, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on

 

58


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

February 13, 2012. The parties filed cross motions for summary judgment, and the court heard oral argument on August 22, 2012. The City has agreed to stay enforcement of the ordinances until the later of the close of business on October 15, 2012; or the close of business 14 days following the court’s ruling on the pending motions for summary judgment.

RJR Tobacco and others brought suit against the Village of Haverstraw, New York, challenging Local Law #5, which prohibits tobacco retailers from displaying tobacco products in a manner that permits consumers to view the products prior to purchase and many types of signage for tobacco products. The case, New York Association of Convenience Stores v. Village of Haverstraw, New York, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on June 26, 2012. On July 17, 2012, the parties entered into a settlement agreement whereby the Village of Haverstraw agreed to repeal Local Law #5.

In Richard Villarreal v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a case filed June 6, 2012, the plaintiff filed a collective action complaint against R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Pinstripe, Inc., and CareerBuilder, LLC, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. The complaint alleges unlawful discrimination with respect to the hiring of individuals to fill entry-level regional sales positions in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. §621, et seq.). Discovery is underway.

In May 2011, RJR Tobacco and SFNTC received separate letters from counsel to Walgreen Co. regarding a 60-day notice served on Walgreen by a consumer group alleging violations of California’s Proposition 65. The group claims that Walgreen provided or sold products with containers or wrappers containing insufficient warning in violation of California law. Walgreen believes that RJR Tobacco and SFNTC provided the noticed products, and is requesting that RJR Tobacco and SFNTC pay for Walgreen’s defense, indemnify Walgreen and hold Walgreen harmless from all liability, loss or expense (including legal expense) related to sales of any products covered by the 60-day notice, manufactured or distributed to Walgreen by RJR Tobacco and SFNTC. In June 2011, RJR Tobacco submitted a reply to Walgreen’s counsel, and SFNTC submitted a reply in July 2011. Both of these replies sought additional information concerning the underlying claim. Neither company has received a response from Walgreen’s counsel.

Finally, in March 2012, RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and SFNTC received separate letters from McLane Company, Inc. regarding the Walgreen matter. Following receipt of a similar demand letter from Walgreen Co., McLane has requested that RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and SFNTC defend and indemnify affected McLane customers. RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and SFNTC each submitted a reply to McLane in April 2012 that sought additional information concerning the underlying claim. None of the three companies has received a response from McLane counsel.

Smokeless Tobacco Litigation

As of September 30, 2012, American Snuff Co. was a defendant in six actions brought by individual plaintiffs in West Virginia state court seeking damages in connection with personal injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the usage of American Snuff Co.’s smokeless tobacco products. These actions are pending before the same West Virginia court as the 564 consolidated individual smoker cases against RJR Tobacco, B&W, as RJR Tobacco’s indemnitee, or both. Pursuant to the court’s December 3, 2001, order, the smokeless tobacco claims and defendants remain severed.

Pursuant to a second amended complaint filed in September 2006, American Snuff Co. is a defendant in Vassallo v. United States Tobacco Company, pending in the Eleventh Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The individual plaintiff alleges that he sustained personal injuries, including addiction and cancer, as a result of his use of smokeless tobacco products, allegedly including products manufactured by American Snuff Co. The plaintiff seeks unspecified compensatory and consequential damages in an amount greater than $15,000. There is no punitive damages demand in this case, though the plaintiff retains the right to seek leave of court to add such a demand later. Discovery is underway.

American Snuff Co. was served with a complaint that was filed in October 2011 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Vertison v. American Snuff Co., LLC. The plaintiff alleges that as a result of her use of the defendants’ smokeless tobacco products, she developed oral cancer. The plaintiff seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. On January 13, 2012, American Snuff Co. filed its answer to the complaint. Discovery is underway. The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on all of the plaintiff’s claims on September 10, 2012. A decision is pending. Trial is scheduled for August 5, 2013.

 

59


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Tobacco Buyout Legislation and Related Litigation

In 2004, legislation was passed eliminating the U.S. government’s tobacco production controls and price support program. The buyout of tobacco quota holders provided for in the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act, referred to as FETRA, is funded by a direct quarterly assessment on every tobacco product manufacturer and importer, on a market-share basis measured on volume to which federal excise tax is applied. The aggregate cost of the buyout to the industry is approximately $9.9 billion, including approximately $9.6 billion payable to quota tobacco holders and growers through industry assessments over ten years and approximately $290 million for the liquidation of quota tobacco stock. As a result of the tobacco buyout legislation, the MSA Phase II obligations established in 1999 continued as scheduled through the end of 2010, but were offset against the tobacco quota buyout obligations. RAI’s operating subsidiaries’ annual expense under FETRA for 2012 and thereafter, excluding the tobacco stock liquidation assessment, is estimated to be approximately $210 million to $230 million.

RAI’s operating subsidiaries recorded the FETRA assessment on a quarterly basis as cost of goods sold. RAI’s operating subsidiaries estimate that their overall share of the buyout will approximate $2.4 billion to $2.8 billion prior to the deduction of permitted offsets under the MSA. In addition, future market pricing could impact the carrying value of inventory, and adversely affect RJR Tobacco’s financial position and results of operations.

ERISA Litigation

In May 2002, in Tatum v. The R.J.R. Pension Investment Committee of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Capital Investment Plan, an employee of RJR Tobacco filed a class-action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleging that the defendants, RJR, RJR Tobacco, the RJR Employee Benefits Committee and the RJR Pension Investment Committee, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, referred to as ERISA. The actions about which the plaintiff complains stem from a decision made in 1999 by RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp., subsequently renamed Nabisco Group Holdings Corp., referred to as NGH, to spin off RJR, thereby separating NGH’s tobacco business and food business. As part of the spin-off, the 401(k) plan for the previously related entities had to be divided into two separate plans for the now separate tobacco and food businesses. The plaintiff contends that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to participants of the RJR 401(k) plan when the defendants removed the stock funds of the companies involved in the food business, NGH and Nabisco Holdings Corp., referred to as Nabisco, as investment options from the RJR 401(k) plan approximately six months after the spin-off. The plaintiff asserts that a November 1999 amendment (the “1999 Amendment”) that eliminated the NGH and Nabisco funds from the RJR 401(k) plan on January 31, 2000, contained sufficient discretion for the defendants to have retained the NGH and Nabisco funds after January 31, 2000, and that the failure to exercise such discretion was a breach of fiduciary duty. In his complaint, the plaintiff requests, among other things, that the court require the defendants to pay as damages to the RJR 401(k) plan an amount equal to the subsequent appreciation that was purportedly lost as a result of the liquidation of the NGH and Nabisco funds.

In July 2002, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, which the court granted in December 2003. In December 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed the dismissal of the complaint, holding that the 1999 Amendment did contain sufficient discretion for the defendants to have retained the NGH and Nabisco funds as of February 1, 2000, and remanded the case for further proceedings. The court granted the plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint and denied all pending motions as moot. In April 2007, the defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint. The court granted the motion in part and denied it in part, dismissing all claims against the RJR Employee Benefits Committee and the RJR Pension Investment Committee. The remaining defendants, RJR and RJR Tobacco, filed their answer and affirmative defenses in June 2007. The plaintiff filed a motion for class certification, which the court granted in September 2008. The district court ordered mediation, but no resolution of the case was reached. In September 2008, each of the plaintiffs and the defendants filed motions for summary judgment, and in January 2009, the defendants filed a motion to decertify the class. A second mediation occurred in June 2009, but again no resolution of the case was reached. The district court overruled the motions for summary judgment and the motion to decertify the class.

 

60


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

A non-jury trial was held in January and February 2010. During closing arguments, the plaintiff argued for the first time that certain facts arising at trial showed that the 1999 Amendment was not validly adopted, and then moved to amend his complaint to conform to this evidence at trial. On June 1, 2011, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion to amend his complaint and found that the 1999 Amendment was invalid.

The parties filed their findings of fact and conclusions of law on February 4, 2011. A decision is pending.

Environmental Matters

RAI and its subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations concerning the discharge, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances. Such laws and regulations provide for significant fines, penalties and liabilities, sometimes without regard to whether the owner or operator of the property knew of, or was responsible for, the release or presence of hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, third parties may make claims against owners or operators of properties for personal injuries and property damage associated with releases of hazardous or toxic substances. In the past, RJR Tobacco has been named a potentially responsible party with third parties under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act with respect to several superfund sites. RAI and its subsidiaries are not aware of any current environmental matters that are expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations or financial position of RAI or its subsidiaries.

RAI and its operating subsidiaries believe that climate change is an environmental issue primarily driven by carbon dioxide emissions from the use of energy. RAI’s operating subsidiaries are working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by minimizing the use of energy where cost effective, minimizing waste to landfills and increasing recycling. Climate change is not viewed by RAI’s operating subsidiaries as a significant direct economic risk to their businesses, but rather an indirect risk involving the potential for a longer term general increase in the cost of doing business. Regulatory changes are difficult to predict, but the current regulatory risks to the business of RAI’s operating subsidiaries with respect to climate change are relatively low. Financial impacts will be driven more by the cost of natural gas and electricity. Efforts are made to mitigate the effect of increases in fuel costs directly impacting RAI’s operating subsidiaries by evaluating natural gas usage and market conditions, and occasionally purchasing forward contracts, limited to a three-year period, for natural gas. In addition, RAI’s operating subsidiaries are constantly evaluating electrical energy conservation measures and energy efficient equipment to mitigate impacts of increases in electrical energy costs.

Regulations promulgated by the EPA and other governmental agencies under various statutes have resulted in, and likely will continue to result in, substantial expenditures for pollution control, waste treatment, facility modification and similar activities. RAI and its subsidiaries are engaged in a continuing program to comply with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, and dependent upon the probability of occurrence and reasonable estimation of cost, accrue or disclose any material liability. Although it is difficult to reasonably estimate the portion of capital expenditures or other costs attributable to compliance with environmental laws and regulations, RAI does not expect such expenditures or other costs to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations or financial position of RAI or its subsidiaries.

Other Contingencies

In connection with the sale of the international tobacco business to JTI, pursuant to the 1999 Purchase Agreement, RJR and RJR Tobacco agreed to indemnify JTI against:

 

   

any liabilities, costs and expenses arising out of the imposition or assessment of any tax with respect to the international tobacco business arising prior to the sale, other than as reflected on the closing balance sheet;

 

   

any liabilities, costs and expenses that JTI or any of its affiliates, including the acquired entities, may incur after the sale with respect to any of RJR’s or RJR Tobacco’s employee benefit and welfare plans; and

 

   

any liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by JTI or any of its affiliates arising out of certain activities of Northern Brands.

 

61


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

As described above in “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Other Litigation and Developments—JTI Claims for Indemnification,” RJR Tobacco has received claims for indemnification from JTI, and several of these have been resolved. Although RJR and RJR Tobacco recognize that, under certain circumstances, they may have other unresolved indemnification obligations to JTI under the 1999 Purchase Agreement, RJR and RJR Tobacco disagree what circumstances described in such claims give rise to any indemnification obligations by RJR and RJR Tobacco and the nature and extent of any such obligation. RJR and RJR Tobacco have conveyed their position to JTI, and the parties have agreed to resolve their differences at a later date.

RJR Tobacco, SFNTC and American Snuff Co. have entered into agreements to indemnify certain distributors and retailers from liability and related defense costs arising out of the sale or distribution of their products. Additionally, SFNTC has entered into an agreement to indemnify a supplier from liability and related defense costs arising out of the sale or use of SFNTC’s products. The cost has been, and is expected to be, insignificant. RJR Tobacco, SFNTC and American Snuff Co. believe that the indemnified claims are substantially similar in nature and extent to the claims that they are already exposed to by virtue of their having manufactured those products.

Except as otherwise noted above, RAI is not able to estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments, if any, related to these indemnification obligations.

Note 10 — Shareholders’ Equity

 

     Common
Stock
     Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Balance as of December 31, 2010

   $ —         $ 8,535      $ (1,807   $ (218   $ 6,510   

Net income

     —           —          1,102        —          1,102   

Retirement benefits, net of $14 million tax expense

     —           —          —          22        22   

Unrealized loss on long-term investments, net of $4 million tax benefit

     —           —          —          (7     (7

Cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax

     —           —          —          (2     (2

Dividends - $1.59 per share

     —           —          (935     —          (935

Common stock repurchased

     —           (6     —          —          (6

Equity incentive award plan and stock-based compensation

     —           29        —          —          29   

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation plans

     —           1        —          —          1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2011

   $ —         $ 8,559      $ (1,640   $ (205   $ 6,714   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Common
Stock
     Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Balance as of December 31, 2011

   $ —         $ 8,293      $ (1,660   $ (382   $ 6,251   

Net income

     —           —          1,133        —          1,133   

Retirement benefits, net of $88 million tax expense

     —           —          —          137        137   

Unrealized gain on long-term investments, net of $2 million tax expense

     —           —          —          4        4   

Unrealized loss on hedging instruments, net of $10 million tax benefit

     —           —          —          (18     (18

Cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax

     —           —          —          3        3   

Dividends - $1.74 per share

     —           —          (990     —          (990

Common stock repurchased

     —           (851     —          —          (851

Equity incentive award plan and stock-based compensation

     —           29        —          —          29   

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation plans

     —           33        —          —          33   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ —         $ 7,504      $ (1,517   $ (256   $ 5,731   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

62


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On November 14, 2011, the board of directors of RAI authorized the repurchase, from time to time on or before mid-2014, of up to $2.5 billion of outstanding shares of RAI common stock in open-market or privately negotiated transactions. The repurchases are subject to prevailing market and business conditions, and the program may be terminated or suspended at any time. In connection with the share repurchase program, RAI and B&W entered into an agreement, pursuant to which B&W has agreed to participate in the repurchase program on a basis approximately proportionate with B&W’s 42% ownership of RAI’s common stock. RAI, B&W and BAT also entered into Amendment No. 3 to the governance agreement, pursuant to which RAI has agreed that, so long as B&W’s ownership interest has not dropped below 25%, if RAI issues shares of its common stock or any other RAI equity security to certain designated persons, including its directors, officers or employees, then RAI will repurchase a number of shares of outstanding RAI common stock so that the number of outstanding shares of RAI common stock are not increased, and B&W’s ownership interest is not decreased, by such issuance after taking into account such repurchase.

Due to RAI’s incorporation in North Carolina, which does not recognize treasury shares, the shares repurchased are cancelled at the time of repurchase. During the first nine months of 2012, RAI repurchased and cancelled 18,936,529 shares of RAI common stock for $812 million under the above share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2012, RAI had repurchased and cancelled 25,713,166 shares of RAI common stock for $1.1 billion under the above share repurchase program.

Share units granted in March 2009 under the RAI Long-Term Incentive Plan, referred to as the LTIP, a plan which expired in 2009 and was replaced by the Reynolds American Inc. 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, referred to as the Omnibus Plan, became vested in March 2012 and were settled with the issuance of 2,640,408 shares of RAI common stock. In addition, during the first nine months of 2012, at a cost of $39 million, RAI purchased 921,646 shares that were cancelled with respect to tax liabilities associated with restricted stock vesting under the LTIP.

On February 2, 2012, May 3, 2012 and July 12, 2012, RAI’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per common share, $0.59 per common share and $0.59 per common share, respectively, or $2.36 on an annualized basis, to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2012, June 11, 2012 and September 10, 2012, respectively.

Note 11 — Stock Plans

In February 2012, the board of directors of RAI approved a grant to key employees of RAI and its subsidiaries, effective March 1, 2012, of 1,222,534 nonvested restricted stock units under the Omnibus Plan. The restricted stock units generally will vest on March 1, 2015. Upon settlement, each grantee will receive a number of shares of RAI’s common stock equal to the product of the number of vested units and a percentage up to 150% based on the average RAI annual incentive award plan score over the three-year period ending December 31, 2014.

As an equity-based grant, compensation expense relating to the 2012 grant under the Omnibus Plan will take into account the vesting period lapsed and will be calculated based on the per share closing price of RAI common stock on the date of grant, or $42.16. Dividends paid on shares of RAI common stock will accumulate on the restricted stock units and will be paid to the grantee on the vesting date. If RAI fails to pay its shareholders cumulative dividends of at least $6.72 per share for the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2014, then each award will be reduced by an amount equal to three times the percentage of the dividend underpayment, up to a maximum reduction of 50%.

Note 12 — Segment Information

RAI’s reportable operating segments are RJR Tobacco, American Snuff and Santa Fe. The RJR Tobacco segment consists of the primary operations of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The American Snuff segment consists of the primary operations of American Snuff Co. and, prior to its sale on February 28, 2011, Lane. The Santa Fe segment consists of the primary operations of SFNTC. Niconovum AB, among other RAI subsidiaries, is included

 

63


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

in All Other. The segments were identified based on how RAI’s chief operating decision maker allocates resources and assesses performance. Certain of RAI’s operating subsidiaries have entered into intercompany agreements for products or services with other subsidiaries. As a result, certain activities of an operating subsidiary may be included in a different segment of RAI. The amounts presented for the prior-year period have been reclassified to reflect the current segment composition.

RAI’s largest reportable operating segment, RJR Tobacco, is the second largest tobacco company in the United States. RJR Tobacco’s brands include many of the best-selling cigarettes in the United States: CAMEL, PALL MALL, WINSTON, KOOL, DORAL and SALEM. Those brands, and its other brands, including MISTY and CAPRI, are manufactured in a variety of styles and marketed in the United States. As part of its total tobacco strategy, RJR Tobacco also offers a smoke-free tobacco product, CAMEL Snus. RJR Tobacco also manages contract manufacturing of cigarette and tobacco products through arrangements with BAT affiliates, and manages the export of tobacco products to certain U.S. territories, U.S. duty-free shops and U.S. overseas military bases. Effective January 1, 2012, the management of super premium cigarette brands, DUNHILL and STATE EXPRESS 555, which are licensed from BAT, transferred to RJR Tobacco from Santa Fe.

American Snuff is the second largest smokeless tobacco products manufacturer in the United States. American Snuff’s primary brands include its largest selling moist snuff brands, GRIZZLY and KODIAK.

Santa Fe manufactures and markets cigarettes and other tobacco products under the NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT brand.

Intersegment revenues and items below the operating income line of the condensed consolidated statements of income (unaudited) are not presented by segment, since they are excluded from the measure of segment profitability reviewed by RAI’s chief operating decision maker. Additionally, information about total assets by segment is not reviewed by RAI’s chief operating decision maker and therefore is not disclosed.

Segment Data:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Net sales:

        

RJR Tobacco

   $ 1,772      $ 1,887      $ 5,236      $ 5,547   

American Snuff

     174        163        504        483   

Santa Fe

     125        109        354        311   

All Other

     46        41        132        117   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net sales

   $ 2,117      $ 2,200      $ 6,226      $ 6,458   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income:

        

RJR Tobacco

   $ 565      $ 563      $ 1,536      $ 1,533   

American Snuff

     98        89        277        255   

Santa Fe

     63        47        172        139   

All Other

     (1     1        11        17   

Corporate expense

     (6     (20     (57     (61
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated operating income

   $ 719      $ 680      $ 1,939      $ 1,883   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation to income before income taxes:

        

Operating income (1)

   $ 719      $ 680      $ 1,939      $ 1,883   

Interest and debt expense

     56        55        170        165   

Interest income

     (1     (3     (5     (9

Other expense, net

     1        2        6        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 663      $ 626      $ 1,768      $ 1,725   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

(1) 

For information related to restructuring charges, see note 4.

 

64


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Note 13 — Related Party Transactions

RAI and RAI’s operating subsidiaries engage in transactions with affiliates of BAT, which owns approximately 42% of RAI’s outstanding common stock. A summary of balances and transactions with such BAT affiliates was as follows:

Balances:

 

     September 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Accounts receivable

   $ 62       $ 67   

Accounts payable

     1         2   

Deferred revenue

     10         42   

Transactions were as follows:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
   2012      2011      2012      2011  

Net sales

   $ 97       $ 137       $ 261       $ 380   

Purchases

     15         9         15         11   

RAI common stock purchases from B&W

     125         —           310         —     

RAI’s operating subsidiaries sell contract-manufactured cigarettes and processed strip leaf to BAT affiliates. Pricing for contract-manufactured cigarettes is based on negotiated cost, plus 10%, adjusted for contract years 2011 through 2014 with prices increasing or decreasing by a multiple equal to changes in the Producer Price Index, reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Net sales to BAT affiliates, primarily cigarettes, represented approximately 4.6% and 6.2% of RAI’s total net sales during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively; and 4.0% and 5.9% of RAI’s total net sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

RJR Tobacco recorded deferred sales revenue relating to leaf sold to BAT affiliates that had not been delivered as of the end of the respective quarter, given that RJR Tobacco has a legal right to bill the BAT affiliates. Leaf sales revenue to BAT affiliates is recognized when the product is shipped to the customer.

RAI’s operating subsidiaries also purchase unprocessed leaf at market prices, and import cigarettes at prices not to exceed manufacturing costs plus 10%, from BAT affiliates.

In connection with RAI’s share repurchase program, RAI and B&W entered into an agreement on November 14, 2011, pursuant to which B&W agreed to participate in the repurchase program on a basis approximately proportionate with B&W’s 42% ownership of RAI common stock. Under this agreement, RAI repurchased 2,722,536 and 7,224,732 shares of RAI common stock from B&W during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.

A member of the board of directors of RAI is also the president and chief executive officer of a company from which RJR Tobacco and American Snuff purchase certain raw materials. Such purchases during each of the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, were less than $1 million. Such purchases during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, were approximately $2 million. Such purchases during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, and related amounts due at September 30, 2012 and 2011, were less than $1 million.

 

65


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

A member of the board of directors of RAI is also a member of the board of directors of the institution with which RAI entered into forward starting interest rate contracts with a notional amount of $80 million and an unrealized loss as of September 30, 2012, of $2 million.

 

66


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Note 14 — RAI Guaranteed, Unsecured Notes — Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

The following condensed consolidating financial statements relate to the guaranties of RAI’s $3.1 billion unsecured notes. RAI’s direct, wholly owned subsidiaries and certain of its indirectly owned subsidiaries have fully and unconditionally, and jointly and severally, guaranteed these notes. The following condensed consolidating financial statements include: the accounts and activities of RAI, the parent issuer; RJR, RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co., SFNTC, and certain of RAI’s other subsidiaries, the Guarantors; other indirect subsidiaries of RAI that are not Guarantors; and elimination adjustments.

 

67


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
    Guarantors     Non-
Guarantors
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

          

Net sales

   $ —        $ 1,991      $ 36      $ (7   $ 2,020   

Net sales, related party

     —          97        —          —          97   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net sales

     —          2,088        36        (7     2,117   

Cost of products sold

     —          1,082        7        (7     1,082   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     4        285        22        —          311   

Amortization expense

     —          5        —          —          5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (4     716        7        —          719   

Interest and debt expense

     55        29        —          (28     56   

Interest income

     (28     —          (1     28        (1

Other expense (income), net

     1        (11     1        10        1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (32     698        7        (10     663   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (10     251        3        (1     243   

Equity income from subsidiaries

     442        6        —          (448     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 420      $ 453      $ 4      $ (457   $ 420   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

          

Net sales

   $ —        $ 2,040      $ 30      $ (7   $ 2,063   

Net sales, related party

     —          137        —          —          137   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net sales

     —          2,177        30        (7     2,200   

Cost of products sold

     —          1,121        11        (7     1,125   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     5        360        24        —          389   

Amortization expense

     —          6        —          —          6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (5     690        (5     —          680   

Interest and debt expense

     53        32        —          (30     55   

Interest income

     (30     (2     (1     30        (3

Other expense (income), net

     5        (13     (1     11        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (33     673        (3     (11     626   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (16     247        1        —          232   

Equity income (loss) from subsidiaries

     411        (1     —          (410     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 394      $ 425      $ (4   $ (421   $ 394   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

68


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
    Guarantors     Non-
Guarantors
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

          

Net sales

   $ —        $ 5,887      $ 100      $ (22   $ 5,965   

Net sales, related party

     —          261        —          —          261   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net sales

     —          6,148        100        (22     6,226   

Cost of products sold

     —          3,186        24        (22     3,188   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     9        857        68        —          934   

Amortization expense

     —          16        —          —          16   

Restructuring charge

     4        145        —          —          149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (13     1,944        8        —          1,939   

Interest and debt expense

     165        90        —          (85     170   

Interest income

     (85     (2     (3     85        (5

Other expense (income), net

     3        (33     4        32        6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (96     1,889        7        (32     1,768   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (43     678        1        (1     635   

Equity income from subsidiaries

     1,186        14        —          (1,200     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1,133      $ 1,225      $ 6      $ (1,231   $ 1,133   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

          

Net sales

   $ —        $ 6,013      $ 84      $ (19   $ 6,078   

Net sales, related party

     —          380        —          —          380   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net sales

     —          6,393        84        (19     6,458   

Cost of products sold

     —          3,350        22        (19     3,353   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     120        1,017        67        —          1,204   

Amortization expense

     —          18        —          —          18   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (120     2,008        (5     —          1,883   

Interest and debt expense

     159        95        —          (89     165   

Interest income

     (89     (4     (5     89        (9

Other expense (income), net

     7        (37     —          32        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (197     1,954        —          (32     1,725   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (80     702        1        —          623   

Equity income from subsidiaries

     1,219        7        —          (1,226     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 1,102      $ 1,259      $ (1   $ (1,258   $ 1,102   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

69


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
    Guarantors     Non-
Guarantors
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

          

Net income

   $ 420      $ 453      $ 4      $ (457   $ 420   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

          

Retirement benefits

     37        37        2        (39     37   

Unrealized gain on long-term investments

     3        3        —          (3     3   

Unrealized loss on hedging instruments

     (4     —          —          —          (4

Cumulative translation adjustment and other

     8        8        7        (15     8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 464      $ 501      $ 13      $ (514   $ 464   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

          

Net income (loss)

   $ 394      $ 425      $ (4   $ (421   $ 394   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

          

Retirement benefits

     (2     (2     —          2        (2

Unrealized loss on long-term investments

     (5     (5     —          5        (5

Cumulative translation adjustment and other

     (22     (22     (31     53        (22
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 365      $ 396      $ (35   $ (361   $ 365   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

          

Net income

   $ 1,133      $ 1,225      $ 6      $ (1,231   $ 1,133   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

          

Retirement benefits

     137        137        1        (138     137   

Unrealized gain on long-term investments

     4        4        —          (4     4   

Unrealized loss on hedging instruments

     (18     —          —          —          (18

Cumulative translation adjustment and other

     3        3        —          (3     3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 1,259      $ 1,369      $ 7      $ (1,376   $ 1,259   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

          

Net income (loss)

   $ 1,102      $ 1,259      $ (1   $ (1,258   $ 1,102   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

          

Retirement benefits

     22        27        1        (28     22   

Unrealized loss on long-term investments

     (7     (7     —          7        (7

Cumulative translation adjustment and other

     (2     (2     (2     4        (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 1,115      $ 1,277      $ (2   $ (1,275   $ 1,115   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

70


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
    Guarantors     Non-
Guarantors
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

          

Cash flows from operating activities

   $ 656      $ 883      $ 24      $ (650   $ 913   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities:

          

Capital expenditures

     —          (61     —          —          (61

Proceeds from termination of joint venture

     —          —          30        —          30   

Return of intercompany investments

     898        —          —          (898     —     

Other, net

     40        14        1        (50     5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities

     938        (47     31        (948     (26
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:

          

Dividends paid on common stock

     (977     (618     —          618        (977

Repurchase of common stock

     (851     —          —          —          (851

Repayment of term loan credit facility

     (100     —          —          —          (100

Repayment of long-term debt

     (393     (58     —          —          (451

Principal borrowings under term loan credit facility

     750        —          —          —          750   

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation plans

     33        —          —          —          33   

Dividends paid on preferred stock

     (32     —          —          32        —     

Distribution of equity

     —          (898     —          898        —     

Other, net

     (12     (39     (1     50        (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities

     (1,582     (1,613     (1     1,598        (1,598
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —          —          (2     —          (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     12        (777     52        —          (713

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     328        1,361        267        —          1,956   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 340      $ 584      $ 319      $ —        $ 1,243   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

71


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
    Guarantors     Non-
Guarantors
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

          

Cash flows from operating activities

   $ 577      $ 1,034      $ 2      $ (772   $ 841   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities:

          

Capital expenditures

     —          (142     —          —          (142

Net proceeds from sale of business

     79        123        —          —          202   

Proceeds from termination of joint venture

     —          —          32        —          32   

Return of intercompany investments

     690        —          —          (690     —     

Other, net

     40        37        —          (64     13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows from investing activities

     809        18        32        (754     105   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:

          

Dividends paid on common stock

     (903     (740     —          740        (903

Repurchase of common stock

     (6     —          —          —          (6

Repayment of long-term debt

     (400     —          —          —          (400

Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps

     185        1        —          —          186   

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation plans

     1        —          —          —          1   

Dividends paid on preferred stock

     (32     —          —          32        —     

Distribution of equity

     —          (690     —          690        —     

Other, net

     (28     (40     (3     64        (7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities

     (1,183     (1,469     (3     1,526        (1,129
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —          —          (2     —          (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     203        (417     29        —          (185

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     327        1,616        252        —          2,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 530      $ 1,199      $ 281      $ —        $ 2,010   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

72


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
     Guarantors      Non-
Guarantors
     Eliminations     Consolidated  

September 30, 2012

             

Assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 340       $ 584       $ 319       $ —        $ 1,243   

Accounts receivable

     —           66         29         —          95   

Accounts receivable, related party

     —           62         —           —          62   

Other receivables

     153         52         36         (191     50   

Inventories

     —           876         48         —          924   

Deferred income taxes, net

     —           923         1         (3     921   

Prepaid expenses and other

     43         181         5         (5     224   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     536         2,744         438         (199     3,519   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     5         1,029         3         1        1,038   

Trademarks and other intangible assets, net

     —           2,537         51         —          2,588   

Goodwill

     —           7,999         12         —          8,011   

Long-term intercompany notes

     1,920         1,316         —           (3,236     —     

Investment in subsidiaries

     8,863         477         —           (9,340     —     

Other assets and deferred charges

     65         182         38         (47     238   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 11,389       $ 16,284       $ 542       $ (12,821   $ 15,394   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

             

Accounts payable

   $ —         $ 132       $ 14       $ —        $ 146   

Tobacco settlement accruals

     —           2,282         —           —          2,282   

Due to related party

     —           1         —           —          1   

Deferred revenue, related party

     —           10         —           —          10   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     625         60         —           —          685   

Term loan credit facility

     650         —           —           —          650   

Other current liabilities

     492         645         40         (198     979   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,767         3,130         54         (198     4,753   

Intercompany notes and interest payable

     1,316         1,920         —           (3,236     —     

Long-term debt (less current maturities)

     2,502         —           —           —          2,502   

Deferred income taxes, net

     —           723         2         (47     678   

Long-term retirement benefits (less current portion)

     49         1,444         11         —          1,504   

Other noncurrent liabilities

     24         202         —           —          226   

Shareholders’ equity

     5,731         8,865         475         (9,340     5,731   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 11,389       $ 16,284       $ 542       $ (12,821   $ 15,394   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

73


Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Parent
Issuer
     Guarantors      Non-
Guarantors
     Eliminations     Consolidated  

December 31, 2011

             

Assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 328       $ 1,361       $ 267       $ —        $ 1,956   

Accounts receivable

     —           77         24         —          101   

Accounts receivable, related party

     —           67         —           —          67   

Other receivables

     95         50         39         (138     46   

Inventories

     —           929         38         —          967   

Deferred income taxes, net

     —           952         1         (8     945   

Prepaid expenses and other

     19         200         7         (1     225   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     442         3,636         376         (147     4,307   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     5         1,061         3         1        1,070   

Trademarks and other intangible assets, net

     —           2,553         49         —          2,602   

Goodwill

     —           7,999         11         —          8,010   

Long-term intercompany notes

     1,960         1,325         —           (3,285     —     

Investment in subsidiaries

     9,139         463         —           (9,602     —     

Other assets and deferred charges

     68         171         71         (45     265   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 11,614       $ 17,208       $ 510       $ (13,078   $ 16,254   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

             

Accounts payable

   $ —         $ 107       $ 6       $ —        $ 113   

Tobacco settlement accruals

     —           2,530         —           —          2,530   

Due to related party

     —           2         —           —          2   

Deferred revenue, related party

     —           42         —           —          42   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     399         58         —           —          457   

Other current liabilities

     421         827         31         (147     1,132   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     820         3,566         37         (147     4,276   

Intercompany notes and interest payable

     1,325         1,960         —           (3,285     —     

Long-term debt (less current maturities)

     3,145         61         —           —          3,206   

Deferred income taxes, net

     —           553         3         (45     511   

Long-term retirement benefits (less current portion)

     48         1,699         12         —          1,759   

Other noncurrent liabilities

     25         224         2         —          251   

Shareholders’ equity

     6,251         9,145         456         (9,601     6,251   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 11,614       $ 17,208       $ 510       $ (13,078   $ 16,254   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

74


Table of Contents

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

The following is a discussion and analysis of RAI’s business, initiatives, critical accounting estimates and its consolidated results of operations and financial position. Following the overview and discussion of business initiatives, the critical accounting estimates disclose certain accounting estimates that are material to RAI’s results of operations and financial position for the periods presented in this report. The discussion and analysis of RAI’s results of operations compares the third quarter of 2012 with the third quarter of 2011 and the first nine months of 2012 with the first nine months of 2011. Disclosures related to liquidity and financial position complete management’s discussion and analysis. You should read this discussion and analysis of RAI’s consolidated financial position and results of operations in conjunction with the financial information included in the condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Overview and Business Initiatives

RAI’s reportable operating segments are RJR Tobacco, American Snuff and Santa Fe. The RJR Tobacco segment consists of the primary operations of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The American Snuff segment consists of the primary operations of American Snuff Co. and, prior to its sale on February 28, 2011, Lane. On February 28, 2011, RAI completed the sale of all of the capital stock of Lane and certain other assets related to the Lane operations, to an affiliate of STG for net proceeds of $202 million in cash. The Santa Fe segment consists of the primary operations of SFNTC. Niconovum AB, among other RAI subsidiaries, is included in All Other. Certain of RAI’s operating subsidiaries have entered into intercompany agreements for products or services with other subsidiaries. As a result, certain activities of an operating subsidiary may be included in a different segment of RAI. The amounts presented for the prior-year period have been reclassified to reflect the current year segment composition.

RAI’s largest reportable operating segment, RJR Tobacco, is the second largest tobacco company in the United States. RJR Tobacco’s brands include many of the best-selling cigarettes in the United States: CAMEL, PALL MALL, WINSTON, KOOL, DORAL and SALEM. Those brands, and its other brands, including MISTY and CAPRI, are manufactured in a variety of styles and marketed in the United States. RJR Tobacco also manages contract manufacturing of cigarettes and tobacco products through arrangements with BAT affiliates, and manages the export of tobacco products to certain U.S. territories, U.S. duty-free shops and U.S. overseas military bases. Effective January 1, 2012, the management of super premium cigarette brands, DUNHILL and STATE EXPRESS 555, which are licensed from BAT, transferred to RJR Tobacco from Santa Fe.

American Snuff is the second largest smokeless tobacco products manufacturer in the United States. American Snuff’s primary brands include its largest selling moist snuff brands, GRIZZLY and KODIAK.

Santa Fe manufactures and markets cigarettes and other tobacco products under the NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT brand.

RJR Tobacco

RJR Tobacco primarily conducts business in the highly competitive U.S. cigarette market, which has a few large manufacturers and many smaller participants. The U.S. cigarette market is a mature market in which overall consumer demand has declined since 1981 and is expected to continue to decline. Profitability of the U.S. cigarette industry and RJR Tobacco continues to be adversely impacted by decreases in consumption, increases in state excise taxes and governmental regulations and restrictions, such as marketing limitations, product standards and ingredients legislation.

The international rights to substantially all of RJR Tobacco’s brands were sold in 1999 to JTI, and no international rights were acquired in connection with the B&W business combination.

RJR Tobacco’s cigarette brand portfolio strategy is based upon three brand categories: growth, support and non-support. The growth brands consist of a premium brand, CAMEL, and a value brand, PALL MALL. Although both of these brands are managed for long-term market share and profit growth, CAMEL will continue to receive the most significant equity support. The support brands include four premium brands, WINSTON, KOOL, SALEM and

 

75


Table of Contents

CAPRI, and two value brands, DORAL and MISTY, all of which receive limited marketing support. The non-support brands, consisting of all other brands, are managed to maximize near-term profitability. Data with respect to support and non-support brands are presented herein as Other. The key objectives of the portfolio strategy are designed to focus on the long-term market share growth of the growth brands while managing the support brands for long-term sustainability and profitability. Consistent with that strategy, RJR Tobacco has discontinued many of its non-core cigarette styles as well as private-label cigarette brands.

RJR Tobacco’s portfolio also includes CAMEL Snus, a modern smoke-free tobacco that is marketed under the CAMEL brand and focuses on long-term growth. CAMEL Snus is heat-treated tobacco in a small pouch that provides convenient tobacco consumption.

Competition is based primarily on brand positioning, including price, product attributes and packaging, consumer loyalty, promotions, advertising and retail presence. Cigarette brands produced by the major manufacturers generally require competitive pricing, substantial marketing support, retail programs and other incentives to maintain or improve market position or to introduce a new brand or brand style.

RJR Tobacco is committed to building and maintaining a portfolio of profitable brands. RJR Tobacco’s marketing programs are designed to strengthen brand image, build brand awareness and loyalty, and switch adult smokers of competing brands to RJR Tobacco brands. In addition to building strong brand equity, RJR Tobacco’s marketing approach utilizes a retail pricing strategy, including discounting at retail, to defend certain brands’ shares of market against competitive pricing pressure. RJR Tobacco’s competitive pricing methods may include list price changes, discounting programs, such as retail and wholesale buydowns, periodic price reductions, off-invoice price reductions, dollar-off promotions and consumer coupons. Retail buydowns refer to payments made to the retailer to reduce the price that consumers pay at retail. Consumer coupons generally are distributed by a variety of methods, including in, or on, the cigarette pack and by direct mail.

American Snuff

American Snuff offers a range of differentiated smokeless and other tobacco products to adult consumers. The moist snuff category is divided into premium and price-value brands. The moist snuff category has developed many of the characteristics of the larger cigarette market, including multiple pricing tiers with intense competition, focused marketing programs and significant product innovation.

In contrast to the declining U.S. cigarette market, U.S. moist snuff volumes grew approximately 5% in the first nine months of 2012. Profit margins on moist snuff products are generally higher than on cigarette products. Moist snuff’s growth is partially attributable to cigarette smokers switching from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco products or using both.

American Snuff faces significant competition in the smokeless tobacco categories. Similar to the cigarette market, competition is based primarily on brand positioning and price, as well as product attributes and packaging, consumer loyalty, promotions, advertising and retail presence.

American Snuff Co. has replaced its manufacturing operations in Memphis, Tennessee, with production beginning at its new facility in early 2012, and also has replaced and increased its tobacco-processing capacity in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe competes primarily in the U.S. cigarette market. Santa Fe’s cigarette brand, NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT, is priced at a premium compared with most other competitive brands, and is differentiated from key competitors through its use of all natural, additive-free tobacco. Competition is based primarily on brand positioning, including price, product attributes and packaging, consumer loyalty, promotions, advertising and retail presence.

 

76


Table of Contents

Critical Accounting Estimates

GAAP requires estimates and assumptions to be made that affect the reported amounts in RAI’s condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) and accompanying notes. Some of these estimates require difficult, subjective and/or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain, and as a result, actual results could differ from those estimates. Due to the estimation processes involved, the following summarized accounting policies and their application are considered to be critical to understanding the business operations, financial position and results of operations of RAI and its subsidiaries.

Litigation

RAI discloses information concerning litigation for which an unfavorable outcome is more than remote. RAI and its subsidiaries record their legal expenses and other litigation costs and related administrative costs as selling, general and administrative expenses as those costs are incurred. RAI and its subsidiaries will record any loss related to litigation at such time as an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated on an individual case-by-case basis. When the reasonable estimate is a range, the recorded loss will be the best estimate within the range. If no amount in the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum amount of the range will be recorded.

As discussed in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited), RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and their affiliates, including RAI, and indemnitees, have been named in a number of tobacco-related legal actions, proceedings or claims seeking damages in amounts ranging into the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. Unfavorable judgments have been returned in a number of tobacco-related cases and state enforcement actions.

RAI and its subsidiaries believe that they have valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts against them and believe they have valid defenses to all actions and intend to defend all actions vigorously. RAI’s management continues to conclude that the loss of any particular smoking and health tobacco litigation claim against RJR Tobacco or its affiliates or indemnitees, including B&W, or the loss of any particular claim concerning the use of smokeless tobacco against American Snuff Co., when viewed on an individual basis, is not probable or estimable, as described in “— Tobacco Litigation — General — Accounting for Tobacco-Related Contingencies” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and it is possible that some of the tobacco-related legal actions, proceedings or claims could ultimately be decided against RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. or their affiliates, including RAI, and indemnitees. Any unfavorable outcome of such actions could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of RAI or its subsidiaries. For further discussion of the litigation and legal proceedings pending against RAI or its affiliates or indemnitees, see note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

State Settlement Agreements

RJR Tobacco and Santa Fe are participants in the MSA, and RJR Tobacco is a participant in the other State Settlement Agreements. Their obligations and the related expense charges under the State Settlement Agreements are subject to adjustments based upon, among other things, the volume of cigarettes sold by the operating subsidiaries, their relative market share and inflation. Since relative market share is based on cigarette shipments, the best estimate of the allocation of charges to RJR Tobacco under these agreements is recorded in cost of products sold as the products are shipped. Adjustments to these estimates are recorded in the period that the change becomes probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. American Snuff Co. is not a participant in the State Settlement Agreements. For more information related to historical and expected settlement expenses and payments under the State Settlement Agreements, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry—Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements” and “— State Settlement Agreements — Enforcement and Validity; Adjustments” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

RAI and certain of its subsidiaries sponsor a number of non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering most of their employees, and also provide certain health and life insurance benefits for most of their retired employees and their dependents. These benefits are generally no longer provided to employees hired on or after January 1, 2004.

 

77


Table of Contents

Because pension and other postretirement obligations ultimately will be settled in future periods, the determination of annual expense and liabilities is subject to estimates and assumptions. RAI reviews these assumptions annually based on historic experience and expected future trends or coincidental with a major event and modifies them as needed. Demographic assumptions such as termination of employment, mortality or retirement are reviewed periodically as expectations change.

Gains or losses are annual changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from changes in assumptions. Prior service costs of pension expense, which are changes in benefit obligations due to plan amendments, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period for active employees, or average remaining life expectancies for inactive employees if most of the plan obligations are due to inactive employees. Prior service costs of postretirement benefits, which are changes in benefit obligations due to plan amendments, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected service period to full eligibility age for active employees, or average remaining life expectancies for inactive employees if most of the plan obligations are due to inactive employees.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, RAI changed its method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for pension and postretirement benefit plans. Prior year results have been adjusted to reflect the accounting change. Differences between actual results and actuarial assumptions are accumulated and recognized in the year in which they occur as an MTM adjustment, to the extent such net gains and losses are in excess of 10% of the greater of the fair value of plan assets or the plan’s projected benefit obligation, referred to as the corridor. Actuarial gains and losses outside the corridor are generally recognized annually as of December 31 or when the plans are remeasured during an interim period.

In recent years, actual results have varied significantly from actuarial assumptions. In particular, pension and postretirement obligations have increased due to significant decreases in discount rates. These changes have resulted in an increase in charges to other comprehensive loss and increased pension and postretirement expense. The Pension Protection Act may require additional cash funding of the increased pension obligations in the future.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include goodwill, trademarks and other intangible assets. The determination of fair value involves considerable estimates and judgment. For goodwill, the determination of the fair value of a reporting unit involves, among other things, RAI’s market capitalization, and application of the income approach, which includes developing forecasts of future cash flows and determining an appropriate discount rate. If goodwill impairment is implied, the fair values of individual assets and liabilities, including unrecorded intangibles, must be determined. Although RAI believes it has based impairment testing and impairment charges of its intangibles on reasonable estimates and assumptions, the use of different estimates and assumptions could result in materially different results. If the current competitive or regulatory environment worsens or RAI’s operating companies’ strategic initiatives adversely affect their financial performance, the fair value of goodwill, trademarks and other intangible assets could be impaired in future periods. Trademarks and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter. Goodwill, trademarks and other intangible assets are tested more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

Fair Value Measurement

RAI determines fair value of assets and liabilities using a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity, and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, essentially an exit price. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

Level 1: inputs are quoted prices, unadjusted, in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

78


Table of Contents

Level 2: inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. A Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3: inputs are unobservable and reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Income Taxes

Tax law requires certain items to be excluded or included in taxable income at different times than is required for book reporting purposes. These differences may be permanent or temporary in nature.

RAI determines its annual effective income tax rate based on forecasted pre-tax book income and forecasted permanent book and tax differences. The rate is established at the beginning of the year and is evaluated on a quarterly basis. Any changes to the forecasted information may cause the effective rate to be adjusted. Additional tax, interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions are recognized in tax expense on a quarterly basis.

To the extent that any book and tax differences are temporary in nature, that is, the book realization will occur in a different period than the tax realization, a deferred tax asset or liability is established. To the extent that a deferred tax asset is created, management evaluates RAI’s ability to realize this asset. RAI maintains a valuation allowance to reduce certain deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. This allowance is attributable to deferred tax assets established for capital loss carryforwards.

The financial statements reflect management’s best estimate of RAI’s current and deferred tax liabilities and assets. Future events, including but not limited to, additional resolutions with taxing authorities could have an impact on RAI’s current estimate of tax liabilities, realization of tax assets and effective income tax rate.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements

For additional information relating to recently adopted and issued accounting pronouncements, see note 1 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Results of Operations

 

     For the Three Months Ended September 30,     For the Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2012     2011     % Change     2012     2011     % Change  

Net sales(1):

            

RJR Tobacco

   $ 1,772      $ 1,887        (6.1 )%    $ 5,236      $ 5,547        (5.6 )% 

American Snuff

     174        163        6.7     504        483        4.3

Santa Fe

     125        109        14.7     354        311        13.8

All Other

     46        41        12.2     132        117        12.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net sales

     2,117        2,200        (3.8 )%      6,226        6,458        (3.6 )% 

Cost of products sold(1)(2)

     1,082        1,125        (3.8 )%      3,188        3,353        (4.9 )% 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     311        389        (20.1 )%      934        1,204        (22.4 )% 

Amortization expense

     5        6        (16.7 )%      16        18        (11.1 )% 

Restructuring charge

     —          —          NM (3)      149        —          NM (3) 

Operating income:

            

RJR Tobacco

     565        563        0.4     1,536        1,533        0.2

American Snuff

     98        89        10.1     277        255        8.6

Santa Fe

     63        47        34.0     172        139        23.7

All Other

     (1     1        NM (3)      11        17        (35.3 )% 

Corporate expense

     (6     (20     (70.0 )%      (57     (61     (6.6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Operating income

   $ 719      $ 680        5.7   $ 1,939      $ 1,883        3.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

79


Table of Contents

 

(1)

Excludes excise taxes of:

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
September 30,
     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

RJR Tobacco

   $ 876       $ 942       $ 2,606       $ 2,788   

American Snuff

     12         12         37         45   

Santa Fe

     44         39         124         116   

All Other

     61         57         177         167   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 993       $ 1,050       $ 2,944       $ 3,116   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2)

See below for further information related to the State Settlement Agreements, federal tobacco buyout expense and FDA expense included in cost of products sold.

(3)

Percentage of change not meaningful.

In the following discussion, the amounts presented in the operating companies’ shipment volume and share tables are rounded on an individual basis and, accordingly, may not sum in the aggregate. Percentages are calculated on unrounded numbers.

RJR Tobacco

Net Sales

Domestic cigarette shipment volume, in billions of units for RJR Tobacco and the industry, were as follows:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011     % Change     2012     2011     % Change  

Growth brands:

            

CAMEL

     5.3        5.7        (8.0 )%      15.9        16.4        (2.9 )% 

PALL MALL

     5.7        5.7        1.0     16.2        16.6        (2.5 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   
     11.0        11.4        (3.5 )%      32.1        33.0        (2.7 )% 

Other

     6.4        7.3        (12.3 )%      19.7        22.4        (12.1 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total domestic

     17.4        18.7        (6.9 )%      51.8        55.4        (6.5 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total premium

     10.0        10.7        (7.3 )%      30.1        31.5        (4.6 )% 

Total value

     7.5        8.0        (6.5 )%      21.7        23.9        (9.0 )% 

Premium/total mix

     57.2     57.4       58.0     56.9  

Industry(1):

            

Premium

     50.5        51.5        (2.0 )%      152.2        155.8        (2.3 )% 

Value

     21.9        22.8        (4.3 )%      63.1        65.6        (3.7 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total domestic

     72.3        74.4        (2.7 )%      215.3        221.4        (2.7 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Premium/total mix

     69.8     69.3       70.7     70.4  

 

(1)

Based on information from Management Science Associates, Inc.

 

80


Table of Contents

RJR Tobacco’s net sales are dependent upon its cigarette shipment volume in a declining market, premium versus value-brand mix and list pricing, offset by promotional spending, trade incentives and excise taxes.

RJR Tobacco’s net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, decreased compared with the prior-year quarter, due to $151 million attributable to lower cigarette volume and lower related party sales of $40 million, partially offset by higher pricing of $82 million. RJR Tobacco’s net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, decreased compared with the prior-year period, due to $379 million attributable to lower cigarette volume and lower related party sales of $117 million, partially offset by higher pricing of $200 million as well as a favorable premium-to-value mix.

The shares of RJR Tobacco’s cigarette brands as a percentage of total share of U.S. retail cigarette sales according to Information Resources Inc., referred to as IRI/Capstone(1), were as follows:

 

     For the Three Months Ended  
     September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
    Share Point
Change
    September 30,
2011
    Share Point
Change
 

Growth brands:

          

CAMEL

     8.5     8.3     0.2        8.6     (0.0

PALL MALL

     8.7     8.4     0.3        8.6     0.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total growth brands

     17.2     16.7     0.5        17.1     0.0   

Other

     9.3     9.6     (0.2     10.3     (1.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total domestic

     26.4     26.3     0.2        27.4     (1.0

 

(1)

Retail share of U.S. cigarette sales data is included in this document because it is used by RJR Tobacco primarily as an indicator of the relative performance of industry participants, and brands and market trends. You should not rely on the market share data reported by IRI/Capstone as being a precise measurement of actual market share because IRI/Capstone is not able to effectively track all volume. Moreover, you should be aware that in a product market experiencing overall declining consumption, a particular product can experience increasing market share relative to competing products, yet still be subject to declining consumption volumes.

The retail share of market of CAMEL, at 8.5 share points, remained stable compared with the prior-year quarter. In addition to a significant level of competitive line extensions and promotional support, the market continues to be challenging for premium-priced products.

CAMEL’s cigarette market share continued to be favorably impacted by its menthol styles, which feature the innovative capsule technology used in CAMEL Crush, allowing adult smokers to choose the level of menthol flavor on demand. CAMEL Crush, featuring the menthol capsule, allows adult smokers the choice between regular or menthol. CAMEL’s third quarter of 2012 menthol market share, including CAMEL Crush, increased 0.4 percentage points from the third quarter of 2011 to 3.0 percent.

CAMEL Snus, a smoke-free tobacco product, continues to bring awareness to the marketplace in this new smoke-free category. CAMEL Snus Mint was expanded nationwide in the third quarter of 2012.

PALL MALL, a product that offers a high quality, longer-lasting cigarette at a value price, continues to attract interest from adult tobacco consumers. PALL MALL’s third-quarter market share of 8.7% was up slightly compared with the prior-year period. PALL MALL continued to be negatively impacted by significant competition from other value brands, as well as value-priced line extensions of competitive premium brands that sell at or below PALL MALL’s price point. In the third quarter, PALL MALL expanded its portfolio with additional menthol styles, PALL MALL BLACK, which offers a full-flavor tobacco blend, and PALL MALL WHITE, which has a smoother tobacco blend.

The combined share of market of RJR Tobacco’s growth brands during the third quarter of 2012 increased by 0.1 share points over the same period in 2011. RJR Tobacco’s total cigarette market share declined from the prior year, mainly driven by losses on the company’s non-focus value brands, consistent with its strategy of focusing on growth brands.

 

81


Table of Contents

Operating Income

RJR Tobacco’s operating income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012, was favorably impacted by lower litigation charges, higher cigarette pricing and productivity improvements, partially offset by lower cigarette volume, increased promotional spending and a restructuring charge in 2012.

RJR Tobacco’s expense under the State Settlement Agreements, federal tobacco quota buyout and FDA user fees, included in cost of products sold, are detailed in the schedule below:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
     For the Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

State Settlement Agreements

   $ 577       $ 605       $ 1,718       $ 1,792   

Federal tobacco quota buyout

     50         53         155         165   

FDA user fees

     29         26         86         84   

Expenses under the State Settlement Agreements are expected to be approximately $2.3 billion in 2012, subject to adjustment for changes in volume and other factors, and expense for the federal tobacco quota buyout is expected to be approximately $200 million to $210 million in 2012. For additional information, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements” and “— Tobacco Buyout Legislation and Related Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). Expenses for FDA user fees are expected to be approximately $110 million to $120 million in 2012. For additional information, see “— Governmental Activity” below.

Selling, general and administrative expenses include the costs of litigating and administering product liability claims, as well as other legal expenses. RJR Tobacco’s product liability defense costs were $34 million and $37 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively; and $115 million and $128 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. For additional information regarding litigation activity, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Engle and Engle Progeny Cases” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

“Product liability” cases generally include the following types of smoking and health related cases:

 

   

Individual Smoking and Health;

 

   

West Virginia IPIC;

 

   

Engle Progeny;

 

   

Broin II;

 

   

Class Actions; and

 

   

Health-Care Cost Recovery Claims.

“Product liability defense costs” include the following items:

 

   

direct and indirect compensation, fees and related costs, and expenses for internal legal and related administrative staff administering product liability claims;

 

   

fees and cost reimbursements paid to outside attorneys;

 

   

direct and indirect payments to third party vendors for litigation support activities;

 

82


Table of Contents
   

expert witness costs and fees; and

 

   

payments to fund legal defense costs for the now dissolved Council for Tobacco Research — U.S.A.

Numerous factors affect product liability defense costs. The most important factors are the number of cases pending and the number of cases in trial or in preparation for trial, that is, with active discovery and motions practice. See “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Overview” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) for detailed information regarding the number and type of cases pending, and “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Scheduled Trials” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) for detailed information regarding the number and nature of cases in trial and scheduled for trial through September 30, 2013.

RJR Tobacco expects that the factors described above will continue to have the primary impact on its product liability defense costs in the future. Given the level of activity in RJR Tobacco’s pending cases, including the number of cases in trial and scheduled for trial, particularly with respect to Engle Progeny cases, RJR Tobacco’s product liability defense costs continue to remain at a high level. In addition, it is possible that other adverse developments in the factors discussed above, as well as other circumstances beyond the control of RJR Tobacco, could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of RAI or its subsidiaries. Those other circumstances beyond the control of RJR Tobacco include the results of present and future trials and appeals, and the development of possible new theories of liability by plaintiffs and their counsel.

American Snuff

Net Sales

The moist snuff shipment volume, in millions of cans, for American Snuff was as follows:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      % Change     2012      2011      % Change  

GRIZZLY

     97.0         90.0         7.8     289.0         263.1         9.8

Other

     12.0         12.2         (1.9 )%      35.7         36.6         (2.5 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total moist snuff

     108.9         102.2         6.6     324.7         299.8         8.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

American Snuff’s net sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2012, were favorably impacted by higher moist snuff volume and pricing, partially offset by high levels of competitive promotional activity. American Snuff’s net sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, were favorably impacted by higher moist snuff volume and pricing, partially offset by high levels of competitive promotional activity and by the lack of earnings from Lane subsequent to its sale on February 28, 2011. Shipments of GRIZZLY, American Snuff’s leading price-value brand, increased in the third quarter of 2012.

The shares of American Snuff’s moist snuff brands as a percentage of total share of U.S. retail moist snuff sales according to IRI/Capstone(1), were as follows:

 

     For the Three Months Ended  
     September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
    Share
Point Change
    September 30,
2011
    Share
Point Change
 

GRIZZLY

     28.8     29.1     (0.2     27.6     1.2   

Other

     3.4     3.4     0.0        3.7     (0.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total moist snuff

     32.2     32.5     (0.2     31.3     0.9   

 

83


Table of Contents

 

(1)

Retail share of U.S. moist snuff sales data is included in this document because it is used by American Snuff primarily as an indicator of the relative performance of industry participants, and brands and market trends. You should not rely on the market share data reported by IRI/Capstone as being a precise measurement of actual market share because IRI/Capstone is not able to effectively track all volume.

Moist snuff has been the key driver to American Snuff’s overall growth and profitability within the U.S. smokeless tobacco market. Moist snuff accounted for approximately 86% of American Snuff’s revenue in each of the third quarter and the first nine months of 2012 compared with approximately 85% of American Snuff’s revenue in the third quarter of 2011 and approximately 83% in the first nine months of 2011. U.S. moist snuff industry shipment volume grew by approximately 5.0% in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011.

GRIZZLY, the leading U.S. moist snuff brand, grew 1.2 share points in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the third quarter of 2011. Retail contracts introduced in the first quarter of 2011, and support from a larger field trade marketing organization continue to benefit GRIZZLY’s market performance, strengthening product distribution and retail presence. Additionally, GRIZZLY is benefiting from activities to build the brand’s equity, as well as strengthening its offerings in its Natural styles.

Operating Income

American Snuff’s operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2012, increased as compared with the three months ended September 30, 2011, due to higher moist snuff pricing and sales volume, partially offset by high levels of competitive promotional activity. American Snuff’s operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, increased as compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2011, due to higher moist snuff pricing and sales volume, partially offset by high levels of competitive promotional activity and by the lack of earnings from Lane subsequent to its sale on February 28, 2011.

Santa Fe

Net Sales

Domestic cigarette shipment volume, in billions of units for Santa Fe, was as follows:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      % Change     2012      2011      % Change  

NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT

     0.8         0.7         13.9     2.3         2.1         8.3

Santa Fe’s net sales for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012, were favorably impacted by higher pricing and volume. The cigarette shipment volume growth was negatively impacted by Santa Fe’s shift to a more efficient integrated supply chain in the first quarter of 2012. This shift resulted in a one-time reduction of wholesale inventory levels.

The shares of Santa Fe’s NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT as a percentage of total share of U.S. retail cigarette sales according to data from IRI/Capstone(1), were as follows:

 

     For the Three Months Ended  
     September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
    Share
Point Change
     September 30,
2011
    Share
Point Change
 

NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT

     1.2     1.1     0.1         1.0     0.2   

 

84


Table of Contents

 

(1)

Retail share of U.S. cigarette sales data is included in this document because it is used by Santa Fe primarily as an indicator of the relative performance of industry participants, and brands and market trends. You should not rely on the market share data reported by IRI/Capstone as being a precise measurement of actual market share because IRI/Capstone is not able to effectively track all volume. Moreover, you should be aware that in a product market experiencing overall declining consumption, a particular product can experience increasing market share relative to competing products, yet still be subject to declining consumption volumes.

Operating Income

Santa Fe’s operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, increased as compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, as a result of higher cigarette pricing and volume, partially offset by higher MSA costs.

Santa Fe’s expense under the MSA, federal tobacco quota buyout and FDA user fees, included in cost of products sold, are detailed in the schedule below:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
     For the Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

MSA

   $ 21       $ 23       $ 58       $ 55   

Federal tobacco quota buyout

     2         3         7         7   

FDA user fees

     1         1         4         3   

Expenses under the MSA are expected to be approximately $85 million in 2012, subject to adjustment for changes in volume and other factors, and expense for the federal tobacco quota buyout is expected to be approximately $9 million in 2012. For additional information, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements” and “— Tobacco Buyout Legislation and Related Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). Expenses for FDA user fees are expected to be approximately $5 million in 2012. For additional information, see “— Governmental Activity” below.

Other

RAI’s subsidiary, Niconovum USA, Inc. has entered its first lead market in the United States with ZONNIC, a nicotine replacement therapy product, while another subsidiary, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, has introduced an electronic cigarette, VUSE, in limited distribution.

RAI Consolidated

Interest and debt expense was $56 million for the quarter and $170 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with $55 million for the quarter and $165 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, due to slightly higher average debt balances in the 2012 periods.

Restructuring costs of $149 million were recorded during the first quarter of 2012. RAI and its subsidiaries, RJR Tobacco and RAI Services Company, have completed a business analysis designed to identify resources to reinvest in their businesses. As a result of this initiative, the total U.S. workforce of RAI and its subsidiaries will decline by a net of approximately 10% upon the completion of the restructuring by the end of 2014. Job eliminations, a majority of which were voluntary, during that period will be partially offset by the hiring of new employees as and where needed.

Under existing severance plans, $111 million of cash severance, benefits and related costs and $38 million of non-cash pension-related benefits comprised this restructuring charge. Of the cash portion, $36 million had been paid as of September 30, 2012. Accordingly, in the condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012, $16 million was included in other current liabilities and $59 million was included in other noncurrent liabilities. Cost savings related to the restructuring are expected to be approximately $25 million during 2012 and increasing to approximately $70 million in 2015.

 

85


Table of Contents

Provision for income taxes was $243 million, for an effective rate of 36.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with $232 million, for an effective rate of 37.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The provision for income taxes was $635 million, for an effective rate of 35.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with $623 million, for an effective rate of 36.1%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, were favorably impacted by the reversal of tax and interest reserves related to various state statute expirations and audit settlements. The effective tax rate for each period exceeded the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the impact of state taxes and certain non-deductible items, offset by the domestic production activities deduction of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

Liquidity and Financial Condition

Liquidity

At present, the principal sources of liquidity for RAI’s operating subsidiaries’ businesses and operating needs are internally generated funds from their operations and intercompany loans and advances. The principal sources of liquidity for RAI, in turn, are proceeds from issuances of debt securities and the Credit Agreement and Term Loan described below under “— Borrowing Arrangements.” Cash flows from operating activities are believed to be sufficient for the foreseeable future to enable the operating subsidiaries to meet their obligations under the State Settlement Agreements, to fund their capital expenditures and to make payments to RAI that, when combined with RAI’s cash balances and proceeds from any financings, will enable RAI to make its required debt-service payments, to pay dividends to its shareholders and purchase shares under its share repurchase program.

The negative impact, if any, on the sources of liquidity that could result from a decrease in demand for products due to short-term inventory adjustments by wholesale and retail distributors, changes in competitive pricing, accelerated declines in consumption, particularly from increases in regulation or excise taxes, or adverse impacts from financial markets, cannot be predicted. RAI cannot predict its cash requirements or those of its subsidiaries related to any future settlements or judgments, including cash required to be held in escrow or to bond any appeals, if necessary, and RAI makes no assurance that it or its subsidiaries will be able to meet all of those requirements.

RAI’s operating companies monitor the liquidity of key suppliers and customers, and where liquidity concerns are identified, appropriate contingency or response plans are developed. During the quarter ended September 30, 2012, no business interruptions occurred due to key supplier liquidity, and no liquidity issues were identified involving significant suppliers or customers.

RAI’s excess cash may be invested in money market funds, commercial paper, U.S. treasuries, U.S. government agencies and time deposits in major institutions to minimize investment risk. At present, RAI primarily invests excess cash in U.S. treasuries.

As of September 30, 2012, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco C.V., referred to as RJRTCV, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of RAI, held approximately 77 million euros in a euro government liquidity fund, included in cash and cash equivalents in RAI’s condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited). Nearly two-thirds of the fund is comprised of repurchase agreements with financial institutions that are collateralized by sovereign debt of approved countries. The fund has investments in sovereign debt of Finland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The average maturity of the fund was 45 days as of September 30, 2012. RAI’s management believes that this cash equivalent is not reasonably likely to have a material impact on its liquidity or results of operations. RAI has no hedge in place with respect to this exposure.

As of September 30, 2012, RAI held investments in auction rate securities, a mortgage-backed security and a marketable equity security. Adverse changes in financial markets had caused the auction rate securities and the mortgage-backed security to revalue lower than carrying value and become less liquid. The auction rate securities and mortgage-backed security will not become liquid until a successful auction occurs or a buyer is found. RAI intends, and has the ability, to hold these auction rate securities and mortgage-backed security for a period of time sufficient to allow for sale, redemption or anticipated recovery in fair value. For additional information on these investments, see note 2 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

86


Table of Contents

Cash Flows

Net cash flows from operating activities were $913 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared with $841 million in the first nine months of 2011. This change was driven primarily by favorable accounts payable changes and lower pension contributions in 2012, partially offset by unfavorable changes in inventory and higher taxes paid in 2012.

Net cash flows used in investing activities were $26 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared with $105 million from investing activities in the first nine months of 2011, primarily due to proceeds from the sale of the Lane business during the 2011 period, partially offset by higher capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2011.

Net cash flows used in financing activities were $1,598 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared with $1,129 million in the prior-year period. This increase in usage was the result of the repurchase of common stock, an increase in the comparable quarterly common stock dividend and partial repayment of the Term Loan, partially offset by the proceeds from the Term Loan. Additionally, the 2011 period benefited from the receipt of cash from the termination of interest rate swaps.

Borrowing Arrangements

RAI and RJR Notes

As of September 30, 2012, the principal amount of RAI’s and RJR’s outstanding notes was $3.1 billion, with maturity dates ranging from 2013 to 2037. RAI, at its option, may redeem any or all of its outstanding fixed-rate notes, in whole or in part at any time, subject to the payment of a make-whole premium. RJR’s 9.25% notes due in 2013, $60 million in principal amount of which was outstanding as of September 30, 2012, are not redeemable.

On June 1, 2012, RAI repaid $450 million in principal of debt due in 2012 from the proceeds of the Term Loan. In addition, in June 2012, RJR prepaid the remaining insignificant amount of RJR’s guaranteed, unsecured long-term debt due in 2015.

Credit Agreement

On July 29, 2011, RAI entered into a Credit Agreement with a syndicate of lenders, providing for a four-year $750 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which may be increased to $1 billion at the discretion of the lenders upon the request of RAI. This agreement replaced RAI’s Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2007, as amended.

The Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants that (a) limit the ability of RAI and its subsidiaries to (i) pay dividends and repurchase stock, (ii) engage in transactions with affiliates, (iii) create liens, and (iv) engage in sale-leaseback transactions involving a Principal Property, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and (b) limit the ability of RAI and its Material Subsidiaries, to sell or dispose of all or substantially all of their assets and engage in specified mergers or consolidations. The Credit Agreement also contains a restrictive covenant that limits the amount of debt that may be incurred by non-guarantor subsidiaries, together with certain financial covenants. The restrictive covenants in the Credit Agreement are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions. The financial covenant levels in the Credit Agreement are a maximum of 3.00 to 1.00 for the consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum of 4.00 to 1.00 for the consolidated interest coverage ratio. In addition, the maturity date of the Credit Agreement is July 29, 2015, which date may be extended, with the agreement of the requisite lenders, in two separate one-year increments. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including upon a change in control, as defined therein, that could result in the acceleration of all amounts and cancellation of all commitments outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

RAI is able to use the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement for borrowings and issuances of letters of credit at its option, subject to a $200 million sublimit on the aggregate amount of letters of credit. Issuances of letters of credit reduce availability under such revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2012, there were no borrowings, and $6 million of letters of credit outstanding, under the Credit Agreement.

 

87


Table of Contents

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, RAI is required to pay a facility fee of between 0.20% and 0.40% per annum, based on the facility’s credit ratings, on the lender commitments in respect of the revolving credit facility thereunder.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at the option of RAI, at a rate equal to an applicable margin, based upon the credit ratings assigned to the Credit Agreement, plus:

 

   

the alternate base rate, which is the higher of (1) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus 0.5%, (2) the prime rate and (3) the reserve-adjusted eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period plus 1%; or

 

   

the eurodollar rate, which is the reserve adjusted rate at which eurodollar deposits for one, two, three or six months are offered in the interbank eurodollar market.

Overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest, outstanding under the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to the rate then in effect with respect to such borrowings, plus 2.0% per annum.

The obligations of RAI under the Credit Agreement are unsecured. Certain of RAI’s subsidiaries, including its Material Subsidiaries, have guaranteed, on an unsecured basis, RAI’s obligations under the Credit Agreement.

On March 27, 2012, RAI and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a First Amendment to the Credit Agreement and First Amendment to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement to provide for the further guarantee by the subsidiary guarantors of RAI’s obligations to the lenders and affiliates thereof under certain designated swap, forward, future or derivative transactions or options or similar agreements from time to time entered into between RAI and such lenders or affiliates.

Term Loan

On February 24, 2012, RAI entered into a Term Loan with a syndicate of lenders, providing for an unsecured delayed draw term loan facility, with a maximum borrowing capacity of up to $750 million. On April 11, 2012, RAI borrowed the entire $750 million under the Term Loan. On September 13, 2012, RAI repaid $100 million of the Term Loan. On October 15, 2012, RAI repaid an additional $100 million of the Term Loan leaving an outstanding balance of $550 million. The Term Loan matures on December 28, 2012, and bears interest at the rate of approximately 2.0%. RAI used the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to help pay the RAI and RJR notes that matured in 2012, to make payments under the MSA and to purchase shares under its share repurchase program.

The Term Loan contains restrictive covenants that are substantially the same as those in the Credit Agreement. The Term Loan contains customary events of default, including upon a change in control, as defined therein, that could result in the acceleration of all amounts outstanding under the Term Loan.

Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest, at the option of RAI, at a rate equal to an applicable margin, which is based upon RAI’s senior unsecured long-term debt credit rating, plus:

 

   

the alternate base rate, which is the greatest of (a) the prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus 0.5% and (c) the reserve-adjusted eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period plus 1%; or

 

   

the eurodollar rate, which is the reserve adjusted rate at which eurodollar deposits for one, two, three or six months (or shorter periods if agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the lenders) are offered in the interbank eurodollar market.

Certain of RAI’s subsidiaries, including its Material Subsidiaries, have guaranteed, on an unsecured basis, RAI’s obligations under the Term Loan.

 

88


Table of Contents

Concerns about, or lowering of, RAI’s ratings by S&P or Moody’s could have an adverse impact on RAI’s ability to access the debt markets and could increase borrowing costs. However, given the cash balances and operating performance of RAI and its subsidiaries, RAI’s management believes that such concerns about, or lowering of, such ratings would not have a material adverse impact on RAI’s cash flows.

RAI, RJR and their affiliates were in compliance with all covenants and restrictions imposed by their indebtedness at September 30, 2012.

Interest Rate Contracts

In May 2012, RAI entered into forward starting interest rate contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $1 billion. RAI has designated these derivatives as cash flow hedges of a forecasted transaction. These forward starting interest rate contracts mitigate RAI’s exposure to changes in the benchmark interest rate from the date of inception until the date of the forecasted transaction. Unrealized gains or losses associated with the cash flow hedges will be recorded in other comprehensive income. Upon realization of the forecasted transaction, gains or losses will be amortized over the life of the forecasted transaction.

These derivatives were determined to be highly effective at inception. There was no hedge ineffectiveness during the three months ended September 30, 2012. The unrealized loss during 2012 on these derivative instruments was $28 million, which was recorded in other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) as of September 30, 2012, with an offset to other comprehensive income, net of tax benefit of $10 million.

Dividends

On February 2, 2012, May 3, 2012 and July 12, 2012, RAI’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per common share, $0.59 per common share and $0.59 per common share, respectively. The dividends were paid on April 2, 2012, July 2, 2012 and October 1, 2012, to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2012, June 11, 2012 and September 10, 2012, respectively.

Stock Repurchases

On November 14, 2011, the board of directors of RAI authorized the repurchase, from time to time on or before mid-2014, of up to $2.5 billion of outstanding shares of RAI common stock in open-market or privately negotiated transactions. The repurchases are subject to prevailing market and business conditions, and the program may be terminated or suspended at any time. In connection with the share repurchase program, RAI and B&W entered into an agreement, pursuant to which B&W has agreed to participate in the repurchase program on a basis approximately proportionate with B&W’s 42% ownership of RAI’s common stock. RAI, B&W and BAT also entered into Amendment No. 3 to the governance agreement, pursuant to which RAI has agreed that, so long as B&W’s ownership interest has not dropped below 25%, if RAI issues shares of its common stock or any other RAI equity security to certain designated persons, including its directors, officers or employees, then RAI will repurchase a number of shares of outstanding RAI common stock so that the number of outstanding shares of RAI common stock are not increased, and B&W’s ownership interest is not decreased, by such issuance after taking into account such repurchase. In addition, RAI repurchases shares of its common stock forfeited with respect to the tax liability associated with certain stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock grants under the LTIP.

During the first nine months of 2012, RAI repurchased and cancelled 18,936,529 shares of RAI common stock for $812 million under the above share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2012, RAI had repurchased and cancelled 25,713,166 shares of RAI common stock for $1.1 billion under the above share repurchase program.

Additionally, during 2012, at a cost of $39 million, RAI purchased 921,646 shares that were cancelled with respect to tax liabilities associated with restricted stock vesting under its LTIP.

 

89


Table of Contents

Capital Expenditures

RAI’s operating subsidiaries recorded cash capital expenditures of $61 million and $142 million for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease was primarily the result of American Snuff facility expansion projects in 2011. RAI’s operating subsidiaries plan to spend an additional $35 million to $45 million for capital expenditures during the remainder of 2012. Capital expenditures are funded primarily by cash flows from operations. RAI’s operating subsidiaries’ capital expenditure programs are expected to continue at a level sufficient to support their strategic and operating needs. There were no material long-term commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2012.

Retirement Benefits

As disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, RAI expects to contribute up to $309 million to its pension plans in 2012, of which $58 million was contributed during the first nine months of 2012.

A workforce reduction in 2012 due to changes in the organizational structure of RJR Tobacco, RAI and RAI Services Company met RAI’s curtailment threshold as a major event for pension plans. As a result, curtailment charges and special termination benefits were recognized as restructuring expense. The pension obligation and assets were re-measured and a $90 million favorable change in the funded status was recorded. The MTM adjustment was insignificant. The workforce reduction did not exceed the minimum threshold for the postretirement plans, and no special postretirement termination benefits were offered. Accordingly, the postretirement plans were not re-measured.

In August 2012, the postretirement benefit plans were amended, and the changes are effective January 1, 2013. The changes primarily impact the Medicare-eligible retirees and will offer more choices in medical coverage available through the individual market. RAI will continue to help with the cost of post-65 medical coverage for eligible retirees and their dependents by making an annual contribution to a tax-free HRA. These plan changes reduced the postretirement obligation by $157 million. Lastly, the plan changes necessitated a re-measurement of the obligation and a loss, due to a lower discount rate, resulting in an MTM adjustment of $40 million and a $27 million net decrease of the obligation.

Litigation and Settlements

RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co., and their affiliates, including RAI, and indemnitees, including B&W, have been named in a number of tobacco-related legal actions, proceedings or claims seeking damages in amounts ranging into the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. For further discussion of specific cases, see note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). Unfavorable judgments have been returned in a number of tobacco-related cases and state enforcement actions. As of September 30, 2012, RJR Tobacco had paid approximately $92 million since January 1, 2010, related to unfavorable smoking and health litigation judgments and $139 million related to an unfavorable medical monitoring and smoking cessation case.

Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and generally it is not possible to predict the outcome of the litigation pending against RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co., or their affiliates or indemnitees, or to reasonably estimate the amount or range of any possible loss. Moreover, notwithstanding the quality of defenses available to it and its affiliates in tobacco-related litigation matters, it is possible that RAI’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position could be materially adversely affected by the ultimate outcome of certain pending or future litigation matters or difficulties in obtaining the bonds required to stay execution of judgments on appeal.

In November 1998, RJR Tobacco, B&W and the other major U.S. cigarette manufacturers entered into the MSA with attorneys general representing most U.S. states, territories and possessions. As described in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited), the State Settlement Agreements impose a perpetual stream of future payment obligations on RJR Tobacco and the other major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, and place significant restrictions on their ability to market and sell cigarettes in the future. For more information related to historical and expected settlement expenses and payments under the State Settlement Agreements, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). The State Settlement Agreements have materially adversely affected RJR Tobacco’s shipment volumes. RAI believes that these settlement obligations may materially adversely affect the results of operations, cash flows or financial position of RAI and RJR Tobacco in future periods.

 

90


Table of Contents

RJR Tobacco and certain of the other participating manufacturers under the MSA are currently involved in litigation with the settling states with respect to the availability for certain market years of a downward adjustment to the annual MSA settlement payment obligation, known as the NPM Adjustment. RJR Tobacco has disputed a total of $4.3 billion for the years 2003 through 2011. For more information related to this dispute, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Health-Care Cost Recovery Cases — State Settlement Agreements — Enforcement and Validity; Adjustments” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Governmental Activity

The marketing, sale, taxation and use of tobacco products have been subject to substantial regulation by government and health officials for many years. Various state governments have adopted or are considering, among other things, legislation and regulations that would:

 

   

significantly increase their taxes on tobacco products;

 

   

restrict displays, advertising and sampling of tobacco products;

 

   

raise the minimum age to possess or purchase tobacco products;

 

   

restrict or ban the use of menthol in cigarettes or prohibit mint or wintergreen as a flavor in smokeless tobacco products;

 

   

require the disclosure of ingredients used in the manufacture of tobacco products;

 

   

require the disclosure of nicotine yield information for cigarettes;

 

   

impose restrictions on smoking in public and private areas; and

 

   

restrict the sale of tobacco products directly to consumers or other unlicensed recipients, including over the Internet.

Together with manufacturers’ price increases in recent years and substantial increases in state and federal taxes on tobacco products, these developments have had and will likely continue to have an adverse effect on the sale of tobacco products.

Cigarettes and other tobacco products are subject to substantial taxes in the United States. President Obama signed into law, effective April 1, 2009, an increase of $0.62 in the excise tax per pack of cigarettes, and significant tax increases on other tobacco products, to fund expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Under these federal tax increases:

 

   

the federal excise tax per pack of 20 cigarettes increased to $1.01; and

 

   

the federal excise tax rate for chewing tobacco increased $0.3083 per pound to $0.5033 per pound, and for snuff increased $0.925 per pound to $1.51 per pound.

The 2009 federal excise tax increase on tobacco products increased taxes on ready-made cigarettes, such as those made by RJR Tobacco, at a much higher rate than taxes on loose tobacco. As a result of that tax disparity, the number of retailers selling loose tobacco and operating RYO machines (allowing consumers to convert the loose tobacco into finished cigarettes) greatly increased following the 2009 federal tax hike on tobacco products. On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law a provision classifying retailers which operate RYO machines as cigarette manufacturers, and thus requiring those retailers to pay the same tax rate as other cigarette manufacturers.

 

91


Table of Contents

All states and the District of Columbia currently impose cigarette excise taxes at levels ranging from $0.17 per pack in Missouri to $4.35 per pack in New York. During the first nine months of 2012, two states (Illinois and Rhode Island) enacted legislation increasing their respective cigarette excise taxes. As of September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the weighted average state cigarette excise tax per pack, calculated on a 12-month rolling average basis, was approximately $1.28 and $1.22, respectively. Certain city and county governments, such as New York and Chicago, also impose substantial excise taxes on cigarettes sold in those jurisdictions.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia also subject smokeless tobacco to excise taxes, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the singular exception, may consider such a tax during its 2012 legislative session. As of September 30, 2012,

 

   

28 states taxed moist snuff on an ad valorem basis, at rates ranging from 5% in South Carolina to 100% in Wisconsin;

 

   

19 states and the District of Columbia had weight-based taxes on moist snuff, ranging from $0.02 for cans weighing between 5/8 of an ounce and 15/8 ounces in Alabama to $2.02 per ounce in Maine; and

 

   

two states imposed a unit tax on moist snuff: Kentucky, with a tax of $0.19 per unit; and Washington, with a tax of $2.526 per unit for units weighing 1.2 ounces or less and a proportionate amount above that weight.

During the first nine months of 2012, legislation to convert from an ad valorem to a weight-based tax on moist snuff was adopted in Illinois, with such change to become effective January 1, 2013. During the second quarter of 2012, two states (Illinois and Maryland) adopted increases to their respective ad valorem rates on smokeless tobacco products (effective in the second quarter and third quarter of 2012, respectively).

On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed into law the FDA Tobacco Act, which grants the FDA broad authority over the manufacture, sale, marketing and packaging of tobacco products.

The following provisions of the FDA Tobacco Act took effect upon passage:

 

   

no charitable distribution of tobacco products;

 

   

prohibitions on statements that would lead consumers to believe that a tobacco product is approved, endorsed, or deemed safe by the FDA;

 

   

pre-market approval by the FDA for claims made with respect to reduced risk or reduced exposure products; and

 

   

prohibition on the marketing of tobacco products in conjunction with any other class of product regulated by the FDA.

In addition, pursuant to the FDA Tobacco Act:

 

   

as of September 20, 2009, tobacco manufacturers were banned from selling cigarettes with characterizing flavors (other than menthol, which under the FDA Tobacco Act is specifically exempt as a characterizing flavor, but the impact of which on public health will be studied as discussed below);

 

   

on February 28, 2010, all manufacturers registered with the FDA their domestic manufacturing facilities as well as all cigarette and smokeless tobacco products sold in the United States;

 

   

on March 18, 2010, the FDA reissued regulations addressing advertising and marketing restrictions that were originally promulgated in 1996;

 

   

as of April 30, 2010, manufacturers were required to produce health-related documents generated from and after June 22, 2009 through December 31, 2009 (the FDA has interpreted the FDA Tobacco Act as establishing an ongoing requirement to submit health-related documents; however, the FDA has not yet established a timetable for further production);

 

   

as of June 22, 2010, manufacturers were required to make by-brand ingredient submissions, place different and larger warnings on packaging and advertising for smokeless tobacco products and eliminate the use of descriptors on tobacco products, such as “low-tar” and “lights;”

 

92


Table of Contents
   

as of March 22, 2011, manufacturers were required to submit documentation to obtain FDA clearance for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products commercially launched after February 15, 2007;

 

   

on June 22, 2011, the FDA issued a final regulation for the imposition of larger, graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising, which was scheduled to take effect September 22, 2012, but the FDA is currently enjoined from enforcing such regulation (for more information concerning this matter, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Other Litigation and Developments — FDA Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited));

 

   

on July 5, 2011, the FDA issued a final regulation setting forth a process by which manufacturers may seek an exemption to the substantial equivalence review process for tobacco additive changes;

 

   

on August 16, 2011, the FDA announced that it would inspect every domestic establishment that manufactured cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, RYO tobacco or smokeless tobacco products once in a two-year cycle beginning on October 1, 2011; and

 

   

on March 30, 2012, the FDA issued draft guidance on: (i) the reporting of harmful and potentially harmful constituents in tobacco products and tobacco smoke pursuant to Section 904(a)(3) of the FDA Tobacco Act, and (ii) preparing and submitting applications for modified risk tobacco products pursuant to Section 911 of the FDA Tobacco Act.

On a going-forward basis, various provisions under the FDA Tobacco Act and regulations to be issued under the FDA Tobacco Act will become effective and will:

 

   

require manufacturers to test ingredients and constituents identified by the FDA and disclose this information to the public;

 

   

prohibit use of tobacco containing a pesticide chemical residue at a level greater than allowed under Federal law;

 

   

establish “good manufacturing practices” to be followed at tobacco manufacturing facilities;

 

   

authorize the FDA to place more severe restrictions on the advertising, marketing and sale of tobacco products;

 

   

permit inconsistent state regulation of labeling and advertising and eliminate the existing federal preemption of such regulation;

 

   

authorize the FDA to require the reduction of nicotine and the reduction or elimination of other constituents; and

 

   

grant the FDA the regulatory authority to impose broad additional restrictions.

The U.S. Congress did limit the FDA’s authority in two areas, prohibiting it from:

 

   

banning all tobacco products; and

 

   

requiring the reduction of nicotine yields of a tobacco product to zero.

A “Center for Tobacco Products,” referred to as the Center, has been established within the FDA, funded through quarterly user fees that will be assessed against tobacco product manufacturers and importers based on market share. The total amount of user fees to be collected over the first ten years will be approximately $5.4 billion. The expense related to the FDA user fees of RAI’s operating companies for 2012 will be approximately $125 million.

 

93


Table of Contents

Within the Center, a Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, referred to as the TPSAC, was established on March 22, 2010, to provide advice, information and recommendations with respect to the safety, dependence or health issues related to tobacco products. The TPSAC is scheduled to meet quarterly to address matters brought to it by the Center as well as those required of it by the Act, including:

 

   

a recommendation on modified risk applications;

 

   

a recommendation as to whether there is a threshold level below which nicotine yields do not produce dependence;

 

   

a report on the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health; and

 

   

a report on the impact of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health.

At a meeting held on March 18, 2011, the TPSAC presented its final report on the use of menthol, which concluded that removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States. At a meeting on July 21, 2011, the TPSAC met to discuss and formally adopt editorial changes to the menthol report proposed by the committee members. The FDA is not required to follow the TPSAC’s recommendations, and the agency has not yet taken any action with respect to menthol use. The FDA issued a status report on the issue on June 27, 2011, indicating that the agency will prepare an independent, peer-reviewed analysis of the available science on menthol and make a report available for public comment in the Federal Register.

At a meeting on March 1, 2012, the TPSAC presented to the FDA its final report and recommendations with respect to dissolvable tobacco products. The FDA will consider the report and recommendations and determine what future action, if any, is warranted with respect to dissolvable tobacco products. There is no timeline or statutory requirement for the FDA to act on the TPSAC’s recommendations.

On February 25, 2011, RJR Tobacco, Lorillard, Inc. and Lorillard Tobacco Company jointly filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia a lawsuit challenging the composition of the TPSAC. For additional information concerning this case, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Other Litigation and Developments — FDA Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

On August 31, 2009, RJR Tobacco and American Snuff Co. joined other tobacco manufacturers and a tobacco retailer in filing a lawsuit, Commonwealth Brands, Inc. v. United States of America, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, challenging certain provisions of the FDA Tobacco Act that severely restrict the few remaining channels available to communicate with adult tobacco consumers. RAI believes these provisions cannot be justified on any basis consistent with the demands of the First Amendment. The suit does not challenge the U.S. Congress’s decision to give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products, nor does it challenge the vast majority of the provisions of the new law. For further information regarding this case, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Other Litigation and Developments — FDA Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

On August 16, 2011, RJR Tobacco and SFNTC joined other tobacco manufacturers in filing a lawsuit, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the final regulation specifying nine new graphic “warnings” pursuant to the FDA Tobacco Act that violates the plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act, referred to as the APA. For additional information concerning this case, see “— Litigation Affecting the Cigarette Industry — Other Litigation and Developments — FDA Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

It is likely that the FDA Tobacco Act could result in a decrease in cigarette and smokeless tobacco sales in the United States, including sales of RJR Tobacco’s, American Snuff Co.’s and SFNTC’s brands, and an increase in costs to RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and SFNTC that could have a material adverse effect on RAI’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. RAI believes that such regulation may adversely affect the ability of its operating subsidiaries to compete against their larger competitor, which may be able to more quickly and cost-effectively comply with these new rules and regulations. The FDA has yet to issue guidance with respect to many

 

94


Table of Contents

provisions of the FDA Tobacco Act, which may result in less efficient compliance efforts. Finally, the ability of RAI’s operating companies to gain efficient market clearance for new tobacco products could be affected by FDA rules and regulations.

It is not possible to determine what additional federal, state or local legislation or regulations relating to smoking or cigarettes will be enacted or to predict the effect of new legislation or regulations on RJR Tobacco or the cigarette industry in general, but any new legislation or regulations could have an adverse effect on RJR Tobacco or the cigarette industry in general. Similarly, it is not possible to determine what additional federal, state or local legislation or regulations relating to smokeless tobacco products will be enacted or to predict the effect of new regulation on American Snuff Co. or smokeless tobacco products in general, but any new legislation or regulations could have an adverse effect on American Snuff Co. or smokeless tobacco products in general.

Tobacco Buyout Legislation

For information relating to tobacco buyout legislation, see “— Tobacco Buyout Legislation and Related Litigation” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Other Contingencies

For information relating to other contingencies of RAI, RJR, RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. and SFNTC, see “— Other Contingencies” in note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

RAI has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on its financial position, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included in this report that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements regarding future events or the future performance or results of RAI and its subsidiaries inherently are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include:

 

   

the substantial and increasing taxation and regulation of tobacco products, including the regulation of tobacco products by the FDA;

 

   

the possibility that the FDA will issue a regulation prohibiting menthol as a flavor in cigarettes or prohibit mint or wintergreen as a flavor in smokeless tobacco products;

 

   

decreased sales resulting from the future issuance of “corrective communications,” required by the order in the United States v. Phillip Morris USA, Inc. case, on five subjects, including smoking and health, and addiction;

 

   

various legal actions, proceedings and claims relating to the sale, distribution, manufacture, development, advertising, marketing and claimed health effects of tobacco products that are pending or may be instituted against RAI or its subsidiaries;

 

   

the potential difficulty of obtaining bonds as a result of litigation outcomes and the challenges to the Florida bond statute applicable to the Engle R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Progeny cases;

 

   

the possibility of being required to pay various adverse judgments in the Engle Progeny and/or other litigation;

 

   

the substantial payment obligations with respect to cigarette sales, and the substantial limitations on the advertising and marketing of cigarettes (and of RJR Tobacco’s smoke-free tobacco products) under the State Settlement Agreements;

 

95


Table of Contents
   

the continuing decline in volume in the U.S. cigarette industry and RAI’s dependence on the U.S. cigarette industry;

 

   

concentration of a material amount of sales with a single customer or distributor;

 

   

competition from other manufacturers, including industry consolidations or any new entrants in the marketplace;

 

   

increased promotional activities by competitors, including manufacturers of deep-discount cigarette brands;

 

   

the success or failure of new product innovations and acquisitions;

 

   

the responsiveness of both the trade and consumers to new products, marketing strategies and promotional programs;

 

   

the ability to achieve efficiencies in the businesses of RAI’s operating companies without negatively affecting financial or operating results;

 

   

the reliance on a limited number of suppliers for certain raw materials;

 

   

the cost of tobacco leaf, and other raw materials and other commodities used in products;

 

   

the effect of market conditions on interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk and the return on corporate cash;

 

   

changes in the financial position or strength of lenders participating in RAI’s credit facility;

 

   

the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, including trademarks;

 

   

the effect of market conditions on the performance of pension assets or any adverse effects of any new legislation or regulations changing pension expense accounting or required pension funding levels;

 

   

the substantial amount of RAI debt;

 

   

the credit ratings of RAI;

 

   

any restrictive covenants imposed under RAI’s debt agreements;

 

   

the possibility of natural or man-made disasters or other disruptions that may adversely affect manufacturing or other operations and other facilities;

 

   

the significant ownership interest of B&W, RAI’s largest shareholder, in RAI and the rights of B&W under the governance agreement between the companies;

 

   

the expiration of the standstill provisions of the governance agreement on July 30, 2014;

 

   

a termination of the governance agreement or certain provisions of it in accordance with its terms, including the limitations on B&W’s representation on RAI’s Board and its board committees;

 

   

RAI’s shareholder rights plan (which, generally, will expire on July 30, 2014) not applying to BAT except in limited circumstances;

 

   

the scheduled expiration of contract manufacturing agreements with affiliates of BAT in 2014; and

 

   

the expiration of the non-competition agreement between RAI and BAT in 2014.

 

96


Table of Contents

Due to these uncertainties and risks, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Except as provided by federal securities laws, RAI is not required to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. RAI and its subsidiaries are exposed to interest rate risk directly related to their normal investing and funding activities. In addition, RAI and its subsidiaries have immaterial exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk related primarily to purchases and foreign operations denominated in euros, British pounds, Swiss francs, Swedish krona, Chinese renminbi and Japanese yen. RAI and its subsidiaries have established policies and procedures to manage their exposure to market risks.

The table below provides information, as of September 30, 2012, about RAI’s financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by contractual maturity dates.

 

     2012     2013     2014      2015     2016     Thereafter     Total     Fair
Value(1)
 

Investments:

                 

Variable rate

   $ 811      $ —        $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 60      $ 871      $ 871   

Average interest rate

     0.1     —          —           —          —          2.4     0.3     —     

Fixed-rate

   $ —        $ —        $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 7      $ 7      $ 7   

Average interest rate(2)

     —          —          —           —          —          4.7     4.7     —     

Debt:

                 

Variable-rate

   $ 650      $ —        $ —         $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 650      $ 650   

Average interest rate(2)

     2.0     —          —           —          —          —          2.0     —     

Fixed-rate

   $ —        $ 685      $ —         $ 199      $ 775      $ 1,400      $ 3,059      $ 3,618   

Average interest rate(2)

     —          7.4     —           7.3     7.6     7.1     7.3     —     

Forward Starting Interest Rate Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:

                 

Notional Amount(3)

   $ 1,000      $ —        $ —         $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 1,000      $ (28

Average fixed pay rate(3)

     2.2     —          —           —          —          —          2.2     —     

Average variable receive rate(3)

     0.4     —          —           —          —          —          0.4     —     

 

(1)

Fair values are based on current market rates available or on rates available for instruments with similar terms and maturities and quoted fair values.

(2)

Based upon coupon interest rates for fixed-rate instruments.

(3)

As of September 30, 2012, RAI had entered into forward starting interest rate contracts designated as cash flow hedges in the aggregate notional amount of $1 billion.

RAI’s exposure to foreign currency transactions was not material to results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, but may become material in future periods in relation to activity associated with RAI’s international operations. RAI currently has no hedges for its exposure to foreign currency.

 

97


Table of Contents

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) RAI’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that RAI’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures.

PART II-Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For a discussion of the litigation and legal proceedings pending against RJR Tobacco, American Snuff Co. or their affiliates, including RAI and RJR, or indemnitees, including B&W, see note 9 to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies — Litigation” included in Part I, Item 2.

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

RAI conducts its business through its subsidiaries and is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of its subsidiaries to satisfy its obligations and other cash needs. For more information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Financial Condition” in Part I, Item 2. RAI believes that the provisions of its Term Loan and its Credit Agreement, interest rate swaps and notes (and the associated guarantees of the foregoing) will not impair its payment of quarterly dividends.

The following table summarizes RAI’s purchases of its common stock during the third quarter of 2012:

 

     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 (1)
 

August 1, 2012 to August 31, 2012

     5,842,593       $ 46.16         5,842,593       $ 1,442   

September 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012

     657,978         46.09         657,978         1,412   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Third Quarter Total

     6,500,571         46.15         6,500,571         1,412   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

(1) 

On November 14, 2011, the board of directors of RAI authorized the repurchase, from time to time on or before mid-2014, of up to $2.5 billion of outstanding shares of RAI common stock.

 

98


Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

    3.1   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Reynolds American Inc., dated September 13, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Reynolds American Inc.’s Form 8-K, dated September 13, 2012).
  10.1   Equity Incentive Award Plan for Directors of Reynolds American Inc. (Amended and Restated Effective September 13, 2012).
  10.2   Reynolds American Inc. Outside Directors’ Compensation Summary, effective November 1, 2012.
  10.3*   Supply Agreement dated August 1, 2003, as amended, by and between R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Eastman Chemical Company.
  12.1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for each of the five years within the period ended December 31, 2010 and for each of the nine months within the periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2012.
  31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer relating to RAI’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.
  31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer relating to RAI’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.
  32.1**   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer relating to RAI’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. §1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS   XBRL instance document
101.SCH   XBRL taxonomy extension schema
101.CAL   XBRL taxonomy extension calculation linkbase
101.LAB   XBRL taxonomy extension label linkbase
101.PRE   XBRL taxonomy extension presentation linkbase

 

* Portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an application for confidential treatment pursuant to the Exchange Act.
** Exhibit is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subjected to the liabilities of that Section. This exhibit shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

99


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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.

 

    REYNOLDS AMERICAN INC.
    (Registrant)
Dated: October 23, 2012    

/s/ Thomas R. Adams

    Thomas R. Adams
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (principal financial officer)

 

100