Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1.
Background and Basis of Presentation:

Background: Throughout these financial statements, the term “Altria Group, Inc.” refers to the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Altria family of companies and the term “ALG” refers solely to the parent company. ALG, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Philip Morris USA Inc. (“PM USA”), Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) and its majority-owned (85.4%) subsidiary, Kraft Foods Inc. (“Kraft”), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of various consumer products, including cigarettes, packaged grocery products, snacks, beverages, cheese and convenient meals. Philip Morris Capital Corporation (“PMCC”), another wholly-owned subsidiary, maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. During 2003, PMCC shifted its strategic focus from an emphasis on the growth of its portfolio of finance leases through new investments to one of maximizing investment gains and generating cash flows from its existing portfolio of finance assets. Miller Brewing Company (“Miller”), engaged in the manufacture and sale of various beer products, was ALG’s wholly-owned subsidiary prior to the merger of Miller into South African Breweries plc (“SAB”) on July 9, 2002 (see Note 4. Miller Brewing Company Transaction). ALG’s access to the operating cash flows of its subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and interest, and the repayment of amounts borrowed from ALG by its subsidiaries.

On November 15, 2004, Kraft announced the sale of substantially all of its sugar confectionery business for approximately $1.5 billion. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2005. Altria Group, Inc. has reflected the results of Kraft’s sugar confectionery business as discontinued operations on the consolidated statements of earnings for all years presented. The assets related to the sugar confectionery business were reflected as assets of discontinued operations held for sale on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2004. Accordingly, historical statements of earnings amounts included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the discontinued operation.

Basis of presentation: The consolidated financial statements include ALG, as well as its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Investments in which ALG exercises significant influence (20%-50% ownership interest), are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Investments in which ALG has an ownership interest of less than 20%, or does not exercise significant influence, are accounted for with the cost method of accounting. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

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

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

Certain prior years’ amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation, due primarily to the new global organization structure at Kraft and the classification of the sugar confectionery business as discontinued operations.