Altria Announces Amendment to Tender Offers and Consent Solicitations | NEW YORK, Feb 08, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Altria Group, Inc. ("Altria") (NYSE: MO) today announced that it
is amending its previously announced tender offers and consent
solicitations for any and all of its 5.625% Notes due 2008, 7.000%
Notes due 2013 and 7.750% Debentures due 2027 (the "1996 Indenture
Notes") to correct references to the article of the indenture, dated
December 2, 1996 (the "1996 Indenture"), that it is seeking to amend
as part of such tender offers and consent solicitations.
All references in Altria's Offer to Purchase and Consent
Solicitation Statement, dated January 31, 2008, to Article Nine and
901 of the 1996 Indenture are hereby deleted and replaced by
references to Article Eight and 801, as applicable, of the 1996
Indenture. The substance of the proposed amendments remains unchanged.
Altria is not amending or modifying any other terms or conditions of
its tender offers and consent solicitations for the 1996 Indenture
Notes, which are being made pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in Altria's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation
Statement, dated January 31, 2008, and the related Letter of
Transmittal and Consent, as amended hereby (the "Offer to Purchase").
The amendment discussed above does not amend, modify or affect
Altria's previously announced tender offer and consent solicitation
for any and all of its 7.650% Notes due 2008, which were issued
pursuant to the indenture, dated August 1, 1990 (the "1990 Indenture
Notes" and together with the 1996 Indenture Notes, the "USD Notes").
Altria's tender offer and consent solicitation for its 7.650% Notes
due 2008 is being made pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth
in the Offer to Purchase.
Information Relating to Tender Offers and Consent Solicitations
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Citi are the Dealer Managers for the USD
Notes tender offers and Solicitation Agents for the USD Notes consent
solicitations. Investors with questions regarding the USD Notes may
contact Goldman, Sachs & Co. at (212) 357-4692 or (800) 828-3182
(toll-free) and Citi at (800) 558-3745 (toll-free). Global Bondholder
Services Corporation is the Information Agent and Depositary and can
be contacted at the following numbers: banks and brokers (212)
430-3774 (collect), all others (866) 470-3700 (toll-free).
This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation
of offers to buy any of these securities. The tender offers and
consent solicitations are being made only pursuant to the offer
documents, including the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation
Statement distributed by Altria. The tender offers and consent
solicitations are not being made to holders of Notes in any
jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in
compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such
jurisdiction. None of Altria, the Dealer Managers, the Solicitation
Agents, the Depositary, the Information Agent or the Trustee makes any
recommendation in connection with the tender offers or the consent
solicitations. Please refer to the offer documents for a description
of offer terms, conditions, disclaimers, and risk factors.
Altria Group, Inc. Profile
As of December 31, 2007, Altria owned 100% of Philip Morris
International Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., John Middleton, Inc. and
Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and approximately 28.6% of
SABMiller plc. The brand portfolio of Altria's tobacco operating
companies includes such well-known names as Marlboro, L&M, Parliament,
Virginia Slims and Black & Mild. Altria recorded 2007 net revenues
from continuing operations of $73.8 billion.
Trademarks and service marks mentioned in this release are the
registered property of, or licensed by, the subsidiaries of Altria
Group, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Please refer to Altria
Group, Inc.'s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007 for a
discussion of the risks and uncertainties to which Altria is subject.
SOURCE: Altria Group, Inc.
Altria Investor Relations Line
917-663-2200
or
Altria Media Center
917-663-2144
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