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  • Altria Sues FDA Over Product Review System 

    Altria Sues FDA Over Product Review System 

    Altria announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. FDA in federal court, seeking to force the agency to overhaul its tobacco product review system, which the company says has become a major barrier to growth in the U.S. market. Altria argues that lengthy review delays, including applications remaining pending for years, disadvantage compliant manufacturers while unauthorized products continue to gain market share. 

    The lawsuit is the latest industry challenge to the FDA’s premarket review regime, which requires new tobacco products to demonstrate a net public health benefit before sale. Altria says the agency has failed to meet the statutory 180-day review deadline and argues that recent FDA changes—including a fast-track pathway for nicotine pouches—still have not resolved the backlog. 

  • Ruling Could End Reynolds’ Vuse Alto Royalty Payments to Altria  

    Ruling Could End Reynolds’ Vuse Alto Royalty Payments to Altria  

    Law360 reported that R.J. Reynolds has secured a potentially significant reduction in the long-term costs associated with its Vuse Alto business, after a North Carolina federal court ruled that a sublicense obtained from Juul Labs ends Reynolds’ obligation to make future patent royalty payments to Altria Client Services. The dispute stems from a 2022 jury decision finding that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents, resulting in an approximately $95.2 million damages award. Reynolds was later ordered to pay a 5.25% royalty on positive net sales of the affected products.  

    According to Law360, Judge William L. Osteen Jr. found that the Juul sublicense authorized Reynolds’ continued use of the relevant patent rights, eliminating the basis for future infringement royalties. The court rejected Altria’s argument that defects in part of the sublicense invalidated the entire agreement, citing its severability provision. Law360 reported that Altria said potentially “hundreds of millions of dollars” in future royalties were at stake. The ruling does not affect the earlier infringement finding or past damages, but could eliminate Reynolds’ 5.25% royalty payments on future covered Vuse Alto sales.  

  • Altria Adds Refresco Executive to Board

    Altria Adds Refresco Executive to Board

    Altria Group Inc. announced that it elected Steven W. Presley to its board of directors, effective Aug. 27. Presley has served as CEO of Refresco Benelux B.V., a global beverage solutions provider, since August 2025. He previously held several senior positions at Nestlé S.A., including CEO of Zone Americas from October 2024 to April 2025 and CEO of Zone North America from 2021 to 2024. Presley joined Nestlé USA in 1997 and held roles including CEO, CFO, and chief transformation officer. At Altria, he will serve on the Compensation and Talent Development; Innovation; and Finance committees.

  • Altria Increases Quarterly Dividend to $1.11 Per Share

    Altria Increases Quarterly Dividend to $1.11 Per Share

    Altria Group, Inc. today (Aug. 27) announced that its Board of Directors voted to increase its regular quarterly dividend by 4.7% to $1.11 per share versus the previous rate of $1.06 per share.The quarterly dividend is payable on October 9 to shareholders of record as of September 15.

    The new annualized dividend rate is $4.44 per share, representing a dividend yield of 6.4% based on a closing stock price of $69.12 on August 26.

    Altria said today’s dividend increase is consistent with its progressive dividend goal that targets mid-single-digit dividend per share growth annually through 2028. This increase marks the 61st dividend increase in the past 57 years.

  • Altria, PMI Strike Manufacturing Deal to Boost U.S. Tobacco Operations

    Altria, PMI Strike Manufacturing Deal to Boost U.S. Tobacco Operations

    Altria Group Inc. and Philip Morris USA announced that they have entered into a contract manufacturing arrangement with non-U.S. affiliates of Philip Morris International (PMI), aimed at improving the efficiency of PM USA’s traditional tobacco operations. The companies have operated independently since their 2008 separation.

    Altria said the agreement supports its 2028 Enterprise Goals by enhancing manufacturing capabilities, generating economic benefits to support investment in its broader strategy, and strengthening capabilities that could eventually be transferred to its international nicotine efforts. “The arrangement supports our 2028 Enterprise Goals by enhancing operational capabilities, generating economic benefits to support investment in our vision, and strengthening capabilities that could be transferable to our international nicotine efforts,” Altria said. The company does not expect the deal to have a material impact on its 2026 financial results.

    The arrangement does not change the companies’ independence. “Altria and PMI will continue to operate independently and maintain responsibility for their own commercialization, distribution, and regulatory activities,” Altria said. The agreement comes as Altria continues its push to expand beyond cigarettes while maintaining PM USA’s traditional tobacco business. The company said the manufacturing capabilities developed through the arrangement could support its longer-term international nicotine ambitions.

  • ASF Launches LOOP in South Africa

    ASF Launches LOOP in South Africa

    Another Snus Factory (ASF), the Swedish nicotine pouch manufacturer acquired by KT&G and Altria in late 2025, launched its flagship LOOP nicotine pouch brand in South Africa through local distributor Venture South (Pty) Ltd. The initial rollout targets the Johannesburg and Cape Town markets with three products — LOOP Jalapeño Lime Hyper Strong, LOOP Red Chili Melon Hyper Strong, and LOOP Habanero Mint Hyper Strong — with plans to expand distribution based on consumer demand.

    ASF said South Africa, the largest nicotine pouch market in Africa, will serve as a strategic base for broader regional expansion. The launch supports KT&G’s strategy to expand its presence in the global nicotine pouch category following its joint acquisition of ASF with Altria, as the company continues to diversify its next-generation product portfolio and international footprint.

  • Altria Reports Modest Q2 Growth, Raises Low End of EPS

    Altria Reports Modest Q2 Growth, Raises Low End of EPS

    Altria Group reported mostly flat second-quarter net revenue of $6.1 billion, while adjusted diluted EPS rose 2.8% to $1.48. For the first half, revenue increased 1.6% to $11.5 billion and adjusted diluted EPS rose 4.9% to $2.80. Reported Q2 diluted EPS fell 2.8% to $1.37, reflecting litigation costs, USSTC facility-consolidation expenses, and ABI-related items.

    The smokeable business remained the main revenue driver, with Q2 net revenue up 0.7% to $5.39 billion and adjusted operating company income up 2.4%. However, domestic cigarette shipments fell 3.2%, with Marlboro shipments down 7.4%, while discount cigarette shipments jumped 67.3% as consumers faced continued discretionary-income pressures. Marlboro’s total cigarette-category retail share fell 1.5% points to 39.5%.

    Oral tobacco Q2 revenue was down 5.3% to $713 million and adjusted operating companies income down 8%. Segment shipments declined 8.5%, although the broader U.S. oral category grew an estimated 6% in the first half, driven primarily by nicotine pouches. Altria’s on! shipments increased 5.1% in the first half, and its Q2 retail share rose to 8.6%; the nicotine pouch category itself reached 59.9% of the oral tobacco category.

    Altria said Helix expanded on! PLUS to 120,000 stores nationwide, with additional flavors and nicotine strengths planned for the fourth quarter. The company also returned nearly $3.9 billion to shareholders in the first half through dividends and share repurchases. It raised the lower end of its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance, now expecting $5.61-$5.72, representing growth of 3.5%-5.5%, while increasing expected 2026 capital expenditures to $375 million-$450 million, primarily to support USSTC manufacturing consolidation.

  • Amicus Briefs Back Altria, Juul in Antitrust Appeal

    Amicus Briefs Back Altria, Juul in Antitrust Appeal

    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 14 states, and several legal groups are backing Altria and Juul’s appeal of a lower-court decision allowing antitrust claims against the companies to proceed as a class action. The briefs argue that the trial court improperly relied on California law to cover alleged conduct and purchases occurring in other states, where different antitrust laws and standards apply. The Chamber and other amici contend that applying California’s Cartwright Act across multiple jurisdictions creates significant legal and manageability problems for the litigation.

    The underlying lawsuit alleges that Altria’s 2018 investment in Juul, together with its decision to withdraw from the U.S. e-cigarette market, harmed competition and contributed to higher prices, which Altria and Juul dispute.

  • Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria

    Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria

    The Supreme Court of British Columbia certified a nationwide class action against Juul Labs and Altria Group, allowing claims to proceed on behalf of individuals in Canada who purchased or used Juul products for personal use between August 2018 and July 15, 2026. The lawsuit alleges the companies marketed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes while contributing to nicotine addiction among a new generation of consumers. The ruling is procedural and does not determine liability.

    The court rejected several arguments raised by Juul and Altria regarding certification, allowing the case to move forward. The action is one of two legal proceedings against Juul in Canada, alongside a separate lawsuit by the government of British Columbia seeking recovery of healthcare costs associated with the company’s products. Juul and Altria may appeal the certification decision.

  • Altria, Juul Ask 9th Circ. To Overturn Antitrust Classes

    Altria, Juul Ask 9th Circ. To Overturn Antitrust Classes

    Altria and Juul Labs are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to overturn a lower court’s decision certifying nationwide antitrust classes in litigation challenging Altria’s former investment in Juul. According to Law 360, the companies are arguing that the certified classes improperly combine a wide range of purchasers with differing legal claims under the laws of multiple states, making class treatment inappropriate.

    The underlying lawsuit alleges that Altria’s 2018 acquisition of a 35% stake in Juul reduced competition in the U.S. e-cigarette market after Altria withdrew its own competing vapor products. Plaintiffs claim the transaction allowed Juul to maintain higher prices and limited consumer choice. Altria and Juul deny the allegations and contend the district court erred by certifying classes that they say contain materially different groups of purchasers with varying legal and factual issues.