NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 7, 2012--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it assigned its 'BBB' senior unsecured debt rating to Richmond, Va.-based Altria Group Inc.'s $1.9 billion 2.85% senior unsecured notes maturing in 2022 and $900 million 4.25% senior unsecured notes due in 2042. We also assigned a preliminary 'BBB' senior unsecured debt rating to Altria's most recent Rule 415 shelf registration. The new notes will be drawn from the company's shelf registration, and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Philip Morris USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Altria. Standard&Poor's expects Altria to use net proceeds from the issuance for the funding of its cash tender offer announced earlier today, tender premiums associated
