Ley
Núm. 401 del año 2000
(P. del S. 2343)Ley 401, 2000
Ley para
Reglamentar la Responsabilidad de los Manufactureros de Productos de Tabaco con
el Gobierno de Puerto Rico
LEY NUM. 401 9 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE
2000
Para crear la “Ley para Reglamentar la
Responsabilidad de los Manufactureros de Productos de Tabaco con el Gobierno de
Puerto Rico”; y establecer penalidades.
El uso y consumo de cigarrillos
representa una seria amenaza para la salud pública. El Cirujano General de los
Estados Unidos ha determinado que el hábito de fumar causa cáncer en el pulmón,
enfermedades del corazón y otras enfermedades serias, así como cientos de miles
de muertes cada año en los Estados Unidos. Estas enfermedades no suelen
manifestarse hasta muchos años después de que la persona en cuestión comienza a
fumar.
Bajo ciertos programas de cuidado de la
salud, el Estado podría tener la obligación legal de proveerle asistencia
médica a aquellas personas que resulten ser elegibles para el tratamiento de
condiciones de salud relacionadas con el consumo de cigarrillos. Lo anterior
representa enormes gastos financieros para el Gobierno de Puerto Rico.
Es la política del Gobierno de
Puerto Rico, el que las cargas financieras impuestas al Estado por el consumo
del cigarrillo, sean asumidas por los manufactureros de productos de tabaco, en
la medida en que dichos manufactureros lleguen a acuerdos con el Gobierno de
Puerto Rico, o en el caso de que los tribunales determinen que éstos son
responsables civilmente.
El 23 de noviembre de 1998, los
principales manufactureros de productos de tabaco llegaron a un acuerdo
transaccional con el Gobierno de Puerto Rico. Este acuerdo fue denominado
como Acuerdo Transaccional Principal o
“Master Settlement Agreement”, según su título original en inglés.
El Acuerdo Transaccional
Principal, impone una serie de obligaciones a los manufactureros de productos
de tabaco, a cambio de que el Gobierno de Puerto Rico libere a dichos
manufactureros de cualquier responsabilidad pasada y presente, y de ciertas reclamaciones
futuras contra ellos, según descritas en el acuerdo. Estas obligaciones consisten en pagar unas sumas
sustanciales, ligadas en parte a sus
volúmenes de venta, al Gobierno de Puerto Rico; depositar dinero en una
fundación dedicada a promover los intereses de la salud pública del Pueblo de
Puerto Rico; y a efectuar cambios sustanciales en sus prácticas de promoción,
anuncios y mercadeo, así como en su cultura corporativa, con el propósito de
reducir el consumo de cigarrillos por personas menores de dieciocho (18) años
de edad.
Sería contrario a la política
pública del Gobierno de Puerto Rico, el permitir que los manufactureros de
productos de tabaco que escogieron no participar en dicho acuerdo
transaccional, pudieran beneficiarse de una ventaja en el costo (cost
advantage), para obtener cuantiosas ganancias a corto plazo en los años previos
a que su responsabilidad por daños y perjuicios pudiese surgir, sin la certeza
de que el Gobierno de Puerto Rico eventualmente pueda recuperar algo de éstos,
en caso de que se probara que actuaron
culpablemente. A tenor con lo antes señalado, el Gobierno de Puerto Rico
tiene un gran interés en requerirle a los manufactureros de productos de
tabaco, que establezcan un fondo de reserva para garantizar una fuente de
compensación y evitar que dichos manufactureros de productos de tabaco deriven
u obtengan cuantiosas sumas de ganancias a corto plazo, adviniendo entonces
inmunes a cualquier tipo de responsabilidad.
DECRETASE
POR LA ASAMBLEA LEGISLATIVA DE PUERTO RICO:
Artículo 1.- Título.-
Esta Ley se conocerá como “Ley
para Reglamentar la Responsabilidad de los Manufactureros de Productos de
Tabaco con el Gobierno de Puerto Rico”.
Artículo 2.- Definiciones.-
A los fines de esta Ley, los
siguientes términos tendrán el significado que a continuación se expresa:
(a) “Acuerdo
Transaccional Principal” (Master Settlement Agreement) - significa el acuerdo
transaccional firmado el 23 de noviembre de 1998, por el Gobierno de Puerto
Rico y los principales manufactureros de productos del tabaco en los Estados
Unidos, al igual que los documentos
relacionados al mismo, cuyo
texto es el siguiente:
MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Table of Contents
Page
I. RECITALS....................................................................................... 1
II. DEFINITIONS................................................................................. 3
(a) “Account”...................................................... . 3
(b) “Adult”.................................................................................. 3
(c) “Adult-Only Facility”............................................................. 3
(d) “Affiliate”............................................................................... 3
(e) “Agreement”.......................................................................... 4
(f) “Allocable Share”.................................................................. 4
(g) “Allocated Payment”.............................................................. 4
(h) “Bankruptcy”......................................................................... 4
(i) “Brand Name”....................................................................... 5
(j) “Brand Name Sponsorship”................................................... 5
(k) “Business Day”...................................................................... 6
(l) “Cartoon”.............................................................................. 6
(m) “Cigarette”............................................................................ 6
(n) “Claims”................................................................................ 7
(o) “Consent Decree”.................................................................. 7
(p) “Court”................................................................................. 7
(q) “Escrow”............................................................................... 7
(r) “Escrow Agent”..................................................................... 7
(s) “Escrow Agreement”............................................................. 8
(t) “Federal Tobacco Legislation Offset”..................................... 8
(u) “Final Approval”.................................................................... 8
(v) “Foundation”......................................................................... 8
(w) “Independent Auditor”........................................................... 8
(x) “Inflation Adjustment”...................................... 8
(y) “Litigating Releasing Parties Offset”........................................ 8
(z) “Market Share”..................................................................... 9
(aa) “MSA Execution Date”.......................................................... 9
(bb) “NAAG”............................................................................... 9
(cc) “Non-Participating Manufacturer”.......................................... 9
(dd) “Non-Settling States Reduction”............................................ 9
(ee) “Notice Parties”..................................................................... 9
(ff) “NPM Adjustment”............................................................. 10
(gg) “NPM Adjustment Percentage”........................................... 10
(hh) “Original Participating Manufacturers”.................................. 10
(ii) “Outdoor Advertising”......................................................... 10
(jj) “Participating Manufacturer”................................................ 11
(kk) “Previously Settled States Reduction”................................... 12
(ll) “Prime Rate”....................................................................... 12
(mm) “Relative Market Share”...................................................... 12
(nn) “Released Claims”............................................................... 13
(oo) “Released Parties”............................................................... 14
(pp) “Releasing Parties”............................................................... 14
(qq) “Settling State”.................................................................... 15
(rr) “State”................................................................................ 15
(ss) “State-Specific Finality”....................................................... 15
(tt) “Subsequent Participating Manufacturer”.............................. 16
(uu) “Tobacco Product Manufacturer”........................................ 16
(vv) “Tobacco Products”............................................................ 17
(ww) “Tobacco-Related Organizations”........................................ 17
(xx) “Transit Advertisements”...................................................... 17
(yy) “Underage”......................................................................... 18
(zz) “Video Game Arcade”......................................................... 18
(aaa) “Volume Adjustment”.......................................................... 18
(bbb) “Youth”............................................................................... 18
III. PERMANENT RELIEF.................................................................. 18
(a) Prohibition on Youth Targeting............................................. 18
(b) Ban on Use of Cartoons...................................................... 19
(c) Limitation of Tobacco Brand Name Sponsorships 19
(d) Elimination
of Outdoor Advertising and Transit Advertisements 22
(e) Prohibition on Payments Related to Tobacco Products
........... and Media.......................................................................... 24
(f) Ban on Tobacco Brand Name Merchandise......................... 25
(g) Ban on Youth Access to Free Samples................................ 26
(h) Ban on Gifts to Underage Persons Based on Proofs of Purchase 26
(i) Limitation on Third-Party Use of Brand Names 27
(j) Ban on Non-Tobacco Brand Names.................................... 27
(k) Minimum Pack Size of Twenty Cigarettes............................. 28
(l) Corporate Culture Commitments Related to Youth
Access and Consumption..................................................... 29
(m) Limitations on Lobbying....................................................... 29
(n) Restriction on Advocacy Concerning Settlement
Proceeds............................................................................. 32
(o) Dissolution of The Tobacco Institute, Inc., the Council
for Tobacco Research-U.S.A., Inc. and the Center for
Indoor Air Research, Inc..................................................... 32
(p) Regulation and Oversight of New Tobacco-Related
Trade Associations.............................................................. 33
(q) Prohibition on Agreements to Suppress Research 35
(r) Prohibition on Material Misrepresentations........................... 36
IV. PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS ......................................... 36
V. TOBACCO CONTROL AND UNDERAGE USE LAWS............. 41
VI. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL FOUNDATION............. 41
(a) Foundation Purposes........................................................... 41
(b) Base Foundation Payments.................................................. 42
(c) National Public Education Fund Payments............................ 42
(d) Creation and Organization of the Foundation 43
(e) Foundation Affiliation........................................................... 44
(f) Foundation Functions........................................................... 44
(g) Foundation Grant-Making.................................................... 46
(h) Foundation Activities........................................................... 47
(i) Severance of this Section..................................................... 47
VII. ENFORCEMENT.......................................................................... 48
(a) Jurisdiction.......................................................................... 48
(b) Enforcement of Consent Decree........................................... 49
(c) Enforcement of this Agreement............................................. 49
(d) Right of Review................................................................... 51
(e) Applicability........................................................................ 51
(f) Coordination
of Enforcement .............................................. 51
(g) Inspection and Discovery Rights........................................... 52
VIII. CERTAIN ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SETTLING STATES 53
IX. PAYMENTS.................................................................................. 54
(a) All Payments Into Escrow.................................................... 54
(b) Initial Payments.................................................................... 55
(c) Annual Payments and Strategic Contribution Payments 56
(d) Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment. 58
(e) Supplemental Payments....................................................... 76
(f) Payment Responsibility........................................................ 77
(g) Corporate Structures........................................................... 77
(h) Accrual of Interest............................................................... 77
(i) Payments by Subsequent Participating Manufacturers 78
(j) Order of Application of Allocations, Offsets, Reductions and Adjustments 80
X. EFFECT OF FEDERAL TOBACCO-RELATED
LEGISLATION.............................................................................. 84
XI. CALCULATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF PAYMENTS....... 86
(a) Independent Auditor to Make All Calculations 86
(b) Identity of Independent Auditor............................................ 87
(c) Resolution of Disputes......................................................... 88
(d) General Provisions as to Calculation of Payments 88
(e) General Treatment of Payments............................................ 94
(f) Disbursement and Charges Not Contingent on Final
Approval........................................................................... 95
(g) Payments to be Made Only After Final Approval 103
(h) Applicability to Section XVII Payments.............................. 104
(i) Miscalculated or Disputed Payments.................................. 104
(j) Payments After Applicable Condition................................. 110
XII. SETTLING STATES’ RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT 110
(a) Release............................................................................. 110
(b) Released Claims Against Released Parties.......................... 117
XIII. CONSENT DECREES AND DISMISSAL OF CLAIMS............ 120
XIV. PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS’ DISMISSAL OF RELATED LAWSUITS 122
XV. VOLUNTARY ACT OF THE PARTIES..................................... 123
XVI. CONSTRUCTION...................................................................... 123
XVII. RECOVERY OF COSTS AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES................ 124
XVIII. MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................... 126
(a) Effect of Current or Future Law......................................... 126
(b) Limited Most-Favored Nation Provision............................ 127
(c) Transfer of Tobacco Brands.............................................. 130
(d) Payments in Settlement...................................................... 131
(e) No Determination or Admission......................................... 131
(f) Non-Admissibility.............................................................. 132
(g) Representations of Parties.................................................. 132
(h) Obligations Several, Not Joint............................................ 133
(i) Headings........................................................................... 133
(j) Amendment and Waiver.................................................... 133
(k) Notices............................................................................. 133
(l) Cooperation...................................................................... 134
(m) Designees to Discuss Disputes........................................... 134
(n) Governing Law.................................................................. 135
(o) Severability........................................................................ 135
(p) Intended Beneficiaries........................................................ 137
(q) Counterparts..................................................................... 137
(r) Applicability...................................................................... 137
(s) Preservation of Privilege..................................................... 137
(t) Non-Release..................................................................... 138
(u) Termination....................................................................... 138
(v) Freedom of Information Requests...................................... 139
(w) Bankruptcy........................................................................ 139
(x) Notice of Material Transfers.............................................. 145
(y) Entire Agreement............................................................... 145
(z) Business Days................................................................... 145
(aa) Subsequent Signatories...................................................... 146
(bb) Decimal Places.................................................................. 146
(cc) Regulatory Authority.......................................................... 146
(dd) Successors........................................................................ 146
(ee) Export Packaging.............................................................. 146
(ff) Actions Within Geographic Boundaries of
Settling States.................................................................... 147
(gg) Notice to Affiliates............................................................. 147
EXHIBIT A - STATE ALLOCATION PERCENTAGES
EXHIBIT B - FORM OF ESCROW AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT C - FORMULA FOR CALCULATING INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS
EXHIBIT D - LIST OF LAWSUITS
EXHIBIT E - FORMULA FOR CALCULATING VOLUME ADJUSTMENTS
EXHIBIT F - POTENTIAL LEGISLATION NOT TO BE OPPOSED
EXHIBIT G - OBLIGATIONS OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE UNDER THE MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT H - DOCUMENT PRODUCTION
EXHIBIT I - INDEX AND SEARCH FEATURES FOR DOCUMENT WEBSITE
EXHIBIT J - TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT FUND PROTOCOL
EXHIBIT K - MARKET CAPITALIZATION PERCENTAGES
EXHIBIT L - MODEL CONSENT DECREE
EXHIBIT M - LIST OF PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS’ LAWSUITS AGAINST THE SETTLING STATES
EXHIBIT N - LITIGATING POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
EXHIBIT O - MODEL STATE FEE PAYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT P - NOTICES
EXHIBIT Q - 1996 AND 1997 DATA
EXHIBIT R - EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN BRAND NAMES
EXHIBIT S - DESIGNATION OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL
EXHIBIT T - MODEL STATUTE
EXHIBIT U - STRATEGIC CONTRIBUTION FUND PROTOCOL
[1]MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Master Settlement Agreement is made by the undersigned Settling State Officials (on behalf of their respective Settling States) and the undersigned Participating Manufacturers to settle and resolve with finality all Released Claims against the Participating Manufacturers and related entities as set forth herein. This Agreement constitutes the documentation effecting this settlement with respect to each Settling State, and is intended to and shall be binding upon each Settling State and each Participating Manufacturer in accordance with the terms hereof.
I. RECITALS
WHEREAS, more than 40 States have commenced litigation asserting various claims for monetary, equitable and injunctive relief against certain tobacco product manufacturers and others as defendants, and the States that have not filed suit can potentially assert similar claims;
WHEREAS, the Settling States that have commenced litigation have sought to obtain equitable relief and damages under state laws, including consumer protection and/or antitrust laws, in order to further the Settling States’ policies regarding public health, including policies adopted to achieve a significant reduction in smoking by Youth;
WHEREAS, defendants have denied each and every one of the Settling States’ allegations of unlawful conduct or wrongdoing and have asserted a number of defenses to the Settling States’ claims, which defenses have been contested by the Settling States;
WHEREAS, the Settling States and the Participating Manufacturers are committed to reducing underage tobacco use by discouraging such use and by preventing Youth access to Tobacco Products;
WHEREAS, the Participating Manufacturers recognize the concern of the tobacco grower community that it may be adversely affected by the potential reduction in tobacco consumption resulting from this settlement, reaffirm their commitment to work cooperatively to address concerns about the potential adverse economic impact on such community, and will, within 30 days after the MSA Execution Date, meet with the political leadership of States with grower communities to address these economic concerns;
WHEREAS, the undersigned Settling State Officials believe that entry into this Agreement and uniform consent decrees with the tobacco industry is necessary in order to further the Settling States’ policies designed to reduce Youth smoking, to promote the public health and to secure monetary payments to the Settling States; and
WHEREAS, the Settling States and the Participating Manufacturers wish to avoid the further expense, delay, inconvenience, burden and uncertainty of continued litigation (including appeals from any verdicts), and, therefore, have agreed to settle their respective lawsuits and potential claims pursuant to terms which will achieve for the Settling States and their citizens significant funding for the advancement of public health, the implementation of important tobacco-related public health measures, including the enforcement of the mandates and restrictions related to such measures, as well as funding for a national Foundation dedicated to significantly reducing the use of Tobacco Products by Youth;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT KNOWN THAT, in consideration of the implementation of tobacco-related health measures and the payments to be made by the Participating Manufacturers, the release and discharge of all claims by the Settling States, and such other consideration as described herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Settling States and the Participating Manufacturers, acting by and through their authorized agents, memorialize and agree as follows:
II. DEFINITIONS
(a) “Account”
has the meaning given in the Escrow Agreement.
(b) “Adult” means any person or persons who are
not Underage.
(c) “Adult-Only Facility” means a facility or
restricted area (whether open-air or enclosed) where the operator ensures or
has a reasonable basis to believe (such as by checking identification as
required under state law, or by checking the identification of any person
appearing to be under the age of 27) that no Underage person is present. A facility or restricted area need not be
permanently restricted to Adults in order to constitute an Adult-Only Facility,
provided that the operator ensures or has a reasonable basis to believe that no
Underage person is present during the event or time period in question.
(d) “Affiliate” means a person who directly or
indirectly owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common
ownership or control with, another person.
Solely for purposes of this definition, the terms “owns,” “is owned” and
“ownership” mean ownership of an equity interest, or the equivalent thereof, of
10 percent or more, and the term “person” means an individual, partnership,
committee, association, corporation or any other organization or group of
persons.
(e) “Agreement” means this Master Settlement
Agreement, together with the exhibits hereto, as it may be amended pursuant to
subsection XVIII(j).
(f) “Allocable Share” means the percentage set
forth for the State in question as listed in Exhibit A hereto, without regard
to any subsequent alteration or modification of such State’s percentage share
agreed to by or among any States; or, solely for the purpose of calculating
payments under subsection IX(c)(2) (and corresponding payments under subsection
IX(i)), the percentage disclosed for the State in question pursuant to
subsection IX(c)(2)(A) prior to June 30, 1999, without regard to any subsequent
alteration or modification of such State’s percentage share agreed to by or
among any States.
(g) “Allocated Payment” means a particular
Settling State’s Allocable Share of the sum of all of the payments to be made
by the Original Participating Manufacturers in the year in question pursuant to
subsections IX(c)(1) and IX(c)(2), as such payments have been adjusted, reduced
and allocated pursuant to clause “First” through the first sentence of clause
“Fifth” of subsection IX(j), but before application of the other offsets and
adjustments described in clauses “Sixth” through “Thirteenth” of subsection
IX(j).
(h) “Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any
entity, the commencement of a case or other proceeding (whether voluntary or
involuntary) seeking any of (1) liquidation, reorganization,
rehabilitation, receivership, conservatorship, or other relief with respect to
such entity or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or
hereafter in effect; (2) the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
liquidator, custodian or similar official of such entity or any substantial
part of its business or property; (3) the consent of such entity to any of
the relief described in (1) above or to the appointment of any official
described in (2) above in any such case or other proceeding involuntarily
commenced against such entity; or (4) the entry of an order for relief as
to such entity under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in
effect. Provided, however, that an
involuntary case or proceeding otherwise within the foregoing definition shall
not be a “Bankruptcy” if it is or was dismissed within 60 days of its commencement.
(i) “Brand Name” means a brand name (alone or in
conjunction with any other word), trademark, logo, symbol, motto, selling
message, recognizable pattern of colors, or any other indicia of product
identification identical or similar to, or identifiable with, those used for
any domestic brand of Tobacco Products.
Provided, however, that the term “Brand Name” shall not include the
corporate name of any Tobacco Product Manufacturer that does not after the MSA
Execution Date sell a brand of Tobacco Products in the States that includes
such corporate name.
(j) “Brand Name Sponsorship” means an athletic,
musical, artistic, or other social or cultural event as to which payment is
made (or other consideration is provided) in exchange for use of a Brand Name
or Names (1) as part of the name of the event or (2) to identify, advertise, or
promote such event or an entrant, participant or team in such event in any
other way. Sponsorship of a single
national or multi-state series or tour, for example, NASCAR (including any
number of NASCAR races), or of one or more events within a single national or
multi-state series or tour, or of an entrant, participant, or team taking part
in events sanctioned by a single approving organization (e.g., NASCAR or CART),
constitutes one Brand Name Sponsorship.
Sponsorship of an entrant, participant, or team by a Participating
Manufacturer using a Brand Name or Names in an event that is part of a series
or tour that is sponsored by such Participating Manufacturer or that is part of
a series or tour in which any one or more events are sponsored by such
Participating Manufacturer does not constitute a separate Brand Name
Sponsorship. Sponsorship of an entrant,
participant, or team by a Participating Manufacturer using a Brand Name or
Names in any event (or series of events) not sponsored by such Participating
Manufacturer constitutes a Brand Name Sponsorship. The term “Brand Name Sponsorship”, shall not include an event in an Adult-Only Facility.
(k) “Business Day” means a day which is not a
Saturday or Sunday or legal holiday on which banks are authorized or required
to close in New York, New York.
(l) “Cartoon” means any drawing or other
depiction of an object, person, animal, creature or any similar caricature that
satisfies any of the following criteria:
(1) the use of comically exaggerated features;
(2) the attribution of human characteristics to animals, plants or other objects, or the similar use of anthropomorphic technique; or
(3) the attribution of unnatural or extra human abilities, such as imperviousness to pain or injury, X-ray vision, tunneling at very high speeds or transformation.
The term “Cartoon” includes “Joe Camel,” but does not include any drawing or other depiction that on July 1, 1998, was in use in any State in any Participating Manufacturer’s corporate logo or in any Participating Manufacturer’s Tobacco Product packaging.
(m) “Cigarette” means any product that contains
nicotine, is intended to be burned or heated under ordinary conditions of use,
and consists of or contains (1) any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or in any
substance not containing tobacco; or (2) tobacco, in any form, that is
functional in the product, which, because of its appearance, the type of
tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be
offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette; or (3) any roll of
tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco which, because of its
appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and
labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette
described in clause (1) of this definition.
The term “Cigarette” includes “roll-your-own” (i.e., any tobacco which,
because of its appearance, type, packaging, or labeling is suitable for use and
likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as tobacco for making
cigarettes). Except as provided in
subsections II(z) and II(mm), 0.0325 ounces of
“roll-your-own” tobacco shall constitute one individual “Cigarette.”
(n) “Claims” means any and all manner of civil
(i.e., non-criminal): claims, demands,
actions, suits, causes of action, damages (whenever incurred), liabilities of
any nature including civil penalties and punitive damages, as well as costs,
expenses and attorneys’ fees (except as to the Original Participating
Manufacturers’ obligations under section XVII), known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected, accrued or unaccrued,
whether legal, equitable, or statutory.
(o) “Consent Decree” means a state-specific
consent decree as described in subsection XIII(b)(1)(B) of this Agreement.
(p) “Court” means the respective court in each
Settling State to which this Agreement and the Consent Decree are presented for
approval and/or entry as to that Settling State.
(q) “Escrow” has the meaning given in the Escrow
Agreement.
(r) “Escrow Agent” means the escrow agent under
the Escrow Agreement.
(s) “Escrow Agreement” means an escrow agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
(t) “Federal Tobacco Legislation Offset” means
the offset described in section X.
(u) “Final Approval” means the earlier of:
(1) the date by which State-Specific Finality in a sufficient number of Settling States has occurred; or
(2) June 30, 2000.
For the purposes
of this subsection (u), “State-Specific Finality in a sufficient number of
Settling States” means that State-Specific Finality has occurred in both:
(A) a number of
Settling States equal to at least 80% of the total number of Settling
States; and
(B) Settling States having aggregate Allocable Shares equal to at least 80% of the total aggregate Allocable Shares assigned to all Settling States.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Original Participating Manufacturers may, by unanimous
written agreement, waive any requirement for Final Approval set forth in
subsections (A) or (B) hereof.
(v) “Foundation” means the foundation described
in Section VI.
(w) “Independent Auditor” means the firm
described in subsection XI(b).
(x) “Inflation Adjustment” means an adjustment
in accordance with the formulas for inflation adjustments set forth in
Exhibit C.
(y)
“Litigating Releasing Parties Offset” means the offset
described in subsection XII(b).
(z) “Market Share” means a Tobacco Product
Manufacturer’s respective share (expressed as a percentage) of the total number
of individual Cigarettes sold in the fifty United States, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico during the applicable calendar year, as measured by
excise taxes collected by the federal government and, in the case of sales in
Puerto Rico, arbitrios de cigarillos collected by the Puerto Rico taxing
authority. For purposes of the
definition and determination of “Market Share” with respect to calculations
under subsection IX(i), 0.09 ounces of “roll your own” tobacco shall constitute
one individual Cigarette; for purposes of the definition and determination of
“Market Share” with respect to all other calculations, 0.0325 ounces of “roll
your own” tobacco shall constitute one individual Cigarette.
(aa) “MSA Execution Date” means November 23,
1998.
(bb) “NAAG” means the National Association of
Attorneys General, or its successor organization that is directed by the
Attorneys General to perform certain functions under this Agreement.
(cc) “Non-Participating Manufacturer” means any
Tobacco Product Manufacturer that is not a Participating Manufacturer.
(dd) “Non-Settling States Reduction” means a
reduction determined by multiplying the amount to which such reduction applies
by the aggregate Allocable Shares of those States that are not Settling States
on the date 15 days before such payment is due.
(ee) “Notice Parties” means each Participating
Manufacturer, each Settling State, the Escrow Agent, the Independent Auditor
and NAAG.
(ff) “NPM Adjustment” means the adjustment
specified in subsection IX(d).
(gg) “NPM Adjustment Percentage” means the
percentage determined pursuant to subsection IX(d).
(hh) “Original Participating Manufacturers” means
the following: Brown & Williamson
Tobacco Corporation, Lorillard Tobacco Company, Philip Morris Incorporated and
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and the respective successors of each of the
foregoing. Except as expressly provided
in this Agreement, once an entity becomes an Original Participating
Manufacturer, such entity shall permanently retain the status of Original
Participating Manufacturer.
(ii) “Outdoor Advertising” means (1) billboards,
(2) signs and placards in arenas, stadiums, shopping malls and Video Game
Arcades (whether any of the foregoing are open air or enclosed, but not
including any such sign or placard located in an Adult-Only Facility), and (3)
any other advertisements placed (A) outdoors, or (B) on the inside surface of a
window facing outward. Provided,
however, that the term “Outdoor Advertising” does not mean (1) an advertisement
on the outside of a Tobacco Product manufacturing facility; (2) an individual
advertisement that does not occupy an area larger than 14 square feet (and that
neither is placed in such proximity to any other such advertisement so as to
create a single “mosaic”-type advertisement larger than 14 square feet, nor
functions solely as a segment of a larger advertising unit or series), and that
is placed (A) on the outside of any retail establishment that sells Tobacco Products
(other than solely through a vending machine), (B) outside (but on the property
of) any such establishment, or (C) on the inside surface of a window facing
outward in any such establishment; (3) an advertisement inside a retail
establishment that sells Tobacco Products (other than solely through a vending
machine) that is not placed on the inside surface of a window facing outward;
or (4) an outdoor advertisement at the site of an event to be held at an
Adult-Only Facility that is placed at such site during the period the facility
or enclosed area constitutes an Adult-Only Facility, but in no event more than
14 days before the event, and that does not advertise any Tobacco Product
(other than by using a Brand Name to identify the event).
(jj) “Participating Manufacturer” means a Tobacco
Product Manufacturer that is or becomes a signatory to this Agreement,
provided that (1) in the case of a Tobacco Product Manufacturer that is
not an Original Participating Manufacturer, such Tobacco Product Manufacturer
is bound by this Agreement and the Consent Decree (or, in any Settling State
that does not permit amendment of the Consent Decree, a consent decree
containing terms identical to those set forth in the Consent Decree) in all
Settling States in which this Agreement and the Consent Decree binds Original
Participating Manufacturers (provided, however, that such Tobacco Product
Manufacturer need only become bound by the Consent Decree in those Settling
States in which the Settling State has filed a Released Claim against it), and
(2) in the case of a Tobacco Product Manufacturer that signs this
Agreement after the MSA Execution Date, such Tobacco Product Manufacturer,
within a reasonable period of time after signing this Agreement, makes any
payments (including interest thereon at the Prime Rate) that it would have been
obligated to make in the intervening period had it been a signatory as of the
MSA Execution Date. “Participating
Manufacturer” shall also include the successor of a Participating Manufacturer. Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, once an entity becomes a Participating Manufacturer such entity
shall permanently retain the status of Participating Manufacturer. Each Participating Manufacturer shall
regularly report its shipments of Cigarettes in or to the fifty United States,
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to Management Science Associates, Inc.
(or a successor entity as set forth in subsection (mm)). Solely for purposes of calculations pursuant
to subsection IX(d), a Tobacco Product Manufacturer that is not a signatory to
this Agreement shall be deemed to be a “Participating Manufacturer” if the
Original Participating Manufacturers unanimously consent in writing.
(kk) “Previously Settled States Reduction” means
a reduction determined by multiplying the amount to which such reduction
applies by 12.4500000%, in the case of payments due in or prior to 2007;
12.2373756%, in the case of payments due after 2007 but before 2018; and
11.0666667%, in the case of payments due in or after 2018.
(ll) “Prime Rate” shall mean the prime rate as
published from time to time by the Wall Street Journal or, in the event the
Wall Street Journal is no longer published or no longer publishes such rate, an
equivalent successor reference rate determined by the Independent Auditor.
(mm) “Relative Market Share” means an Original
Participating Manufacturer’s respective share (expressed as a percentage) of
the total number of individual Cigarettes shipped in or to the fifty United
States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by all the Original
Participating Manufacturers during the calendar year immediately preceding the
year in which the payment at issue is due (regardless of when such payment is
made), as measured by the Original Participating Manufacturers’ reports of
shipments of Cigarettes to Management Science Associates, Inc. (or a successor
entity acceptable to both the Original Participating Manufacturers and a
majority of those Attorneys General who are both the Attorney General of a Settling
State and a member of the NAAG executive committee at the time in
question). A Cigarette shipped by more
than one Participating Manufacturer shall be deemed to have been shipped solely
by the first Participating Manufacturer to do so. For purposes of the definition and determination of “Relative
Market Share,” 0.09 ounces of “roll your own” tobacco shall constitute one
individual Cigarette.
(nn) “Released Claims” means:
(1) For past conduct, acts or omissions (including any damages incurred in the future arising from such past conduct, acts or omissions), those Claims directly or indirectly based on, arising out of or in any way related, in whole or in part, to (A) the use, sale, distribution, manufacture, development, advertising, marketing or health effects of, (B) the exposure to, or (C) research, statements, or warnings regarding, Tobacco Products (including, but not limited to, the Claims asserted in the actions identified in Exhibit D, or any comparable Claims that were, could be or could have been asserted now or in the future in those actions or in any comparable action in federal, state or local court brought by a Settling State or a Releasing Party (whether or not such Settling State or Releasing Party has brought such action), except for claims not asserted in the actions identified in Exhibit D for outstanding liability under existing licensing (or similar) fee laws or existing tax laws (but not excepting claims for any tax liability of the Tobacco-Related Organizations or of any Released Party with respect to such Tobacco-Related Organizations, which claims are covered by the release and covenants set forth in this Agreement);
(2) for future conduct, acts or omissions, only those monetary Claims directly or indirectly based on, arising out of or in any way related to, in whole or in part, the use of or exposure to Tobacco Products manufactured in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation any future Claims for reimbursement of health care costs allegedly associated with the use of or exposure to Tobacco Products.
(oo) “Released Parties” means all Participating
Manufacturers, their past, present and future Affiliates, and the respective
divisions, officers, directors, employees, representatives, insurers, lenders,
underwriters, Tobacco-Related Organizations, trade associations, suppliers,
agents, auditors, advertising agencies, public relations entities, attorneys,
retailers and distributors of any Participating Manufacturer or of any such
Affiliate (and the predecessors, heirs, executors, administrators, successors
and assigns of each of the foregoing).
Provided, however, that “Released Parties” does not include any person
or entity (including, but not limited to, an Affiliate) that is itself a
Non-Participating Manufacturer at any time after the MSA Execution Date, unless
such person or entity becomes a Participating Manufacturer.
(pp) “Releasing Parties” means each Settling
State and any of its past, present and future agents, officials acting in their
official capacities, legal representatives, agencies, departments, commissions
and divisions; and also means, to the full extent of the power of the
signatories hereto to release past, present and future claims, the
following: (1) any Settling
State’s subdivisions (political or otherwise, including, but not limited to,
municipalities, counties, parishes, villages, unincorporated districts and
hospital districts), public entities, public instrumentalities and public
educational institutions; and (2) persons or entities acting in a “parens
patriae”, sovereign, quasi‑sovereign, private attorney general, “qui
tam”, taxpayer, or any other capacity, whether or not any of them participate
in this settlement, (A) to the extent that any such person or entity is seeking
relief on behalf of or generally applicable to the general public in such
Settling State or the people of the State, as opposed solely to private or
individual relief for separate and distinct injuries, or (B) to the extent that
any such entity (as opposed to an individual) is seeking recovery of
health-care expenses (other than premium or capitation payments for the benefit
of present or retired state employees) paid or reimbursed, directly or
indirectly, by a Settling State.
(qq) “Settling State” means any State that signs
this Agreement on or before the MSA Execution Date. Provided, however, that the term “Settling State” shall not
include (1) the States of Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota; and
(2) any State as to which this Agreement has been terminated.
(rr) “State” means any state of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas.
(ss) “State-Specific
Finality” means, with respect to the Settling State in question:
(1) This Agreement and the Consent Decree have been approved and entered by the Court as to all Original Participating Manufacturers, or, in the event of an appeal from or review of a decision of the Court to withhold its approval and entry of this Agreement and the Consent Decree, by the court hearing such appeal or conducting such review;
(2) entry by the Court has been made of an order dismissing with prejudice all claims against Released Parties in the action as provided herein; and
(3) the time for appeal or to seek review of or permission to appeal (Appeal) from the approval and entry as described in subsection (1) hereof and entry of such order described in subsection (2) hereof has expired; or, in the event of an Appeal from such approval and entry, the Appeal has been dismissed, or the approval and entry described in (1) hereof and the order described in subsection (2) hereof have been affirmed in all material respects by the court of last resort to which such Appeal has been taken and such dismissal or affirmance has become no longer subject to further Appeal (including, without limitation, review by the United States Supreme Court).
(tt) “Subsequent Participating Manufacturer”
means a Tobacco Product Manufacturer (other than an Original Participating
Manufacturer) that: (1) is a
Participating Manufacturer, and (2) is a signatory to this Agreement,
regardless of when such Tobacco Product Manufacturer became a signatory to this
Agreement. “Subsequent Participating Manufacturer” shall also include the
successors of a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer. Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, once an entity becomes a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer such
entity shall permanently retain the status of Subsequent Participating
Manufacturer, unless it agrees to assume the obligations of an Original
Participating Manufacturer as provided in subsection XVIII(c).
(uu) “Tobacco Product Manufacturer” means an
entity that after the MSA Execution Date directly (and not exclusively through
any Affiliate):
(1) manufactures Cigarettes anywhere that such manufacturer intends to be sold in the States, including Cigarettes intended to be sold in the States through an importer (except where such importer is an Original Participating Manufacturer that will be responsible for the payments under this Agreement with respect to such Cigarettes as a result of the provisions of subsections II(mm) and that pays the taxes specified in subsection II(z) on such Cigarettes, and provided that the manufacturer of such Cigarettes does not market or advertise such Cigarettes in the States);
(2) is the first purchaser anywhere for resale in the States of Cigarettes manufactured anywhere that the manufacturer does not intend to be sold in the States; or
(3) becomes a successor of an entity described in subsection (1) or (2) above.
The term “Tobacco Product Manufacturer” shall not include an Affiliate of a Tobacco Product Manufacturer unless such Affiliate itself falls within any of subsections (1) - (3) above.
(vv) “Tobacco Products” means Cigarettes and
smokeless tobacco products.
(ww) “Tobacco-Related Organizations” means the
Council for Tobacco Research-U.S.A., Inc., The Tobacco Institute, Inc. (“TI”),
and the Center for Indoor Air Research, Inc. (“CIAR”) and the successors, if
any, of TI or CIAR.
(xx) “Transit Advertisements” means advertising
on or within private or public vehicles and all advertisements placed at, on or
within any bus stop, taxi stand, transportation waiting area, train station,
airport or any similar location.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Transit Advertisements” does
not include (1) any advertisement placed in, on or outside the premises of any
retail establishment that sells Tobacco Products (other than solely through a
vending machine), except if such individual advertisement (A) occupies an area
larger than 14 square feet; (B) is placed in such proximity to any other such
advertisement so as to create a single “mosaic”-type advertisement larger than
14 square feet; or (C) functions solely as a segment of a larger advertising
unit or series); or (2) advertising at the site of an event to be held at an
Adult-Only Facility that is placed at such site during the period the facility
or enclosed area constitutes an Adult-Only Facility, but in no event more than
14 days before the event, and that does not advertise any Tobacco Product
(other than by using a Brand Name to identify the event).
(yy) “Underage” means younger than the minimum
age at which it is legal to purchase or possess (whichever minimum age is
older) Cigarettes in the applicable Settling State.
(zz) “Video Game Arcade” means an entertainment
establishment primarily consisting of video games (other than video games
intended primarily for use by persons 18 years of age or older) and/or pinball
machines.
(aaa) “Volume Adjustment” means an upward or
downward adjustment in accordance with the formula for volume adjustments set
forth in Exhibit E.
(bbb) “Youth” means any person or persons under 18
years of age.
III. PERMANENT
RELIEF
(a) Prohibition on Youth Targeting. No Participating Manufacturer may take any action, directly or indirectly, to target Youth within any Settling State in the advertising, promotion or marketing of Tobacco Products, or take any action the primary purpose of which is to initiate, maintain or increase the incidence of Youth smoking within any Settling State.
(b) Ban on Use of Cartoons. Beginning 180 days after the MSA Execution Date, no Participating Manufacturer may use or cause to be used any Cartoon in the advertising, promoting, packaging or labeling of Tobacco Products.
(c) Limitation of Tobacco Brand Name Sponsorships.
(1) Prohibited Sponsorships. After the MSA Execution Date, no Participating Manufacturer may engage in any Brand Name Sponsorship in any State consisting of:
(A) concerts; or
(B) events in which the intended audience is comprised of a significant percentage of Youth; or
(C) events in which any paid participants or contestants are Youth; or
(D) any athletic event between opposing teams in any football, basketball, baseball, soccer or hockey league.
(2) Limited Sponsorships.
(A) No Participating Manufacturer may engage in more than one Brand Name Sponsorship in the States in any twelve-month period (such period measured from the date of the initial sponsored event).
(B) Provided, however, that
(i) nothing contained in subsection (2)(A) above shall require a Participating Manufacturer to breach or terminate any sponsorship contract in existence as of August 1, 1998 (until the earlier of (x) the current term of any existing contract, without regard to any renewal or option that may be exercised by such Participating Manufacturer or (y) three years after the MSA Execution Date); and
(ii) notwithstanding subsection (1)(A) above, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation may sponsor either the GPC country music festival or the Kool jazz festival as its one annual Brand Name Sponsorship permitted pursuant to subsection (2)(A) as well as one Brand Name Sponsorship permitted pursuant to subsection (2)(B)(i).
(3) Related Sponsorship Restrictions. With respect to any Brand Name Sponsorship permitted under this subsection (c):
(A) advertising of the Brand Name Sponsorship event shall not advertise any Tobacco Product (other than by using the Brand Name to identify such Brand Name Sponsorship event);
(B) no Participating Manufacturer may refer to a Brand Name Sponsorship event or to a celebrity or other person in such an event in its advertising of a Tobacco Product;
(C) nothing contained in the provisions of subsection III(e) of this Agreement shall apply to actions taken by any Participating Manufacturer in connection with a Brand Name Sponsorship permitted pursuant to the provisions of subsections (2)(A) and (2)(B)(i); the Brand Name Sponsorship permitted by subsection (2)(B)(ii) shall be subject to the restrictions of subsection III(e) except that such restrictions shall not prohibit use of the Brand Name to identify the Brand Name Sponsorship;
nothing contained in the provisions of subsections III(f) and III(i) shall apply to apparel or other merchandise: (i) marketed, distributed, offered, sold, or licensed at the site of a Brand Name Sponsorship permitted pursuant to subsections (2)(A) or (2)(B)(i) by the person to which the relevant Participating Manufacturer has provided payment in exchange for the use of the relevant Brand Name in the Brand Name Sponsorship or a third-party that does not receive payment from the relevant Participating Manufacturer (or any Affiliate of such Participating Manufacturer) in connection with the marketing, distribution, offer, sale or license of such apparel or other merchandise; or (ii) used at the site of a Brand Name Sponsorship permitted pursuant to subsection (2)(A) or (2)(B)(i) (during such event) that are not distributed (by sale or otherwise) to any member of the general public; and
(E) nothing contained in the provisions of subsection III(d) shall: (i) apply to the use of a Brand Name on a vehicle used in a Brand Name Sponsorship; or (ii) apply to Outdoor Advertising advertising the Brand Name Sponsorship, to the extent that such Outdoor Advertising is placed at the site of a Brand Name Sponsorship no more than 90 days before the start of the initial sponsored event, is removed within 10 days after the end of the last sponsored event, and is not prohibited by subsection (3)(A) above.
(4) Corporate Name Sponsorships. Nothing in this subsection (c) shall prevent a Participating Manufacturer from sponsoring or causing to be sponsored any athletic, musical, artistic, or other social or cultural event, or any entrant, participant or team in such event (or series of events) in the name of the corporation which manufactures Tobacco Products, provided that the corporate name does not include any Brand Name of domestic Tobacco Products.
(5) Naming Rights Prohibition. No Participating Manufacturer may enter into any agreement for the naming rights of any stadium or arena located within a Settling State using a Brand Name, and shall not otherwise cause a stadium or arena located within a Settling State to be named with a Brand Name.
(6) Prohibition on Sponsoring Teams and Leagues. No Participating Manufacturer may enter into any agreement pursuant to which payment is made (or other consideration is provided) by such Participating Manufacturer to any football, basketball, baseball, soccer or hockey league (or any team involved in any such league) in exchange for use of a Brand Name.
(d) Elimination of Outdoor Advertising and
Transit Advertisements. Each Participating Manufacturer shall discontinue
Outdoor Advertising and Transit Advertisements advertising Tobacco Products
within the Settling States as set forth herein.
(1) Removal. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each Participating
Manufacturer shall remove from within the Settling States within 150 days after
the MSA Execution Date all of its (A) billboards (to the extent that such
billboards constitute Outdoor Advertising) advertising Tobacco Products; (B) signs
and placards (to the extent that such signs and placards constitute Outdoor
Advertising) advertising Tobacco Products in arenas, stadiums, shopping malls
and Video Game Arcades; and (C) Transit Advertisements advertising Tobacco
Products.
(2) Prohibition on New Outdoor Advertising
and Transit Advertisements. No
Participating Manufacturer may, after the MSA Execution Date, place or cause to
be placed any new Outdoor Advertising advertising Tobacco Products or new
Transit Advertisements advertising Tobacco Products within any Settling
State.
(3) Alternative Advertising. With respect to those billboards required to
be removed under subsection (1) that are leased (as opposed to owned) by any
Participating Manufacturer, the Participating Manufacturer will allow the
Attorney General of the Settling State within which such billboards are located
to substitute, at the Settling State’s option, alternative advertising intended
to discourage the use of Tobacco Products by Youth and their exposure to second-hand
smoke for the remaining term of the applicable contract (without regard to any
renewal or option term that may be exercised by such Participating
Manufacturer). The Participating
Manufacturer will bear the cost of the lease through the end of such remaining
term. Any other costs associated with
such alternative advertising will be borne by the Settling State.
(4) Ban
on Agreements Inhibiting Anti-Tobacco Advertising. Each Participating Manufacturer agrees that
it will not enter into any agreement that prohibits a third party from selling,
purchasing or displaying advertising discouraging the use of Tobacco Products
or exposure to second-hand smoke. In
the event and to the extent that any Participating Manufacturer has entered
into an agreement containing any such prohibition, such Participating
Manufacturer agrees to waive such prohibition in such agreement.
(5) Designation of Contact Person. Each Participating Manufacturer that has
Outdoor Advertising or Transit Advertisements advertising Tobacco Products
within a Settling State shall, within 10 days after the MSA Execution Date,
provide the Attorney General of such Settling State with the name of a contact
person to whom the Settling State may direct inquiries during the time such
Outdoor Advertising and Transit Advertisements are being eliminated, and from
whom the Settling State may obtain periodic reports as to the progress of their
elimination.
(6) Adult-Only Facilities. To the extent that any advertisement advertising Tobacco Products located within an Adult-Only Facility constitutes Outdoor Advertising or a Transit Advertisement, this subsection (d) shall not apply to such advertisement, provided such advertisement is not visible to persons outside such Adult-Only Facility.
(e) Prohibition on Payments Related to Tobacco Products and Media. No Participating Manufacturer may, beginning 30 days after the MSA Execution Date, make, or cause to be made, any payment or other consideration to any other person or entity to use, display, make reference to or use as a prop any Tobacco Product, Tobacco Product package, advertisement for a Tobacco Product, or any other item bearing a Brand Name in any motion picture, television show, theatrical production or other live performance, live or recorded performance of music, commercial film or video, or video game “Media”; provided, however, that the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to (1) Media where the audience or viewers are within an Adult-Only Facility (provided such Media are not visible to persons outside such Adult-Only Facility); (2) Media not intended for distribution or display to the public; or (3) instructional Media concerning non-conventional cigarettes viewed only by or provided only to smokers who are Adults.
(f) Ban on Tobacco Brand Name Merchandise. Beginning July 1, 1999, no Participating Manufacturer may, within any Settling State, market, distribute, offer, sell, license or cause to be marketed, distributed, offered, sold or licensed (including, without limitation, by catalogue or direct mail), any apparel or other merchandise (other than Tobacco Products, items the sole function of which is to advertise Tobacco Products, or written or electronic publications) which bears a Brand Name. Provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall (1) require any Participating Manufacturer to breach or terminate any licensing agreement or other contract in existence as of June 20, 1997 (this exception shall not apply beyond the current term of any existing contract, without regard to any renewal or option term that may be exercised by such Participating Manufacturer); (2) prohibit the distribution to any Participating Manufacturer’s employee who is not Underage of any item described above that is intended for the personal use of such an employee; (3) require any Participating Manufacturer to retrieve, collect or otherwise recover any item that prior to the MSA Execution Date was marketed, distributed, offered, sold, licensed, or caused to be marketed, distributed, offered, sold or licensed by such Participating Manufacturer; (4) apply to coupons or other items used by Adults solely in connection with the purchase of Tobacco Products; or (5) apply to apparel or other merchandise used within an Adult-Only Facility that is not distributed (by sale or otherwise) to any member of the general public.
(g) Ban on Youth Access to Free Samples. After the MSA Execution Date, no Participating Manufacturer may, within any Settling State, distribute or cause to be distributed any free samples of Tobacco Products except in an Adult-Only Facility. For purposes of this Agreement, a “free sample” does not include a Tobacco Product that is provided to an Adult in connection with (1) the purchase, exchange or redemption for proof of purchase of any Tobacco Products (including, but not limited to, a free offer in connection with the purchase of Tobacco Products, such as a “two-for-one” offer), or (2) the conducting of consumer testing or evaluation of Tobacco Products with persons who certify that they are Adults.
(h) Ban on Gifts to Underage Persons Based on Proofs of Purchase. Beginning one year after the MSA Execution Date, no Participating Manufacturer may provide or cause to be provided to any person without sufficient proof that such person is an Adult any item in exchange for the purchase of Tobacco Products, or the furnishing of credits, proofs-of-purchase, or coupons with respect to such a purchase. For purposes of the preceding sentence only, (1) a driver’s license or other government-issued identification (or legible photocopy thereof), the validity of which is certified by the person to whom the item is provided, shall by itself be deemed to be a sufficient form of proof of age; and (2) in the case of items provided (or to be redeemed) at retail establishments, a Participating Manufacturer shall be entitled to rely on verification of proof of age by the retailer, where such retailer is required to obtain verification under applicable federal, state or local law.
(i) Limitation on Third-Party Use of Brand Names. After the MSA Execution Date, no Participating Manufacturer may license or otherwise expressly authorize any third party to use or advertise within any Settling State any Brand Name in a manner prohibited by this Agreement if done by such Participating Manufacturer itself. Each Participating Manufacturer shall, within 10 days after the MSA Execution Date, designate a person (and provide written notice to NAAG of such designation) to whom the Attorney General of any Settling State may provide written notice of any such third-party activity that would be prohibited by this Agreement if done by such Participating Manufacturer itself. Following such written notice, the Participating Manufacturer will promptly take commercially reasonable steps against any such non-de minimis third-party activity. Provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall require any Participating Manufacturer to (1) breach or terminate any licensing agreement or other contract in existence as of July 1, 1998 (this exception shall not apply beyond the current term of any existing contract, without regard to any renewal or option term that may be exercised by such Participating Manufacturer); or (2) retrieve, collect or otherwise recover any item that prior to the MSA Execution Date was marketed, distributed, offered, sold, licensed or caused to be marketed, distributed, offered, sold or licensed by such Participating Manufacturer.
(j) Ban on Non-Tobacco Brand Names. No Participating Manufacturer may, pursuant to any agreement requiring the payment of money or other valuable consideration, use or cause to be used as a brand name of any Tobacco Product any nationally recognized or nationally established brand name or trade name of any non-tobacco item or service or any nationally recognized or nationally established sports team, entertainment group or individual celebrity. Provided, however, that the preceding sentence shall not apply to any Tobacco Product brand name in existence as of July 1, 1998. For the purposes of this subsection, the term “other valuable consideration” shall not include an agreement between two entities who enter into such agreement for the sole purpose of avoiding infringement claims.
(k) Minimum Pack Size of Twenty Cigarettes. No Participating Manufacturer may, beginning 60 days after the MSA Execution Date and through and including December 31, 2001, manufacture or cause to be manufactured for sale in any Settling State any pack or other container of Cigarettes containing fewer than 20 Cigarettes (or, in the case of roll-your-own tobacco, any package of roll-your-own tobacco containing less than 0.60 ounces of tobacco). No Participating Manufacturer may, beginning 150 days after the MSA Execution Date and through and including December 31, 2001, sell or distribute in any Settling State any pack or other container of Cigarettes containing fewer than 20 Cigarettes (or, in the case of roll-your-own” tobacco, any package of roll-your-own tobacco containing less than 0.60 ounces of tobacco). Each Participating Manufacturer further agrees that following the MSA Execution Date it shall not oppose, or cause to be opposed (including through any third party or Affiliate), the passage by any Settling State of any legislative proposal or administrative rule applicable to all Tobacco Product Manufacturers and all retailers of Tobacco Products prohibiting the manufacture and sale of any pack or other container of Cigarettes containing fewer than 20 Cigarettes (or, in the case of roll-your-own tobacco, any package of roll-your-own tobacco containing less than 0.60 ounces of tobacco).
(l) Corporate Culture Commitments Related to Youth Access and Consumption. Beginning 180 days after the MSA Execution Date each Participating Manufacturer shall:
promulgate or reaffirm corporate principles that express and explain its commitment to comply with the provisions of this Agreement and the reduction of use of Tobacco Products by Youth, and clearly and regularly communicate to its employees and customers its commitment to assist in the reduction of Youth use of Tobacco Products;
designate an executive level manager (and provide written notice to NAAG of such designation) to identify methods to reduce Youth access to, and the incidence of Youth consumption of, Tobacco Products; and
encourage its employees to identify additional methods to reduce Youth access to, and the incidence of Youth consumption of, Tobacco Products.
(m) Limitations on Lobbying. Following State-Specific Finality in a Settling State: No Participating Manufacturer may oppose, or cause to be opposed (including through any third party or Affiliate), the passage by such Settling State (or any political subdivision thereof) of those state or local legislative proposals or administrative rules described in Exhibit F hereto intended by their terms to reduce Youth access to, and the incidence of Youth consumption of, Tobacco Products. Provided, however, that the foregoing does not prohibit any Participating Manufacturer from (A) challenging enforcement of, or suing for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to, any such legislation or rule on any grounds; (B) continuing, after State-Specific Finality in such Settling State, to oppose or cause to be opposed, the passage during the legislative session in which State-Specific Finality in such Settling State occurs of any specific state or local legislative proposals or administrative rules introduced prior to the time of State-Specific Finality in such Settling State; (C) opposing, or causing to be opposed, any excise tax or income tax provision or user fee or other payments relating to Tobacco Products or Tobacco Product Manufacturers; or (D) opposing, or causing to be opposed, any state or local legislative proposal or administrative rule that also includes measures other than those described in Exhibit F.
Each Participating Manufacturer shall require all of its officers and employees engaged in lobbying activities in such Settling State after State-Specific Finality, contract lobbyists engaged in lobbying activities in such Settling State after State-Specific Finality, and any other third parties who engage in lobbying activities in such Settling State after State-Specific Finality on behalf of such Participating Manufacturer (“lobbyist” and “lobbying activities” having the meaning such terms have under the law of the Settling State in question) to certify in writing to the Participating Manufacturer that they:
(A) will not support or oppose any state, local or federal legislation, or seek or oppose any governmental action, on behalf of the Participating Manufacturer without the Participating Manufacturer’s express authorization (except where such advance express authorization is not reasonably practicable);
(B) are aware of and will fully comply with this Agreement and all laws and regulations applicable to their lobbying activities, including, without limitation, those related to disclosure of financial contributions. Provided, however, that if the Settling State in question has in existence no laws or regulations relating to disclosure of financial contributions regarding lobbying activities, then each Participating Manufacturer shall, upon request of the Attorney General of such Settling State, disclose to such Attorney General any payment to a lobbyist that the Participating Manufacturer knows or has reason to know will be used to influence legislative or administrative actions of the state or local government relating to Tobacco Products or their use. Disclosures made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be filed in writing with the Office of the Attorney General on the first day of February and the first day of August of each year for any and all payments made during the six month period ending on the last day of the preceding December and June, respectively, with the following information: (1) the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address (if any) of the recipient; (2) the amount of each payment; and (3) the aggregate amount of all payments described in this subsection (2)(B) to the recipient in the calendar year; and
(C) have reviewed and will fully abide by the Participating Manufacturer’s corporate principles promulgated pursuant to this Agreement when acting on behalf of the Participating Manufacturer.
No Participating Manufacturer may support or cause to be supported (including through any third party or Affiliate) in Congress or any other forum legislation or rules that would preempt, override, abrogate or diminish such Settling State’s rights or recoveries under this Agreement. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to restrain any Settling State or Participating Manufacturer from advocating terms of any national settlement or taking any other positions on issues relating to tobacco.
(n) Restriction on Advocacy Concerning
Settlement Proceeds. After the MSA
Execution Date, no Participating Manufacturer may support or cause to be
supported (including through any third party or Affiliate) the diversion of any
proceeds of this settlement to any program or use that is neither
tobacco-related nor health-related in connection with the approval of this
Agreement or in any subsequent legislative appropriation of settlement
proceeds.
(o)
Dissolution of The Tobacco Institute, Inc., the Council for Tobacco
Research-U.S.A., Inc. and the Center for Indoor Air Research, Inc.
(1) The Council for Tobacco Research-U.S.A., Inc. (“CTR”) (a not-for-profit corporation formed under the laws of the State of New York) shall, pursuant to the plan of dissolution previously negotiated and agreed to between the Attorney General of the State of New York and CTR, cease all operations and be dissolved in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (and with the preservation of all applicable privileges held by any member company of CTR).
(2) The Tobacco Institute, Inc. (“TI”) (a not-for-profit corporation formed under the laws of the State of New York) shall, pursuant to a plan of dissolution to be negotiated by the Attorney General of the State of New York and the Original Participating Manufacturers in accordance with Exhibit G hereto, cease all operations and be dissolved in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and under the authority of the Attorney General of the State of New York (and with the preservation of all applicable privileges held by any member company of TI).
(3) Within 45 days after Final Approval, the Center for Indoor Air Research, Inc. (“CIAR”) shall cease all operations and be dissolved in a manner consistent with applicable law and with the preservation of all applicable privileges (including, without limitation, privileges held by any member company of CIAR).
(4) The Participating Manufacturers shall direct the Tobacco-Related Organizations to preserve all records that relate in any way to issues raised in smoking-related health litigation.
(5) The Participating Manufacturers may not reconstitute CTR or its function in any form.
(6) The Participating Manufacturers represent that they have the authority to and will effectuate subsections (1) through (5) hereof.
(p) Regulation and Oversight of New Tobacco-Related Trade Associations.
(1) A Participating Manufacturer may form or participate in new tobacco-related trade associations (subject to all applicable laws), provided such associations agree in writing not to act in any manner contrary to any provision of this Agreement. Each Participating Manufacturer agrees that if any new tobacco-related trade association fails to so agree, such Participating Manufacturer will not participate in or support such association.
(2) Any tobacco-related trade association that is formed or controlled by one or more of the Participating Manufacturers after the MSA Execution Date shall adopt by-laws governing the association’s procedures and the activities of its members, board, employees, agents and other representatives with respect to the tobacco-related trade association. Such by-laws shall include, among other things, provisions that:
(A) each officer of the association shall be appointed by the board of the association, shall be an employee of such association, and during such officer’s term shall not be a director of or employed by any member of the association or by an Affiliate of any member of the association;
(B) legal counsel for the association shall be independent, and neither counsel nor any member or employee of counsel’s law firm shall serve as legal counsel to any member of the association or to a manufacturer of Tobacco Products that is an Affiliate of any member of the association during the time that it is serving as legal counsel to the association; and
(C) minutes describing the substance of the meetings of the board of directors of the association shall be prepared and shall be maintained by the association for a period of at least five years following their preparation.
(3) Without limitation on whatever other rights to access they may be permitted by law, for a period of seven years from the date any new tobacco-related trade association is formed by any of the Participating Manufacturers after the MSA Execution Date the antitrust authorities of any Settling State may, for the purpose of enforcing this Agreement, upon reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this Agreement has occurred, and upon reasonable prior written notice (but in no event less than 10 Business Days):
(A) have access during regular office hours to inspect and copy all relevant non-privileged, non-work-product books, records, meeting agenda and minutes, and other documents (whether in hard copy form or stored electronically) of such association insofar as they pertain to such believed violation; and
(B) interview the association’s directors, officers and employees (who shall be entitled to have counsel present) with respect to relevant, non-privileged, non-work-product matters pertaining to such believed violation.
Documents and information provided to Settling State antitrust authorities shall be kept confidential by and among such authorities, and shall be utilized only by the Settling States and only for the purpose of enforcing this Agreement or the criminal law. The inspection and discovery rights provided to the Settling States pursuant to this subsection shall be coordinated so as to avoid repetitive and excessive inspection and discovery.
(q) Prohibition on Agreements to Suppress Research. No Participating Manufacturer may enter into any contract, combination or conspiracy with any other Tobacco Product Manufacturer that has the purpose or effect of: (1) limiting competition in the production or distribution of information about health hazards or other consequences of the use of their products; (2) limiting or suppressing research into smoking and health; or (3) limiting or suppressing research into the marketing or development of new products. Provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to (1) require any Participating Manufacturer to produce, distribute or otherwise disclose any information that is subject to any privilege or protection; (2) preclude any Participating Manufacturer from entering into any joint defense or joint legal interest agreement or arrangement (whether or not in writing), or from asserting any privilege pursuant thereto; or (3) impose any affirmative obligation on any Participating Manufacturer to conduct any research.
(r) Prohibition on Material Misrepresentations. No Participating Manufacturer may make any material misrepresentation of fact regarding the health consequences of using any Tobacco Product, including any tobacco additives, filters, paper or other ingredients. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the exercise of any First Amendment right or the assertion of any defense or position in any judicial, legislative or regulatory forum.
IV. PUBLIC
ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
(a) After the MSA Execution Date, the Original Participating Manufacturers and the Tobacco-Related Organizations will support an application for the dissolution of any protective orders entered in each Settling State’s lawsuit identified in Exhibit D with respect only to those documents, indices and privilege logs that have been produced as of the MSA Execution Date to such Settling State and (1) as to which defendants have made no claim, or have withdrawn any claim, of attorney-client privilege, attorney work-product protection, common interest/joint defense privilege (collectively, “privilege”), trade-secret protection, or confidential or proprietary business information; and (2) that are not inappropriate for public disclosure because of personal privacy interests or contractual rights of third parties that may not be abrogated by the Original Participating Manufacturers or the Tobacco-Related Organizations.
(b) Notwithstanding State-Specific Finality, if any order, ruling or recommendation was issued prior to September 17, 1998 rejecting a claim of privilege or trade-secret protection with respect to any document or documents in a lawsuit identified in Exhibit D, the Settling State in which such order, ruling or recommendation was made may, no later than 45 days after the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in such Settling State, seek public disclosure of such document or documents by application to the court that issued such order, ruling or recommendation and the court shall retain jurisdiction for such purposes. The Original Participating Manufacturers and Tobacco-Related Organizations do not consent to, and may object to, appeal from or otherwise oppose any such application for disclosure. The Original Participating Manufacturers and Tobacco-Related Organizations will not assert that the settlement of such lawsuit has divested the court of jurisdiction or that such Settling State lacks standing to seek public disclosure on any applicable ground.
(c) The Original Participating Manufacturers will maintain at their expense their Internet document websites accessible through “TobaccoResolution.com” or a similar website until June 30, 2010. The Original Participating Manufacturers will maintain the documents that currently appear on their respective websites and will add additional documents to their websites as provided in this section IV.
(d) Within 180 days after the MSA Execution Date, each Original Participating Manufacturer and Tobacco-Related Organization will place on its website copies of the following documents, except as provided in subsections IV(e) and IV(f) below:
(1) all documents produced by such Original Participating Manufacturer or Tobacco-Related Organization as of the MSA Execution Date in any action identified in Exhibit D or any action identified in section 2 of Exhibit H that was filed by an Attorney General. Among these documents, each Original Participating Manufacturer and Tobacco-Related Organization will give the highest priority to (A) the documents that were listed by the State of Washington as trial exhibits in the State of Washington v. American Tobacco Co., et al., No. 96-2-15056-8 SEA (Wash. Super. Ct., County of King); and (B) the documents as to which such Original Participating Manufacturer or Tobacco-Related Organization withdrew any claim of privilege as a result of the re-examination of privilege claims pursuant to court order in State of Oklahoma v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, et al., CJ-96-2499-L (Dist. Ct., Cleveland County);
(2) all documents that can be identified as having been produced by, and copies of transcripts of depositions given by, such Original Participating Manufacturer or Tobacco-Related Organization as of the MSA Execution Date in the litigation matters specified in section 1 of Exhibit H; and
(3) all documents produced by such Original Participating Manufacturer or Tobacco-Related Organization as of the MSA Execution Date and listed by the plaintiffs as trial exhibits in the litigation matters specified in section 2 of Exhibit H.
(e) Unless copies of such documents are already on its website, each Original Participating Manufacturer and Tobacco-Related Organization will place on its website copies of documents produced in any production of documents that takes place on or after the date 30 days before the MSA Execution Date in any federal or state court civil action concerning smoking and health. Copies of any documents required to be placed on a website pursuant to this subsection will be placed on such website within the later of 45 days after the MSA Execution Date or within 45 days after the production of such documents in any federal or state court action concerning smoking and health. This obligation will continue until June 30, 2010. In placing such newly produced documents on its website, each Original Participating Manufacturer or Tobacco-Related Organization will identify, as part of its index to be created pursuant to subsection IV(h), the action in which it produced such documents and the date on which such documents were added to its website.
(f) Nothing in this Section IV shall require any Original Participating Manufacturer or Tobacco-Related Organization to place on its website or otherwise disclose documents that: (1) it continues to claim to be privileged, a trade secret, confidential or proprietary business information, or that contain other information not appropriate for public disclosure because of personal privacy interests or contractual rights of third parties; or (2) continue to be subject to any protective order, sealing order or other order or ruling that prevents or limits a litigant from disclosing such documents.
(g) Oversized or multimedia records will not be required to be placed on the Website, but each Original Participating Manufacturers and Tobacco-Related Organizations will make any such records available to the public by placing copies of them in the document depository established in The State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris Incorporated, et al., C1-94-8565 (County of Ramsey, District Court, 2d Judicial Cir.).
(h) Each Original Participating Manufacturer will establish an index and other features to improve searchable access to the document images on its website, as set forth in Exhibit I.
(i) Within 90 days after the MSA Execution Date, the Original Participating Manufacturers will furnish NAAG with a project plan for completing the Original Participating Manufacturers’ obligations under subsection IV(h) with respect to documents currently on their websites and documents being placed on their websites pursuant to subsection IV(d). NAAG may engage a computer consultant at the Original Participating Manufacturers’ expense for a period not to exceed two years and at a cost not to exceed $100,000. NAAG’s computer consultant may review such plan and make recommendations consistent with this Agreement. In addition, within 120 days after the completion of the Original Participating Manufacturers’ obligations under subsection IV(d), NAAG’s computer consultant may make final recommendations with respect to the websites consistent with this Agreement. In preparing these recommendations, NAAG’s computer consultant may seek input from Settling State officials, public health organizations and other users of the websites.
(j) The expenses incurred pursuant to subsection
IV(i), and the expenses related to documents of the Tobacco-Related
Organizations, will be severally shared among the Original Participating
Manufacturers (allocated among them according to their Relative Market
Shares). All other expenses incurred
under this section will be borne by the Original Participating Manufacturer
that incurs such expense.
V. TOBACCO
CONTROL AND UNDERAGE USE LAWS
Each
Participating Manufacturer agrees that following State-Specific Finality in a
Settling State it will not initiate, or cause to be initiated, a facial
challenge against the enforceability or constitutionality of such Settling
State’s (or such Settling State’s political subdivisions’) statutes, ordinances
and administrative rules relating to tobacco control enacted prior to
June 1, 1998 (other than a statute, ordinance or rule challenged in any
lawsuit listed in Exhibit M).
VI. ESTABLISHMENT
OF A NATIONAL FOUNDATION
(a) Foundation Purposes. The Settling States believe that a comprehensive, coordinated program of public education and study is important to further the remedial goals of this Agreement. Accordingly, as part of the settlement of claims described herein, the payments specified in subsections VI(b), VI(c), and IX(e) shall be made to a charitable foundation, trust or similar organization (the “Foundation”) and/or to a program to be operated within the Foundation (the “National Public Education Fund”). The purposes of the Foundation will be to support (1) the study of and programs to reduce Youth Tobacco Product usage and Youth substance abuse in the States, and (2) the study of and educational programs to prevent diseases associated with the use of Tobacco Products in the States.
(b) Base Foundation Payments. On March 31, 1999, and on March 31 of each subsequent year for a period of nine years thereafter, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay its Relative Market Share of $25,000,000 to fund the Foundation. The payments to be made by each of the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (b) shall be subject to no adjustments, reductions, or offsets, and shall be paid to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection VI(b) Account), who shall disburse such payments to the Foundation only upon the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in at least one Settling State.
(d) National Public Education Fund Payments.
(1) Each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay its Relative Market Share of the following base amounts on the following dates to the Escrow Agent for the benefit of the Foundation’s National Public Education Fund to be used for the purposes and as described in subsections VI(f)(1), VI(g) and VI(h) below: $250,000,000 on March 31, 1999; $300,000,000 on March 31, 2000; $300,000,000 on March 31, 2001; $300,000,000 on March 31, 2002; and $300,000,000 on March 31, 2003, as such amounts are modified in accordance with this subsection (c). The payment due on March 31, 1999 pursuant to this subsection (c)(1) is to be credited to the Subsection VI(c) Account (First). The payments due on or after March 31, 2000 pursuant to this subsection VI(c)(1) are to be credited to the Subsection VI(c) Account (Subsequent).
(2) The payments to be made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (c), other than the payment due on March 31, 1999, shall be subject to the Inflation Adjustment, the Volume Adjustment and the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i).
(3) The payment made pursuant to this subsection (c) on March 31, 1999 shall be disbursed by the Escrow Agent to the Foundation only upon the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in at least one Settling State. Each remaining payment pursuant to this subsection (c) shall be disbursed by the Escrow Agent to the Foundation only when State-Specific Finality has occurred in Settling States having aggregate Allocable Shares equal to at least 80% of the total aggregate Allocable Shares assigned to all States that were Settling States as of the MSA Execution Date.
(4) In addition to the payments made pursuant to this subsection (c), the National Public Education Fund will be funded (A) in accordance with subsection IX(e), and (B) through monies contributed by other entities directly to the Foundation and designated for the National Public Education Fund (“National Public Education Fund Contributions”).
(5) The payments made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (c) and/or subsection IX(e) and monies received from all National Public Education Fund Contributions will be deposited and invested in accordance with the laws of the state of incorporation of the Foundation.
(d) Creation and Organization of the Foundation. NAAG, through its executive committee, will provide for the creation of the Foundation. The Foundation shall be organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). The organizational documents of the Foundation shall specifically incorporate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Foundation, and will provide for payment of the Foundation’s administrative expenses from the funds paid pursuant to subsection VI(b) or VI(c). The Foundation shall be governed by a board of directors. The board of directors shall be comprised of eleven directors. NAAG, the National Governors’ Association (“NGA”), and the National Conference of State Legislatures (“NCSL”) shall each select from its membership two directors. These six directors shall select the five additional directors. One of these five additional directors shall have expertise in public health issues. Four of these five additional directors shall have expertise in medical, child psychology, or public health disciplines. The board of directors shall be nationally geographically diverse.
(e) Foundation Affiliation. The Foundation shall be formally affiliated with an educational or medical institution selected by the board of directors.
(f) Foundation Functions. The functions of the Foundation shall be:
(1) carrying out a nationwide sustained advertising and education program to (A) counter the use by Youth of Tobacco Products, and (B) educate consumers about the cause and prevention of diseases associated with the use of Tobacco Products;
(2) developing and disseminating model advertising and education programs to counter the use by Youth of substances that are unlawful for use or purchase by Youth, with an emphasis on reducing Youth smoking; monitoring and testing the effectiveness of such model programs; and, based on the information received from such monitoring and testing, continuing to develop and disseminate revised versions of such model programs, as appropriate;
(3) developing and disseminating model classroom education programs and curriculum ideas about smoking and substance abuse in the K-12 school system, including specific target programs for special at-risk populations; monitoring and testing the effectiveness of such model programs and ideas; and, based on the information received from such monitoring and testing, continuing to develop and disseminate revised versions of such model programs or ideas, as appropriate;
(4) developing and disseminating criteria for effective cessation programs; monitoring and testing the effectiveness of such criteria; and continuing to develop and disseminate revised versions of such criteria, as appropriate;
(5) commissioning studies, funding research, and publishing reports on factors that influence Youth smoking and substance abuse and developing strategies to address the conclusions of such studies and research;
(6) developing other innovative Youth smoking and substance abuse prevention programs;
(7) providing targeted training and information for parents;
(8) maintaining a library open to the public of Foundation-funded studies, reports and other publications related to the cause and prevention of Youth smoking and substance abuse;
(9) tracking and monitoring Youth smoking and substance abuse, with a focus on the reasons for any increases or failures to decrease Youth smoking and substance abuse and what actions can be taken to reduce Youth smoking and substance abuse;
(10) receiving, controlling, and managing contributions from other entities to further the purposes described in this Agreement; and
(11) receiving, controlling, and managing such funds paid by the Participating Manufacturers pursuant to subsections VI(b) and VI(c) above.
(g) Foundation Grant-Making. The Foundation is authorized to make grants from the National Public Education Fund to Settling States and their political subdivisions to carry out sustained advertising and education programs to (1) counter the use by Youth of Tobacco Products, and (2) educate consumers about the cause and prevention of diseases associated with the use of Tobacco Products. In making such grants, the Foundation shall consider whether the Settling State or political subdivision applying for such grant:
(1) demonstrates the extent of the problem regarding Youth smoking in such Settling State or political subdivision;
(2) either seeks the grant to implement a model program developed by the Foundation or provides the Foundation with a specific plan for such applicant’s intended use of the grant monies, including demonstrating such applicant’s ability to develop an effective advertising/education campaign and to assess the effectiveness of such advertising/education campaign;
(3) has other funds readily available to carry out a sustained advertising and education program to (A) counter the use by Youth of Tobacco Products, and (B) educate consumers about the cause and prevention of diseases associated with the use of Tobacco Products; and
(4) is a Settling State that has not severed this section VI from its settlement with the Participating Manufacturers pursuant to subsection VI(i) below, or is a political subdivision in such a Settling State.
(h) Foundation Activities. The Foundation shall not engage in, nor shall any of the Foundation’s money be used to engage in, any political activities or lobbying, including, but not limited to, support of or opposition to candidates, ballot initiatives, referenda or other similar activities. The National Public Education Fund shall be used only for public education and advertising regarding the addictiveness, health effects, and social costs related to the use of tobacco products and shall not be used for any personal attack on, or vilification of, any person (whether by name or business affiliation), company, or governmental agency, whether individually or collectively. The Foundation shall work to ensure that its activities are carried out in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. The Foundation’s activities (including the National Public Education Fund) shall be carried out solely within the States. The payments described in subsections VI(b) and VI(c) above are made at the direction and on behalf of Settling States. By making such payments in such manner, the Participating Manufacturers do not undertake and expressly disclaim any responsibility with respect to the creation, operation, liabilities, or tax status of the Foundation or the National Public Education Fund.
(i) Severance of this Section. If the Attorney General of a Settling State determines that such Settling State may not lawfully enter into this Section VI as a matter of applicable state law, such Attorney General may sever this Section VI from its settlement with the Participating Manufacturers by giving written notice of such severance to each Participating Manufacturer and NAAG pursuant to subsection XVIII(k) hereof. If any Settling State exercises its right to sever this Section VI, this Section VI shall not be considered a part of the specific settlement between such Settling State and the Participating Manufacturers, and this Section VI shall not be enforceable by or in such Settling State. The payment obligation of subsections VI(b) and VI(c) hereof shall apply regardless of a determination by one or more Settling States to sever Section VI hereof; provided, however, that if all Settling States sever section VI hereof, the payment obligations of subsections (b) and (c) hereof shall be null and void. If the Attorney General of a Settling State that severed this section VI subsequently determines that such Settling State may lawfully enter into this Section VI as a matter of applicable state law, such Attorney General may rescind such Settling State’s previous severance of this section VI by giving written notice of such rescission to each Participating Manufacturer and NAAG pursuant to subsection XVIII(k). If any Settling State rescinds such severance, this Section VI shall be considered a part of the specific settlement between such Settling State and the Participating Manufacturers (including for purposes of subsection (g)(4)), and this Section VI shall be enforceable by and in such Settling State.
VII. ENFORCEMENT
(a) Jurisdiction. Each Participating Manufacturer and each Settling State acknowledge that the Court: (1) has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action identified in Exhibit D in such Settling State and over each Participating Manufacturer; (2) shall retain exclusive jurisdiction for the purposes of implementing and enforcing this Agreement and the Consent Decree as to such Settling State; and (3) except as provided in subsections IX(d), XI(c) and XVII(d) and Exhibit O, shall be the only court to which disputes under this Agreement or the Consent Decree are presented as to such Settling State. Provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Escrow Court (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) shall have exclusive jurisdiction, as provided in Section 15 of the Escrow Agreement, over any suit, action or proceeding seeking to interpret or enforce any provision of, or based on any right arising out of, the Escrow Agreement.
(b) Enforcement of Consent Decree. Except as expressly provided in the Consent Decree, any Settling State or Released Party may apply to the Court to enforce the terms of the Consent Decree (or for a declaration construing any such term) with respect to alleged violations within such Settling State. A Settling State may not seek to enforce the Consent Decree of another Settling State; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall affect the ability of any Settling State to (1) coordinate state enforcement actions or proceedings, or (2) file or join any amicus brief. In the event that the Court determines that any Participating Manufacturer or Settling State has violated the Consent Decree within such Settling State, the party that initiated the proceedings may request any and all relief available within such Settling State pursuant to the Consent Decree.
(c) Enforcement of this Agreement.
(1) Except as provided in subsections IX(d), XI(c), XVII(d) and Exhibit O, any Settling State or Participating Manufacturer may bring an action in the Court to enforce the terms of this Agreement (or for a declaration construing any such term (“Declaratory Order”)) with respect to disputes, alleged violations or alleged breaches within such Settling State.
(2) Before initiating such proceedings, a party shall provide 30 days’ written notice to the Attorney General of each Settling State, to NAAG, and to each Participating Manufacturer of its intent to initiate proceedings pursuant to this subsection. The 30-day notice period may be shortened in the event that the relevant Attorney General reasonably determines that a compelling time-sensitive public health and safety concern requires more immediate action.
(3) In the event that the Court determines that any Participating Manufacturer or Settling State has violated or breached this Agreement, the party that initiated the proceedings may request an order restraining such violation or breach, and/or ordering compliance within such Settling State (an “Enforcement Order”).
(4) If an issue arises as to whether a Participating Manufacturer has failed to comply with an Enforcement Order, the Attorney General for the Settling State in question may seek an order for interpretation or for monetary, civil contempt or criminal sanctions to enforce compliance with such Enforcement Order.
(5) If the Court finds that a good-faith dispute exists as to the meaning of the terms of this Agreement or a Declaratory Order, the Court may in its discretion determine to enter a Declaratory Order rather than an Enforcement Order.
(6) Whenever possible, the parties shall seek to resolve an alleged violation of this Agreement by discussion pursuant to subsection XVIII(m) of this Agreement. In addition, in determining whether to seek an Enforcement Order, or in determining whether to seek an order for monetary, civil contempt or criminal sanctions for any claimed violation of an Enforcement Order, the Attorney General shall give good-faith consideration to whether the Participating Manufacturer that is claimed to have violated this Agreement has taken appropriate and reasonable steps to cause the claimed violation to be cured, unless such party has been guilty of a pattern of violations of like nature.
(d) Right of Review. All orders and other judicial determinations made by any court in connection with this Agreement or any Consent Decree shall be subject to all available appellate review, and nothing in this Agreement or any Consent Decree shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of any right to any such review.
(e) Applicability. This Agreement and the Consent Decree apply only to the Participating Manufacturers in their corporate capacity acting through their respective successors and assigns, directors, officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries, divisions, or other internal organizational units of any kind or any other entities acting in concert or participation with them. The remedies, penalties and sanctions that may be imposed or assessed in connection with a breach or violation of this Agreement or the Consent Decree (or any Declaratory Order or Enforcement Order issued in connection with this Agreement or the Consent Decree ) shall only apply to the Participating Manufacturers, and shall not be imposed or assessed against any employee, officer or director of any Participating Manufacturer, or against any other person or entity as a consequence of such breach or violation, and the Court shall have no jurisdiction to do so.
(f) Coordination of Enforcement. The Attorneys General of the Settling States (through NAAG) shall monitor potential conflicting interpretations by courts of different States of this Agreement and the Consent Decrees. The Settling States shall use their best efforts, in cooperation with the Participating Manufacturers, to coordinate and resolve the effects of such conflicting interpretations as to matters that are not exclusively local in nature.
(g) Inspection and Discovery Rights. Without limitation on whatever other rights to access they may be permitted by law, following State-Specific Finality in a Settling State and for seven years thereafter, representatives of the Attorney General of such Settling State may, for the purpose of enforcing this Agreement and the Consent Decree, upon reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this Agreement or the Consent Decree has occurred, and upon reasonable prior written notice (but in no event less than 10 Business Days): (1) have access during regular office hours to inspect and copy all relevant non-privileged, non-work-product books, records, meeting agenda and minutes, and other documents (whether in hard copy form or stored electronically) of each Participating Manufacturer insofar as they pertain to such believed violation; and (2) interview each Participating Manufacturer’s directors, officers and employees (who shall be entitled to have counsel present) with respect to relevant, non-privileged, non-work-product matters pertaining to such believed violation. Documents and information provided to representatives of the Attorney General of such Settling State pursuant to this section VII shall be kept confidential by the Settling States, and shall be utilized only by the Settling States and only for purposes of enforcing this Agreement, the Consent Decree and the criminal law. The inspection and discovery rights provided to such Settling State pursuant to this subsection shall be coordinated through NAAG so as to avoid repetitive and excessive inspection and discovery.
VIII. CERTAIN
ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SETTLING STATES
(a) Upon approval of the NAAG executive committee, NAAG will provide coordination and facilitation for the implementation and enforcement of this Agreement on behalf of the Attorneys General of the Settling States, including the following:
(1) NAAG will assist in coordinating the inspection and discovery activities referred to in subsections III(p)(3) and VII(g) regarding compliance with this Agreement by the Participating Manufacturers and any new tobacco-related trade associations.
(2) NAAG will convene at least two meetings per year and one major national conference every three years for the Attorneys General of the Settling States, the directors of the Foundation and three persons designated by each Participating Manufacturer. The purpose of the meetings and conference is to evaluate the success of this Agreement and coordinate efforts by the Attorneys General and the Participating Manufacturers to continue to reduce Youth smoking.
(3) NAAG will periodically inform NGA, NCSL, the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities of the results of the meetings and conferences referred to in subsection (a)(2) above.
(4) NAAG will support and coordinate the efforts of the Attorneys General of the Settling States in carrying out their responsibilities under this Agreement.
(5) NAAG will perform the other functions specified for it in this Agreement, including the functions specified in section IV.
(b) Upon approval by the NAAG executive committee to assume the responsibilities outlined in subsection VIII(a) hereof, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall cause to be paid, beginning on December 31, 1998, and on December 31 of each year thereafter through and including December 31, 2007, its Relative Market Share of $150,000 per year to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection VIII(b) Account), who shall disburse such monies to NAAG within 10 Business Days, to fund the activities described in subsection VIII(a).
(c) The Attorneys General of the Settling States, acting through NAAG, shall establish a fund (“The States’ Antitrust/Consumer Protection Tobacco Enforcement Fund”) in the form attached as Exhibit J, which will be maintained by such Attorneys General to supplement the Settling States’ (1) enforcement and implementation of the terms of this Agreement and the Consent Decrees, and (2) investigation and litigation of potential violations of laws with respect to Tobacco Products, as set forth in Exhibit J. Each Original Participating Manufacturer shall on March 31, 1999, severally pay its Relative Market Share of $50,000,000 to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection VIII(c) Account), who shall disburse such monies to NAAG upon the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in at least one Settling State. Such funds will be used in accordance with the provisions of Exhibit J.
IX. PAYMENTS
(a) All Payments Into Escrow. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement (except those payments made pursuant to section XVII) shall be made into escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, and shall be credited to the appropriate Account established pursuant to the Escrow Agreement. Such payments shall be disbursed to the beneficiaries or returned to the Participating Manufacturers only as provided in section XI and the Escrow Agreement. No payment obligation under this Agreement shall arise (1) unless and until the Escrow Court has approved and retained jurisdiction over the Escrow Agreement or (2) if such approval is reversed (unless and until such reversal is itself reversed). The parties agree to proceed as expeditiously as possible to resolve any issues that prevent approval of the Escrow Agreement. If any payment (other than the first initial payment under subsection IX(b)) is delayed because the Escrow Agreement has not been approved, such payment shall be due and payable (together with interest at the Prime Rate) within 10 Business Days after approval of the Escrow Agreement by the Escrow Court.
(b) Initial Payments. On the second Business Day after the Escrow Court approves and retains jurisdiction over the Escrow Agreement, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection IX(b) Account (First)) its Market Capitalization Percentage (as set forth in Exhibit K) of the base amount of $2,400,000,000. On January 10, 2000, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent its Relative Market Share of the base amount of $2,472,000,000. On January 10, 2001, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent its Relative Market Share of the base amount of $2,546,160,000. On January 10, 2002, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent its Relative Market Share of the base amount of $2,622,544,800. On January 10, 2003, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent its Relative Market Share of the base amount of $2,701,221,144. The payments pursuant to this subsection (b) due on or after January 10, 2000 shall be credited to the Subsection IX(b) Account (Subsequent). The foregoing payments shall be modified in accordance with this subsection (b). The payments made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (b) (other than the first such payment) shall be subject to the Volume Adjustment, the Non-Settling States Reduction and the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i). The first payment due under this subsection (b) shall be subject to the Non-Settling States Reduction, but such reduction shall be determined as of the date one day before such payment is due (rather than the date 15 days before).
(c) Annual Payments and Strategic Contribution Payments.
(1) On April 15, 2000 and on April 15 of each year thereafter in perpetuity, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection IX(c)(1) Account) its Relative Market Share of the base amounts specified below, as such payments are modified in accordance with this subsection (c)(1):
|
Year |
|
Base Amount |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000 |
|
$4,500,000,000 |
|
|
2001 |
|
$5,000,000,000 |
|
|
2002 |
|
$6,500,000,000 |
|
|
2003 |
|
$6,500,000,000 |
|
|
2004 |
|
$8,000,000,000 |
|
|
2005 |
|
$8,000,000,000 |
|
|
2006 |
|
$8,000,000,000 |
|
|
2007 |
|
$8,000,000,000 |
|
|
2008 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2009 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2010 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2011 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2012 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2013 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2014 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2015 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2016 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2017 |
|
$8,139,000,000 |
|
|
2018 and each year thereafter |
|
$9,000,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The payments made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (c)(1) shall be subject to the Inflation Adjustment, the Volume Adjustment, the Previously Settled States Reduction, the Non-Settling States Reduction, the NPM Adjustment, the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i), the Federal Tobacco Legislation Offset, the Litigating Releasing Parties Offset, and the offsets for claims over described in subsections XII(a)(4)(B) and XII(a)(8).
(2) On April 15, 2008 and on April 15 of each year thereafter through 2017, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection IX(c)(2) Account) its Relative Market Share of the base amount of $861,000,000, as such payments are modified in accordance with this subsection (c)(2). The payments made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (c)(2) shall be subject to the Inflation Adjustment, the Volume Adjustment, the NPM Adjustment, the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i), the Federal Tobacco Legislation Offset, the Litigating Releasing Parties Offset, and the offsets for claims over described in subsections XII(a)(4)(B) and XII(a)(8). Such payments shall also be subject to the Non-Settling States Reduction; provided, however, that for purposes of payments due pursuant to this subsection (c)(2) (and corresponding payments by Subsequent Participating Manufacturers under subsection IX(i)), the Non-Settling States Reduction shall be derived as follows: (A) the payments made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection (c)(2) shall be allocated among the Settling States on a percentage basis to be determined by the Settling States pursuant to the procedures set forth in Exhibit U, and the resulting allocation percentages disclosed to the Escrow Agent, the Independent Auditor and the Original Participating Manufacturers not later than June 30, 1999; and (B) the Non-Settling States Reduction shall be based on the sum of the Allocable Shares so established pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(A) for those States that were Settling States as of the MSA Execution Date and as to which this Agreement has terminated as of the date 15 days before the payment in question is due.
(d) Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment.
(1) Calculation of NPM Adjustment for Original Participating Manufacturers. To protect the public health gains achieved by this Agreement, certain payments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to an NPM Adjustment. Payments by the Original Participating Manufacturers to which the NPM Adjustment applies shall be adjusted as provided below:
(A) Subject to the provisions of subsections (d)(1)(C), (d)(1)(D) and (d)(2) below, each Allocated Payment shall be adjusted by subtracting from such Allocated Payment the product of such Allocated Payment amount multiplied by the NPM Adjustment Percentage. The “NPM Adjustment Percentage” shall be calculated as follows:
(i) If the Market Share Loss for the year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due is less than or equal to 0 (zero), then the NPM Adjustment Percentage shall equal zero.
(ii) If the Market Share Loss for the year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due is greater than 0 (zero) and less than or equal to 16 2/3 percentage points, then the NPM Adjustment Percentage shall be equal to the product of (x) such Market Share Loss and (y) 3 (three).
(iii) If the Market Share Loss for the year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due is greater than 16 2/3 percentage points, then the NPM Adjustment Percentage shall be equal to the sum of (x) 50 percentage points and (y) the product of (1) the Variable Multiplier and (2) the result of such Market Share Loss minus 16 2/3 percentage points.
(B) Definitions:
(i) “Base Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share” means the result of (x) the sum of the applicable Market Shares (the applicable Market Share to be that for 1997) of all present and former Tobacco Product Manufacturers that were Participating Manufacturers during the entire calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due minus (y) 2 (two) percentage points.
(ii) “Actual Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share” means the sum of the applicable Market Shares of all present and former Tobacco Product Manufacturers that were Participating Manufacturers during the entire calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due (the applicable Market Share to be that for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due).
(iii) “Market Share Loss” means the result of (x) the Base Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share minus (y) the Actual Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share.
(iv) “Variable Multiplier” equals 50 percentage points divided by the result of (x) the Base Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share minus (y) 16 2/3 percentage points.
(C) On or before February 2 of each year following a year in which there was a Market Share Loss greater than zero, a nationally recognized firm of economic consultants (the “Firm”) shall determine whether the disadvantages experienced as a result of the provisions of this Agreement were a significant factor contributing to the Market Share Loss for the year in question. If the Firm determines that the disadvantages experienced as a result of the provisions of this Agreement were a significant factor contributing to the Market Share Loss for the year in question, the NPM Adjustment described in subsection IX(d)(1) shall apply. If the Firm determines that the disadvantages experienced as a result of the provisions of this Agreement were not a significant factor contributing to the Market Share Loss for the year in question, the NPM Adjustment described in subsection IX(d)(1) shall not apply. The Original Participating Manufacturers, the Settling States, and the Attorneys General for the Settling States shall cooperate to ensure that the determination described in this subsection (1)(C) is timely made. The Firm shall be acceptable to (and the principals responsible for this assignment shall be acceptable to) both the Original Participating Manufacturers and a majority of those Attorneys General who are both the Attorney General of a Settling State and a member of the NAAG executive committee at the time in question (or in the event no such firm or no such principals shall be acceptable to such parties, National Economic Research Associates, Inc., or its successors by merger, acquisition or otherwise (“NERA”), acting through a principal or principals acceptable to such parties, if such a person can be identified and, if not, acting through a principal or principals identified by NERA, or a successor firm selected by the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution). As soon as practicable after the MSA Execution Date, the Firm shall be jointly retained by the Settling States and the Original Participating Manufacturers for the purpose of making the foregoing determination, and the Firm shall provide written notice to each Settling State, to NAAG, to the Independent Auditor and to each Participating Manufacturer of such determination. The determination of the Firm with respect to this issue shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties, and shall be final and non-appealable. The reasonable fees and expenses of the Firm shall be paid by the Original Participating Manufacturers according to their Relative Market Shares. Only the Participating Manufacturers and the Settling States, and their respective counsel, shall be entitled to communicate with the Firm with respect to the Firm’s activities pursuant to this subsection (1)(C).
(D) No NPM Adjustment shall be made with respect to a payment if the aggregate number of Cigarettes shipped in or to the fifty United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due by those Participating Manufacturers that had become Participating Manufacturers prior to 14 days after the MSA Execution Date is greater than the aggregate number of Cigarettes shipped in or to the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in 1997 by such Participating Manufacturers (and any of their Affiliates that made such shipments in 1997, as demonstrated by certified audited statements of such Affiliates’ shipments, and that do not continue to make such shipments after the MSA Execution Date because the responsibility for such shipments has been transferred to one of such Participating Manufacturers). Measurements of shipments for purposes of this subsection (D) shall be made in the manner prescribed in subsection II(mm); in the event that such shipment data is unavailable for any Participating Manufacturer for 1997, such Participating Manufacturer’s shipment volume for such year shall be measured in the manner prescribed in subsection II(z).
(2) Allocation among Settling States of NPM Adjustment for Original Participating Manufacturers.
(A) The NPM Adjustment set forth in subsection (d)(1) shall apply to the Allocated Payments of all Settling States, except as set forth below.
(B) A Settling State’s Allocated Payment shall not be subject to an NPM Adjustment: (i) if such Settling State continuously had a Qualifying Statute (as defined in subsection (2)(E) below) in full force and effect during the entire calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due, and diligently enforced the provisions of such statute during such entire calendar year; or (ii) if such Settling State enacted the Model Statute (as defined in subsection (2)(E) below) for the first time during the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due, continuously had the Model Statute in full force and effect during the last six months of such calendar year, and diligently enforced the provisions of such statute during the period in which it was in full force and effect.
(C) The aggregate amount of the NPM Adjustments that would have applied to the Allocated Payments of those Settling States that are not subject to an NPM Adjustment pursuant to subsection (2)(B) shall be reallocated among all other Settling States “pro rata” in proportion to their respective Allocable Shares (the applicable Allocable Shares being those listed in Exhibit A), and such other Settling States’ Allocated Payments shall be further reduced accordingly.
(D) This subsection (2)(D) shall apply if the amount of the NPM Adjustment applied pursuant to subsection (2)(A) to any Settling State plus the amount of the NPM Adjustments reallocated to such Settling State pursuant to subsection (2)(C) in any individual year would either (i) exceed such Settling State’s Allocated Payment in that year, or (ii) if subsection (2)(F) applies to the Settling State in question, exceed 65% of such Settling State’s Allocated Payment in that year. For each Settling State that has an excess as described in the preceding sentence, the excess amount of NPM Adjustment shall be further reallocated among all other Settling States whose Allocated Payments are subject to an NPM Adjustment and that do not have such an excess, “pro rata” in proportion to their respective Allocable Shares, and such other Settling States’ Allocated Payments shall be further reduced accordingly. The provisions of this subsection (2)(D) shall be repeatedly applied in any individual year until either (i) the aggregate amount of NPM Adjustments has been fully reallocated or (ii) the full amount of the NPM Adjustments subject to reallocation under subsection (2)(C) or (2)(D) cannot be fully reallocated in any individual year as described in those subsections because (x) the Allocated Payment in that year of each Settling State that is subject to an NPM Adjustment and to which subsection (2)(F) does not apply has been reduced to zero, and (y) the Allocated Payment in that year of each Settling State to which subsection (2)(F) applies has been reduced to 35% of such Allocated Payment.
(E) A “Qualifying Statute” means a Settling State’s statute, regulation, law and/or rule (applicable everywhere the Settling State has authority to legislate) that effectively and fully neutralizes the cost disadvantages that the Participating Manufacturers experience “vis-à-vis” Non-Participating Manufacturers within such Settling State as a result of the provisions of this Agreement. Each Participating Manufacturer and each Settling State agree that the model statute in the form set forth in Exhibit T (the “Model Statute”), if enacted without modification or addition (except for particularized state procedural or technical requirements) and not in conjunction with any other legislative or regulatory proposal, shall constitute a Qualifying Statute. Each Participating Manufacturer agrees to support the enactment of such Model Statute if such Model Statute is introduced or proposed (i) without modification or addition (except for particularized procedural or technical requirements), and (ii) not in conjunction with any other legislative proposal.
(F) If a Settling State (i) enacts the Model Statute without any modification or addition (except for particularized state procedural or technical requirements) and not in conjunction with any other legislative or regulatory proposal, (ii) uses its best efforts to keep the Model Statute in full force and effect by, among other things, defending the Model Statute fully in any litigation brought in state or federal court within such Settling State (including litigating all available appeals that may affect the effectiveness of the Model Statute), and (iii) otherwise complies with subsection (2)(B), but a court of competent jurisdiction nevertheless invalidates or renders unenforceable the Model Statute with respect to such Settling State, and but for such ruling the Settling State would have been exempt from an NPM Adjustment under subsection (2)(B), then the NPM Adjustment (including reallocations pursuant to subsections (2)(C) and (2)(D)) shall still apply to such Settling State’s Allocated Payments but in any individual year shall not exceed 65% of the amount of such Allocated Payments.
(G) In the event a Settling State proposes and/or enacts a statute, regulation, law and/or rule (applicable everywhere the Settling State has authority to legislate) that is not the Model Statute and asserts that such statute, regulation, law and/or rule is a Qualifying Statute, the Firm shall be jointly retained by the Settling States and the Original Participating Manufacturers for the purpose of determining whether or not such statute, regulation, law and/or rule constitutes a Qualifying Statute. The Firm shall make the foregoing determination within 90 days of a written request to it from the relevant Settling State (copies of which request the Settling State shall also provide to all Participating Manufacturers and the Independent Auditor), and the Firm shall promptly thereafter provide written notice of such determination to the relevant Settling State, NAAG, all Participating Manufacturers and the Independent Auditor. The determination of the Firm with respect to this issue shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties, and shall be final and non-appealable; provided, however, (i) that such determination shall be of no force and effect with respect to a proposed statute, regulation, law and/or rule that is thereafter enacted with any modification or addition; and (ii) that the Settling State in which the Qualifying Statute was enacted and any Participating Manufacturer may at any time request that the Firm reconsider its determination as to this issue in light of subsequent events (including, without limitation, subsequent judicial review, interpretation, modification and/or disapproval of a Settling State’s Qualifying Statute, and the manner and/or the effect of enforcement of such Qualifying Statute). The Original Participating Manufacturers shall severally pay their Relative Market Shares of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Firm. Only the Participating Manufacturers and Settling States, and their respective counsel, shall be entitled to communicate with the Firm with respect to the Firm’s activities pursuant to this subsection (2)(G).
(H) Except as provided in subsection (2)(F), in the event a Qualifying Statute is enacted within a Settling State and is thereafter invalidated or declared unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, otherwise rendered not in full force and effect, or, upon reconsideration by the Firm pursuant to subsection (2)(G) determined not to constitute a Qualifying Statute, then such Settling State’s Allocated Payments shall be fully subject to an NPM Adjustment unless and until the requirements of subsection (2)(B) have been once again satisfied.
(2) Allocation
of NPM Adjustment among Original Participating Manufacturers.
The
portion of the total amount of the NPM Adjustment to which the Original Participating
Manufacturers are entitled in any year that can be applied in such year
consistent with subsection IX(d)(2) (the “Available NPM Adjustment”) shall be
allocated among them as provided in this subsection IX(d)(3).
(A) The “Base NPM Adjustment” shall be
determined for each Original Participating Manufacturer in such year as
follows:
(i) For those Original Participating
Manufacturers whose Relative Market Shares in the year immediately preceding
the year in which the NPM Adjustment in question is applied exceed or are equal
to their respective 1997 Relative Market Shares, the Base NPM Adjustment shall
equal 0 (zero).
(ii) For those Original Participating
Manufacturers whose Relative Market Shares in the year immediately preceding
the year in which the NPM Adjustment in question is applied are less than their
respective 1997 Relative Market Shares, the Base NPM Adjustment shall equal the
result of (x) the difference between such Original Participating Manufacturer’s
Relative Market Share in such preceding year and its 1997 Relative Market Share
multiplied by both (y) the number of individual Cigarettes (expressed in
thousands of units) shipped in or to the United States, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico by all the Original Participating Manufacturers in
such preceding year (determined in accordance with subsection II(mm)) and (z)
$20 per each thousand units of Cigarettes (as this number is adjusted pursuant
to subsection IX(d)(3)(C) below).
(iii) For those Original Participating
Manufacturers whose Base NPM Adjustment, if calculated pursuant to subsection
(ii) above, would exceed $300 million (as this number is adjusted pursuant
to subsection IX(d)(3)(C) below), the Base NPM Adjustment shall equal $300
million (or such adjusted number, as provided in subsection IX(d)(3)(C) below).
(B) The share of the Available NPM Adjustment
each Original Participating Manufacturer is entitled to shall be calculated as
follows:
(i) If the Available NPM Adjustment the Original
Participating Manufacturers are entitled to in any year is less than or equal
to the sum of the Base NPM Adjustments of all Original Participating
Manufacturers in such year, then such Available NPM Adjustment shall be
allocated among those Original Participating Manufacturers whose Base NPM
Adjustment is not equal to 0 (zero) “pro rata” in proportion to their
respective Base NPM Adjustments.
(ii) If the Available NPM Adjustment the Original
Participating Manufacturers are entitled to in any year exceeds the sum of the
Base NPM Adjustments of all Original Participating Manufacturers in such year,
then (x) the difference between such
Available NPM Adjustment and such sum of the Base NPM Adjustments shall be
allocated among the Original Participating Manufacturers “pro rata” in
proportion to their Relative Market Shares (the applicable Relative Market
Shares to be those in the year immediately preceding such year), and (y) each
Original Participating Manufacturer’s share of such Available NPM Adjustment
shall equal the sum of (1) its Base NPM
Adjustment for such year, and (2) the
amount allocated to such Original Participating Manufacturer pursuant to clause
(x).
(iii) If an Original Participating Manufacturer’s
share of the Available NPM Adjustment calculated pursuant to subsection IX(d)(3)(B)(i)
or IX(d)(3)(B)(ii) exceeds such Original Participating Manufacturer’s payment
amount to which such NPM Adjustment applies (as such payment amount has been
determined pursuant to step B of clause “Seventh” of subsection IX(j)), then (1) such Original Participating
Manufacturer’s share of the Available NPM Adjustment shall equal such payment
amount, and (2) such excess shall be
reallocated among the other Original Participating Manufacturers pro rata in
proportion to their Relative Market Shares.
(C) Adjustments:
(i) For calculations made pursuant to this
subsection IX(d)(3) (if any) with respect to payments due in the year 2000, the
number used in subsection IX(d)(3)(A)(ii)(z) shall be $20 and the number used
in subsection IX(d)(3)(A)(iii) shall be $300 million. Each year thereafter, both these numbers shall be adjusted upward
or downward by multiplying each of them by the quotient produced by dividing
(x) the average revenue per Cigarette of all the Original Participating
Manufacturers in the year immediately preceding such year, by (y) the average
revenue per Cigarette of all the Original Participating Manufacturers in the
year immediately preceding such immediately preceding year.
(ii) For purposes of this subsection, the average
revenue per Cigarette of all the Original Participating Manufacturers in any
year shall equal (x) the aggregate revenues of all the Original Participating
Manufacturers from sales of Cigarettes in the fifty United States, the District
of Columbia and Puerto Rico after Federal excise taxes and after payments
pursuant to this Agreement and the tobacco litigation Settlement Agreements
with the States of Florida, Mississippi, Minnesota and Texas (as such revenues
are reported to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
for such year (either independently by the Original Participating Manufacturer
or as part of consolidated financial statements reported to the SEC by an
Affiliate of the Original Participating Manufacturers) or, in the case of an
Original Participating Manufacturer that does not report income to the SEC, as
reported in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States
generally accepted accounting principles and audited by a nationally recognized
accounting firm), divided by (y) the aggregate number of the individual
Cigarettes shipped in or to the United States, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico by all the Original Participating Manufacturers in such year
(determined in accordance with subsection II(mm)).
(D) In the event that in the year immediately
preceding the year in which the NPM Adjustment in question is applied both (x)
the Relative Market Share of Lorillard Tobacco Company (or of its successor)
(“Lorillard”) was less than or equal to 20.0000000%, and (y) the number of
individual Cigarettes shipped in or to the United States, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico by Lorillard (determined in accordance with subsection
II(mm)) (for purposes of this subsection (D), “Volume”) was less than or equal
to 70 billion, Lorillard’s and Philip Morris Incorporated’s (or its
successor’s) (“Philip Morris”) shares of the Available NPM Adjustment
calculated pursuant to subsections (3)(A)-(C) above shall be further
reallocated between Lorillard and Philip Morris as follows (this subsection
(3)(D) shall not apply in the year in which either of the two conditions
specified in this sentence is not satisfied):
(i) Notwithstanding subsections (A)-(C) of this
subsection (d)(3), but subject to further adjustment pursuant to subsections
(D)(ii) and (D)(iii) below, Lorillard’s share of the Available NPM Adjustment
shall equal its Relative Market Share of such Available NPM Adjustment (the
applicable Relative Market Share to be that in the year immediately preceding
the year in which such NPM Adjustment is applied). The dollar amount of the difference between the share of the
Available NPM Adjustment Lorillard is entitled to pursuant to the preceding
sentence and the share of the Available NPM Adjustment it would be entitled to
in the same year pursuant to subsections (d)(3)(A)-(C) shall be reallocated to
Philip Morris and used to decrease or increase, as the case may be, Philip
Morris’s share of the Available NPM Adjustment in such year calculated pursuant
to subsections (d)(3)(A)-(C).
(ii) In the event that in the year immediately
preceding the year in which the NPM Adjustment in question is applied either
(x) Lorillard’s Relative Market Share was greater than 15.0000000% (but
did not exceed 20.0000000%), or (y) Lorillard’s Volume was greater than 50
billion (but did not exceed 70 billion), or both, Lorillard’s share of the
Available NPM Adjustment calculated pursuant to subsection (d)(3)(D)(i) shall
be reduced by a percentage equal to the greater of (1) 10.0000000% for each percentage point (or fraction thereof) of
excess of such Relative Market Share over 15.0000000% (if any), or (2) 2.5000000% for each billion (or
fraction thereof) of excess of such Volume over 50 billion (if any). The dollar amount by which Lorillard’s share
of the Available NPM Adjustment is reduced in any year pursuant to this
subsection (D)(ii) shall be reallocated to Philip Morris and used to increase
Philip Morris’s share of the Available NPM Adjustment in such year.
In the event that in any year a reallocation
of the shares of the Available NPM Adjustment between Lorillard and Philip
Morris pursuant to this subsection (d)(3)(D) results in Philip Morris’s share
of the Available NPM Adjustment in such year exceeding the greater of (x)
Philip Morris’s Relative Market Share of such Available NPM Adjustment (the
applicable Relative Market Share to be that in the year immediately preceding
such year), or (y) Philip Morris’s share of the Available NPM Adjustment in
such year calculated pursuant to subsections (d)(3)(A)-(C), Philip Morris’s
share of the Available NPM Adjustment in such year shall be reduced to equal
the greater of (x) or (y) above. In
such instance, the dollar amount by which Philip Morris’s share of the Available
NPM Adjustment is reduced pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be
reallocated to Lorillard and used to increase Lorillard’s share of the
Available NPM Adjustment in such year.
(iv) In the event that either Philip Morris or
Lorillard is treated as a Non-Participating Manufacturer for purposes of this
subsection IX(d)(3) pursuant to subsection XVIII(w)(2)(A), this subsection
(3)(D) shall not be applied, and the Original Participating Manufacturers’
shares of the Available NPM Adjustment shall be determined solely as described
in subsections (3)(A)-(C).
(4) NPM Adjustment for Subsequent Participating Manufacturers. Subject to the provisions of subsection IX(i)(3), a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer shall be entitled to an NPM Adjustment with respect to payments due from such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer in any year during which an NPM Adjustment is applicable under subsection (d)(1) above to payments due from the Original Participating Manufacturers. The amount of such NPM Adjustment shall equal the product of (A) the NPM Adjustment Percentage for such year multiplied by (B) the sum of the payments due in the year in question from such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer that correspond to payments due from Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to subsection IX(c) (as such payment amounts due from such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer have been adjusted and allocated pursuant to clauses “First” through “Fifth” of subsection IX(j)). The NPM Adjustment to payments by each Subsequent Participating Manufacturer shall be allocated and reallocated among the Settling States in a manner consistent with subsection (d)(2) above.
(e) Supplemental Payments. Beginning on April 15, 2004, and on April 15 of each year thereafter in perpetuity, in the event that the sum of the Market Shares of the Participating Manufacturers that were Participating Manufacturers during the entire calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question would be due (the applicable Market Share to be that for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question would be due) equals or exceeds 99.0500000%, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall severally pay to the Escrow Agent (to be credited to the Subsection IX(e) Account) for the benefit of the Foundation its Relative Market Share of the base amount of $300,000,000, as such payments are modified in accordance with this subsection (e). Such payments shall be utilized by the Foundation to fund the national public education functions of the Foundation described in subsection VI(f)(1), in the manner described in and subject to the provisions of subsections VI(g) and VI(h). The payments made by the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the Inflation Adjustment, the Volume Adjustment, the Non-Settling States Reduction, and the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i).
(f) Payment Responsibility. The payment obligations of each Participating Manufacturer pursuant to this Agreement shall be the several responsibility only of that Participating Manufacturer. The payment obligations of a Participating Manufacturer shall not be the obligation or responsibility of any Affiliate of such Participating Manufacturer. The payment obligations of a Participating Manufacturer shall not be the obligation or responsibility of any other Participating Manufacturer. Provided, however, that no provision of this Agreement shall waive or excuse liability under any state or federal fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer law. Any Participating Manufacturer whose Market Share (or Relative Market Share) in any given year equals zero shall have no payment obligations under this Agreement in the succeeding year.
(g) Corporate Structures. Due to the particular corporate structures of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (“Reynolds”) and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation (“B&W”) with respect to their non-domestic tobacco operations, Reynolds and B&W shall be severally liable for their respective shares of each payment due pursuant to this Agreement up to (and their liability hereunder shall not exceed) the full extent of their assets used in and earnings derived from, the manufacture and/or sale in the States of Tobacco Products intended for domestic consumption, and no recourse shall be had against any of their other assets or earnings to satisfy such obligations.
(h) Accrual of Interest. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, any payment due hereunder and not paid when due (or payments requiring the accrual of interest under subsection XI(d)) shall accrue interest from and including the date such payment is due until (but not including) the date paid at the Prime Rate plus three percentage points.
(i) Payments by Subsequent Participating Manufacturers.
(1) A Subsequent Participating Manufacturer shall have payment obligations under this Agreement only in the event that its Market Share in any calendar year exceeds the greater of (1) its 1998 Market Share or (2) 125 percent of its 1997 Market Share (subject to the provisions of subsection (i)(4)). In the year following any such calendar year, such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer shall make payments corresponding to those due in that same following year from the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to subsections VI(c) (except for the payment due on March 31, 1999), IX(c)(1), IX(c)(2) and IX(e). The amounts of such corresponding payments by a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer are in addition to the corresponding payments that are due from the Original Participating Manufacturers and shall be determined as described in subsections (2) and (3) below. Such payments by a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer shall (A) be due on the same dates as the corresponding payments are due from Original Participating Manufacturers; (B) be for the same purpose as such corresponding payments; and (C) be paid, allocated and distributed in the same manner as such corresponding payments.
(2) The base amount due from a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer on any given date shall be determined by multiplying (A) the corresponding base amount due on the same date from all of the Original Participating Manufacturers (as such base amount is specified in the corresponding subsection of this Agreement and is adjusted by the Volume Adjustment (except for the provisions of subsection (B)(ii) of Exhibit E), but before such base amount is modified by any other adjustments, reductions or offsets) by (B) the quotient produced by dividing (i) the result of (x) such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer’s applicable Market Share (the applicable Market Share being that for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due) minus (y) the greater of (1) its 1998 Market Share or (2) 125 percent of its 1997 Market Share, by (ii) the aggregate Market Shares of the Original Participating Manufacturers (the applicable Market Shares being those for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the payment in question is due).
(3) Any payment due from a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer under subsections (1) and (2) above shall be subject (up to the full amount of such payment) to the Inflation Adjustment, the Non-Settling States Reduction, the NPM Adjustment, the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i), the Federal Tobacco Legislation Offset, the Litigating Releasing Parties Offset and the offsets for claims over described in subsections XII(a)(4)(B) and XII(a)(8), to the extent that such adjustments, reductions or offsets would apply to the corresponding payment due from the Original Participating Manufacturers. Provided, however, that all adjustments and offsets to which a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer is entitled may only be applied against payments by such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer, if any, that are due within 12 months after the date on which the Subsequent Participating Manufacturer becomes entitled to such adjustment or makes the payment that entitles it to such offset, and shall not be carried forward beyond that time even if not fully used.
(4) For purposes of this subsection (i), the 1997 (or 1998, as applicable) Market Share (and 125 percent thereof) of those Subsequent Participating Manufacturers that either (A) became a signatory to this Agreement more than 60 days after the MSA Execution Date or (B) had no Market Share in 1997 (or 1998, as applicable), shall equal zero.
(j) Order of Application of Allocations, Offsets, Reductions and Adjustments.
The payments due under this Agreement shall be calculated as set forth below. The “base amount” referred to in clause “First” below shall mean (1) in the case of payments due from Original Participating Manufacturers, the base amount referred to in the subsection establishing the payment obligation in question; and (2) in the case of payments due from a Subsequent Participating Manufacturer, the base amount referred to in subsection (i)(2) for such Subsequent Participating Manufacturer. In the event that a particular adjustment, reduction or offset referred to in a clause below does not apply to the payment being calculated, the result of the clause in question shall be deemed to be equal to the result of the immediately preceding clause. (If clause “First” is inapplicable, the result of clause “First” will be the base amount of the payment in question prior to any offsets, reductions or adjustments.)
First: the Inflation Adjustment shall be applied to the base amount of the payment being calculated;
Second: the Volume Adjustment (other than the provisions of subsection (B)(iii) of Exhibit E) shall be applied to the result of clause “First”;
Third: the result of clause “Second” shall be reduced by the Previously Settled States Reduction;
Fourth: the result of clause “Third” shall be reduced by the Non-Settling States Reduction;
Fifth: in the case of payments due under subsections IX(c)(1) and IX(c)(2), the results of clause “Fourth” for each such payment due in the calendar year in question shall be apportioned among the Settling States pro rata in proportion to their respective Allocable Shares, and the resulting amounts for each particular Settling State shall then be added together to form such Settling State’s Allocated Payment. In the case of payments due under subsection IX(i) that correspond to payments due under subsections IX(c)(1) or IX(c)(2), the results of clause “Fourth” for all such payments due from a particular Subsequent Participating Manufacturer in the calendar year in question shall be apportioned among the Settling States “pro rata” in proportion to their respective Allocable Shares, and the resulting amounts for each particular Settling State shall then be added together. (In the case of all other payments made pursuant to this Agreement, this clause “Fifth” is inapplicable.);
Sixth: the NPM Adjustment shall be applied to the results of clause “Fifth” pursuant to subsections IX(d)(1) and (d)(2) (or, in the case of payments due from the Subsequent Participating Manufacturers, pursuant to subsection IX(d)(4));
Seventh: in the case of payments due from the Original Participating Manufacturers to which clause “Fifth” (and therefore clause “Sixth”) does not apply, the result of clause “Fourth” shall be allocated among the Original Participating Manufacturers according to their Relative Market Shares. In the case of payments due from the Original Participating Manufacturers to which clause “Fifth” applies: (A) the Allocated Payments of all Settling States determined pursuant to clause “Fifth” (prior to reduction pursuant to clause “Sixth”) shall be added together; (B) the resulting sum shall be allocated among the Original Participating Manufacturers according to their Relative Market Shares and subsection (B)(iii) of Exhibit E hereto (if such subsection is applicable); (C) the Available NPM Adjustment (as determined pursuant to clause “Sixth”) shall be allocated among the Original Participating Manufacturers pursuant to subsection IX(d)(3); (D) the respective result of step (C) above for each Original Participating Manufacturer shall be subtracted from the respective result of step (B) above for such Original Participating Manufacturer; and (E) the resulting payment amount due from each Original Participating Manufacturer shall then be allocated among the Settling States in proportion to the respective results of clause “Sixth” for each Settling State. The offsets described in clauses “Eighth” through “Twelfth” shall then be applied separately against each Original Participating Manufacturer’s resulting payment shares (on a Settling State by Settling State basis) according to each Original Participating Manufacturer’s separate entitlement to such offsets, if any, in the calendar year in question. (In the case of payments due from Subsequent Participating Manufacturers, this clause “Seventh” is inapplicable.)
Eighth: the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments described in subsection XI(i) (and any carry-forwards arising from such offset) shall be applied to the results of clause “Seventh” (in the case of payments due from the Original Participating Manufacturers) or to the results of clause “Sixth” (in the case of payments due from Subsequent Participating Manufacturers);
Ninth: the Federal Tobacco Legislation Offset (including any carry-forwards arising from such offset) shall be applied to the results of clause “Eighth”;
Tenth: the Litigating Releasing Parties Offset (including any carry-forwards arising from such offset) shall be applied to the results of clause “Ninth”;
Eleventh: the offset for claims over pursuant to subsection XII(a)(4)(B) (including any carry-forwards arising from such offset) shall be applied to the results of clause “Tenth”;
Twelfth: the offset for claims over pursuant to subsection XII(a)(8) (including any carry-forwards arising from such offset) shall be applied to the results of clause “Eleventh”; and
Thirteenth: in the case of payments to which clause “Fifth” applies, the Settling States’ allocated shares of the payments due from each Participating Manufacturer (as such shares have been determined in step (E) of clause “Seventh” in the case of payments from the Original Participating Manufacturers or in clause “Sixth” in the case of payments from the Subsequent Participating Manufacturers, and have been reduced by clauses “Eighth” through “Twelfth”) shall be added together to state the aggregate payment obligation of each Participating Manufacturer with respect to the payments in question. (In the case of a payment to which clause “Fifth” does not apply, the aggregate payment obligation of each Participating Manufacturer with respect to the payment in question shall be stated by the results of clause “Eighth.”)
X. EFFECT
OF FEDERAL TOBACCO-RELATED LEGISLATION
(a) If federal tobacco-related legislation is enacted after the MSA Execution Date and on or before November 30, 2002, and if such legislation provides for payment(s) by any Original Participating Manufacturer (whether by settlement payment, tax or any other means), all or part of which are actually made available to a Settling State “Federal Funds”, each Original Participating Manufacturer shall receive a continuing dollar-for-dollar offset for any and all amounts that are paid by such Original Participating Manufacturer pursuant to such legislation and actually made available to such Settling State (except as described in subsections (b) and (c) below). Such offset shall be applied against the applicable Original Participating Manufacturer’s share (determined as described in step E of clause “Seventh” of subsection IX(j)) of such Settling State’s Allocated Payment, up to the full amount of such Original Participating Manufacturer’s share of such Allocated Payment (as such share had been reduced by adjustment, if any, pursuant to the NPM Adjustment and has been reduced by offset, if any, pursuant to the offset for miscalculated or disputed payments). Such offset shall be made against such Original Participating Manufacturer’s share of the first Allocated Payment due after such Federal Funds are first available for receipt by such Settling State. In the event that such offset would in any given year exceed such Original Participating Manufacturer’s share of such Allocated Payment: (1) the offset to which such Original Participating Manufacturer is entitled under this Section in such year shall be the full amount of such Original Participating Manufacturer’s share of such Allocated Payment, and (2) all amounts not offset by reason of subsection (1) shall carry forward and be offset in the following year(s) until all such amounts have been offset.
(b) The offset described in subsection (a) shall apply only to that portion of Federal Funds, if any, that are either unrestricted as to their use, or restricted to any form of health care or to any use related to tobacco (including, but not limited to, tobacco education, cessation, control or enforcement) (other than that portion of Federal Funds, if any, that is specifically applicable to tobacco growers or communities dependent on the production of tobacco or Tobacco Products). Provided, however, that the offset described in subsection (a) shall not apply to that portion of Federal Funds, if any, whose receipt by such Settling State is conditioned upon or appropriately allocable to:
(1) the relinquishment of rights or benefits under this Agreement (including the Consent Decree); or
(2) actions or expenditures by such Settling State, unless:
(A) such Settling State chooses to undertake such action or expenditure;
(B) such actions or expenditures do not impose significant constraints on public policy choices; or
(C) such actions or expenditures are both: (i) related to health care or tobacco (including, but not limited to, tobacco education, cessation, control or enforcement) and (ii) do not require such Settling State to expend state matching funds in an amount that is significant in relation to the amount of the Federal Funds made available to such Settling State.
(c) Subject to the provisions of subsection IX(i)(3), Subsequent Participating Manufacturers shall be entitled to the offset described in this section X to the extent that they are required to pay Federal Funds that would give rise to an offset under subsections (a) and (b) if paid by an Original Participating Manufacturer.
(d) Nothing in this Section X shall (1) reduce the payments to be made to the Settling States under this Agreement other than those described in subsection IX(c) (or corresponding payments under subsection IX(i)) of this Agreement; or (2) alter the Allocable Share used to determine each Settling State’s share of the payments described in subsection IX(c) (or corresponding payments under subsection IX(i)) of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section X is intended to or shall reduce the total amounts payable by the Participating Manufacturers to the Settling States under this Agreement by an amount greater than the amount of Federal Funds that the Settling States could elect to receive.
XI. CALCULATION
AND DISBURSEMENT OF PAYMENTS
(a) Independent Auditor to Make All Calculations.
(1) Beginning with payments due in the year 2000, an Independent Auditor shall calculate and determine the amount of all payments owed pursuant to this Agreement, the adjustments, reductions and offsets thereto (and all resulting carry-forwards, if any), the allocation of such payments, adjustments, reductions, offsets and carry-forwards among the Participating Manufacturers and among the Settling States, and shall perform all other calculations in connection with the foregoing (including, but not limited to, determining Market Share, Relative Market Share, Base Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share and Actual Aggregate Participating Manufacturer Market Share). The Independent Auditor shall promptly collect all information necessary to make such calculations and determinations. Each Participating Manufacturer and each Settling State shall provide the Independent Auditor, as promptly as practicable, with information in its possession or readily available to it necessary for the Independent Auditor to perform such calculations. The Independent Auditor shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of all such information, except that the Independent Auditor may provide such information to Participating Manufacturers and the Settling States as set forth in this Agreement. The Participating Manufacturers and the Settling States agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
(2) Payments due from the Original Participating Manufacturers prior to January 1, 2000 (other than the first payment due pursuant to subsection IX(b)) shall be based on the 1998 Relative Market Shares of the Original Participating Manufacturers or, if the Original Participating Manufacturers are unable to agree on such Relative Market Shares, on their 1997 Relative Market Shares specified in Exhibit Q.
(b) Identity of Independent Auditor. The Independent Auditor shall be a major, nationally recognized, certified public accounting firm jointly selected by agreement of the Original Participating Manufacturers and those Attorneys General of the Settling States who are members of the NAAG executive committee, who shall jointly retain the power to replace the Independent Auditor and appoint its successor. Fifty percent of the costs and fees of the Independent Auditor (but in no event more than $500,000 per annum), shall be paid by the Fund described in Exhibit J hereto, and the balance of such costs and fees shall be paid by the Original Participating Manufacturers, allocated among them according to their Relative Market Shares. The agreement retaining the Independent Auditor shall provide that the Independent Auditor shall perform the functions specified for it in this Agreement, and that it shall do so in the manner specified in this Agreement.
(c) Resolution of Disputes. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to calculations performed by, or any determinations made by, the Independent Auditor (including, without limitation, any dispute concerning the operation or application of any of the adjustments, reductions, offsets, carry-forwards and allocations described in subsection IX(j) or subsection XI(i)) shall be submitted to binding arbitration before a panel of three neutral arbitrators, each of whom shall be a former Article III federal judge. Each of the two sides to the dispute shall select one arbitrator. The two arbitrators so selected shall select the third arbitrator. The arbitration shall be governed by the United States Federal Arbitration Act.
(d) General Provisions as to Calculation of Payments.
(1) Not less than 90 days prior to the scheduled due date of any payment due pursuant to this Agreement (“Payment Due Date”), the Independent Auditor shall deliver to each other Notice Party a detailed itemization of all information required by the Independent Auditor to complete its calculation of (A) the amount due from each Participating Manufacturer with respect to such payment, and (B) the portion of such amount allocable to each entity for whose benefit such payment is to be made. To the extent practicable, the Independent Auditor shall specify in such itemization which Notice Party is requested to produce which information. Each Participating Manufacturer and each Settling State shall use its best efforts to promptly supply all of the required information that is within its possession or is readily available to it to the Independent Auditor, and in any event not less than 50 days prior to such Payment Due Date. Such best efforts obligation shall be continuing in the case of information that comes within the possession of, or becomes readily available to, any Settling State or Participating Manufacturer after the date 50 days prior to such Payment Due Date.
(2) Not less than 40 days prior to the Payment Due Date, the Independent Auditor shall deliver to each other Notice Party (A) detailed preliminary calculations (“Preliminary Calculations”) of the amount due from each Participating Manufacturer and of the amount allocable to each entity for whose benefit such payment is to be made, showing all applicable offsets, adjustments, reductions and carry-forwards and setting forth all the information on which the Independent Auditor relied in preparing such Preliminary Calculations, and (B) a statement of any information still required by the Independent Auditor to complete its calculations.
(3) Not less than 30 days prior to the Payment Due Date, any Participating Manufacturer or any Settling State that disputes any aspect of the Preliminary Calculations (including, but not limited to, disputing the methodology that the Independent Auditor employed, or the information on which the Independent Auditor relied, in preparing such calculations) shall notify each other Notice Party of such dispute, including the reasons and basis therefor.
(4) Not less than 15 days prior to the Payment Due Date, the Independent Auditor shall deliver to each other Notice Party a detailed recalculation (a “Final Calculation”) of the amount due from each Participating Manufacturer, the amount allocable to each entity for whose benefit such payment is to be made, and the Account to which such payment is to be credited, explaining any changes from the Preliminary Calculation. The Final Calculation may include estimates of amounts in the circumstances described in subsection (d)(5).
(5) The following provisions shall govern in the event that the information required by the Independent Auditor to complete its calculations is not in its possession by the date as of which the Independent Auditor is required to provide either a Preliminary Calculation or a Final Calculation.
(A) If the information in question is not readily available to any Settling State, any Original Participating Manufacturer or any Subsequent Participating Manufacturer, the Independent Auditor shall employ an assumption as to the missing information producing the minimum amount that is likely to be due with respect to the payment in question, and shall set forth its assumption as to the missing information in its Preliminary Calculation or Final Calculation, whichever is at issue. Any Original Participating Manufacturer, Subsequent Participating Manufacturer or Settling State may dispute any such assumption employed by the Independent Auditor in its Preliminary Calculation in the manner prescribed in subsection (d)(3) or any such assumption employed by the Independent Auditor in its Final Calculation in the manner prescribed in subsection (d)(6). If the missing information becomes available to the Independent Auditor prior to the Payment Due Date, the Independent Auditor shall promptly revise its Preliminary Calculation or Final Calculation (whichever is applicable) and shall promptly provide the revised calculation to each Notice Party, showing the newly available information. If the missing information does not become available to the Independent Auditor prior to the Payment Due Date, the minimum amount calculated by the Independent Auditor pursuant to this subsection (A) shall be paid on the Payment Due Date, subject to disputes pursuant to subsections (d)(6) and (d)(8) and without prejudice to a later final determination of the correct amount. If the missing information becomes available to the Independent Auditor after the Payment Due Date, the Independent Auditor shall calculate the correct amount of the payment in question and shall apply any overpayment or underpayment as an offset or additional payment in the manner described in subsection (i).
(B) If the information in question is readily available to a Settling State, Original Participating Manufacturer or Subsequent Participating Manufacturer, but such Settling State, Original Participating Manufacturer or Subsequent Participating Manufacturer does not supply such information to the Independent Auditor, the Independent Auditor shall base the calculation in question on its best estimate of such information, and shall show such estimate in its Preliminary Calculation or Final Calculation, whichever is applicable. Any Original Participating Manufacturer, Subsequent Participating Manufacturer or Settling State (except the entity that withheld the information) may dispute such estimate employed by the Independent Auditor in its Preliminary Calculation in the manner prescribed in subsection (d)(3) or such estimate employed by the Independent Auditor in its Final Calculation in the manner prescribed in subsection (d)(6). If the withheld information is not made available to the Independent Auditor more than 30 days prior to the Payment Due Date, the estimate employed by the Independent Auditor (as revised by the Independent Auditor in light of any dispute filed pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall govern the amounts to be paid on the Payment Due Date, subject to disputes pursuant to subsection (d)(6) and without prejudice to a later final determination of the correct amount. In the event that the withheld information subsequently becomes available, the Independent Auditor shall calculate the correct amount and shall apply any overpayment or underpayment as an offset or additional payment in the manner described in subsection (i).
(6) Not less than five days prior to the Payment Due Date, each Participating Manufacturer and each Settling State shall deliver to each Notice Party a statement indicating whether it disputes the Independent Auditor’s Final Calculation and, if so, the disputed and undisputed amounts and the basis for the dispute. Except to the extent a Participating Manufacturer or a Settling State delivers a statement indicating the existence of a dispute by such date, the amounts set forth in the Independent Auditor’s Final Calculation shall be paid on the Payment Due Date. Provided, however, that (A) in the event that the Independent Auditor revises its Final Calculation within five days of the Payment Due Date as provided in subsection (5)(A) due to receipt of previously missing information, a Participating Manufacturer or Settling State may dispute such revision pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subsection (6) at any time prior to the Payment Due Date; and (B) prior to the date four years after the Payment Due Date, neither failure to dispute a calculation made by the Independent Auditor nor actual agreement with any calculation or payment to the Escrow Agent or to another payee shall waive any Participating Manufacturer’s or Settling State’s rights to dispute any payment (or the Independent Auditor’s calculations with respect to any payment) after the Payment Due Date. No Participating Manufacturer and no Settling State shall have a right to raise any dispute with respect to any payment or calculation after the date four years after such payment’s Payment Due Date.
(7) Each Participating Manufacturer shall be obligated to pay by the Payment Due Date the undisputed portion of the total amount calculated as due from it by the Independent Auditor’s Final Calculation. Failure to pay such portion shall render the Participating Manufacturer liable for interest thereon as provided in subsection IX(h) of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy available under this Agreement.
(8) As to any disputed portion of the total amount calculated to be due pursuant to the Final Calculation, any Participating Manufacturer that by the Payment Due Date pays such disputed portion into the Disputed Payments Account (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) shall not be liable for interest thereon even if the amount disputed was in fact properly due and owing. Any Participating Manufacturer that by the Payment Due Date does not pay such disputed portion into the Disputed Payments Account shall be liable for interest as provided in subsection IX(h) if the amount disputed was in fact properly due and owing.
(9) On the same date that it makes any payment pursuant to this Agreement, each Participating Manufacturer shall deliver a notice to each other Notice Party showing the amount of such payment and the Account to which such payment is to be credited.
(10) On the first Business Day after the Payment Due Date, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to each other Notice Party a statement showing the amounts received by it from each Participating Manufacturer and the Accounts credited with such amounts.
(e) General Treatment of Payments. The Escrow Agent may disburse amounts from an Account only if permitted, and only at such time as permitted, by this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. No amounts may be disbursed to a Settling State other than funds credited to such Settling State’s State-Specific Account (as defined in the Escrow Agreement). The Independent Auditor, in delivering payment instructions to the Escrow Agent, shall specify: the amount to be paid; the Account or Accounts from which such payment is to be disbursed; the payee of such payment (which may be an Account); and the Business Day on which such payment is to be made by the Escrow Agent. Except as expressly provided in subsection (f) below, in no event may any amount be disbursed from any Account prior to Final Approval.
(f) Disbursements and Charges Not Contingent on Final Approval. Funds may be disbursed from Accounts without regard to the occurrence of Final Approval in the following circumstances and in the following manner:
(1) Payments of Federal and State Taxes. Federal, state, local or other taxes imposed with respect to the amounts credited to the Accounts shall be paid from such amounts. The Independent Auditor shall prepare and file any tax returns required to be filed with respect to the escrow. All taxes required to be paid shall be allocated to and charged against the Accounts on a reasonable basis to be determined by the Independent Auditor. Upon receipt of written instructions from the Independent Auditor, the Escrow Agent shall pay such taxes and charge such payments against the Account or Accounts specified in those instructions.
(2) Payments to and from Disputed Payments Account. The Independent Auditor shall instruct the Escrow Agent to credit funds from an Account to the Disputed Payments Account when a dispute arises as to such funds, and shall instruct the Escrow Agent to credit funds from the Disputed Payments Account to the appropriate payee when such dispute is resolved with finality. The Independent Auditor shall provide the Notice Parties not less than 10 Business Days prior notice before instructing the Escrow Agent to disburse funds from the Disputed Payments Account.
(3) Payments to a State-Specific Account. Promptly following the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in any Settling State, such Settling State and the Original Participating Manufacturers shall notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of such State-Specific Finality and of the portions of the amounts in the Subsection IX(b) Account (First), Subsection IX(b) Account (Subsequent), Subsection IX(c)(1) Account and Subsection IX(c)(2) Account, respectively (as such Accounts are defined in the Escrow Agreement), that are at such time held in such Accounts for the benefit of such Settling State, and which are to be transferred to the appropriate State-Specific Account for such Settling State. If neither the Settling State in question nor any Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such State-Specific Finality by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the preceding sentence, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to make such transfer. If the Settling State in question or any Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such State-Specific Finality by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the second sentence of this subsection (f)(3), the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to credit the amount disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and the undisputed portion to the appropriate State-Specific Account. No amounts may be transferred or credited to a State-Specific Account for the benefit of any State as to which State-Specific Finality has not occurred or as to which this Agreement has terminated.
(4) Payments to Parties other than Particular Settling States.
(A) Promptly following the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in one Settling State, such Settling State and the Original Participating Manufacturers shall notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in at least one Settling State and of the amounts held in the Subsection VI(b) Account, Subsection VI(c) Account (First), and Subsection VIII(c) Account (as such Accounts are defined in the Escrow Agreement), if any. If neither any of the Settling States nor any of the Participating Manufacturers disputes such amounts or disputes the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in one Settling State, by notice delivered to each Notice Party not later than ten Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the preceding sentence, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to disburse the funds held in such Accounts to the Foundation or to the Fund specified in subsection VIII(c), as appropriate. If any Settling State or Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such State-Specific Finality by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the second sentence of this subsection (4)(A), the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to credit the amounts disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and to disburse the undisputed portion to the Foundation or to the Fund specified in subsection VIII(c), as appropriate.
(B) The Independent Auditor shall instruct the Escrow Agent to disburse funds on deposit in the Subsection VIII(b) Account and Subsection IX(e) Account (as such Accounts are defined in the Escrow Agreement) to NAAG or to the Foundation, as appropriate, within 10 Business Days after the date on which such amounts were credited to such Accounts.
(C) Promptly following the occurrence of State-Specific Finality in Settling States having aggregate Allocable Shares equal to at least 80% of the total aggregate Allocable Shares assigned to all States that were Settling States as of the MSA Execution Date, the Settling States and the Original Participating Manufacturers shall notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of the occurrence of such State-Specific Finality and of the amounts held in the Subsection VI(c) Account (Subsequent) (as such Account is defined in the Escrow Agreement), if any. If neither any of the Settling States nor any of the Participating Manufacturers disputes such amounts or disputes the occurrence of such State-Specific Finality, by notice delivered to each Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the preceding sentence, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to disburse the funds held in such Account to the Foundation. If any Settling State or Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such State-Specific Finality by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the second sentence of this subsection (4)(C), the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to credit the amounts disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and to disburse the undisputed portion to the Foundation.
(5) Treatment of Payments Following Termination.
(A) As to amounts held for Settling States. Promptly upon the termination of this Agreement with respect to any Settling State (whether or not as part of the termination of this Agreement as to all Settling States) such State or any Participating Manufacturer shall notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of such termination and of the amounts held in the Subsection IX(b) Account (First), the Subsection IX(b) Account (Subsequent), the Subsection IX(c)(1) Account, the Subsection IX(c)(2) Account, and the State-Specific Account for the benefit of such Settling State. If neither the State in question nor any Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such termination by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the preceding sentence, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to transfer such amounts to the Participating Manufacturers (on the basis of their respective contributions of such funds). If the State in question or any Participating Manufacturer disputes the amounts held in the Accounts or the occurrence of such termination by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the second sentence of this subsection (5)(A), the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to transfer the amount disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and the undisputed portion to the Participating Manufacturers (on the basis of their respective contributions of such funds).
(B) As to amounts held for others. If this Agreement is terminated with respect to all of the Settling States, the Original Participating Manufacturers shall promptly notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of such termination and of the amounts held in the Subsection VI(b) Account, the Subsection VI(c) Account (First), the Subsection VIII(b) Account, the Subsection VIII(c) Account and the Subsection IX(e) Account. If neither any such State nor any Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such termination by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the preceding sentence, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to transfer such amounts to the Participating Manufacturers (on the basis of their respective contributions of such funds). If any such State or any Participating Manufacturer disputes the amounts held in the Accounts or the occurrence of such termination by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the second sentence of this subsection (5)(B), the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to credit the amount disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and transfer the undisputed portion to the Participating Manufacturers (on the basis of their respective contribution of such funds).
(C) As to amounts held in the Subsection VI(c) Account (Subsequent). If this Agreement is terminated with respect to Settling States having aggregate Allocable Shares equal to more than 20% of the total aggregate Allocable Shares assigned to those States that were Settling States as of the MSA Execution Date, the Original Participating Manufacturers shall promptly notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of such termination and of the amounts held in the Subsection VI(c) Account (Subsequent) (as defined in the Escrow Agreement). If neither any such State with respect to which this Agreement has terminated nor any Participating Manufacturer disputes such amounts or the occurrence of such termination by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the preceding sentence, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to transfer such amounts to the Participating Manufacturers (on the basis of their respective contributions of such funds). If any such State or any Participating Manufacturer disputes the amounts held in the Account or the occurrence of such termination by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of the notice described in the second sentence of this subsection (5)(C), the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to credit the amount disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and transfer the undisputed portion to the Participating Manufacturers (on the basis of their respective contribution of such funds).
(6) Determination of amounts paid or held for the benefit of each individual Settling State. For purposes of subsections (f)(3), (f)(5)(A) and (i)(2), the portion of a payment that is made or held for the benefit of each individual Settling State shall be determined: (A) in the case of a payment credited to the Subsection IX(b) Account (First) or the Subsection IX(b) Account (Subsequent), by allocating the results of clause “Eighth” of subsection IX(j) among those Settling States who were Settling States at the time that the amount of such payment was calculated, pro rata in proportion to their respective Allocable Shares; and (B) in the case of a payment credited to the Subsection IX(c)(1) Account or the Subsection IX(c)(2) Account, by the results of clause “Twelfth” of subsection IX(j) for each individual Settling State. Provided, however, that, solely for purposes of subsection (f)(3), the Settling States may by unanimous agreement agree on a different method of allocation of amounts held in the Accounts identified in this subsection (f)(6).
(g) Payments to be Made Only After Final Approval. Promptly following the occurrence of Final Approval, the Settling States and the Original Participating Manufacturers shall notify the Independent Auditor of such occurrence. The Independent Auditor shall promptly thereafter notify each Notice Party of the occurrence of Final Approval and of the amounts held in the State-Specific Accounts. If neither any of the Settling States nor any of the Participating Manufacturers disputes such amounts, disputes the occurrence of Final Approval or claims that this Agreement has terminated as to any Settling State for whose benefit the funds are held in a State-Specific Account, by notice delivered to each Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of such notice of Final Approval, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to disburse the funds held in the State-Specific Accounts to (or as directed by) the respective Settling States. If any Notice Party disputes such amounts or the occurrence of Final Approval, or claims that this Agreement has terminated as to any Settling State for whose benefit the funds are held in a State-Specific Account, by notice delivered to each other Notice Party not later than 10 Business Days after delivery by the Independent Auditor of such notice of Final Approval, the Independent Auditor shall promptly instruct the Escrow Agent to credit the amounts disputed to the Disputed Payments Account and to disburse the undisputed portion to (or as directed by) the respective Settling States