ABBV Q2 2015 10-Q

Abbvie Inc (ABBV) SEC Quarterly Report (10-Q) for Q3 2015

ABBV 2015 10-K
ABBV Q2 2015 10-Q ABBV 2015 10-K

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from  to

Commission File No. 001-35565

AbbVie Inc.

A Delaware Corporation

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

32-0375147

1 North Waukegan Road

North Chicago, Illinois 60064

Telephone:  (847) 932-7900

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.        Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).      Yes x   No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer x

Accelerated Filer o

Non-Accelerated Filer o

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).        Yes o    No x

As of September 30, 2015, AbbVie Inc. had 1,634,746,917 shares of common stock at $0.01 par value outstanding.


Table of Contents

AbbVie Inc. and Subsidiaries

Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

Item 1.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

3

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

30

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

43

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

45

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

45

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

46

Item 6.

Exhibits

46

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

AbbVie Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (unaudited)

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions, except per share data)

2015

2014

2015

2014

Net revenues

$5,944

$5,019

$16,459

$14,508

Cost of products sold

1,167

1,094

3,025

3,307

Selling, general and administrative

1,474

1,595

4,650

4,383

Research and development

1,418

812

3,210

2,418

Acquired in-process research and development

-

308

150

324

Other expense

-

250

-

250

Total operating costs and expenses

4,059

4,059

11,035

10,682

Operating earnings

1,885

960

5,424

3,826

Interest expense, net

197

128

487

262

Net foreign exchange loss

13

174

191

182

Other expense (income), net

28

(29

)

25

(24

)

Earnings before income tax expense

1,647

687

4,721

3,406

Income tax expense

408

181

1,094

822

Net earnings

$1,239

$506

$3,627

$2,584

Per share data

Basic earnings per share

$0.75

$0.32

$2.22

$1.61

Diluted earnings per share

$0.74

$0.31

$2.21

$1.60

Cash dividends declared per common share

$0.51

$0.42

$1.53

$1.26

Weighted-average basic shares outstanding

1,652

1,595

1,623

1,595

Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding

1,664

1,610

1,635

1,609

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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AbbVie Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2014

Net earnings

$1,239

$506

$3,627

$2,584

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $10 and $(76) for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $(98) and $(90) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively

(48

)

(647

)

(464

)

(714

)

Pension and post-employment benefits, net of tax expense of $10 and $7 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $28 and $16 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively

23

20

91

43

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities, net of tax benefit of $3 and $2 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively

(13

)

(1

)

(4

)

(1

)

Hedging activities, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(5) and $6 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $(7) and $4 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively

(87

)

135

(91

)

201

Other comprehensive loss

(125

)

(493

)

(468

)

(471

)

Comprehensive income

$1,114

$13

$3,159

$2,113

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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AbbVie Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions, except share data)

September 30,

2015

December 31,

2014

(unaudited)

Assets

Current assets

Cash and equivalents

$9,223

$8,348

Short-term investments

26

26

Accounts and other receivables, net

4,574

3,735

Inventories, net

1,841

1,124

Deferred income taxes

1,100

896

Prepaid expenses and other

1,148

1,952

Total current assets

17,912

16,081

Investments

74

92

Property and equipment, net

2,546

2,485

Intangible assets, net of amortization

19,822

1,513

Goodwill

13,243

5,862

Other assets

1,235

1,480

Total assets

$54,832

$27,513

Liabilities and Equity

Current liabilities

Short-term borrowings

$ 760

$425

Current portion of long-term debt and lease obligations

8

4,014

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

8,045

6,954

Total current liabilities

8,813

11,393

Long-term debt and lease obligations

31,359

10,538

Deferred income taxes

5,996

159

Other long-term liabilities

3,801

3,681

Commitments and contingencies

-

-

Stockholders' equity

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 4,000,000,000 shares, issued 1,748,349,152 and 1,609,519,046 shares as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

17

16

Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 113,602,235 and 18,129,715 shares as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

(7,314

)

(972

)

Additional paid-in capital

13,005

4,194

Retained earnings

1,654

535

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(2,499

)

(2,031

)

Total stockholders' equity

4,863

1,742

Total liabilities and equity

$54,832

$27,513

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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AbbVie Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Nine months ended

September 30,

(in millions) (brackets denote cash outflows)

2015

2014

Cash flows from operating activities

Net earnings

$3,627

$2,584

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:

Depreciation

296

286

Amortization of intangible assets

279

307

Stock-based compensation

229

198

Upfront costs and milestones related to collaborations

280

574

Other, net

369

324

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

Accounts and other receivables

(842

)

95

Inventories

(446

)

20

Prepaid expenses and other assets

452

(260

)

Accounts payable and other liabilities

1,328

(1

)

Cash flows from operating activities

5,572

4,127

Cash flows from investing activities

Acquisition of Pharmacyclics, Inc., net of cash acquired

(11,488

)

-

Other acquisitions and investments

(794

)

(572

)

Acquisitions of property and equipment

(387

)

(459

)

Transfer to restricted cash

-

(2,700

)

Purchases of investment securities

(851

)

(1,169

)

Sales and maturities of investment securities

862

1,460

Other

19

-

Cash flows from investing activities

(12,639

)

(3,440

)

Cash flows from financing activities

Net change in short-term borrowings

335

(112

)

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

16,660

-

Debt issuance cost

(179

)

(82

)

Dividends paid

(2,454

)

(1,987

)

Purchases of treasury stock

(6,342

)

(352

)

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

123

164

Other, net

40

(42

)

Cash flows from financing activities

8,183

(2,411

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents

(241

)

(152

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

875

(1,876

)

Cash and equivalents, beginning of period

8,348

9,595

Cash and equivalents, end of period

$9,223

$7,719

Supplemental Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities

Issuance of common stock associated with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics, Inc.

$8,405

$-

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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AbbVie Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Note 1 Background and Basis of Presentation

Background

The principal business of AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie or the company) is the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad line of pharmaceutical products. AbbVie's products are generally sold worldwide directly to wholesalers, distributors, government agencies, health care facilities, specialty pharmacies, and independent retailers from AbbVie-owned distribution centers and public warehouses. Substantially all of AbbVie's net revenues in the United States are to three wholesalers. Outside the United States, products are sold primarily to customers or through distributors, depending on the market served.

AbbVie was incorporated in Delaware on April 10, 2012. On January 1, 2013, AbbVie became an independent, publicly-traded company as a result of the distribution by Abbott Laboratories (Abbott) of 100 percent of the outstanding common stock of AbbVie to Abbott's shareholders (the separation). In connection with the separation, AbbVie and Abbott entered into transition services agreements covering certain corporate support and back office services that AbbVie historically received from Abbott. Such services included information technology, accounts payable, payroll, receivables collection, treasury, and other financial functions, as well as order entry, warehousing, engineering support, quality assurance support, and other administrative services. These agreements facilitated the separation by allowing AbbVie to operate independently prior to establishing stand-alone back office functions across its organization. The majority of these transition service agreements expired without extension at December 31, 2014; however, some of these services continue to be provided to AbbVie on a temporary basis. With certain limited exceptions, the remaining transition services agreements will terminate on or prior to December 31, 2015.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, AbbVie incurred certain separation-related expenses, which were principally classified in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Separation-related expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were $45 million and $109 million, respectively, and were $244 million and $299 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Basis of Historical Presentation

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of AbbVie have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been omitted. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

It is management's opinion that these financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the company's financial position and operating results. Net revenues and net earnings for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of future or annual results.

For a certain portion of AbbVie's operations, the legal transfer of AbbVie's assets (net of liabilities) did not occur with the separation of AbbVie on January 1, 2013 due to the time required to transfer marketing authorizations and satisfy other regulatory requirements in certain countries. Under the terms of the separation agreement with Abbott, AbbVie is responsible for the business activities conducted by Abbott on its behalf, and is subject to the risks and entitled to the benefits generated by these operations and assets. As a result, the related assets and liabilities and results of operations have been reported in AbbVie's condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Substantially all of these operations were transferred to AbbVie as of September 30, 2015.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Summary and Amendments That Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs–Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40) . The amendments in ASU 2014-09 supersede most current revenue recognition requirements. The core principal of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. AbbVie can apply the amendments using one of the following two methods: (i) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented, or (ii) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the amendments recognized at the date of initial application. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-4, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date , which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year for all entities. Accordingly, ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted only for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. AbbVie is currently assessing the timing of its adoption and the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and the implementation approach to be used.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03,  Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs . The amendments in ASU 2015-03 require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted on a retrospective basis.

AbbVie elected to adopt ASU 2015-03 early, effective in the three months ended June 30, 2015. As a result, AbbVie reclassified approximately $7 million and $27 million of net deferred financing costs from prepaid expenses and other current assets and other long-term assets, respectively, to a reduction in the carrying amount of its long-term debt as of December 31, 2014. Total debt issuance costs classified as a reduction to long-term debt and lease obligations (current and non-current) were $118 million as of September 30, 2015.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments . ASU 2015-16 requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Entities are currently required to retrospectively apply adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance is to be applied prospectively to measurement period adjustments that occur after the effective date of the guidance with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. AbbVie elected to adopt ASU 2015-16 early, effective in the three months ended September 30, 2015.

Note 2 Supplemental Financial Information

Interest Expense, Net

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2014

Interest expense

$207

$148

$511

$290

Interest income

(10

)

(20

)

(24

)

(28

)

Interest expense, net

$197

$128

$487

$262

Interest expense, net included $86 million of financing-related costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics, Inc. (Pharmacyclics), which were incurred in the first half of 2015. Refer to Note 4 for additional information.

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Inventories

(in millions)

September 30,

2015

December 31,

2014

Finished goods

640

$341

Work-in-process

1,063

629

Raw materials

138

154

Inventories, net

$1,841

$1,124

Inventories, net as of September 30, 2015 included $416 million acquired through the acquisition of Pharmacyclics. Refer to Note 4 for additional information.

Property and Equipment

(in millions)

September 30,

2015

December 31,

2014

Property and equipment, gross

$7,281

$7,105

Less accumulated depreciation

(4,735

)

(4,620

)

Property and equipment, net

$2,546

$2,485

Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $102 million and $94 million, respectively, and was $296 million and $286 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Note 3 Earnings Per Share

AbbVie calculates earnings per share (EPS) using the more dilutive of the treasury stock or the two-class method. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the two-class method was more dilutive. As such, the dilutive effect of unvested restricted stock units (RSUs) and restricted stock awards (RSAs) of approximately 3 million shares for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were excluded from the denominator for the calculation of diluted EPS. These awards otherwise would have been included in the calculation of EPS under the treasury stock method. Additionally, all earnings (distributed and undistributed) allocable to participating securities, including performance-based awards not otherwise included in the calculation of EPS under the treasury stock method, were excluded from the numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share under the two-class method. Earnings allocable to participating securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $7 million and $18 million, respectively.

As further described in Note 10, AbbVie entered into and executed a $5.0 billion accelerated share repurchase agreement (ASR) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (Morgan Stanley) on May 26, 2015, pursuant to which AbbVie paid $5.0 billion for an initial delivery of 68 million shares of AbbVie's common stock. The initial delivery of shares represented approximately 90% of the total shares expected to be delivered under the ASR. In the three months ended September 30, 2015, Morgan Stanley delivered an additional 5 million shares of AbbVie's common stock to AbbVie in final settlement of the ASR. For purposes of calculating EPS, AbbVie reflected the ASR as a repurchase of AbbVie common stock. See Note 10 for additional information.

The number of common shares issuable under stock-based compensation plans that were excluded from the computation of earnings per common share because the effect would have been antidilutive were not material for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, AbbVie determined the two-class method was more dilutive. As a result, the dilutive effect of unvested RSUs and RSAs of approximately 4 million shares for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 were excluded from the denominator for the calculation of diluted EPS. Additionally, earnings allocable to participating securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $3 million and $14 million, respectively. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the number of common shares issuable under stock-based compensation plans that were excluded from the computation of earnings per common share because the effect would have been antidilutive were not material.

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Note 4 Licensing, Acquisitions and Other Arrangements

Acquisition of Pharmacyclics

On May 26, 2015, AbbVie acquired Pharmacyclics through a tender offer for approximately $20.8 billion, including cash consideration of $12.4 billion and equity consideration of $8.4 billion. Pharmacyclics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes novel therapies for people impacted by cancer. Pharmacyclics markets IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib), a Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, targeting B-cell malignancies. Each outstanding Pharmacyclics share was exchanged for (i) $152.25 in cash and $109.00 in fair market value of AbbVie common stock, (ii) $261.25 in cash, or (iii) $261.25 in fair market value of AbbVie common stock, at the election of each holder, subject to the election and proration of the consideration at 58 percent cash and 42 percent AbbVie common stock.

The total consideration for the acquisition of Pharmacyclics was approximately $20.8 billion, consisting of cash and approximately 128 million shares of AbbVie common stock, and is summarized as follows:

(in millions)

Fair value of AbbVie common stock issued to Pharmacyclics stockholders

$8,405

Cash consideration paid to Pharmacyclics stockholders

11,749

Cash consideration paid to Pharmacyclics equity award holders

616

Total consideration

$20,770

The acquisition of Pharmacyclics has been accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. This method requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. The valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition has not yet been finalized as of September 30, 2015. As a result, AbbVie recorded preliminary estimates for the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. The company made immaterial measurement period adjustments to certain preliminary estimates of fair value during the three months ended September 30, 2015. The completion of the valuation will occur no later than one year from the acquisition date and may result in significant changes to the recognized assets and liabilities.

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The following table summarizes preliminary fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the May 26, 2015 acquisition date:

(in millions)

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed

Cash and equivalents

$877

Short-term investments

11

Accounts and other receivables

106

Inventories

492

Other assets

212

Intangible assets

Definite-lived developed product rights

4,590

Definite-lived license agreements

6,780

Indefinite-lived research and development

7,180

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(381

)

Deferred income taxes

(6,453

)

Other long-term liabilities

(254

)

Total identifiable net assets

13,160

Goodwill

7,610

Total assets acquired and liabilities assumed

$20,770

The fair market value step-up adjustment to inventories of $445 million is being amortized to cost of products sold when the inventory is sold to customers, which is expected to be a period of approximately 18 months.

Intangible assets relate to the IMBRUVICA developed product rights, acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) in the United States related to additional indications for IMBRUVICA, and the contractual rights to IMBRUVICA profits and losses outside the United States as a result of the collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. and its affiliates (Janssen), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson. Refer to Note 5 for additional information regarding the collaboration with Janssen. The acquired definite-lived intangible assets are being amortized over a weighted-average estimated useful life of 13 years using the estimated pattern of economic benefit. The estimated fair value of the IPR&D and identifiable intangible assets was determined using the "income approach," which is a valuation technique that provides an estimate of the fair value of an asset based on market participant expectations of the cash flows an asset would generate over its remaining useful life. Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in the development of those asset valuations include the estimated net cash flows for each year for each asset or product (including net revenues, cost of sales, R&D costs, selling and marketing costs and working capital/contributory asset charges), the appropriate discount rate to select in order to measure the risk inherent in each future cash flow stream, the assessment of each asset's life cycle, the potential regulatory and commercial success risks, competitive trends impacting the asset and each cash flow stream as well as other factors.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from the other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Specifically, the goodwill recognized from the acquisition of Pharmacyclics includes expected synergies, including the ability to leverage the respective strengths of each business, expanding the combined company's product portfolio, acceleration of clinical and commercial presence in oncology and establishment of a strong leadership position in hematological oncology. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

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From the acquisition date through September 30, 2015, AbbVie's condensed consolidated statements of earnings included net revenues of $431 million and an operating loss of $422 million associated with the acquisition. The operating loss included $294 million of acquisition-related compensation expense, $144 million of inventory step-up and intangible asset amortization, and $96 million of transaction and integration costs. Of these costs, $279 million was recorded within SG&A expense, $111 million within research and development (R&D) expense, and $144 million within cost of products sold.

Pro Forma Financial Information

The following table presents the unaudited pro forma combined results of operations of AbbVie and Pharmacyclics for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 as if the acquisition of Pharmacyclics had occurred on January 1, 2014:

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions, except per share information) 

2015

2014

2015

2014

Net revenues

$5,944

$5,226

$16,815

$14,947

Net earnings

$1,332

$351

$3,780

$1,706

Basic earnings per share

$0.81

$0.20

$2.23

$0.99

Diluted earnings per share

$0.80

$0.20

$2.22

$0.98

The unaudited pro forma financial information was prepared using the acquisition method of accounting and was based on the historical financial information of AbbVie and Pharmacyclics. In order to reflect the occurrence of the acquisition on January 1, 2014 as required, the unaudited pro forma financial information includes adjustments to reflect the incremental amortization expense to be incurred based on the current preliminary fair values of the identifiable intangible assets acquired; the incremental cost of products sold related to the fair value adjustments associated with of acquisition-date inventory; the additional interest expense associated with the issuance of debt to finance the acquisition; and the reclassification of acquisition, integration and financing-related costs incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the consolidated results of operations would have been had the acquisition been completed on January 1, 2014. In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information is not a projection of the future results of operations of the combined company nor does it reflect the expected realization of any cost savings or synergies associated with the acquisition.

Other Licensing & Acquisitions Activity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the company recorded IPR&D charges of $150 million. There were no IPR&D charges incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2015. Excluding the acquisition of Pharmacyclics, cash outflows related to other acquisitions and investments totaled $794 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and included a $500 million payment to Calico Life Sciences LLC (Calico) as a result of the satisfaction of certain conditions under the R&D collaboration with Calico for which a charge to IPR&D was recorded in 2014, as well as milestone payments to collaboration partners.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, cash outflows related to other acquisitions and investments totaled $572 million. The company recorded IPR&D charges of $308 million and $324 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, which included charges related to the global collaboration with Infinity entered into in September 2014. The company also recorded other operating expense of $250 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to the collaboration with Calico entered into in September 2014.

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C 2 N Diagnostics

In March 2015, AbbVie entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with C 2 N Diagnostics to develop and commercialize anti-tau antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. As part of the agreement, AbbVie made an initial upfront payment of $100 million, which was expensed to IPR&D in the three months ended March 31, 2015. Upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, AbbVie could make additional payments of up to $685 million, as well as royalties on net sales.

Calico Life Sciences LLC

In September 2014, AbbVie and Calico entered into a novel R&D collaboration agreement to discover, develop and commercialize new therapies for patients with age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. As part of the agreement, AbbVie made an initial upfront payment of $250 million, which was recorded in other expense in the three months ended September 30, 2014. Calico is responsible for research and early development during the first five years and will continue to advance collaboration projects through Phase 2a for a ten year period. AbbVie will have the option to exclusively license collaboration compounds after completion of Phase 2a. AbbVie will support Calico in its early R&D efforts and, upon option exercise, would be responsible for all late-stage development and commercial activities. Collaboration costs and profits will be shared equally by both companies.

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

In September 2014, AbbVie entered into a global collaboration agreement with Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Infinity) to develop and commercialize duvelisib (IPI-145) for the treatment of patients with cancer. As part of the agreement, AbbVie made an initial upfront payment of $275 million, which was expensed to IPR&D in the three months ended September 30, 2014. In the three months ended September 30, 2015, AbbVie recorded a charge of $130 million in R&D expense due to the achievement of a development milestone under the collaboration agreement. This amount will be paid in the fourth quarter of 2015. Upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones, AbbVie could make additional payments of up to $400 million. In the United States, the companies will jointly commercialize duvelisib and will share equally in any potential profits. Outside the United States, AbbVie will be responsible for the commercialization of duvelisib, and Infinity is eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties on net sales.

Other Activity

United Therapeutics Corporation

In August 2015, AbbVie entered into an agreement to purchase a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV) from United Therapeutics Corporation. The PRV entitles AbbVie to receive an FDA priority review of a single New Drug Application or Biologics License Application, which reduces the target review time and could lead to an expedited approval. In exchange for the PRV, AbbVie made a payment of $350 million, which was recorded in R&D expense in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and as an operating cash outflow in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended September 30, 2015. AbbVie intends to use the PRV for an existing R&D project.

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Note 5 Collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc.

In December 2011, Pharmacyclics entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Janssen for the joint development and commercialization of IMBRUVICA, a novel, orally active, selective covalent inhibitor of BTK, and certain compounds structurally related to IMBRUVICA, for oncology and other indications, excluding all immune and inflammatory mediated diseases or conditions and all psychiatric or psychological diseases or conditions, in the United States and outside the United States.

The collaboration provides Janssen with an exclusive license to commercialize IMBRUVICA outside of the United States and co-exclusively with AbbVie in the United States. Both parties are responsible for the development, manufacturing and marketing of any products generated as a result of the collaboration. The collaboration has no set duration or specific expiration date and provides for potential future development, regulatory and approval milestone payments of up to $200 million to AbbVie.

The collaboration includes a cost sharing arrangement for associated collaboration activities. Except in certain cases, in general, Janssen is responsible for approximately 60% of collaboration development costs and AbbVie is responsible for the remaining 40% of collaboration development costs. AbbVie and Janssen share pre-tax profits and losses equally from the commercialization of products. Janssen is responsible for and has exclusive rights to commercialize IMBRUVICA outside the United States. While both parties have co-exclusive rights to commercialize the products in the United States, AbbVie is the principal in the end-customer product sales. Operating expenses for costs incurred under the collaboration are reported in their respective expense line items, net of any payments due or reimbursements due from Janssen. Revenues and profit share costs related to sales of IMBRUVICA in the United States are included in net revenues and cost of products sold, respectively. Amounts payable to AbbVie by Janssen for IMBRUVICA sales outside the United States are included in collaboration revenues.

Janssen's share of the pre-tax U.S. profits under the collaboration was $124 million and $169 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and was recorded within cost of products sold in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. AbbVie's share of pre-tax profits outside the United States under the collaboration were $37 million and $47 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. AbbVie's share of the cost sharing expenses under the collaboration was $65 million and $87 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

At September 30, 2015, AbbVie's receivable from Janssen was $39 million and AbbVie's payable to Janssen was $111 million, which were classified in accounts and other receivables, net and accounts payable and accrued liabilities, respectively, in AbbVie's condensed consolidated balance sheet.

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Note 6 Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The following table summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of AbbVie's goodwill:

(in millions)

Balance as of December 31, 2014

$5,862

Additions

7,610

Foreign currency translation and other adjustments

(229

)

Balance as of September 30, 2015

$13,243

Goodwill additions related to the acquisition of Pharmacyclics in the second quarter of 2015. Refer to Note 4 for additional information regarding this acquisition. The latest impairment assessment of goodwill was completed in the third quarter of 2015. As of September 30, 2015, there were no accumulated goodwill impairment losses. Future impairment tests for goodwill will be performed annually in the third quarter, or earlier if indicators of impairment exist.

Intangible Assets, Net

The following table summarizes AbbVie's intangible assets:

September 30, 2015

December 31, 2014

(in millions)

Gross
carrying
amount

Accumulated
amortization

Net
carrying
amount

Gross
carrying
amount

Accumulated
amortization

Net
carrying
amount

Definite-lived intangible assets

Developed product rights

$9,107

$(3,875

)

$5,232

$4,546

$(3,706

)

$840

License agreements

7,953

(952

)

7,001

1,097

(869

)

228

Total definite-lived intangible assets

17,060

(4,827

)

12,233

5,643

(4,575

)

1,068

Indefinite-lived research and development

7,589

-

7,589

445

-

445

Total intangible assets, net

$24,649

$(4,827

)

$19,822

$6,088

$(4,575

)

$1,513

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Amortization expense was $125 million and $98 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $279 million and $307 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in cost of products sold in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The anticipated annual amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets recorded as of September 30, 2015 is $389 million in 2015, $588 million in 2016, $666 million in 2017, $809 million in 2018, and $934 million in 2019.

The indefinite-lived intangible assets represent acquired IPR&D associated with products that have not yet received regulatory approval. The latest impairment assessment of intangible assets not subject to amortization was completed in the third quarter of 2015. No impairment charges were recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Future impairment tests for indefinite-lived intangible assets will be performed annually in the third quarter, or earlier if indicators of impairment exist.

The increase in intangible assets during 2015 was primarily due to the acquisition of Pharmacyclics in the second quarter of 2015. These intangible assets will be amortized using the estimated pattern of economic benefit. Refer to Note 4 for additional information regarding this acquisition.

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Note 7 Restructuring Plans

Restructuring charges recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $22 million and $50 million, respectively, and were primarily recorded in SG&A expense, R&D expense, and cost of products sold in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, restructuring charges included asset impairments of $11 million. The remaining charges primarily related to employee severance.

Restructuring charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $7 million and $16 million, respectively. These charges were primarily recorded in cost of products sold in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and primarily related to employee severance.

The following summarizes the cash activity in the restructuring reserve for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

(in millions)

Accrued balance at December 31, 2014

$122

2015 restructuring charges

39

Payments and other adjustments

(53

)

Accrued balance at September 30, 2015

$108

The restructuring reserve balance as of September 30, 2015 primarily related to restructuring plans approved in years prior to 2013 to realign AbbVie's worldwide manufacturing operations and selected commercial and R&D operations in the United States and internationally in order to reduce costs.

Note 8 Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measures

Risk Management Policy

The company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate risks related to its business operations. The company's hedging policy attempts to manage these risks to an acceptable level based on the company's judgment of the appropriate trade-off between risk, opportunity and costs. The company uses derivative instruments to reduce its exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. The company is also exposed to the risk that its earnings and cash flows could be adversely impacted by fluctuations in interest rates. The company periodically enters into interest rate swaps, based on judgment, to manage interest costs in which the company agrees to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional amount. Derivative instruments are not used for trading purposes or to manage exposure to changes in interest rates for investment securities, and none of the company's outstanding derivative instruments contain credit risk related contingent features; collateral is generally not required.

Financial Instruments

Various AbbVie foreign subsidiaries enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage exposures to changes in foreign exchange rates for anticipated intercompany transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the local entity. These contracts, with notional amounts totaling $98 million and $1.4 billion at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, are designated as cash flow hedges and are recorded at fair value. Accumulated gains and losses as of September 30, 2015 will be included in cost of products sold at the time the products are sold, generally not exceeding twelve months.

The company enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage its exposure to foreign currency denominated trade payables and receivables and intercompany loans. The contracts are marked-to-market, and resulting gains or losses are reflected in income and are generally offset by losses or gains on the foreign currency exposure being managed. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, AbbVie held notional amounts of $6.2 billion and $6.8 billion, respectively, of such foreign currency forward exchange contracts.

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AbbVie is a party to interest rate hedge contracts, designated as fair value hedges, totaling $11 billion and $8.0 billion at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The effect of the hedge is to change a fixed-rate interest obligation to a floating rate for that portion of the debt. AbbVie recorded the contracts at fair value and adjusted the carrying amount of the fixed-rate debt by an offsetting amount.

The following table summarizes the amounts and location of AbbVie's derivative instruments as of September 30, 2015:

Fair value –
Derivatives in asset position

Fair value –
Derivatives in liability position

(in millions)

Balance sheet caption

Amount

Balance sheet caption

Amount

Foreign currency forward exchange contracts -

Hedging instruments

Prepaid expenses and other

$7

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$-

Others not designated as hedges

Prepaid expenses and other

23

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

17

Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges

Prepaid expenses and other

62

Other long-term liabilities

6

Total derivatives

$92

$23

The following table summarizes the amounts and location of AbbVie's derivative instruments as of December 31, 2014:

Fair value –
Derivatives in asset position

Fair value –
Derivatives in liability position

(in millions)

Balance sheet caption

Amount

Balance sheet caption

Amount

Foreign currency forward exchange contracts -

Hedging instruments

Prepaid expenses and other

$141

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$-

Others not designated as hedges

Prepaid expenses and other

70

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

63

Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges

n/a

-

Other long-term liabilities

180

Total derivatives

$211

$243

While certain derivatives are subject to netting arrangements with the company's counterparties, the company does not offset derivative assets and liabilities within the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The unrealized gains/(losses) for the effective portions of the derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges recognized in other comprehensive income were $2 million and $112 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $78 million and $142 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was not significant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014.

The following table summarizes the location in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and the amount of gain/(loss) recognized into net earnings for derivative instruments, including the effective portions of the gain/(loss) reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss into net earnings:

Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30,

(in millions)

Income statement caption

2015

2014

2015

2014

Foreign currency forward exchange contracts -

Designated as cash flow hedges

Cost of products sold

$89

$(23

)

$171

$(59

)

Not designated as hedges

Net foreign exchange loss

(5

)

 (215

)

(170

)

 (233

)

Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges

Interest expense, net

235

(9

)

236

163

Total

$319

$(247

)

$237

$(129

)

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The gain/(loss) related to fair value hedges is recognized in interest expense, net and directly offsets the (loss)/gain on the underlying hedged item, the fixed-rate debt, resulting in no net impact to interest expense, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Fair Value Measures

The fair value hierarchy under the accounting standard for fair value measurements consists of the following three levels:

· Level 1 – Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets that the company has the ability to access;

· Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in the market; and

· Level 3 – Valuations using significant inputs that are unobservable in the market and include the use of judgment by the company's management about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The following table summarizes the bases used to measure certain assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015:

Basis of fair value measurement

(in millions)

Balance at
September 30,

2015

Quoted prices in active
markets for identical
assets
(Level 1)

Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Assets

Cash and equivalents

$9,223

$910

$8,313

$ -

Time deposits

8

-

8

-

Equity securities

33

33

-

-

Interest rate hedges

62

-

62

-

Foreign currency contracts

30

-

30

-

Total assets

$9,356

$943

$8,413

$ -

Liabilities

Interest rate hedges

$6

$ -

$6

$ -

Foreign currency contracts

17

-

17

-

Total liabilities

$23

$ -

$23

$ -

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The following table summarizes the bases used to measure certain assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014:

Basis of fair value measurement

(in millions)

Balance at
December 31,

2014

Quoted prices in active
markets for identical
assets
(Level 1)

Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Assets

Cash and equivalents

$8,348

$1,214

$7,134

$-

Time deposits

9

-

9

-

Equity securities

13

13

-

-

Foreign currency contracts

211

-

211

-

Total assets

$8,581

$1,227

$7,354

$-

Liabilities

Interest rate hedges

$180

$-

$180

$-

Foreign currency contracts

63

-

63

-

Total liabilities

$243

$-

$243

$-

The fair values for time deposits included in cash and equivalents and short-term investments are determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis reflecting quoted market rates for the same or similar instruments. The fair values of time deposits approximate their amortized cost due to the short maturities of these instruments. Available-for-sale equity securities consists of investments for which the fair values are determined by using the published market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held, without consideration of transaction costs. The derivatives entered into by the company are valued using publicized spot curves for interest rate hedges and publicized forward curves for foreign currency contracts.

Cumulative net unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale equity securities totaled $(1) million and $3 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement levels.

In addition to the financial instruments that the company is required to recognize at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, the company has certain financial instruments that are recognized at historical cost or some basis other than fair value. The carrying values and fair values of certain financial instruments as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are shown in the table below:

Book values

Approximate fair values

(in millions)

September 30,
2015

December 31,

2014

September 30,
2015

December 31,
2014

Assets

Investments

$58

$95

$96

$145

Liabilities

Short-term borrowings

760

425

760

425

Current portion of long-term debt and lease obligations

8

4,014

24

4,026

Long-term debt and lease obligations, excluding fair value hedges

31,303

10,718

31,023

10,803

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The following table summarizes the bases used to measure the approximate fair values of the financial instruments as of September 30, 2015:

Basis of fair value measurement

(in millions)

Fair Value at
September 30,
2015

Quoted prices in active
markets for identical
assets
(Level 1)

Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Assets

Investments

$96

$51

$17

$28

Total assets

$96

$51

$17

$28

Liabilities

Short-term borrowings

$760

$-

$760

$-

Current portion of long-term debt and lease obligations

24

-

24

-

Long-term debt and lease obligations, excluding fair value hedges

31,023

30,929

94

-

Total liabilities

$31,807

$30,929

$878

$-

The following table summarizes the bases used to measure the approximate fair values of the financial instruments as of December 31, 2014:

Basis of fair value measurement

(in millions)

Fair Value at
December 31,
2014

Quoted prices in active
markets for identical
assets
(Level 1)

Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Assets

Investments

$145

$68

$13

$64

Total assets

$145

$68

$13

$64

Liabilities

Short-term borrowings

$425

$-

$425

$-

Current portion of long-term debt and lease obligations

4,026

4,005

21

-

Long-term debt and lease obligations, excluding fair value hedges

10,803

10,710

93

-

Total liabilities

$15,254

$14,715

$539

$-

Investments consist of cost method investments and held-to-maturity debt securities. Cost method investments include certain investments for which the fair value is determined by using the published market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held, without consideration of transaction costs. To determine the fair value of other cost method investments, the company takes into consideration recent transactions, as well as the financial information of the investee, which represents a Level 3 basis of fair value measurement. The fair values of held-to-maturity debt securities were estimated based upon the quoted market prices for the same or similar debt instruments. The fair values of short-term and current borrowings approximate the carrying values due to the short maturities of these instruments.

The fair values of long-term debt, excluding fair value hedges, were determined by using the published market price for the debt instruments, without consideration of transaction costs, which represents a Level 1 basis of fair value measurement. The counterparties to financial instruments consist of select major international financial institutions.

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Table of Contents

Concentrations of Risk

The company invests excess cash in time deposits, money market funds, and U.S. Treasury securities and diversifies the concentration of cash among different financial institutions. The company monitors concentrations of credit risk associated with deposits with financial institutions. Credit exposure limits have been established to limit a concentration with any single issuer or institution.

At September 30, 2015, AbbVie had approximately $306 million of net monetary assets denominated in the Venezuelan bolivar (converted at a rate of 6.3 VEF/USD) in its Venezuelan entity, which had net revenues of $52 million and $149 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. If AbbVie's net monetary assets denominated in the Venezuelan bolivar had been converted at a rate of 13.5 VEF/USD at September 30, 2015, it would have resulted in a devaluation loss of $163 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The company cannot predict whether there will be devaluations of the Venezuelan currency or whether the use of the official rate of 6.3 will continue to be supported by evolving facts and circumstances. If circumstances change such that the company concludes it would be appropriate to use a different exchange rate, or if a devaluation of the official rate occurs, it could result in a significant change to AbbVie's results of operations.

Three U.S. wholesalers accounted for 50 percent and 49 percent of total net accounts receivable as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, and substantially all of AbbVie's sales in the United States are to these three wholesalers. In addition, net governmental receivables outstanding in Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain totaled $607 million at September 30, 2015 and $446 million at December 31, 2014.

HUMIRA ® (adalimumab) is AbbVie's single largest product and accounted for approximately 63 percent of AbbVie's total net revenues for both the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Debt and Credit Facilities

On September 25, 2015, AbbVie entered into a $2 billion three-year term loan credit agreement and a $2 billion 364 - day term loan credit agreement. As of September 30, 2015, AbbVie had not drawn on these facilities. In November 2015, AbbVie drew on these term facilities and used the proceeds to refinance its $4 billion of senior notes maturing in 2015. As a result of this refinancing, the $4 billion of senior notes maturing in 2015 were classified as long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015. The margin with respect to the borrowings under the term loan facilities will be based on AbbVie's public debt rating. The term loan facilities contains customary covenants, all of which the company remains in compliance with as of September 30, 2015.

In May 2015, the company issued $16.7 billion aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior notes, consisting of $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of its 1.8% senior notes due 2018, $3.75 billion aggregate principal amount of its 2.5% senior notes due 2020, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of its 3.2% senior notes due 2022, $3.75 billion aggregate principal amount of its 3.6% senior notes due 2025, $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of its 4.5% senior notes due 2035 and $2.7 billion aggregate principal amount of its 4.7% senior notes due 2045. These senior notes rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the company. AbbVie may redeem the senior notes prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the senior notes redeemed plus a make-whole premium. Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the offering totaled $93 million and are being amortized over the respective terms of the notes to interest expense, net in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The senior notes contain customary covenants, all of which the company remains in compliance with as of September 30, 2015.

Approximately $11.5 billion of the net proceeds were used to finance the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and approximately $5.0 billion of the net proceeds were used to finance the accelerated share repurchase agreement with Morgan Stanley. Refer to Notes 4 and 10 for additional information related to the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and the ASR, respectively.

In March 2015, AbbVie entered into an $18 billion, 364-Day Bridge Term Loan Credit Agreement (the bridge loan) in support of the planned acquisition of Pharmacyclics. No amounts were drawn under the bridge loan, which was terminated in the second quarter of 2015 as a result of the company's May 2015 issuance of the senior notes. Interest expense, net includes $86 million of costs related to the bridge loan, which were incurred in the first half of 2015.

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Short-term borrowings include commercial paper borrowings of $760 million and $416 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding commercial paper borrowings for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was 0.2 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, AbbVie was in compliance with the financial covenants of its $3 billion unsecured credit facility. No amounts were outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Note 9 Post-Employment Benefits

The following is a summary of net periodic benefit costs relating to the company's defined benefit and other post-employment plans for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Defined
benefit plans

Other post-
employment plans

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2014

Service cost

$57

$44

$7

$7

Interest cost

54

55

6

6

Expected return on plan assets

(81

)

(75

)

-

-

Amortization of actuarial losses (gains) and prior service costs

31

16

-

(1

)

Net periodic benefit cost

$61

$40

$13

$12

The following is a summary of net periodic benefit costs relating to the company's defined benefit and other post-employment plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Defined
benefit plans

Other post-
employment plans

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2014

Service cost

$171

$131

$19

$17

Interest cost

164

164

18

17

Expected return on plan assets

(244

)

(226

)

-

-

Amortization of actuarial losses (gains) and prior service costs

95

50

1

(3

)

Net periodic benefit cost

$186

$119

$38

$31

AbbVie made voluntary contributions of $150 million and $370 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 to its main domestic defined benefit pension plan.

Note 10 Equity

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense was $55 million and $44 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $229 million and $198 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is principally classified in SG&A expense with the remainder classified in R&D expense and cost of products sold.

Prior to separation, AbbVie employees participated in Abbott's incentive stock program. The AbbVie 2013 Incentive Stock Program, adopted at the time of separation, facilitated the assumption of certain awards granted under Abbott's incentive stock program and authorizes the post-separation grant of several different forms of benefits, including nonqualified stock options, RSAs, RSUs, and performance-based RSAs and RSUs.

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In connection with the separation, outstanding Abbott employee stock options, RSAs, and RSUs previously issued under Abbott's incentive stock program, were adjusted and converted into new Abbott and AbbVie stock-based awards using a formula designed to preserve the intrinsic value and fair value of the awards immediately prior to the separation. Upon the separation on January 1, 2013, holders of Abbott stock options, RSAs, and RSUs, generally received one AbbVie stock-based award for each Abbott stock-based award outstanding. These adjusted awards retained the vesting schedule and expiration date of the original awards. No awards have been granted to Abbott employees other than in connection with the separation.

Stock Options

The exercise price for options granted is equal to at least 100 percent of the market value on the date of grant. Stock options typically have a contractual term of 10 years and generally vest in one-third increments over a three-year period.

The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes model. The weighted-average grant-date fair values of the stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were $9.96 and $9.83, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense attributable to options during each of the periods presented was not material.

The following table summarizes AbbVie stock option activity for both AbbVie and Abbott employees for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

(options in thousands, aggregate intrinsic value in millions)

Options

Weighted-
average
exercise
price

Weighted-
average
remaining life
(in years)

Aggregate
intrinsic value

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

28,280

$28.53

3.3

$1,044

Granted

1,207

58.83

Exercised

(5,002

)

26.71

Lapsed

(43

)

27.39

Outstanding at September 30, 2015

24,442

30.40

3.2

$592

Exercisable at September 30, 2015

21,964

$27.99

2.6

$580

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the difference between the exercise price and the company's closing stock price on the last day of trading for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $43 million and $39 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $186 million and $150 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, $6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options is expected to be recognized as expense over approximately the next two years.

RSAs & RSUs

The following table summarizes AbbVie RSA and RSU activity (including performance-based awards) for both AbbVie and Abbott employees for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

(share units in thousands)

Share units

Weighted-average
grant date fair value

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

12,815

$40.98

Granted

5,863

61.03

Vested

(5,608

)

37.36

Lapsed

(456

)

48.77

Outstanding at September 30, 2015

12,614

$51.62

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The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of RSAs and RSUs (including performance-based awards) is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the company's common stock on the date of the grant. The fair market value of RSAs and RSUs vested was $6 million and $7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $330 million and $332 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, $278 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSAs and RSUs is expected to be recognized as expense over approximately the next two years.

Cash Dividends

On September 11, 2015, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.51 per share. The dividend is payable November 16, 2015 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2015. Additionally, on February 13, May 15, and August 14, 2015, AbbVie paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.49, $0.51, and $0.51 per share of common stock, respectively, which were declared by the board of directors on October 20, 2014, February 19, and June 18, 2015, respectively. The dividends declared on October 20, 2014 and February 19, 2015, represented an increase of nearly 17 percent and approximately 4 percent, respectively, over the previous quarterly rate of $0.42 per share and $0.49 per share, respectively. On October 30, 2015, the company announced that its board of directors declared an increase in the company's quarterly cash dividend from $0.51 per share to $0.57 per share beginning with the dividend payable on February 16, 2016 to stockholders of record as of January 15, 2016. This reflects an increase of approximately 12 percent over the previous quarterly rate.

On February 14, May 15, August 15, and November 17, 2014, AbbVie paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.40, $0.42, $0.42 and $0.42 per share of common stock, respectively, which were declared by the board of directors on December 12, 2013, February 20, 2014, June 19, 2014 and September 19, 2014, respectively.

Stock Repurchase Program

On February 15, 2013, AbbVie's board of directors authorized a $1.5 billion common stock repurchase program. On October 20, 2014, AbbVie's board of directors authorized a new $5.0 billion stock repurchase program, which was effective immediately and superseded the previous authorization. This program is expected to be executed over the next several years. The stock repurchase authorization permits purchases of AbbVie shares from time to time in open market or private transactions at management's direction depending on the company's cash flows, net debt level, and market conditions. The program has no time limit and can be discontinued at any time.

In March 2015, the board of directors authorized a $5.0 billion increase to the existing stock repurchase program in anticipation of executing an accelerated share repurchase agreement in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics. On May 26, 2015, AbbVie entered into and executed the $5.0 billion ASR with Morgan Stanley. Pursuant to the terms of ASR, Morgan Stanley made an initial delivery of approximately 68 million shares of AbbVie's common stock on May 27, 2015, which represented approximately 90% of the total shares expected to be delivered under the ASR. AbbVie recorded the aggregate $5.0 billion purchase price as a reduction to common stock held in treasury in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015. In the three months ended September 30, 2015, Morgan Stanley delivered an additional 5 million shares of AbbVie's common stock to AbbVie in final settlement of the ASR.

In addition, AbbVie repurchased approximately 21 million shares for $1.2 billion in the open market during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and approximately 5 million shares for $250 million in the open market during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Shares repurchased under these programs are recorded at acquisition cost, including related expenses, and are available for general corporate purposes. AbbVie's remaining stock repurchase authorization was $3.5 billion as of September 30, 2015.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table summarizes the changes in balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

(in millions) (brackets denote losses)

Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments

Pension

and post-
employment
benefits

Unrealized
gains on
marketable
equity

securities

Hedging
activities

Total

Balance as of December 31, 2014

$(603

)

$(1,608

)

$3

$177

$(2,031

)

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications

(464

)

23

-

78

(363

)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

-

68

(4

)

(169

)

(105

)

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income

(464

)

91

(4

)

(91

)

(468

)

Balance as of September 30, 2015

$(1,067

)

$(1,517

)

$(1

)

$86

$(2,499

)

Other comprehensive loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes foreign currency translation adjustments totaling a loss of $464 million, which was principally driven by the impact of the continued weakening of the Euro in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 on the translation of the company's Euro-denominated assets.

The following table summarizes the changes in balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

(in millions) (brackets denote losses)

Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments

Pension

and post-
employment
benefits

Unrealized
gains on
marketable
equity

securities

Hedging
activities

Total

Balance as of December 31, 2013

$470

$(827

)

$2

$(87

)

$(442

)

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications

(714

)

-

(1

142

(573

)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

-

43

-

59

102

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income

(714

)

43

(1

201

(471

Balance as of September 30, 2014

$(244

$(784

)

$1

$114

$(913

)

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The table below presents the impact on AbbVie's condensed consolidated statements of earnings for significant amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions) (brackets denote gains)

2015

2014

2015

2014

Pension and post-employment benefits

Amortization of actuarial losses and other (a)

$31

$27

$96

$59

Less tax benefit

(10

)

(7

)

(28

)

(16

)

Total reclassification, net of tax

$21

$20

$68

$43

Hedging activities

(Gains) losses on designated cash flow hedges (b)

$(89

)

$23

$(171

)

$59

Less tax expense

-

-

2

-

Total reclassification, net of tax

$(89

)

$23

$(169

)

$59

(a) Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 9).

(b) Amounts are included in cost of products sold (see Note 8).

Note 11 Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 25 percent and 23 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and 26 percent and 24 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate in each period differs from the statutory tax rate of 35 percent primarily due to the benefit from foreign operations, which reflects the impact of lower statutory tax rates in locations outside the United States, tax exemptions and incentives in Puerto Rico and other foreign tax jurisdictions, and business development activities together with the cost of repatriation decisions. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 over the prior year was principally due to changes in the jurisdictional mix of earnings, as well as certain discrete factors and events. Additionally, the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes the reversal of previously recognized state valuation allowances of $103 million recorded during the second quarter of 2015 in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics.

Due to the potential for resolution of federal, state, and foreign examinations, and the expiration of various statutes of limitations, i t is reasonably possible that the company's gross unrecognized tax benefits balance may change within the next twelve months up to $22 million. AbbVie and Abbott entered into a tax sharing agreement effective on the date of separation, which provides that Abbott is liable for and has indemnified AbbVie against all income tax liabilities for periods prior to the separation. Accordingly, Abbott will indemnify and hold AbbVie harmless if the tax positions are settled for amounts in excess of recorded liabilities, and AbbVie will not benefit if prior tax positions are resolved more favorably than recorded amounts.

Note 12 Legal Proceedings and Contingencies

AbbVie is subject to contingencies, such as various claims, legal proceedings and investigations regarding product liability, intellectual property, commercial, securities and other matters that arise in the normal course of business. Loss contingency provisions are recorded for probable losses at management's best estimate of a loss, or when a best estimate cannot be made, a minimum loss contingency amount within a probable range is recorded. The recorded accrual balance for litigation at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was not significant. Initiation of new legal proceedings or a change in the status of existing proceedings may result in a change in the estimated loss accrued by AbbVie. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of all proceedings and exposures with certainty, management believes that their ultimate disposition should not have a material adverse effect on AbbVie's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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Subject to certain exceptions specified in the separation agreement by and between Abbott and AbbVie, AbbVie assumed the liability for, and control of, all pending and threatened legal matters related to its business, including liabilities for any claims or legal proceedings related to products that had been part of its business but were discontinued prior to the distribution, as well as assumed or retained liabilities, and will indemnify Abbott for any liability arising out of or resulting from such assumed legal matters.

Several pending lawsuits filed against Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a company Abbott acquired in February 2010 and now known as AbbVie Products LLC) and others are consolidated for pre-trial purposes in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the Multi-District Litigation (MDL) Rules as In re: AndroGel Antitrust Litigation , MDL No. 2084. These cases, brought by private plaintiffs and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), generally allege Solvay's 2006 patent litigation involving AndroGel® was sham litigation and the patent litigation settlement agreement and related agreements with three generic companies violate federal and state antitrust laws and state consumer protection and unjust enrichment laws. Plaintiffs generally seek monetary damages and/or injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. MDL No. 2084 includes: (a) four individual plaintiff lawsuits; (b) six purported class actions; and (c)  Federal Trade Commission v. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al.   Following the district court's dismissal of all plaintiffs' claims, appellate proceedings led to the reinstatement of the claims regarding the patent litigation settlement, which are proceeding in discovery in the district court. The Attorney General of the State of Alaska has served AbbVie with a Civil Investigative Demand, primarily seeking documents that AbbVie produced in these lawsuits.

In November 2007, GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) filed a lawsuit against Abbott in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that Abbott violated federal antitrust and various state laws in connection with the 2003 Norvir® re-pricing. In March 2011, a jury found that Abbott did not violate antitrust laws, but breached its license agreement with GSK. In January 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed this verdict and remanded the case for a new trial due to the alleged improper exclusion of a potential juror. The case was returned to the district court in California, but after GSK dismissed its federal antitrust claims, the case was transferred in April 2015 to the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, where pre-trial proceedings are pending. AbbVie assumed the liability for and control of this proceeding in connection with its separation from Abbott.

Lawsuits are pending against AbbVie and others generally alleging that the 2005 patent litigation settlement involving Niaspan® entered into between Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a company acquired by Abbott in 2006 and presently a subsidiary of AbbVie) and a generic company violates federal and state antitrust laws and state unfair and deceptive trade practices and unjust enrichment laws. Plaintiffs generally seek monetary damages and/or injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. The lawsuits consist of two individual plaintiff lawsuits and two consolidated purported class actions: one brought by three named direct purchasers of Niaspan® and the other brought by ten named end-payor purchasers of Niaspan®. The cases are consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the MDL Rules as In re: Niaspan Antitrust Litigation , MDL No. 2460. The office of the Attorney General of the State of Alaska has served AbbVie with a Civil Investigative Demand, primarily seeking documents that AbbVie produced in this lawsuit.

In September 2014, the FTC filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against AbbVie and others, alleging that the 2011 patent litigation with two generic companies regarding AndroGel® was sham litigation and the patent litigation settlement with one of those generic companies violates federal antitrust laws. The FTC's complaint seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief. In May 2015, the court dismissed the FTC's claim regarding the patent litigation settlement, and in August 2015, the court denied the FTC's request for reconsideration of the dismissal. The office of the Attorney General of the State of Alaska has served AbbVie with a Civil Investigative Demand, primarily seeking documents that AbbVie produced in this lawsuit.

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In March 2015, the State of Louisiana filed a lawsuit, State of Louisiana v. Fournier Industrie et Sante, et al. , against AbbVie, Abbott and affiliated Abbott entities in Louisiana state court. Plaintiff alleges that patent applications and patent litigation filed and other alleged conduct from the early 2000's and before related to the drug TriCor® violated Louisiana state antitrust and unfair trade practices laws. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and attorneys' fees. In August 2015, the court dismissed the case as time-barred.  The state's appeal of that dismissal is pending.

In August 2013, a putative class action lawsuit, Sidney Hillman Health Center of Rochester, et al. v. AbbVie Inc., et al. , was filed against AbbVie in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by three healthcare benefit providers alleging violations of Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes and state deceptive business practice and unjust enrichment laws in connection with reimbursements for certain uses of Depakote® from 1998 to 2012. Plaintiffs seek monetary damages and/or equitable relief and attorneys' fees. In April 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed the district court's decision to dismiss all of the plaintiffs' claims with prejudice on statute of limitations grounds. The case has been returned to the district court for further proceedings.

In November 2014, a putative class action lawsuit, Medical Mutual of Ohio v. AbbVie Inc., et al. , was filed against several manufacturers of testosterone replacement therapies (TRTs), including AbbVie, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of all insurance companies, health benefit providers, and other third party payors who paid for TRTs, including AndroGel®. The claims asserted include violations of the federal RICO Act and state consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices laws. The complaint seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief.

Product liability cases are pending in which plaintiffs generally allege that AbbVie and other manufacturers of TRTs did not adequately warn about risks of certain injuries, primarily heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. Approximately 1,600 cases are consolidated for pre-trial purposes in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under the MDL Rules as In re: Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Liability Litigation , MDL No. 2545. Approximately 70 cases are pending in various state courts. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages.

Product liability cases are pending in which plaintiffs generally allege that AbbVie did not adequately warn about risk of certain injuries, primarily various birth defects, arising from use of Depakote®. Over ninety percent of the approximately 700 claims are pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, and the rest are pending in various other federal and state courts. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages.

In November 2014, five individuals filed a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers and sellers of certain Shire plc (Shire) securities between June 20 and October 14, 2014, against AbbVie and its chief executive officer in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging that the defendants made and/or are responsible for material misstatements in violation of federal securities laws in connection with AbbVie's proposed transaction with Shire. The complaint seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief.

In December 2014, a shareholder derivative lawsuit, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 60 Pension Plans v. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, et al. , was filed in Delaware Chancery Court, alleging that AbbVie's directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the approval and termination of AbbVie's proposed transaction with Shire. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for AbbVie, among other relief.

AbbVie is seeking to enforce its patent rights relating to ritonavir/lopinavir tablets (a drug AbbVie sells under the trademark Kaletra®). In a case filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in March 2009, AbbVie alleges that Matrix Laboratories, Inc.'s, Matrix Laboratories, Ltd.'s, and Mylan, Inc.'s proposed generic products infringe AbbVie's patents and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. Upon Matrix's motion in November 2009, the court granted a five-year stay of the litigation unless good cause to lift the stay is shown. On July 1, 2014, the stay was lifted pursuant to the original terms of the court order entered in 2009. In February 2015, in a related case filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, AbbVie alleges that Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s, Mylan Laboratories, Ltd.'s and Mylan Laboratories, Inc.'s proposed generic lopinavir/ritonavir products infringe additional AbbVie patents and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. On September 30, 2015, AbbVie and Mylan entered into a confidential settlement and license agreement and the litigation was dismissed by the stipulation of the parties.

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AbbVie is seeking to enforce its patent rights relating to ritonavir tablets (a drug AbbVie sells under the trademark Norvir®). In a case filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware in October 2014, AbbVie alleges that Mylan Pharmaceutical Inc.'s proposed generic ritonavir tablets product infringes AbbVie's patents and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. On September 30, 2015, AbbVie and Mylan entered into a confidential settlement and license agreement and the litigation was dismissed by stipulation of the parties.

Note 13 Segment Information

AbbVie operates in one business segment-pharmaceutical products. Substantially all of AbbVie's net revenues in the United States are to three wholesalers. Outside the United States, products are sold primarily to health care providers or through distributors, depending on the market served. The following table details AbbVie's worldwide net revenues:

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2014

HUMIRA

$3,647

$3,255

$10,295

$9,180

IMBRUVICA

304

-

411

-

VIEKIRA

469

-

1,085

-

Creon

161

148

447

365

Synagis

93

109

474

537

Lupron

201

196

591

571

Synthroid

188

200

561

523

Kaletra

168

256

515

667

AndroGel

177

232

500

704

Sevoflurane

122

134

366

430

Duodopa

61

56

169

164

Dyslipidemia products

43

63

124

224

All other

310

370

921

1,143

Total net revenues

$5,944

$5,019

$16,459

$14,508

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion and analysis of the financial condition of AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie or the company) as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. This commentary should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes appearing in "Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Company Overview

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories (Abbott). AbbVie's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. AbbVie products are used to treat chronic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease; hepatitis C (HCV); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); cancer and leukemia; endometriosis; thyroid disease; Parkinson's disease; complications associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cystic fibrosis; and other health conditions such as low testosterone. AbbVie also has a pipeline of promising new medicines across such important medical specialties as immunology, virology/liver disease, oncology, renal disease, neurological diseases, cystic fibrosis, and women's health.

AbbVie's products are generally sold worldwide directly to wholesalers, distributors, government agencies, health care facilities, specialty pharmacies, and independent retailers from AbbVie-owned distribution centers and public warehouses. In the United States, AbbVie distributes pharmaceutical products principally through independent wholesale distributors, with some sales directly to pharmacies and patients. Outside the United States, sales are made either directly to customers or through distributors, depending on the market served. Certain products are co-marketed or co-promoted with other companies. AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. AbbVie operates in one business segment-pharmaceutical products.

AbbVie owns or has license rights to a substantial number of patents and patent applications, which in aggregate are believed to be of material importance in the operation of AbbVie's business. In addition to the intellectual property protection disclosed in AbbVie's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, AbbVie has non-composition of matter patents, such as manufacturing patents, formulation patents, patents covering HUMIRA's approved indications, and other patents covering HUMIRA. The earliest of these patents expires in 2022.

For the remainder of 2015, AbbVie expects revenue performance to be driven by strong growth from HUMIRA, the global launch of AbbVie's interferon-free HCV treatment, and revenue growth in certain key products including Creon and Duodopa, partially offset by a decline in several products due to generic competition, including AndroGel 1% and the remainder of the lipid franchise. IMBRUVICA, acquired through the acquisition of Pharmacyclics, Inc. (Pharmacyclics) in May 2015 as further discussed below, will also be a significant contributor to revenue growth in 2015. In addition, AbbVie expects to achieve operating margin improvements while continuing to invest in its pipeline in support of opportunities in oncology, HCV, and immunology, as well as investment in key products. AbbVie expects to grow operating cash flows in 2015, which will enable the company to continue to augment its pipeline through concerted focus on strategic licensing, acquisition and partnering activity and returning cash to stockholders via dividends and share repurchases.

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On May 26, 2015, AbbVie completed its acquisition of Pharmacyclics, a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes novel therapies for people impacted by cancer, and its flagship asset IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib), a novel, orally active, selective covalent inhibitor of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK). As part of a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), IMBRUVICA is approved for use in the United States, Canada, and the EU as well as other countries worldwide. AbbVie will market IMBRUVICA in the United States for four indications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): (i) for patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior therapy; (ii) for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy; (iii) for the treatment of CLL patients with deletion of the short arm chromosome 17 (del 17p CLL); and (iv) for the treatment of patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM). The acquisition will accelerate AbbVie's clinical and commercial presence in oncology, strengthen its pipeline, and establish a leadership position in hematological oncology. The acquisition will also accelerate AbbVie's revenue and earnings growth and further diversify its revenue base. AbbVie expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings beginning in 2017. Refer to Note 4 entitled "Licensing, Acquisitions and Other Arrangements" of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part 1, Item 1, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information regarding the acquisition of Pharmacyclics.

Research and development (R&D) efforts for the remainder of 2015 will continue to focus on compounds for immunology, virology/liver disease, oncology, renal disease, neurological diseases, cystic fibrosis, and women's health. AbbVie's scientists work to advance a pipeline of specialty molecules that demonstrate strong clinical performance for patients and economic value for patients and their healthcare systems. Additional information about AbbVie's pipeline is set forth in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in AbbVie's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. See the "Research and Development" section below for significant updates to AbbVie's pipeline.

Financial Results

The company's financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 included delivering worldwide net revenues of $16.5 billion, improved gross margin, and fully diluted earnings per share of $2.21. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, AbbVie's worldwide net revenues grew by 21 percent on a constant currency basis, driven primarily by the continued strength of HUMIRA, the global launch of AbbVie's interferon-free HCV treatment, revenue growth from other key products including Creon, and Duodopa, and post-acquisition revenues related to IMBRUVICA. AbbVie's financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 also reflected an improvement in gross margin to 82 percent of net revenues, primarily due to favorable product mix across the product portfolio, operating efficiencies, and the impact of foreign exchange rates. Financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 also reflected continued funding in support of AbbVie's emerging mid-and late-stage pipeline assets, continued investment in AbbVie's growth brands, and the global launch of AbbVie's interferon-free HCV treatment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, AbbVie also recorded acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) charges of $150 million, a charge of $350 million related to the purchase of a priority review voucher from a third party, and a charge of $130 million due the achievement of a development milestone under the collaboration with Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Infinity).

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the company generated cash flows from operations of $5.6 billion. These strong cash flows enabled the company to continue to enhance its pipeline through licensing and collaboration activities, pay cash dividends to stockholders of $2.5 billion, and repurchase approximately 21 million shares of common stock for $1.2 billion in the open market (excluding the shares repurchased under an accelerated share repurchase agreement). AbbVie also executed a $5.0 billion accelerated share repurchase agreement (ASR) pursuant to which AbbVie paid $5.0 billion for an aggregate 73 million shares of AbbVie's common stock and issued $16.7 billion aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior notes the proceeds of which were used to finance the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and the ASR. The board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.51 per share of common stock payable in November 2015. In addition, on October 30, 2015, the company announced that its board of directors declared an increase in the company's quarterly cash dividend from $0.51 per share to $0.57 per share beginning with the dividend payable on February 16, 2016.

In addition to these financial results, AbbVie continued to advance and augment its pipeline in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as further described below under the heading "Research and Development."

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Research and Development

Research and innovation continues to be a key strategic priority for AbbVie. AbbVie's long-term success depends to a great extent on its ability to continue to discover and develop innovative pharmaceutical products and acquire or collaborate on compounds currently in development by other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies.

AbbVie's pipeline currently includes more than 40 compounds or indications in clinical development individually or under collaboration or license agreements across such important medical specialties as immunology, virology/liver disease, oncology, renal disease, neurological diseases, cystic fibrosis, and women's health. Of these programs, more than 30 are in mid- and late-stage development. In addition, IMBRUVICA is in mid- and late-stage development for additional hematological oncology indications, with more than 60 clinical trials underway, including 13 in Phase 3 development. IMBRUVICA is also in early-stage development for solid tumors.

Transitions of significant programs from Phase 2 development to Phase 3 development as well as recent developments in significant Phase 3 and registration programs included the following:

· In January 2015, AbbVie announced that the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorizations for its all-oral, short-course, interferon-free treatment VIEKIRAX (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) + EXVIERA (dasabuvir tablets). The treatment was approved with or without ribavirin (RBV) for patients with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic HCV infection, including those with compensated liver cirrhosis, HIV-1 co-infection, patients on opioid substitution therapy and liver transplant recipients. Additionally, VIEKIRAX/EXVIERA was approved for use with RBV in genotype 4 (GT4) chronic HCV patients. AbbVie recently submitted a regulatory application in the United States for a once-daily formulation of VIEKIRA PAK.

· AbbVie also announced in January 2015 that the FDA approved Duopa (carbidopa and levodopa), an enteral suspension for the treatment of motor fluctuations for people with advanced Parkinson's disease. Duopa is administered using a small, portable infusion pump that delivers carbidopa and levodopa directly into the small intestine for 16 continuous hours via a procedurally-placed tube. This product is sold under the name Duodopa outside the United States.

· In February 2015, AbbVie announced that it submitted its regulatory application in Japan seeking approval for the company's investigational, all-oral, RBV and interferon-free, 12-week, two direct-acting antiviral treatment of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (OBV/PTV/r), dosed once daily. AbbVie's regulatory application for the treatment of patients with GT1 chronic HCV infection was approved in September 2015. AbbVie anticipates launching in Japan following a 60 day reimbursement review cycle.

· In February 2015, the FDA filed the supplemental Biologic License Application (BLA) for a new formulation of HUMIRA, which was submitted by the company in December 2014. AbbVie recently received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for this new HUMIRA formulation specifically designed to reduce injection pain and reduce injection volume. This new formulation is currently under review by the FDA.

· In February 2015, the registration submission for ZINBRYTA® (daclizumab) was made in the United States followed by the European Union (EU) submission in March 2015. In March, AbbVie and Biogen Idec (Biogen) announced that the EMA had validated the companies' marketing authorization application for ZINBRYTA® (daclizumab) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in the EU. Validation confirms that the submission is complete and signifies the initiation of the review process by the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). In April 2015, AbbVie and Biogen announced that the FDA accepted for review the registration submission in the United States.

· In April 2015, AbbVie announced that the EC granted marketing authorization for HUMIRA for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis in children and adolescence from four years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are inappropriate candidates for topical therapy and phototherapies. With the EC decision, HUMIRA now has approval for use in this indication in all member states of the EU.

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· The FDA approved AbbVie's regulatory application for TECHNIVIE (OBV/PTV/r tablets) in combination with RBV for the treatment of adults with GT4 chronic HCV infection who do not have cirrhosis. TECHNIVIE is the first and only all-oral, interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral treatment approved in the United States for adult patients with GT4 chronic HCV infection.

· AbbVie recently received a decision by the EC regarding compliance with its pediatric investigation plan for HUMIRA, which ensures that necessary data are obtained through studies in children. As a result of this positive decision, the company will now seek an extension from each EU member state where a supplementary protection certificate is held. Once approved, this will extend the HUMIRA composition of matter patent in the EU by six months from April 2018 to October 2018.

· In May 2015, AbbVie announced its investigational medicine venetoclax, an inhibitor of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein that is being developed in partnership with Genentech and Roche, has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for the treatment of CLL in previously treated (relapsed/refractory) patients with the 17p deletion mutation. AbbVie's regulatory application in the United States has been submitted. AbbVie expects to submit its regulatory application in the EU for this indication by the end of 2015.

· In May 2015, AbbVie announced that the FDA granted HUMIRA orphan drug designation for the treatment of moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a painful, chronic inflammatory skin disease. In July 2015, AbbVie announced that its marketing authorization for HUMIRA for the treatment of active moderate-to-severe HS was approved in the EU. AbbVie's BLA was approved by the FDA in September 2015. Approval for this indication represents the thirteenth indication for HUMIRA in major geographies around the world.

· Registration submissions were submitted to the FDA and the EC for elotuzumab, an investigational Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAMF7)-directed immunostimulatory antibody (proposed tradename Empliciti ) which is being developed in partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb for front line and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In July 2015, the EMA validated for review the Marketing Authorization Application for elotuzumab for the treatment of multiple myeloma as combination therapy in adult patients who have received one or more prior therapies. The application was granted accelerated assessment by the CHMP.

· In July 2015, AbbVie announced that the EC granted marketing authorization for IMBRUVICA as the first treatment option specifically approved for treatment of adult patients with WM, a rare, slow growing blood cancer. Pharmacyclics received FDA approval for IMBRUVICA in January 2015. The EC approval triggered a $20 million milestone payment from Janssen.

· In September 2015, AbbVie announced that it intends to advance a once-daily formulation of ABT-494, its internally developed investigational selective Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor, into Phase 3 studies in rheumatoid arthritis by the end of 2015.

· Following a thorough review of available data, AbbVie announced that it will not exercise its right to in-license a JAK1 inhibitor, filgotinib, from Galapagos NV (Galapagos). Pursuant to the terms of the global collaboration agreement with Galapagos, all rights to filgotinib will revert solely to Galapagos.

· In September 2015, AbbVie announced that it submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the FDA for IMBRUVICA for treatment-naïve CLL patients. The sNDA is based on results from the Phase 3 RESONATE™-2 study, which evaluated efficacy and safety of IMBRUVICA versus traditional chemotherapy, chlorambucil, in treatment-naïve CLL patients aged 65 years or older.

· In addition, AbbVie announced that it intends to move elagolix for the treatment of patients with uterine fibroids into Phase 3 development in the first quarter 2016. Elagolix is also in Phase 3 development for the treatment of endometriosis.

· AbbVie also submitted regulatory applications in the United States and the EU for HUMIRA for the treatment for uveitis.

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For the first nine months ended September 30, 2015, AbbVie also augmented its pipeline through strategic licensing and partnering activities including in-licensing an anti-tau antibody (ABBV-8E12) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders from C 2 N Diagnostics (C 2 N), a privately held protein diagnostic and therapeutic discovery company.

For a more comprehensive discussion of AbbVie's products and pipeline, refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. See also Note 4 entitled "Licensing, Acquisitions and Other Arrangements" of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further information relating to the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and the license agreement with C 2 N. Refer also to Note 5 entitled "Collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc." of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the collaboration with Janssen.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Revenues

The comparisons presented at constant currency rates reflect comparative local currency net revenues at the prior year's foreign exchange rates. This measure provides information on the change in net revenues assuming that foreign currency exchange rates had not changed between the prior and the current period. AbbVie believes that the non-GAAP measure of change in net revenues at constant currency rates, when used in conjunction with the GAAP measure of change in net revenues at actual currency rates, may provide a more complete understanding of the company's operations and can facilitate analysis of the company's results of operations, particularly in evaluating performance from one period to another.

Percent change

Percent change

Three months ended
September 30,

At actual
currency rates

At constant
currency rates

Nine months ended
September 30,

At actual
currency rates

At constant
currency rates

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2015

2015

2014

2015

2015

United States

$3,690

$2,809

31

%

31

%

$9,710

$7,681

26

%

26

%

International

2,254

2,210

2

%

20

%

6,749

6,827

(1

)%

15

%

Net revenues

$5,944

$5,019

18

%

26

%

$16,459

$14,508

13

%

21

%

On a constant currency basis, revenue growth in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was driven primarily by the continued strength of HUMIRA, both in the United States and internationally, the global launch of AbbVie's interferon-free HCV treatment, and revenue growth in other key products including Creon and Duodopa. Net revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 also reflect $304 million and $411 million, respectively, of net revenues related to IMBRUVICA that were recorded subsequent to the acquisition of Pharmacyclics on May 26, 2015. These increases were partially offset by a decline in net revenues of AndroGel, principally due to continued market declines and the entry of generic competition for the AndroGel 1% formulation, the continued decline of the company's lipid franchise, and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

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The following table details AbbVie's worldwide net revenues:

Percent change

Percent change

Three months ended
September 30,

At actual
currency rates

At constant
currency rates

Nine months ended
September 30,

At actual
currency rates

At constant
currency rates

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2015

2015

2014

2015

2015

HUMIRA

United States

$2,268

$1,739

30

%

30

%

$6,073

$4,592

32

%

32

%

International

1,379

1,516

(9

)%

7

%

4,222

4,588

(8

)%

8

%

Total

$3,647

$3,255

12

%

20

%

$10,295

$9,180

12

%

20

%

IMBRUVICA

United States

$267

-

n/m

n/m

$364

-

n/m

n/m

Collaboration revenues

37

-

n/m

n/m

47

-

n/m

n/m

Total

$304

-

n/m

n/m

$411

-

n/m

n/m

VIEKIRA

United States

$242

-

n/m

n/m

$607

-

n/m

n/m

International

227

-

n/m

n/m

478

-

n/m

n/m

Total

$469

-

n/m

n/m

$1,085

-

n/m

n/m

Creon

United States

$161

$148

8

%

8

%

$447

$365

22

%

22

%

Synagis

International

$93

$109

(15

)%

(1

)%

$474

$537

(12

)%

2

%

Lupron

United States

$158

$147

8

%

8

%

$464

$420

11

%

11

%

International

43

49

(14

)%

6

%

127

151

(16

)%

(3

)%

Total

$201

$196

2

%

7

%

$591

$571

3

%

7

%

Synthroid

United States

$188

$200

(5

)%

(5

)%

$561

$523

7

%

7

%

Kaletra

United States

$39

$53

(27

)%

(27

)%

$123

$163

(24

)%

(24

)%

International

129

203

(36

)%

(19

)%

392

504

(22

)%

(8

)%

Total

$168

$256

(34

)%

(21

)%

$515

$667

(23

)%

(12

)%

AndroGel

United States

$177

$232

(24

)%

(24

)%

$500

$704

(29

)%

(29

)%

Sevoflurane

United States

$21

$20

5

%

5

%

$59

$61

(4

)%

(4

)%

International

101

114

(11

)%

1

%

307

369

(17

)%

(5

)%

Total

$122

$134

(9

)%

2

%

$366

$430

(15

)%

(5

)%

Duodopa

United States

$3

$-

n/m

n/m

$6

$-

n/m

n/m

International

58

56

2

%

22

%

163

164

(1

)%

19

%

Total

$61

$56

9

%

29

%

$169

$164

3

%

23

%

Dyslipidemia products

United States

$43

$63

(31

)%

(31

)%

$124

$224

(45

)%

(45

)%

All other

$310

$370

(17

)%

(1

)%

$921

$1,143

(19

)%

(7

)%

Total net revenues

$5,944

$5,019

18

%

26

%

$16,459

$14,508

13

%

21

%

n/m – Not meaningful.

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Global HUMIRA net revenues increased 20 percent on a constant currency basis during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily as a result of market growth across therapeutic categories and geographies, higher market share, and favorable pricing in certain geographies. In the United States, HUMIRA revenues increased 30 percent and 32 percent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, driven by prescription volume, favorable pricing, and market growth across all indications. Internationally, HUMIRA revenues increased 7 percent and 8 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, driven primarily by growth across indications in certain geographies. AbbVie continues to pursue several new indications to help further differentiate HUMIRA from competing products and add to the sustainability and future growth of HUMIRA.

Net revenues for IMBRUVICA represent product revenues in the United States as well as collaboration revenues related to AbbVie's 50 percent share of IMBRUVICA profit outside of the United States following the completion of the acquisition of Pharmacyclics on May 26, 2015. AbbVie expects IMBRUVICA will be a significant contributor to revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2015 and in 2016.

AbbVie launched VIEKIRA PAK in the United States following FDA approval in mid-December 2014 and launched VIEKIRAX/EXVIERA in the EU in January 2015. Internationally, revenues continue to increase as the product is approved in additional geographies. AbbVie continues to expect its HCV regimen to be a significant contributor to revenue growth in the fourth quarter 2015 and in 2016.

Net revenues for Creon increased 8 percent and 22 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, driven primarily by continued market growth and higher market share. Creon maintains market leadership in the pancreatic enzyme market and continues to capture the vast majority of new prescription starts.

Synagis is a seasonal product with the majority of sales occurring in the first and fourth quarters. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, Synagis revenues increased 2 percent on a constant currency basis.

Global Lupron net revenues increased 7 percent for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 due primarily to increased demand and favorable pricing in the United States. Lupron continues to hold a leadership position and maintains significant share of the market.

AndroGel net revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 declined 24 percent and 29 percent, respectively, primarily due to a continued decline in the overall U.S. testosterone replacement market and the entry of generic competition for the AndroGel 1% formulation in January 2015. The company expects the U.S. testosterone replacement market will continue to decline in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net revenues for Duodopa, AbbVie's therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease approved in Europe and other international markets, increased 29 percent and 23 percent on a constant currency basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. AbbVie's regulatory submission for Duopa in the United States was approved by the FDA in January 2015. AbbVie expects net revenues for Duopa in the United States will continue to gradually increase during the remainder of 2015 as physicians grow familiar with the product.

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Gross Margin

Three months ended
September 30,

Percent
change

Nine months ended
September 30,

Percent
change

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2015

2014

2015

Gross margin

$4,777

$3,925

22

%

$13,434

$11,201

20

%

as a % of net revenues

80

%

78

%

82

%

77

%

Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues increased to 82 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from 77 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. This improvement was driven by product mix across the product portfolio, operating efficiencies, and the impact of foreign exchange rates. Gross profit margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes a $37 million impairment charge for an intangible asset.

Selling, General and Administrative

Three months ended
September 30,

Percent
change

Nine months ended
September 30,

Percent
change

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2015

2014

2015

Selling, general and administrative

$1,474

$1,595

(8)

%

$4,650

$4,383

6

%

as a % of net revenues

25

%

32

%

28

%

30

%

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 reflects increased selling and marketing support for new products, including the global launch of VIEKIRA, as well as spending relating to new indications for HUMIRA and other growth brands and the impact of favorable foreign exchange rates.

In addition, SG&A expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $45 million and $239 million, respectively, of costs associated with the separation of AbbVie from Abbott. Separation-related costs were $104 million and $286 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Additionally, SG&A expense included Pharmacyclics acquisition and integration costs of $57 million and $279 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. SG&A expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 also included a $129 million charge due to additional expenses related to the Branded Prescription Drug Fee, an annual non-tax-deductible fee payable to the federal government under the Affordable Care Act. Final rules and regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service in July 2014 accelerated the expense recognition criteria for the fee obligation from the year in which the fee is paid, to the year in which the market share used to allocate the fee is determined.

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Research and Development and Acquired In-Process Research and Development

Three months ended
September 30,

Percent
change

Nine months ended
September 30,

Percent
change

(in millions)

2015

2014

2015

2015

2014

2015

Research and development

$1,418

$812

75

%

$3,210

$2,418

33

%

as a % of net revenues

24

%

16

%

20

%

17

%

Acquired in-process research and development

$ -

$308

(100)

%

$150

$324

(54)

%

R&D expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included Pharmacyclics acquisition and integration costs of $18 million and $111 million, respectively. Additionally, R&D expense for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included a $350 million charge related to the purchase of a priority review voucher from a third party and a $130 million charge recorded due to the achievement of a development milestone under the collaboration with Infinity.

R&D expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 reflects added funding to support the company's emerging mid- and late-stage pipeline assets and the continued pursuit of additional HUMIRA indications and the impact of the post-acquisition R&D expense of Pharmacyclics. These increases were partially offset by the impact of favorable foreign exchange rates in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

IPR&D expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 included a charge of $100 million as a result of entering into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with C 2 N to develop and commercialize anti-tau antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. IPR&D expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 included a charge of $275 million as a result of entering into a global collaboration with Infinity to develop and commercialize duvelisib, a treatment of patients with cancer. See also Note 4 entitled "Licensing, Acquisitions and Other Arrangements" of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further information relating to the license agreement with C 2 N and the collaboration with Infinity.

Other Operating Expense

Other operating expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 included a $250 million charge related to an R&D collaboration agreement entered into in September 2014 with Calico Life Sciences LLC (Calico) to discover, develop and commercialize new therapies for patients with age-related diseases.

Other Non-Operating Expenses

Interest expense, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $197 million and $487 million, respectively, and was comprised primarily of interest expense on outstanding debt. Interest expense, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 increased due to the issuance of $16.7 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes in May 2015, which was issued primarily to finance the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and an accelerated share repurchase program. Interest expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $86 million of financing related fees incurred in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics. Interest expense, net was $128 million and $262 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and included $75 million of financing related fees incurred in connection with the terminated proposed combination with Shire plc (Shire).

In the three months ended September 30, 2014, AbbVie entered into certain undesignated forward contracts to hedge the then anticipated foreign currency cash outflows associated with the then proposed combination with Shire. Net foreign exchange loss for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 included losses of $165 million associated with the Shire-related forward contracts. Net foreign exchange loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 included foreign exchange losses totaling $170 million to reflect the completed liquidation of the company's remaining foreign currency positions related to the terminated proposed combination with Shire.

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Other non-operating expense, net for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included impairment charges totaling $36 million related to certain of the company's equity investment securities. Other income, net for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily consisted of income of $34 million from the resolution of a contractual agreement.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rate was 25 percent and 23 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and 26 percent and 24 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate in each period differs from the statutory tax rate of 35 percent primarily due to the benefit from foreign operations which reflects the impact of lower statutory tax rates in locations outside the United States, tax exemptions and incentives in Puerto Rico and other foreign tax jurisdictions, and business development activities together with the cost of repatriation decisions. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 over the prior year was principally due to changes in the jurisdictional mix of earnings, as well as certain discrete factors and events. Additionally, the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes the reversal of previously recognized state valuation allowances of $103 million recorded during the second quarter of 2015 in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics.

Transition from Abbott and Cost to Operate as an Independent Company

In connection with AbbVie's separation from Abbott, AbbVie and Abbott entered into transition services agreements covering certain corporate support and back office services that AbbVie historically received from Abbott. Such services include information technology, accounts payable, payroll, receivables collection, treasury, and other financial functions, as well as order entry, warehousing, engineering support, quality assurance support, and other administrative services. These agreements facilitated the separation by allowing AbbVie to operate independently prior to establishing stand-alone back office functions across its organization. The majority of these transition service agreements expired without extension at December 31, 2014, however, some of these services continue to be provided to AbbVie on a temporary basis. As a result, AbbVie has and will continue to incur additional ongoing operating expenses to operate as an independent company for the remainder of 2015. Separation-related expenses, which were principally classified in SG&A expense, were $45 million and $109 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and were $244 million and $299 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

In the United States, AbbVie's remaining transition services agreements with Abbott principally relate to information technology services. The related transition services agreements are expected to terminate during 2015 as the number of sites and users dependent upon Abbott for information technology support declines. Outside of the United States, AbbVie's remaining transition services agreements with Abbott principally relate to certain back office services that allow AbbVie to operate in certain markets. These back office services include information technology, accounts payable, payroll, receivables collection, treasury, and other financial functions, as well as order entry, warehousing, and other administrative services. The related transition services agreements are expected to terminate during 2015 as AbbVie's back office infrastructure is implemented in the remaining markets.

In certain international markets as of the date of the separation and as of September 30, 2015, certain marketing authorizations to sell AbbVie's products continued to be held by Abbott until such authorizations could be transferred through the applicable regulatory channels. See also Note 1 entitled "Background and Basis of Presentation" of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further information.

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Nine months ended
September 30,

(in millions)

2015

2014

Cash flows provided by/(used in):

Operating activities

$5,572

$4,127

Investing activities

(12,639

)

(3,440

)

Financing activities

8,183

(2,411

)

Cash flows provided by operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $5.6 billion compared to $4.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase was primarily due to improved results of operations and the favorable impact of movements in working capital. Cash provided by operating activities also reflected the favorable impact of a reduction in AbbVie's voluntary contribution to its main domestic defined benefit plan, which was $150 million and $370 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, AbbVie paid $350 million to purchase a priority review voucher from United Therapeutics Corporation. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, AbbVie paid $40 million to a collaboration partner for regulatory milestones related to the company's HCV program. Realized excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation totaled $58 million and $51 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and were presented in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows as an outflow within the operating section and an inflow within the financing section.

Investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, primarily included the $11.5 billion cash consideration paid to acquire Pharmacyclics in May 2015 (net of cash acquired of $877 million and excluding the $8.4 billion fair value of AbbVie common stock issued to Pharmacyclics stockholders). Investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 also included cash outflows related to other acquisitions and investments of $794 million, including $100 million related to an exclusive worldwide license agreement with C 2 N to develop and commercialize anti-tau antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders, and $500 million paid to Calico Life Sciences LLC due to the satisfaction of certain conditions under the R&D collaboration. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, cash outflows related to other acquisitions and investment totaled $572 million, including $275 million paid to Infinity related to a global collaboration to develop duvelisib (IPI-145) and $250 million to fund a novel R&D collaboration with Calico. Cash flows from investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 also reflected capital expenditures and net sales (purchases) of short-term investments.

As part of the terminated proposed combination with Shire, AbbVie was required to maintain cash in escrow. Accordingly, AbbVie transferred $2.7 billion of cash into escrow during the three months ended September 30, 2014, which was presented as a transfer to restricted cash in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The funds held in escrow were released in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to the termination of the proposed combination.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the company issued and redeemed commercial paper. The balance of commercial paper outstanding was $760 million and $416 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. AbbVie may issue additional commercial paper or retire commercial paper to meet liquidity requirements as needed. In May 2015, the company issued $16.7 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes with various maturities between 2018 and 2045. Approximately $11.5 billion of the net proceeds were used to finance the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and $5.0 billion of the net proceeds were used to finance the accelerated share repurchase program described below. In September 2015, AbbVie entered into a three-year $2 billion term loan credit facility and a 364-day $2 billion term loan credit facility. No amounts were advanced from these facilities as of September 30, 2015. In November 2015, AbbVie drew on these term facilities and used the proceeds to refinance its $4 billion of senior notes maturing in 2015. As a result of this refinancing, the $4 billion of senior notes maturing in 2015 were classified as long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the company paid $86 million of costs relating to an $18 billion, 364-Day Bridge Term Loan Credit Agreement (the bridge loan) as well as $93 million of costs relating to the issuance of senior notes.

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Cash dividend payments totaled $2.5 billion and $2.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. On September 11, 2015, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.51 per share for stockholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2015, payable on November 16, 2015. On October 30, 2015, the company announced that its board of directors declared an increase in the company's quarterly cash dividend from $0.51 per share to $0.57 per share beginning with the dividend payable on February 16, 2016 to stockholders of record as of January 15, 2016. The timing, declaration, amount of, and payment of any dividends is within the discretion of AbbVie's board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including AbbVie's financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of its operating subsidiaries, covenants associated with certain of AbbVie's debt service obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, ability to access capital markets, and other factors deemed relevant by its board of directors.

In October 2014, AbbVie's board of directors authorized a $5.0 billion stock repurchase program, which was effective immediately and superseded the prior $1.5 billion common stock repurchase program authorized in February 2013. In March 2015, the board of directors authorized a $5.0 billion increase to the existing stock repurchase program in anticipation of executing an accelerated share repurchase agreement with a financial institution in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics. On May 26, 2015, AbbVie entered into and executed a $5.0 billion ASR with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (Morgan Stanley). Pursuant to the terms of the ASR, Morgan Stanley made an initial delivery of approximately 68 million shares of AbbVie's common stock on May 27, 2015, which represented approximately 90% of the total shares expected to be delivered under the ASR. AbbVie recorded the aggregate $5.0 billion purchase price as a reduction to stockholders' equity. In the three months ended September 30, 2015, Morgan Stanley delivered an additional 5 million shares of AbbVie's common stock to AbbVie in final settlement of the ASR.

In addition to the ASR, the company repurchased approximately 21 million shares for $1.2 billion in the open market during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and approximately 5 million shares for $250 million in the open market during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Purchases of AbbVie shares under this program may be made from time to time at management's discretion. The program has no time limit and can be discontinued at any time. AbbVie's remaining stock repurchase authorization was $3.5 billion as of September 30, 2015, has no time limit, and can be discontinued at any time. Refer to Note 10 for additional information related to the ASR.

Cash and equivalents for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were also negatively impacted by net unfavorable exchange rate changes totaling $241 million, principally due to the continued weakening of the Euro and other foreign currencies on the translation of the company's Euro-denominated assets and cash denominated in foreign currencies. While a significant portion of cash and equivalents at September 30, 2015 are considered reinvested indefinitely in foreign subsidiaries, AbbVie does not expect such reinvestment to affect its liquidity and capital resources. If these funds were needed for operations in the United States, AbbVie would be required to accrue and pay U.S. income taxes to repatriate these funds. AbbVie believes that it has sufficient sources of liquidity to support its assumption that the disclosed amount of undistributed earnings at September 30, 2015 have been reinvested indefinitely.

Substantially all of AbbVie's trade receivables in Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain are with governmental health systems. AbbVie continues to monitor the economic health of the economy in Southern Europe, as heightened economic concerns still exist. Outstanding net governmental receivables in these countries at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:

Net receivables

Net receivables over
one year past due

(in millions)

September 30,
2015

December 31,
2014

September 30,
2015

December 31,
2014

Greece

$52

$30

$1

$-

Portugal

35

27

7

7

Italy

201

176

4

16

Spain

319

213

1

10

Total

$607

$446

$13

$33

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AbbVie monitors economic conditions, the creditworthiness of customers, and government regulations and funding, both domestically and abroad. AbbVie regularly communicates with its customers regarding the status of receivable balances, including their payment plans and obtains positive confirmation of the validity of the receivables. AbbVie establishes an allowance against accounts receivable when it is probable they will not be collected. AbbVie also monitors the potential for and periodically has utilized factoring arrangements to mitigate credit risk although the receivables included in such arrangements have historically not been a material amount of total outstanding receivables. Currently, AbbVie does not believe the economic conditions in Southern Europe will have a material impact on the company's liquidity, cash flow, or financial flexibility. However, if government funding were to become unavailable in these countries or if significant adverse changes in their reimbursement practices were to occur, AbbVie may not be able to collect the entire balance outstanding as of September 30, 2015.

Credit Facility, Access to Capital and Credit Ratings

Credit Facility

AbbVie currently has a $3.0 billion five-year revolving credit facility, which matures in October 2019. The revolving credit facility enables the company to borrow funds on an unsecured basis at variable interest rates and contains various covenants. At September 30, 2015, the company was in compliance with all its credit facility covenants. Commitment fees under the credit facility were not material. There were no amounts outstanding under the credit facility as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

In September 2015, AbbVie entered into a three-year $2 billion term loan credit facility and a 364-day $2 billion term loan credit facility. No amounts were advanced from the term loan facilities as of September 30, 2015. In November 2015, AbbVie drew on these term facilities and used the proceeds to refinance its $4 billion of senior notes maturing in 2015.

Access to Capital

The company intends to fund short-term and long-term financial obligations as they mature through cash on hand, future cash flows from operations, or by issuing additional debt. In May 2015, the company issued $16.7 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes with various maturities between 2018 and 2045. The net proceeds were used to finance the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and the ASR. Refer to Notes 4 and 10 for additional information related to the acquisition of Pharmacyclics and the ASR, respectively.

The company's ability to generate cash flows from operations, issue debt, or enter into financing arrangements on acceptable terms could be adversely affected if there is a material decline in the demand for the company's products or in the solvency of its customers or suppliers, deterioration in the company's key financial ratios or credit ratings or other material unfavorable changes in business conditions. At the current time, the company believes it has sufficient financial flexibility to issue debt, enter into other financing arrangements and attract long-term capital on acceptable terms to support the company's growth objectives.

Credit Ratings

On April 7, 2015, following the announcement of the then proposed combination with Pharmacyclics, Moody's Investor Service confirmed its Baa1 senior unsecured long-term rating and Prime-2 short-term rating and revised its ratings outlook to "negative" from "stable". On March 5, 2015, Standard & Poor's Rating Services (S&P) affirmed AbbVie's "A" corporate credit rating and senior unsecured debt rating and its "A-1" commercial paper rating and revised its ratings outlook to "negative" from "stable". There were no additional changes in the company's credit ratings in the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Unfavorable changes to the ratings may have an adverse impact on future financing arrangements; however, they would not affect the company's ability to draw on its credit facility and would not result in an acceleration of scheduled maturities of any of the company's outstanding debt.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Certain of these policies are considered critical as these most significantly impact the company's financial condition and results of operations and require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may vary from these estimates. A summary of the company's significant accounting policies is included in Note 2 entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. There have been no significant changes in the company's application of its critical accounting policies during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2015.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in AbbVie's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AbbVie notes these factors for investors as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The company is exposed to risk that its earnings, cash flows and equity could be adversely impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates and interest rates. Certain derivative instruments are used when available on a cost-effective basis to hedge the company's underlying economic exposures. Refer to Note 8 entitled "Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measures" of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information regarding the company's financial instruments and hedging strategies.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

AbbVie's primary net foreign currency exposures are the Euro Japanese yen, and British pound. Various AbbVie foreign subsidiaries enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage exposures to changes in foreign exchange rates for anticipated transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the local entity. These contracts are designated as cash flow hedges of the variability of the cash flows due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and are marked-to-market with the resulting gains or losses reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss in AbbVie's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Deferred gains or losses on these contracts are included in cost of products sold at the time the products are sold to a third party, generally not exceeding twelve months. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, AbbVie held $98 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, in notional amounts of such contracts.

AbbVie enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage its exposure to foreign currency denominated trade payables and receivables and intercompany loans. The contracts, which are not designated as hedges, are marked-to-market, and resulting gains or losses are reflected in net foreign exchange on AbbVie's condensed consolidated statements of earnings and are generally offset by losses or gains on the foreign currency exposure being managed. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, AbbVie held notional amounts of $6.2 billion and $6.8 billion, respectively, of such foreign currency forward exchange contracts.

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The following table reflects the total foreign currency forward contracts outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

September 30, 2015

December 31, 2014

(in millions)

Contract 
amount

Weighted
average
exchange rate

Fair and
carrying value
receivable /
(payable)

Contract
amount

Weighted
average
exchange rate

Fair and
carrying value
receivable /
(payable)

Receive primarily U.S. dollars in exchange for the following currencies:

Euro

$4,269

1.129

$-

$6,342

1.263

$114

Japanese yen

613

119.9

(1

)

333

116.9

6

British pound

366

1.554

8

563

1.618

21

All other currencies

1,050

N/A

5

930

N/A

7

Total

$6,298

$12

$8,168

$148

The company estimates that a 10 percent appreciation in the underlying currencies being hedged from their levels against the U.S. dollar, with all other variables held constant, would decrease the fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts by $626 million at September 30, 2015. If realized, this appreciation would negatively affect earnings over the remaining life of the contracts. A 10 percent appreciation is believed to be a reasonably possible near-term change in foreign currencies. Gains and losses on the hedging instruments offset losses and gains on the hedged transactions and reduce the earnings and stockholders' equity volatility relating to foreign exchange.

The company's Venezuela operations continue to report with the U.S. dollar as the functional currency due to the hyperinflationary status of the Venezuelan economy. Currency restrictions enacted in Venezuela require AbbVie to obtain approval from the Venezuelan government to exchange Venezuelan bolivars for U.S. dollars and require such exchange to be made at the official exchange rate established by the government. In the first quarter of 2014, the Venezuelan government expanded the number of exchange mechanisms to three rates of exchange. As of September 30, 2015, these were the official rate of 6.3; the SICAD rate at approximately 13.5; and, the SIMADI rate at approximately 199. The company continues to use the official rate of 6.3 Venezuelan bolivars per U.S. dollar to report its Venezuela financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, since the company believes that the nature of AbbVie's business operations qualify for the official rate as permitted by law. The company cannot predict whether there will be further devaluations of the Venezuelan currency or whether the use of the official rate of 6.3 will continue to be supported by evolving facts and circumstances. If circumstances change such that the company concludes it would be appropriate to use a different rate, or if a devaluation of the official rate occurs, it could result in a significant change to AbbVie's results of operations. At September 30, 2015, AbbVie had approximately $306 million of net monetary assets denominated in the Venezuelan bolivar (converted at a rate of 6.3 VEF/USD) in its Venezuelan entity, which had net revenues of $149 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. If AbbVie's net monetary assets denominated in the Venezuelan bolivar had been converted at a rate of 13.5 VEF/USD at September 30, 2015, it would have resulted in a devaluation loss of $163 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Interest rate swaps are used to manage the company's exposure of changes in interest rates on the fair value of fixed-rate debt. The effect of these hedges is to change the fixed interest rate to a variable rate. AbbVie does not use derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates for investment securities. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, AbbVie had interest rate hedge contracts totaling $11 billion and $8.0 billion, respectively. The company estimates that an increase in the interest rates of 100-basis points would decrease the fair value of our interest rate swap contracts by approximately $496 million at September 30, 2015. If realized, the fair value reduction would affect earnings over the remaining life of the contracts. The company estimates that an increase of 100-basis points in long-term interest rates would decrease the fair value of long-term debt by $1.9 billion at September 30, 2015.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. The Chief Executive Officer, Richard A. Gonzalez, and the Chief Financial Officer, William J. Chase, evaluated the effectiveness of AbbVie's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and concluded that AbbVie's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information AbbVie is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by AbbVie in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to AbbVie's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. As part of its separation from Abbott, AbbVie began in 2014 a phased global implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system, related technology infrastructure, and transaction processing services to replace the information technology infrastructure and transactional services provided to AbbVie by Abbott under various transition services agreements. These initiatives, which are expected to be completed in 2015, will include modifications to the design and operation of controls over financial reporting. AbbVie reviews these controls for design effectiveness prior to the implementation of each phase.

There were no other changes in AbbVie's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, AbbVie's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2015.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls. AbbVie's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that AbbVie's disclosure controls or internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system's objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls.

The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information pertaining to legal proceedings is provided in Note 12 entitled "Legal Proceedings and Contingencies" of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," and is incorporated by reference herein.

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c)  Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period

(a) Total
Number of
Shares
(or Units)
Purchased

(b) Average
Price Paid
per Share
(or Unit)

(c) Total Number
of Shares (or
Units) Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs

(d) Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units)
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

July 1, 2015 – July 31, 2015

33,303

(1)

$58.08

-

$ 4,449,940,645

(2)

August 1, 2015 – August 31, 2015

5,056,594

(1)/(3)

$61.80

(1)/(3)

5,055,710

(3)

$ 4,449,940,645

(2)

September 1, 2015 –September 30, 2015

16,446,572

(1)

$60.80

16,443,567

$ 3,450,133,355

(2)

Total

21,536,469

(1)/(3)

$69.74

21,499,277

(3)

$ 3,450,133,355

(2)

1. These shares represent:

(i) the shares deemed surrendered to AbbVie to pay the exercise price in connection with the exercise of employee stock options – 13,538 in July; 884 in August; and 3,005 in September; and

(ii) 19,765 shares purchased on the open market for the benefit of participants in the AbbVie Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

These shares do not include the shares surrendered to AbbVie to satisfy minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock units.

2. On October 20, 2014, AbbVie announced that its board of directors authorized the purchase of up to $5.0 billion of its common stock, from time to time. In March 2015, the board of directors authorized a $5.0 billion increase to this repurchase program in anticipation of executing an accelerated share repurchase agreement in connection with the acquisition of Pharmacyclics.

3. On May 26, 2015, AbbVie entered into and executed a $5.0 billion ASR with Morgan Stanley. Pursuant to the terms of the ASR, Morgan Stanley made an initial delivery of approximately 68 million shares of AbbVie's common stock on May 27, 2015, which represented approximately 90% of the total shares expected to be delivered under the ASR. In the three months ended September 30, 2015, Morgan Stanley delivered an additional 5 million shares of AbbVie's common stock to AbbVie in final settlement of the ASR. In total, 73 million shares were delivered under the ASR at an average repurchase price of $68.37 per share.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit Index included herewith.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

ABBVIE INC.

By:

/s/ William J. Chase

William J. Chase

Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 6, 2015

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 are furnished herewith and should not be deemed to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Exhibit No.

Exhibit Description

10.1

*Three-Year Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2015, among AbbVie, Bank of America, N.A. and the lenders and other parties party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 29, 2015).

10.2

*364-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2015, among AbbVie, Bank of America, N.A. and the lenders and other parties party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 29, 2015).

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a)).

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a)).

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101

The following financial statements and notes from the AbbVie Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, filed on November 6, 2015, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

*  Incorporated herein by reference. Commission file number 001-35565.

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