For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

OR

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-33708

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

917-663-2000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☑ No ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes ¨ No ☑

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  ☑ No ¨

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes   ☑ No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.   ☑

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.

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

As of June 30, 2014, the aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $132 billion based on the closing sale price of the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In this report, "PMI," "we," "us" and "our" refers to Philip Morris International Inc. and its subsidiaries.

(a) General Development of Business

General

Philip Morris International Inc. is a Virginia holding company incorporated in 1987. Our subsidiaries and affiliates and their licensees are engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, other tobacco products and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside of the United States of America. Our products are sold in more than 180 markets and, in many of these markets, they hold the number one or number two market share position. We have a wide range of premium, mid-price and low-price brands. Our portfolio comprises both international and local brands.

Our portfolio of international and local brands is led by Marlboro , the world's best-selling international cigarette, which accounted for approximately 33% of our total 2014 shipment volume. Marlboro is complemented in the premium-price category by Merit , Parliament and Virginia Slims . Our leading mid-price brands are L&M and Chesterfield . Other leading international brands include Bond Street , Lark , Muratti , Next , Philip Morris and Red & White .

We also own a number of important local cigarette brands, such as Sampoerna , Dji Sam Soe and U Mild in Indonesia, Fortune , Champion and Hope in the Philippines, Diana in Italy, Optima and Apollo-Soyuz in Russia, Morven Gold in Pakistan, Boston in Colombia, Belmont, Canadian Classics and Number 7 in Canada, Best and Classic in Serbia, f6 in Germany, Delicados in Mexico, Assos in Greece and Petra in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. While there are a number of markets where local brands remain important, international brands are expanding their share in numerous markets. With international brands contributing approximately 72% of our shipment volume in 2014, we are well positioned to continue to benefit from this trend.

Separation from Altria Group, Inc.

We were a wholly owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. ("Altria") until the distribution of all of our shares owned by Altria (the "Spin-off") was made on March 28, 2008 (the "Distribution Date").

Acquisitions and Other Business Arrangements

We enhanced our business with the following transactions:

In June 2014, we acquired 100% of Nicocigs Limited, a leading U.K.-based e-vapor company, for the final purchase price of $103 million, net of cash acquired, with additional contingent payments of up to $77 million, primarily relating to performance targets over a three-year period. As of December 31, 2014, the additional contingent payments were projected to be up to $62 million over the remaining two-year period. For additional information, see Note 16. Fair Value Measurements to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 8").

In the fourth quarter of 2013, as part of our initiative to enhance profitability and growth in North African and Middle Eastern markets, we decided to restructure our business in Egypt. The new business model entails a new contract manufacturing agreement with our long-standing, strategic business partner, Eastern Company S.A.E., the creation of a new PMI affiliate in Egypt and a new distribution agreement with Trans Business for Trading and Distribution LLC. To accomplish this restructuring and to ensure a smooth transition to the new model, we recorded, in the fourth quarter of 2013, a charge to our 2013 full-year reported diluted EPS of approximately $0.10 to reflect the discontinuation of existing contractual arrangements.

On December 20, 2013, we established a strategic framework with Altria under which Altria will make available its e-cigarette products exclusively to us for commercialization outside the United States, and we will make available two of our candidate reduced-risk tobacco products exclusively to Altria for commercialization in the United States. The agreements also provide for cooperation on the scientific assessment of these products and for the sharing of improvements to the existing generation of reduced-risk products.

On December 12, 2013, we acquired from Megapolis Investment BV a 20% equity interest in Megapolis Distribution BV, the holding company of CJSC TK Megapolis ("Megapolis"), PMI's distributor in Russia. The purchase price of $760 million excludes an additional payment of up to $100 million, which is contingent on Megapolis's operational performance over the four fiscal years following the closing of the transaction.

On September 30, 2013, we acquired a 49% equity interest in United Arab Emirates-based Arab Investors-TA (FZC) ("AITA") for approximately $625 million. As a result of this transaction, we hold an approximate 25% economic interest in Société des Tabacs Algéro-Emiratie ("STAEM"), an Algerian joint venture which is owned 51% by AITA and 49% by the Algerian state-owned enterprise Société Nationale des Tabacs et Allumettes SpA. STAEM manufactures and distributes under license some of PMI's brands.

In September 2013, Grupo Carso, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Grupo Carso") sold to us its remaining 20% interest in our Mexican tobacco business for $703 million. As a result, we own 100% of our Mexican tobacco business. A director of PMI has an affiliation with Grupo Carso. The final purchase price is subject to a potential adjustment based on the actual performance of the Mexican tobacco business over the three-year period ending two fiscal years after the closing of the purchase.

During 2012, we did not engage in any businesses development transactions.

Source of Funds - Dividends

We are a legal entity separate and distinct from our direct and indirect subsidiaries. Accordingly, our right, and thus the right of our creditors and stockholders, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of any subsidiary is subject to the prior rights of creditors of such subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of our company itself as a creditor may be recognized. As a holding company, our principal sources of funds, including funds to make payment on our debt securities, are from the receipt of dividends and repayment of debt from our subsidiaries. Our principal wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries currently are not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or to make other distributions with respect to their common stock.

(b) Financial Information About Segments

We divide our markets into four geographic regions, which constitute our segments for financial reporting purposes:

Net revenues and operating companies income * (together with a reconciliation to operating income) attributable to each segment for each of the last three years are set forth in Note 12. Segment Reporting to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 7") for a discussion of our operating results by business segment.

The relative percentages of operating companies income attributable to each reportable segment were as follows:

______________________________

We use the term net revenues to refer to our operating revenues from the sale of our products, net of sales and promotion incentives. Our net revenues and operating income are affected by various factors, including the volume of products we sell, the price of our products, changes in currency exchange rates and the mix of products we sell. Mix is a term used to refer to the proportionate value of premium-price brands to mid-price or low-price brands in any given market (product mix). Mix can also refer to the proportion of shipment volume in more profitable markets versus shipment volume in less profitable markets (geographic mix). We often collect excise taxes from our customers and then remit them to local governments, and, in those circumstances, we include excise taxes in our net revenues and excise taxes on products. Our cost of sales consists principally of tobacco leaf, non-tobacco raw materials, labor and manufacturing costs.

Our marketing, administration and research costs include the costs of marketing and selling our products, other costs generally not related to the manufacture of our products (including general corporate expenses), and costs incurred to develop new products. The most significant components of our marketing, administration and research costs are marketing and sales expenses and general and administrative expenses.

(c) Narrative Description of Business

Our subsidiaries and affiliates and their licensees are engaged in the manufacture, market and sale of cigarettes, other tobacco products and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the United States of America.

Our total cigarette shipments decreased by 2.8% in 2014 to 856.0 billion units. We estimate that international cigarette market shipments were approximately 5.5 trillion units in 2014 , a 0.9% decrease over 2013 . We estimate that our reported share of the international cigarette market (which is defined as worldwide cigarette volume, excluding the United States of America) was approximately 15.6% in 2014 , 15.7% in 2013 and 16.4% in 2012 . Excluding the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), we estimate that our reported share of the international cigarette market was approximately 28.6%, 28.3%, and 29.0% in 2014 , 2013 and 2012 , respectively.

Shipments of our principal cigarette brand, Marlboro , decreased by 2.8% in 2014 and represented approximately 9.4% of the international cigarette market, excluding the PRC, in 2014 , 9.3% in 2013 and 9.4% in 2012 .

We have a cigarette market share of at least 15% and, in a number of instances, substantially more than 15%, in 103 markets, including Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.

References to total international cigarette market, total cigarette market, total market and market shares in this Form 10-K reflect our best estimates based on a number of internal and external sources.

Consumer Focused Marketing & Sales

In 2014, we continued to deploy our new strategic framework that combines our marketing and sales expertise with our in-depth knowledge of various sales territories. This framework allows us not only to engage more effectively with our adult smokers but also to enhance the success of our direct and indirect trade partners. The main benefits are:

The four main types of distribution that we use globally, often simultaneously in a given market, are:

In many markets we also directly supply key accounts, including gas stations, retail chains and supermarkets.

Our distribution and sales systems are supported by sales forces that total approximately 20,700 employees worldwide. Our sales forces are well trained and recognized by trade surveys for their professionalism.

Our products are marketed and promoted through various media and channels, including, where permitted by law, point of sale communications, brand events, access-restricted Web sites, print and direct communication to verified adult smokers. Our direct communication with verified adult smokers utilizes mail, e-mail and other electronic communication tools. Promotional activities include, where permitted by law, competitions, invitations to events, interactive programs, consumer premiums and price promotions. To support advertising and promotional activities in the markets, we have a dedicated consumer engagement group that develops innovative engagement tools for adult smokers based on the latest technologies and adult smoker trends.

Competition            

We are subject to highly competitive conditions in all aspects of our business. We compete primarily on the basis of product quality, brand recognition, brand loyalty, taste, innovation, packaging, service, marketing, advertising and retail price. Our competitors include three large international tobacco companies and several regional and local tobacco companies and, in some instances, state-owned tobacco enterprises, principally in Algeria, Egypt, the PRC, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Industry consolidation and privatizations of state-owned enterprises have led to an overall increase in competitive pressures. Some competitors have different profit and volume objectives, and some international competitors are susceptible to changes in different currency exchange rates. We compete predominantly with American blend cigarette brands, such as Marlboro , L&M , Parliament and Chesterfield , which are the most popular across many of our markets. We seek to compete in all profitable retail price categories, although our brand portfolio is weighted towards the premium-price category.

Procurement and Raw Materials         

We purchase tobacco leaf of various types, grades and styles throughout the world, the majority through independent tobacco suppliers. We also contract directly with farmers in several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines and Poland. Direct sourcing from farmers represents approximately 35% of PMI's global leaf requirements. The largest supplies of tobacco leaf are sourced from Brazil, the United States, Indonesia (mostly for domestic use in kretek products), India, China, Turkey, Greece, Argentina, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.  

We believe that there is an adequate supply of tobacco leaf in the world markets to satisfy our current and anticipated production requirements.

In addition to tobacco leaf, we purchase a wide variety of direct materials from a total of approximately 450 suppliers. Our top ten suppliers of direct materials combined represent approximately 57% of our total direct materials purchases. The three most significant direct materials that we purchase are printed paper board used in packaging, acetate tow used in filter making and fine paper used in cigarette manufacturing. In addition, the adequate supply and procurement of cloves are of particular importance to our Indonesian business. 

Business Environment

Information called for by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the paragraphs in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Operating Results by Business Segment-Business Environment .

Other Matters

Customers    

None of our business segments is dependent upon a single customer or a few customers, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations.

Employees    

At December 31, 2014 , we employed approximately 82,500 people worldwide, including employees under temporary contracts and hourly paid part-time staff. Our businesses are subject to a number of laws and regulations relating to our relationship with our employees. Generally, these laws and regulations are specific to the location of each business. In addition, in accordance with European Union requirements, we have established a European Works Council composed of management and elected members of our workforce. We believe that our relations with our employees and their representative organizations are excellent.

Executive Officers of the Registrant    

The disclosure regarding executive officers is set forth under the heading "Executive Officers as of February 20, 2015" in Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Item 10").

Research and Development    

Reduced-Risk Products . One of our strategic priorities is to develop, assess and commercialize a portfolio of innovative products with the potential to reduce individual risk and population harm in comparison to smoking combustible cigarettes. We refer to these as reduced-risk products, or RRPs. The use of this term applies to tobacco-containing products and other nicotine-containing products that have the potential to reduce individual risk and population harm in comparison to smoking combustible cigarettes. Except for iQOS , which was launched for pilots in Nagoya (Japan) and Milan (Italy), our RRPs are in various stages of development. We are conducting extensive and rigorous scientific studies to determine whether we can support claims for such products of reduced exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents in smoke, and ultimately claims of reduced disease risk, when compared to smoking combustible cigarettes. Before making any such claims, we will need to rigorously evaluate the full set of data from the relevant scientific studies to determine whether they substantiate reduced risk. Any such claims may also be subject to government review and approval, as is the case in the U.S. today.

We draw upon a team of world-class scientists from a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, whose efforts are guided by the following three key objectives:

In addition to iQOS , we are developing three RRP platforms that are in various stages of commercialization readiness. We are commercializing an e-vapor product under the Nicocigs brand name in the U.K., are also developing other potential platforms and are working on developing the next generation of e-vapor technology.

Further information about our RRPs is set forth in Item 7, Business Environment - Taxes, Legislation, Regulation and Other Matters Regarding the Manufacture, Marketing, Sale and Use of Tobacco Products - Reduced-Risk Products.

Cigarette Products . We conduct research to support and reinforce our combustible cigarette product business. We seek to be at the forefront of innovation for product enhancements and launches of innovative new products. We have also increased support for the

combustible cigarette business because compliance with applicable laws and regulations is requiring additional capacity for analysis and testing.

Finally, working through biotechnology partners, we conduct research and development on technology platforms that can potentially lead to the development of alternative uses of tobacco, such as for the production of therapeutic molecules.

The research and development expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 , 2013 and 2012 , is set forth in Item 8, Note 14. Additional Information to the consolidated financial statements.

Intellectual Property    

Our trademarks are valuable assets, and their protection and reputation are essential to us. We own the trademark rights to all of our principal brands, including Marlboro , or have the right to use them in all countries where we use them.

In addition, we have more than 5,200 granted patents worldwide and approximately 4,400 pending patent applications. Our patent portfolio, as a whole, is material to our business. However, no one patent, or group of related patents, is material to us. We also have registered industrial designs and proprietary secrets, technology, know-how, processes and other intellectual property rights that are not registered.

Effective January 1, 2008, PMI entered into an Intellectual Property Agreement with Philip Morris USA Inc. ("PM USA"). The Intellectual Property Agreement governs the ownership of intellectual property between PMI and PM USA. Ownership of the jointly funded intellectual property has been allocated as follows:

Ownership of intellectual property related to patent applications and resulting patents based solely on the jointly funded intellectual property, regardless of when filed or issued, will be exclusive to PM USA in the United States, its territories and possessions and exclusive to PMI everywhere else.

The Intellectual Property Agreement contains provisions concerning intellectual property that is independently developed by us or PM USA following the Distribution Date. For ten years following the Distribution Date, independently developed intellectual property may be subject to rights under certain circumstances that would allow either us or PM USA a priority position to obtain the rights to the new intellectual property from the other party, with the price and other commercial terms to be negotiated.

In the event of a dispute between us and PM USA under the Intellectual Property Agreement, we have agreed with PM USA to submit the dispute first to negotiation between our and PM USA's senior executives and then to binding arbitration.

Seasonality    

Our business segments are not significantly affected by seasonality, although in certain markets cigarette consumption trends rise during the summer months due to longer daylight time and tourism.

Environmental Regulation    

We are subject to applicable international, national and local environmental laws and regulations in the countries in which we do business. We have specific programs across our business units designed to meet applicable environmental compliance requirements and reduce our carbon footprint and wastage as well as water and energy consumption. We report externally about our climate change mitigation strategy, together with associated targets and results in reducing our carbon footprint, through CDP (formerly, the Carbon Disclosure Project), the leading international non-governmental organization assessing the work of thousands of companies worldwide in the area of climate change. We have developed and implemented a consistent environmental and occupational health, safety and security management system ("EHSS"), which involves policies, standard practices and procedures at all our manufacturing centers. We also conduct regular safety assessments at our offices, warehouses and car fleet organizations. Furthermore, we have engaged an external certification body to validate the effectiveness of our EHSS management system at our manufacturing centers around the world, in accordance with internationally recognized standards for safety and environmental management. The environmental performance data we report externally is also verified by a qualified third party. Our subsidiaries expect to continue to make investments in order to drive improved performance and maintain compliance with environmental laws and regulations. We assess and report the compliance status of all our legal entities on a regular basis. Based on the management and controls we have in place and our review of climate change

risks (both physical and regulatory), environmental expenditures have not had, and are not expected to have, a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, capital expenditures, financial position, earnings or competitive position.

(d) Financial Information About Geographic Areas

The amounts of net revenues and long-lived assets attributable to each of our geographic segments for each of the last three fiscal years are set forth in Item 8, Note 12. Segment Reporting to the consolidated financial statements.

(e) Available Information    

We are required to file with the SEC annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Investors may read and copy any document that we file, including this Annual Report on Form 10-K, at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Investors may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, from which investors can electronically access our SEC filings.

We make available free of charge on, or through, our Web site at www.pmi.com our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Investors can access our filings with the SEC by visiting www.pmi.com.

The information on our Web site is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.

The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, our operating results, our financial condition and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

We may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, in reports to stockholders and in press releases and investor webcasts. You can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements and whether to invest in or remain invested in our securities. In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by us; any such statement is qualified by reference to the following cautionary statements. We elaborate on these and other risks we face throughout this document, particularly in Item 7, Business Environment . You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, you should not consider the following to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that we may make from time to time, except in the normal course of our public disclosure obligations.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Ÿ Cigarettes are subject to substantial taxes. Significant increases in cigarette-related taxes have been proposed or enacted and are likely to continue to be proposed or enacted in numerous jurisdictions. These tax increases may disproportionately affect our profitability and make us less competitive versus certain of our competitors.

Tax regimes, including excise taxes, sales taxes and import duties, can disproportionately affect the retail price of manufactured cigarettes versus other tobacco products, or disproportionately affect the relative retail price of our manufactured cigarette brands versus cigarette brands manufactured by certain of our competitors. Because our portfolio is weighted toward the premium-price manufactured cigarette category, tax regimes based on sales price can place us at a competitive disadvantage in certain markets. As a result, our volume and profitability may be adversely affected in these markets.

Increases in cigarette taxes are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on our sales of cigarettes, due to resulting lower consumption levels, a shift in sales from manufactured cigarettes to other tobacco products and from the premium-price to the mid-price or low-price cigarette categories, where we may be under-represented, from local sales to legal cross-border purchases of lower price products, or to illicit products such as contraband, counterfeit and "illicit whites."

Ÿ Our business faces significant governmental action aimed at increasing regulatory requirements with the goal of reducing or preventing the use of tobacco products.

Governmental actions, combined with the diminishing social acceptance of smoking and private actions to restrict smoking, have resulted in reduced industry volume in many of our markets, and we expect that such factors will continue to reduce consumption levels and will increase down-trading and the risk of counterfeiting, contraband, "illicit whites" and legal cross-border purchases. Significant regulatory developments will take place over the next few years in most of our markets, driven principally by the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ("FCTC"). The FCTC is the first international public health treaty on tobacco, and its objective is to establish a global agenda for tobacco regulation. The FCTC has led to increased efforts by tobacco control advocates and public health organizations to reduce the palatability and attractiveness of tobacco products to adult smokers. Regulatory initiatives that have been proposed, introduced or enacted include:

Our operating income could be significantly affected by regulatory initiatives resulting in a significant decrease in demand for our brands, in particular requirements that lead to a commoditization of tobacco products, as well as any significant increase in the cost of complying with new regulatory requirements.

Ÿ Litigation related to tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke could substantially reduce our profitability and could severely impair our liquidity.

There is litigation related to tobacco products pending in certain jurisdictions. Damages claimed in some tobacco-related litigation are significant and, in certain cases in Brazil, Canada and Nigeria, range into the billions of U.S. dollars. We anticipate that new cases will continue to be filed. The FCTC encourages litigation against tobacco product manufacturers. It is possible that our consolidated results

of operations, cash flows or financial position could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. See Item 3. Legal Proceedings ("Item 3") and Item 8, Note 21. Contingencies for a discussion of pending litigation.

Ÿ We face intense competition, and our failure to compete effectively could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and results of operations.

We compete primarily on the basis of product quality, brand recognition, brand loyalty, taste, innovation, packaging, service, marketing, advertising and price. We are subject to highly competitive conditions in all aspects of our business. The competitive environment and our competitive position can be significantly influenced by weak economic conditions, erosion of consumer confidence, competitors' introduction of lower-price products or innovative products, higher tobacco product taxes, higher absolute prices and larger gaps between retail price categories, and product regulation that diminishes the ability to differentiate tobacco products. Competitors include three large international tobacco companies and several regional and local tobacco companies and, in some instances, state-owned tobacco enterprises, principally in Algeria, China, Egypt, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Industry consolidation and privatizations of state-owned enterprises have led to an overall increase in competitive pressures. Some competitors have different profit and volume objectives, and some international competitors are susceptible to changes in different currency exchange rates.

Ÿ Because we have operations in numerous countries, our results may be influenced by economic, regulatory and political developments, natural disasters or conflicts.

Some of the countries in which we operate face the threat of civil unrest and can be subject to regime changes. In others, nationalization, terrorism, conflict and the threat of war may have a significant impact on the business environment. Economic, political, regulatory or other developments or natural disasters could disrupt our supply chain, manufacturing capabilities or our distribution capabilities. In addition, such developments could lead to loss of property or equipment that are critical to our business in certain markets and difficulty in staffing and managing our operations, which could reduce our volumes, revenues and net earnings.

There is an increasing number of conflicts, including in the Middle East and Ukraine. Political uncertainty, including potential effects from current or future economic sanctions by the U.S. or other governments, could lead to significant disruptions to our business.

In certain markets, we are dependent on governmental approvals of various actions such as price changes, and failure to obtain such approvals could impair growth in our profitability.

In addition, despite our high ethical standards and rigorous control and compliance procedures aimed at preventing and detecting unlawful conduct, given the breadth and scope of our international operations, we may not be able to detect all potential improper or unlawful conduct by our employees and international partners.

Ÿ We may be unable to anticipate changes in consumer preferences or to respond to consumer behavior influenced by economic downturns.

Our tobacco business is subject to changes in consumer preferences, which may be influenced by local economic conditions. To be successful, we must:

In periods of economic uncertainty, consumers may tend to purchase lower-price brands, and the volume of our premium-price and mid-price brands and our profitability could suffer accordingly. Such down-trading trends may be reinforced by regulation that limits branding, communication and product differentiation.

Ÿ We lose revenues as a result of counterfeiting, contraband, cross-border purchases and non-tax-paid volume produced by local manufacturers.

Large quantities of counterfeit cigarettes are sold in the international market. We believe that Marlboro is the most heavily counterfeited international cigarette brand, although we cannot quantify the revenues we lose as a result of this activity. In addition, our revenues are reduced by contraband, legal cross-border purchases and non-tax-paid volume produced by local manufacturers.

Ÿ From time to time, we are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters.

Investigations include allegations of contraband shipments of cigarettes, allegations of unlawful pricing activities within certain markets, allegations of underpayment of customs duties and/or excise taxes, allegations of false and misleading usage of descriptors and allegations of unlawful advertising. We cannot predict the outcome of those investigations or whether additional investigations may be commenced, and it is possible that our business could be materially affected by an unfavorable outcome of pending or future investigations. See Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Operating Results by Business Segment-Business Environment-Governmental Investigations for a description of certain governmental investigations to which we are subject.

Ÿ We may be unsuccessful in our attempts to produce Reduced-Risk Products, and regulators may not permit reduced exposure or risk claims.

We continue to seek ways to develop commercially viable new product technologies with the potential to reduce exposure to harmful constituents in smoke and individual risk and population harm in comparison to smoking combustible cigarettes. Our goal is to develop products whose potential to reduce exposure, individual risk and population harm can be substantiated by rigorous scientific studies and that provide adult smokers the taste, sensory experience, nicotine delivery profile and ritual characteristics that are similar to those currently provided by combustible cigarettes. We may not succeed in these efforts. If we do not succeed, but others do, we may be at a competitive disadvantage. Furthermore, we cannot predict whether regulators will permit the marketing of tobacco products or other nicotine-containing products with claims of reduced exposure or disease risk. A prohibition on any such claims could significantly undermine the commercial viability of these products.

Ÿ Our reported results could be adversely affected by unfavorable currency exchange rates, and currency devaluations could impair our competitiveness.

We conduct our business primarily in local currency and, for purposes of financial reporting, the local currency results are translated into U.S. dollars based on average exchange rates prevailing during a reporting period. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our reported net revenues and operating income will be reduced because the local currency translates into fewer U.S. dollars. During periods of local economic crises, foreign currencies may be devalued significantly against the U.S. dollar, reducing our margins. Actions to recover margins may result in lower volume and a weaker competitive position.

Ÿ The repatriation of our foreign earnings, changes in the earnings mix, and changes in U.S. tax laws may increase our effective tax rate. Our ability to receive payments from foreign subsidiaries or to repatriate royalties and dividends could be restricted by local country currency exchange controls.

Because we are a U.S. holding company, our most significant source of funds is distributions from our non-U.S. subsidiaries. Under current U.S. tax law, in general we do not pay U.S. taxes on our foreign earnings until they are repatriated to the U.S. as distributions from our non-U.S. subsidiaries. These distributions may result in a residual U.S. tax cost. It may be advantageous to us in certain circumstances to significantly increase the amount of such distributions, which could result in a material increase in our overall effective tax rate. Additionally, the Obama Administration has indicated that it favors changes in U.S. tax law that would fundamentally change how our earnings are taxed in the U.S. If enacted and depending upon its precise terms, such legislation could increase our overall effective tax rate. Certain countries in which we operate have adopted or could institute currency exchange controls that limit or prohibit our local subsidiaries' ability to make payments outside the country.

Ÿ Our ability to grow may be limited by our inability to introduce new products, enter new markets or to improve our margins through higher pricing and improvements in our brand and geographic mix.

Our profitability may suffer if we are unable to introduce new products or enter new markets successfully, to raise prices or maintain an acceptable proportion of our sales of higher margin products and sales in higher margin geographies.

Ÿ We may be unable to expand our brand portfolio through successful acquisitions or the development of strategic business relationships.

One element of our growth strategy is to strengthen our brand portfolio and market positions through selective acquisitions and the development of strategic business relationships. Acquisition and strategic business development opportunities are limited and present risks of failing to achieve efficient and effective integration, strategic objectives and anticipated revenue improvements and cost savings. There is no assurance that we will be able to acquire attractive businesses on favorable terms, or that future acquisitions or strategic business developments will be accretive to earnings.

Ÿ Government mandated prices, production control programs, shifts in crops driven by economic conditions and the impact of climate change may increase the cost or reduce the quality of the tobacco and other agricultural products used to manufacture our products.

As with other agricultural commodities, the price of tobacco leaf and cloves can be influenced by imbalances in supply and demand, and crop quality can be influenced by variations in weather patterns, including those caused by climate change. Tobacco production in certain countries is subject to a variety of controls, including government mandated prices and production control programs. Changes in the patterns of demand for agricultural products could cause farmers to plant less tobacco. Any significant change in tobacco leaf and clove prices, quality and quantity could affect our profitability and our business.

Ÿ Our ability to implement our strategy of attracting and retaining the best global talent may be impaired by the decreasing social acceptance of cigarette smoking.

The tobacco industry competes for talent with consumer products and other companies that enjoy greater societal acceptance. As a result, we may be unable to attract and retain the best global talent.

Ÿ The failure of our information systems to function as intended or their penetration by outside parties with the intent to corrupt them could result in business disruption, litigation and regulatory action, and loss of revenue, assets or personal or other sensitive data.

We use information systems to help manage business processes, collect and interpret business data and communicate internally and externally with employees, suppliers, customers and others. Some of these information systems are managed by third-party service providers. We have backup systems and business continuity plans in place, and we take care to protect our systems and data from unauthorized access. Nevertheless, failure of our systems to function as intended, or penetration of our systems by outside parties intent on extracting or corrupting information or otherwise disrupting business processes, could result in loss of revenue, assets or personal or other sensitive data, litigation and regulatory action, cause damage to our reputation and that of our brands and result in significant remediation and other costs to us.

Ÿ We may be required to replace third-party contract manufacturers or service providers with our own resources.

In certain instances, we contract with third parties to manufacture some of our products or product parts or to provide other services. We may be unable to renew these agreements on satisfactory terms for numerous reasons, including government regulations. Accordingly, our costs may increase significantly if we must replace such third parties with our own resources.

None.

At December 31, 2014 , we operated and owned 50 manufacturing facilities and maintained contract manufacturing relationships with 23 third-party manufacturers across 23 markets. In addition, we work with 38 third-party operators in Indonesia who manufacture our hand-rolled cigarettes.

PMI-Owned Manufacturing Facilities

In 2014 , 25 of our facilities each manufactured over 10 billion cigarettes, of which six facilities each produced over 30 billion units. Our largest factories are in St. Petersburg and Krasnodar (Russia), Marikina and Batangas (Philippines), Izmir (Turkey), Berlin (Germany),

Krakow (Poland), Sukorejo and Karawang (Indonesia), Merlo (Argentina), Kharkiv (Ukraine), and Guadalajara (Mexico). Our smallest factories are mostly in Latin America and Asia, where due to tariff and other constraints we have established small manufacturing units in individual markets, several of which are make-pack operations. We will continue to optimize our manufacturing base, taking into consideration the evolution of trade blocks.

The plants and properties owned or leased and operated by our subsidiaries are maintained in good condition and are believed to be suitable and adequate for our present needs.

In 2012, we announced that we are working on all aspects that will lead to the commercialization of RRPs in the 2016 to 2017 period. On January 10, 2014, we announced an investment of up to €500 million to develop our first manufacturing facility in the European Union and an associated pilot plant near Bologna, Italy, to produce RRPs. On October 10, 2014, the pilot plant officially opened for production. Once fully operational by 2016, the factory and pilot plant combined annual production capacity is expected to reach up to 30 billion units.

Tobacco-Related Litigation     

Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened against us, and/or our subsidiaries, and/or our indemnitees in various jurisdictions. Our indemnitees include distributors, licensees and others that have been named as parties in certain cases and that we have agreed to defend, as well as to pay costs and some or all of judgments, if any, that may be entered against them. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement between Altria and PMI, PMI will indemnify Altria and Philip Morris USA Inc. ("PM USA"), a U.S. tobacco subsidiary of Altria, for tobacco product claims based in substantial part on products manufactured by PMI or contract manufactured for PMI by PM USA, and PM USA will indemnify PMI for tobacco product claims based in substantial part on products manufactured by PM USA, excluding tobacco products contract manufactured for PMI.

It is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending cases against us and our subsidiaries. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation.

Damages claimed in some of the tobacco-related litigation are significant and, in certain cases in Brazil, Canada and Nigeria, range into the billions of U.S. dollars. The variability in pleadings in multiple jurisdictions, together with the actual experience of management in litigating claims, demonstrate that the monetary relief that may be specified in a lawsuit bears little relevance to the ultimate outcome. Much of the tobacco-related litigation is in its early stages, and litigation is subject to uncertainty. However, as discussed below, we have to date been largely successful in defending tobacco-related litigation.

We and our subsidiaries record provisions in the consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, after assessing the information available to it (i) management has not concluded that it is probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; (ii) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss for any of the pending tobacco-related cases; and (iii) accordingly, no estimated loss has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes in these cases, if any. Legal defense costs are expensed as incurred.

It is possible that our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. Nevertheless, although litigation is subject to uncertainty, we and each of our subsidiaries named as a defendant believe, and each has been so advised by counsel handling the respective cases, that we have valid defenses to the litigation pending against us, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts, if any. All such cases are, and will continue to be, vigorously defended. However, we and our subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if we believe it is in our best interests to do so.

To date, we have paid one judgment in a tobacco-related case. That judgment, including costs, was approximately €1,400 (approximately $1,800), and that payment was made in order to appeal an Italian small claims case, which was subsequently reversed on appeal. To date, no tobacco-related case has been finally resolved in favor of a plaintiff against us, our subsidiaries or indemnitees.

The table below lists the number of tobacco-related cases pending against us and/or our subsidiaries or indemnitees as of February 15, 2015, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 :

Since 1995, when the first tobacco-related litigation was filed against a PMI entity, 433 Smoking and Health, Lights, Health Care Cost Recovery, and Public Civil Actions in which we and/or one of our subsidiaries and/or indemnitees were a defendant have been terminated in our favor. Ten cases have had decisions in favor of plaintiffs. Nine of these cases have subsequently reached final resolution in our favor and one remains on appeal.

The table below lists the verdicts and post-trial developments in the following cases where verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs:

Pending claims related to tobacco products generally fall within the following categories:

Smoking and Health Litigation: These cases primarily allege personal injury and are brought by individual plaintiffs or on behalf of a class or purported class of individual plaintiffs. Plaintiffs' allegations of liability in these cases are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, violations of deceptive trade practice laws and consumer protection statutes. Plaintiffs in these cases seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and other damages, and injunctive and equitable relief. Defenses raised in these cases include licit activity, failure to state a claim, lack of defect, lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, contributory negligence, and statute of limitations.

As of February 15, 2015, there were a number of smoking and health cases pending against us, our subsidiaries or indemnitees, as follows:

In the first class action pending in Brazil, The Smoker Health Defense Association (ADESF) v. Souza Cruz, S.A. and Philip Morris Marketing, S.A., Nineteenth Lower Civil Court of the Central Courts of the Judiciary District of São Paulo, Brazil , filed July 25, 1995, our subsidiary and another member of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, a consumer organization, is seeking damages for smokers and former smokers and injunctive relief. The verdict and post-trial developments in this case are described in the above table.

In the second class action pending in Brazil , Public Prosecutor of São Paulo v. Philip Morris Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Civil Court of the City of São Paulo, Brazil, filed August 6, 2007, our subsidiary is a defendant. The plaintiff, the Public Prosecutor of the State of São Paulo, is seeking (i) damages on behalf of all smokers nationwide, former smokers, and their relatives; (ii) damages on behalf of people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke nationwide, and their relatives; and (iii) reimbursement of the health care costs allegedly incurred for the treatment of tobacco-related diseases by all Brazilian States and Municipalities, and the Federal District. In an interim ruling issued in December 2007, the trial court limited the scope of this claim to the State of São Paulo only. In December 2008, the Seventh Civil Court of São Paulo issued a decision declaring that it lacked jurisdiction because the case involved issues similar to the ADESF case discussed above and should be transferred to the Nineteenth Lower Civil Court in São Paulo where the ADESF case is pending. The court further stated that these cases should be consolidated for the purposes of judgment. In April 2010, the São Paulo Court of Appeals reversed the Seventh Civil Court's decision that consolidated the cases, finding that they are based on different legal claims and are progressing at different stages of proceedings. This case was returned to the Seventh Civil Court of São Paulo, and our subsidiary filed its closing arguments in December 2010. In March 2012, the trial court dismissed the case on the merits. In January 2014, the São Paulo Court of Appeals rejected plaintiff's appeal and affirmed the trial court decision. In July 2014, plaintiff appealed to the Superior Court of Justice.

In the first class action pending in Canada, Cecilia Letourneau v. Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. and JTI Macdonald Corp., Quebec Superior Court, Canada, filed in September 1998, our subsidiary and other Canadian manufacturers are defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for each member of the class who is deemed addicted to smoking. The class was certified in 2005. In February 2011, the trial court ruled that the federal government would remain as a third party in the case. In November 2012, the Court of Appeals dismissed defendants' third-party claims against the federal government. Trial began in March 2012 and concluded in December 2014. The parties now await the judgment. There is no fixed time period by which the trial court must issue its decision.

In the second class action pending in Canada, Conseil Québécois Sur Le Tabac Et La Santé and Jean-Yves Blais v. Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. and JTI Macdonald Corp., Quebec Superior Court, Canada , filed in November 1998, our subsidiary and other Canadian manufacturers are defendants. The plaintiffs, an anti-smoking organization and an individual smoker, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages for each member of the class who allegedly suffers from certain smoking-related diseases. The class was certified in 2005. In February 2011, the trial court ruled that the federal government would remain as a third party in the case. In November 2012, the Court of Appeals dismissed defendants' third-party claims against the federal government. Trial began in March 2012 and concluded in December 2014. The parties now await the judgment. There is no fixed time period by which the trial court must issue its decision.

In the third class action pending in Canada, Kunta v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council, et al., The Queen's Bench, Winnipeg, Canada , filed June 12, 2009, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are

defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, alleges her own addiction to tobacco products and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD"), severe asthma, and mild reversible lung disease resulting from the use of tobacco products. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers, their estates, dependents and family members, as well as restitution of profits, and reimbursement of government health care costs allegedly caused by tobacco products. In September 2009, plaintiff's counsel informed defendants that he did not anticipate taking any action in this case while he pursues the class action filed in Saskatchewan (see description of Adams , below).

In the fourth class action pending in Canada, Adams v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council, et al., The Queen's Bench, Saskatchewan, Canada , filed July 10, 2009, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, alleges her own addiction to tobacco products and COPD resulting from the use of tobacco products. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers who have smoked a minimum of 25,000 cigarettes and have allegedly suffered, or suffer, from COPD, emphysema, heart disease, or cancer, as well as restitution of profits. Preliminary motions are pending.

In the fifth class action pending in Canada, Semple v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council, et al., The Supreme Court (trial court), Nova Scotia, Canada , filed June 18, 2009, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, alleges his own addiction to tobacco products and COPD resulting from the use of tobacco products. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers, their estates, dependents and family members, as well as restitution of profits, and reimbursement of government health care costs allegedly caused by tobacco products. No activity in this case is anticipated while plaintiff's counsel pursues the class action filed in Saskatchewan (see description of Adams , above).

In the sixth class action pending in Canada, Dorion v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council, et al., The Queen's Bench, Alberta, Canada, filed June 15, 2009, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, alleges her own addiction to tobacco products and chronic bronchitis and severe sinus infections resulting from the use of tobacco products. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers, their estates, dependents and family members, restitution of profits, and reimbursement of government health care costs allegedly caused by tobacco products. To date, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees have not been properly served with the complaint. No activity in this case is anticipated while plaintiff's counsel pursues the class action filed in Saskatchewan (see description of Adams , above).

In the seventh class action pending in Canada, McDermid v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, et al., Supreme Court, British Columbia, Canada , filed June 25, 2010, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, alleges his own addiction to tobacco products and heart disease resulting from the use of tobacco products. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers who were alive on June 12, 2007, and who suffered from heart disease allegedly caused by smoking, their estates, dependents and family members, plus disgorgement of revenues earned by the defendants from January 1, 1954, to the date the claim was filed.

In the eighth class action pending in Canada, Bourassa v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, et al., Supreme Court, British Columbia, Canada , filed June 25, 2010, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, the heir to a deceased smoker, alleges that the decedent was addicted to tobacco products and suffered from emphysema resulting from the use of tobacco products. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers who were alive on June 12, 2007, and who suffered from chronic respiratory diseases allegedly caused by smoking, their estates, dependents and family members, plus disgorgement of revenues earned by the defendants from January 1, 1954, to the date the claim was filed. In December 2014, the plaintiff filed an amended statement of claim.

In the ninth class action pending in Canada, Suzanne Jacklin v. Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council, et al., Ontario Superior Court of Justice, filed June 20, 2012, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, an individual smoker, alleges her own addiction to tobacco products and COPD resulting from the use of tobacco products. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of a proposed class comprised of all smokers who have smoked a minimum of 25,000 cigarettes and have allegedly suffered, or suffer, from COPD, heart disease, or cancer, as well as restitution of profits. Plaintiff's counsel has indicated that he does not intend to take any action in this case in the near future.

Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation:  These cases, brought by governmental and non-governmental plaintiffs, seek reimbursement of health care cost expenditures allegedly caused by tobacco products. Plaintiffs' allegations of liability in these cases are based on various theories of recovery including unjust enrichment, negligence, negligent design, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranties, violation of a voluntary undertaking or special duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, public nuisance, defective product, failure to warn, sale of cigarettes to minors, and claims under statutes governing competition and deceptive trade practices. Plaintiffs in

these cases seek various forms of relief including compensatory and other damages, and injunctive and equitable relief. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of proximate cause, remoteness of injury, failure to state a claim, adequate remedy at law, "unclean hands" (namely, that plaintiffs cannot obtain equitable relief because they participated in, and benefited from, the sale of cigarettes), and statute of limitations.

As of February 15, 2015, there were 16 health care cost recovery cases pending against us, our subsidiaries or indemnitees in Canada (10), Korea (1) and Nigeria (5), compared with 15 such cases on December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 .

In the first health care cost recovery case pending in Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of British Columbia v. Imperial Tobacco Limited, et al., Supreme Court, British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, Canada, filed January 24, 2001, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitee (PM USA), and other members of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, the government of the province of British Columbia, brought a claim based upon legislation enacted by the province authorizing the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, resulting from a "tobacco related wrong." The Supreme Court of Canada has held that the statute is constitutional. We and certain other non-Canadian defendants challenged the jurisdiction of the court. The court rejected the jurisdictional challenge. Pre-trial discovery is ongoing.

In the second health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Brunswick v. Rothmans Inc., et al., Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick, Trial Court, New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada, filed March 13, 2008, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of New Brunswick based on legislation enacted in the province. This legislation is similar to the law introduced in British Columbia that authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." Pre-trial discovery is ongoing.

In the third health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario v. Rothmans Inc., et al., Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Toronto, Canada , filed September 29, 2009, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Ontario based on legislation enacted in the province. This legislation is similar to the laws introduced in British Columbia and New Brunswick that authorize the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." Preliminary motions are pending.

In the fourth health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Attorney General of Newfoundland and Labrador v. Rothmans Inc., et al., Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. Johns, Canada , filed February 8, 2011, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws introduced in British Columbia, New Brunswick and Ontario. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." Preliminary motions are pending.

In the fifth health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Attorney General of Quebec v. Imperial Tobacco Limited, et al., Superior Court of Quebec, Canada , filed June 8, 2012, we, our subsidiary, our indemnitee (PM USA), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Quebec based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws enacted in several other Canadian provinces. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." In December 2014, defendants began filing their statements of defense.

In the sixth health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Her Majesty in Right of Alberta v. Altria Group, Inc., et al., Supreme Court of Queen's Bench Alberta, Canada , filed June 8, 2012, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Alberta based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws enacted in several other Canadian provinces. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." Preliminary motions are pending.

In the seventh health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Manitoba v. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc., et al., The Queen's Bench, Winnipeg Judicial Centre, Canada , filed May 31, 2012, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Manitoba based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws enacted in several other Canadian provinces. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." In September 2014, defendants filed their statements of defense. Discovery is scheduled to begin in 2017.

In the eighth health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, The Government of Saskatchewan v. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., et al., Queen's Bench, Judicial Centre of Saskatchewan, Canada , filed June 8, 2012, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Saskatchewan based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws enacted in several other Canadian provinces. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." Defendants will file their defenses in 2015, and discovery is scheduled to begin in 2017.

In the ninth health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Prince Edward Island v. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., et al., Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island (General Section), Canada , filed September 10, 2012, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Prince Edward Island based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws enacted in several other Canadian provinces. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." Defendants will file their defenses in 2015, and discovery is scheduled to begin in 2017.

In the tenth health care cost recovery case filed in Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Nova Scotia v. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., et al., Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Canada , filed January 2, 2015, we, our subsidiaries, our indemnitees (PM USA and Altria), and other members of the industry are defendants. The claim was filed by the government of the province of Nova Scotia based on legislation enacted in the province that is similar to the laws enacted in several other Canadian provinces. The legislation authorizes the government to file a direct action against cigarette manufacturers to recover the health care costs it has incurred, and will incur, as a result of a "tobacco related wrong." In January 2015, we, our subsidiaries, and our indemnitees were served with the Statement of Claim. Preliminary motions and defenses will be filed in 2015, and discovery is scheduled to begin in 2017.

In the first health care cost recovery case in Nigeria, The Attorney General of Lagos State v. British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited, et al., High Court of Lagos State, Lagos, Nigeria, filed March 13, 2008, we and other members of the industry are defendants. Plaintiff seeks reimbursement for the cost of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the past 20 years, payment of anticipated costs of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the next 20 years, various forms of injunctive relief, plus punitive damages. We are in the process of making challenges to service and the court's jurisdiction. Currently, the case is stayed in the trial court pending the appeals of certain co-defendants relating to service objections.

In the second health care cost recovery case in Nigeria, The Attorney General of Kano State v. British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited, et al., High Court of Kano State, Kano, Nigeria, filed May 9, 2007, we and other members of the industry are defendants. Plaintiff seeks reimbursement for the cost of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the past 20 years, payment of anticipated costs of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the next 20 years, various forms of injunctive relief, plus punitive damages. We are in the process of making challenges to service and the court's jurisdiction. Currently, the case is stayed in the trial court pending the appeals of certain co-defendants relating to service objections.

In the third health care cost recovery case in Nigeria, The Attorney General of Gombe State v. British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited, et al., High Court of Gombe State, Gombe, Nigeria, filed October 17, 2008, we and other members of the industry are defendants . Plaintiff seeks reimbursement for the cost of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the past 20 years, payment of anticipated costs of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the next 20 years, various forms of injunctive relief, plus punitive damages. In February 2011, the court ruled that the plaintiff had not complied with the procedural steps necessary to serve us. As a result of this ruling, plaintiff must re-serve its claim. We have not yet been re-served.

In the fourth health care cost recovery case in Nigeria, The Attorney General of Oyo State, et al., v. British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited, et al., High Court of Oyo State, Ibadan, Nigeria, filed May 25, 2007, we and other members of the industry are defendants . Plaintiffs seek reimbursement for the cost of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the past 20 years, payment of anticipated costs of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the next 20 years, various forms of injunctive relief, plus punitive damages. We challenged service as improper. In June 2010, the court ruled that plaintiffs did not have leave to serve the writ of summons on the defendants and that they must re-serve the writ. We have not yet been re-served.

In the fifth health care cost recovery case in Nigeria, The Attorney General of Ogun State v. British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited, et al., High Court of Ogun State, Abeokuta, Nigeria , filed February 26, 2008, we and other members of the industry are defendants. Plaintiff seeks reimbursement for the cost of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the past 20 years, payment of anticipated costs of treating alleged smoking-related diseases for the next 20 years, various forms of injunctive relief, plus punitive damages. In May 2010, the trial court rejected our service objections. We have appealed.

In the health care cost recovery case in Korea, the National Health Insurance Service v. KT&G, et. al., filed April 14, 2014, our subsidiary and other Korean manufacturers are defendants. Plaintiff alleges that defendants concealed the health hazards of smoking, marketed to youth, added ingredients to make their products more harmful and addictive, and misled consumers into believing that Lights cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes. The National Health Insurance Service seeks to recover approximately $53.7 million allegedly incurred in treating 3,484 patients with small cell lung cancer, squamous cell lung cancer, and squamous cell laryngeal cancer from 2003 to 2012.

Lights Cases:  These cases, brought by individual plaintiffs, or on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs, allege that the use of the term "lights" constitutes fraudulent and misleading conduct. Plaintiffs' allegations of liability in these cases are based on various theories of recovery including misrepresentation, deception, and breach of consumer protection laws. Plaintiffs seek various forms of relief including restitution, injunctive relief, and compensatory and other damages. Defenses raised include lack of causation, lack of reliance, assumption of the risk, and statute of limitations.

As of February 15, 2015, there were 2 lights cases brought by individual plaintiffs pending against our subsidiaries or indemnitees in Chile ( 1 ) and Italy ( 1 ), compared with 2 such cases on December 31, 2013 , and 7 such cases on December 31, 2012 .

In the class action previously pending in Israel, El-Roy, et al. v. Philip Morris Incorporated, et al., District Court of Tel-Aviv/Jaffa, Israel, filed January 18, 2004, our subsidiary and our indemnitees (PM USA and our former importer) were defendants. The plaintiffs filed a purported class action claiming that the class members were misled by the descriptor "lights" into believing that lights cigarettes are safer than full flavor cigarettes. The claim sought recovery of the purchase price of lights cigarettes and compensation for distress for each class member. In November 2012, the court denied class certification and dismissed the individual claims. Plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court. On November 17, 2014, plaintiffs withdrew their appeal at the request of the Supreme Court. The case is now terminated, and we will no longer report it.

Public Civil Actions: Claims have been filed either by an individual, or a public or private entity, seeking to protect collective or individual rights, such as the right to health, the right to information or the right to safety. Plaintiffs' allegations of liability in these cases are based on various theories of recovery including product defect, concealment, and misrepresentation. Plaintiffs in these cases seek various forms of relief including injunctive relief such as banning cigarettes, descriptors, smoking in certain places and advertising, as well as implementing communication campaigns and reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by public or private institutions.

As of February 15, 2015, there were 2 public civil actions pending against our subsidiaries in Argentina (1) and Venezuela (1), compared with 3 such cases on December 31, 2013 , and 4 such cases on December 31, 2012 .

In the public civil action in Argentina, Asociación Argentina de Derecho de Danos v. Massalin Particulares S.A., et al., Civil Court of Buenos Aires, Argentina, filed February 26, 2007, our subsidiary and another member of the industry are defendants. The plaintiff, a consumer association, seeks the establishment of a relief fund for reimbursement of medical costs associated with diseases allegedly caused by smoking. Our subsidiary filed its answer in September 2007. In March 2010, the case file was transferred to the Federal Court on Administrative Matters after the Civil Court granted the plaintiff's request to add the national government as a co-plaintiff in the case. The case is currently in the evidentiary stage.

In the public civil action in Venezuela, Federation of Consumers and Users Associations ("FEVACU"), et al. v. National Assembly of Venezuela and the Venezuelan Ministry of Health, Constitutional Chamber of the Venezuelan Supreme Court , filed April 29, 2008, we were not named as a defendant, but the plaintiffs published a notice pursuant to court order, notifying all interested parties to appear in the case. In January 2009, our subsidiary appeared in the case in response to this notice. The plaintiffs purport to represent the right to health of the citizens of Venezuela and claim that the government failed to protect adequately its citizens' right to health. The claim asks the court to order the government to enact stricter regulations on the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. In addition, the plaintiffs ask the court to order companies involved in the tobacco industry to allocate a percentage of their "sales or benefits" to establish a fund to pay for the health care costs of treating smoking-related diseases. In October 2008, the court ruled that plaintiffs have standing to file the claim and that the claim meets the threshold admissibility requirements. In December 2012, the court admitted our subsidiary and BAT's subsidiary as interested third parties. In February 2013, our subsidiary answered the complaint.

Other Litigation

We are also involved in other litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business. While the outcomes of these proceedings are uncertain, management does not expect that the ultimate outcomes of other litigation, including any reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Not applicable.

The principal stock exchange on which our common stock (no par value) is listed is the New York Stock Exchange. At January 30, 2015 , there were approximately 68,300 holders of record of our common stock.

Our common stock is also listed on the NYSE Euronext in Paris and the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Performance Graph

The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on PMI's common stock with the cumulative total return for the same period of PMI's Compensation Survey Group and the S&P 500 Index. The graph assumes the investment of $100 as of December 31, 2009, in PMI common stock (at prices quoted on the New York Stock Exchange) and each of the indices as of the market close and reinvestment of dividends on a quarterly basis.

(1) The PMI Compensation Survey Group consists of the following companies with substantial global sales that are direct competitors; or have similar market capitalization; or are primarily focused on consumer products (excluding high technology and financial services); and are companies for which comparative executive compensation data are readily available: Bayer AG, British American Tobacco p.l.c., The Coca-Cola Company, Diageo plc, GlaxoSmithKline, Heineken N.V., Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald's Corp., Mondelēz International, Inc., Nestlé S.A., Novartis AG, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Roche Holding AG, Unilever NV and PLC and Vodafone Group Plc.

(2) On October 1, 2012, Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ), formerly Kraft Foods Inc., announced that it had completed the spin-off of its North American grocery business, Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT). Mondelēz International, Inc. was retained in the PMI Compensation Survey Group index because of its global footprint. The PMI Compensation Survey Group index total cumulative return calculation weights Mondelēz International, Inc.'s total shareholder return at 65% of historical Kraft Foods Inc.'s market capitalization on December 31, 2009, based on Mondelēz International, Inc.'s initial market capitalization relative to the combined market capitalization of Mondelēz International, Inc. and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. on October 2, 2012.

Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest $0.10.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities During the Quarter Ended December 31, 2014

Our share repurchase activity for each of the three months in the quarter ended December 31, 2014 , was as follows:

The other information called for by this Item is included in Item 8, Note 25. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) to the consolidated financial statements.

(in millions of dollars, except per share data)

This Selected Financial Data should be read in conjunction with Item 7 and Item 8.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8, and the discussion of risks and cautionary factors that may affect future results in Item 1A. Risk Factors .

We are a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates, and their licensees, are engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, other tobacco products and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the United States of America. We manage our business in four segments:

Our products are sold in more than 180 markets and, in many of these markets, they hold the number one or number two market share position. We have a wide range of premium, mid-price and low-price brands. Our portfolio comprises both international and local brands.

We use the term net revenues to refer to our operating revenues from the sale of our products, net of sales and promotion incentives. Our net revenues and operating income are affected by various factors, including the volume of products we sell, the price of our products, changes in currency exchange rates and the mix of products we sell. Mix is a term used to refer to the proportionate value of premium-price brands to mid-price or low-price brands in any given market (product mix). Mix can also refer to the proportion of shipment volume in more profitable markets versus shipment volume in less profitable markets (geographic mix). We often collect excise taxes from our customers and then remit them to governments, and, in those circumstances, we include the excise taxes in our net revenues and in excise taxes on products. Our cost of sales consists principally of tobacco leaf, non-tobacco raw materials, labor and manufacturing costs.

Our marketing, administration and research costs include the costs of marketing and selling our products, other costs generally not related to the manufacture of our products (including general corporate expenses), and costs incurred to develop new products. The most significant components of our marketing, administration and research costs are marketing and sales expenses and general and administrative expenses.

Philip Morris International Inc. is a legal entity separate and distinct from our direct and indirect subsidiaries. Accordingly, our right, and thus the right of our creditors and stockholders, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of any subsidiary is subject to the prior rights of creditors of such subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of our company itself as a creditor may be recognized. As a holding company, our principal sources of funds, including funds to make payment on our debt securities, are from the receipt of dividends and repayment of debt from our subsidiaries. Our principal wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries currently are not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or to make other distributions with respect to their common stock.

The following executive summary provides significant highlights from the Discussion and Analysis that follows.

See the discussion of events affecting the comparability of statement of earnings amounts in the Consolidated Operating Results section of the following Discussion and Analysis.

On April 4, 2014, we announced the initiation by our affiliate, Philip Morris Holland B.V. ("PMH"), of consultations with employee representatives on a proposal to discontinue cigarette production at its factory located in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. PMH reached an agreement with the trade unions and their members on a social plan, and ceased cigarette production on September 1, 2014. PMI expects to incur a total pre-tax charge of approximately $547 million for the total program. During 2014, we recorded pre-tax asset impairment and exist costs of $489 million. For further details, see the Asset Impairment and Exit Costs section of the following Discussion and Analysis .

For further details, see the Consolidated Operating Results and Operating Results by Business Segment sections of the following Discussion and Analysis .

• 2015 Forecasted Results – On February 5, 2015, we announced our forecast for 2015 full-year reported diluted EPS to be in a range of $4.27 to $4.37, at prevailing exchange rates at that time, versus $4.76 in 2014. Excluding an unfavorable currency impact, at then-prevailing rates, of approximately $1.15 per share for the full-year 2015, the reported diluted earnings per share range represents an increase of 8% to 10% versus adjusted diluted earnings per share of $5.02 in 2014. This forecast includes incremental spending versus 2014 for our Reduced-Risk Product, iQOS . The spending, which is skewed towards the second half of the year, will support our plans for national expansion in Japan and Italy, as well as pilot or national launches in additional markets, later in 2015. This forecast does not include any share repurchases in 2015. The company will revisit the potential for repurchases as the year unfolds, depending on the currency environment.

We calculated 2014 adjusted diluted EPS as reported diluted EPS of $4.76 , plus the $0.26 per share charge related to asset impairment and exit costs.

Adjusted diluted EPS is not a measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). We define adjusted diluted EPS as reported diluted EPS adjusted for asset impairment and exit costs, discrete tax items and unusual items. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure as it represents core earnings, improves comparability and helps investors analyze business performance and trends. Adjusted diluted EPS should be considered neither in isolation nor as a substitute for reported diluted EPS prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

This 2015 guidance excludes the impact of future acquisitions, unanticipated asset impairment and exit cost charges, future changes in currency exchange rates and any unusual events. The factors described in Item 1A. Risk Factors represent continuing risks to this forecast.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Item 8, Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. In most instances, we must use a particular accounting policy or method because it is the only one that is permitted under U.S. GAAP.

The preparation of financial statements requires that we use estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of our assets, liabilities, net revenues and expenses, as well as our disclosure of contingencies. If actual amounts differ from previous estimates, we include the revisions in our consolidated results of operations in the period during which we know the actual amounts. Historically, aggregate differences, if any, between our estimates and actual amounts in any year have not had a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

The selection and disclosure of our critical accounting policies and estimates have been discussed with our Audit Committee. The following is a discussion of the more significant assumptions, estimates, accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

• Revenue Recognition – As required by U.S. GAAP, we recognize revenues, net of sales and promotion incentives. Our net revenues include excise taxes and shipping and handling charges billed to our customers. Our net revenues are recognized upon shipment or delivery of goods when title and risk of loss pass to our customers. We record shipping and handling costs paid to third parties as part of cost of sales.

• Goodwill and Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets Valuation – We test goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets annually for impairment or more frequently if events occur that would warrant such review. We perform our annual impairment analysis in the first quarter of each year. The impairment analysis involves comparing the fair value of each reporting unit or non-amortizable intangible asset to the carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, goodwill or a non-amortizable intangible asset is considered impaired. To determine the fair value of goodwill, we primarily use a discounted cash flow model, supported by the market approach using earnings multiples of comparable companies. To determine the fair value of non-amortizable intangible assets, we primarily use a discounted cash flow model applying the relief-from-royalty method. These discounted cash flow models include management assumptions relevant for forecasting operating cash flows, which are subject to changes in business conditions, such as volumes and prices, costs to produce, discount rates and estimated capital needs. Management considers historical experience and all available information at the time the fair values are estimated, and we believe these assumptions are consistent with the assumptions a hypothetical marketplace participant would use. We concluded that the fair value of our reporting units and non-amortizable intangible assets exceeded the carrying value, and any reasonable movement in the assumptions would not result in an impairment. Since the March 28, 2008, spin-off from Altria Group, Inc. ("Altria"), we have not recorded a charge to earnings for an impairment of goodwill or non-amortizable intangible assets.

• Marketing and Advertising Costs – As required by U.S. GAAP, we record marketing costs as an expense in the year to which costs relate. We do not defer amounts on our balance sheet. We expense advertising costs during the year in which the costs are incurred. We record trade promotion costs as a reduction of revenues during the year in which these programs are offered, relying on estimates of utilization and redemption rates that have been developed from historical information. Such programs include, but are not limited to, discounts, rebates, in-store display incentives and volume-based incentives. For interim reporting purposes, advertising and certain consumer incentives are charged to earnings based on estimated sales and related expenses for the full year.

• Employee Benefit Plans – As discussed in Item 8, Note 13. Benefit Plans to our consolidated financial statements, we provide a range of benefits to our employees and retired employees, including pensions, postretirement health care and postemployment benefits (primarily severance). We record annual amounts relating to these plans based on calculations specified by U.S. GAAP. These calculations include various actuarial assumptions, such as discount rates, assumed rates of return on plan assets, compensation increases and turnover rates. We review actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and make modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is deemed appropriate to do so. As permitted by U.S. GAAP, any effect of the modifications is generally amortized over future periods. We believe that the assumptions utilized in calculating our obligations under these plans are reasonable based upon advice from our actuaries.

At December 31, 2014 , our discount rate was 3.95% for our U.S. pension plans and 4.10% for our U.S. postretirement plans. These rates were 85 basis points lower than our 2013 discount rate of 4.80% for U.S. pension plans, and 4.95% for U.S. postretirement plans. Our weighted-average discount rate assumption for our non-U.S. pension plans decreased to 1.92% , from 3.09% at December 31, 2013 . Our weighted-average discount rate assumption for our non-U.S. postretirement plans was 4.28% at December 31, 2014 , and 5.07% at December 31, 2013 . We anticipate that assumption changes, coupled with increased amortization of deferred losses, will increase 2015 pre-tax U.S. and non-U.S. pension and postretirement expense to approximately $246 million as compared with approximately $207 million in 2014, excluding amounts related to early retirement programs. A fifty-basis-point decrease in our discount rate would increase our 2015 pension and postretirement expense by approximately $55 million, and a fifty-basis-point increase in our discount rate would decrease our 2015 pension and postretirement expense by approximately $45 million. Similarly, a fifty-basis-point decrease (increase) in the expected return on plan assets would increase (decrease) our 2015 pension expense by approximately $30 million.

See Item 8, Note 13. Benefit Plans to our consolidated financial statements for a sensitivity discussion of the assumed health care cost trend rates.

• Income Taxes – Income tax provisions for jurisdictions outside the United States, as well as state and local income tax provisions, are determined on a separate company basis, and the related assets and liabilities are recorded in our consolidated balance sheets.

The extent of our operations involves dealing with uncertainties and judgments in the application of complex tax regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions and resolution of disputes arising from federal, state, and international tax audits. In accordance with the authoritative guidance for income taxes, we evaluate potential tax exposures and record tax liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. We adjust these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances; however, due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the tax liabilities. If our estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, an additional charge to expense would result. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be less than the recorded amounts, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when we determine the liabilities are no longer necessary.

The effective tax rates used for interim reporting are based on our full-year geographic earnings mix projections and cash repatriation plans. Changes in currency exchange rates, earnings mix by taxing jurisdiction or in cash repatriation plans could have an impact on the effective tax rates, which we monitor each quarter. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and in evaluating tax positions.

At December 31, 2014 , applicable United States federal income taxes and foreign withholding taxes have not been provided on approximately $23 billion of accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are expected to be permanently reinvested. These earnings have been or will be invested to support the growth of our international business. Further, we do not foresee a need to repatriate these earnings to the U.S. since our U.S. cash requirements are supported by: distributions from foreign entities of earnings that have not been designated as permanently reinvested; and existing credit facilities. Repatriation of earnings from foreign subsidiaries for which we have asserted that the earnings are permanently reinvested would result in additional U.S. income and foreign withholding taxes. The determination of the amount of deferred tax related to these earnings is not practicable due to the complexity of the U.S. foreign tax credit regime, as well as differences between earnings determined for book and tax purposes mainly resulting from intercompany transactions, purchase accounting and currency fluctuations.

Prior to the spin-off of PMI by Altria, we were a wholly owned subsidiary of Altria. We participated in a tax-sharing agreement with Altria for U.S. tax liabilities, and our accounts were included with those of Altria for purposes of its U.S. federal income tax return. Under the terms of the agreement, taxes were computed on a separate company basis. To the extent that we generated foreign tax credits, capital losses and other credits that could not be utilized on a separate company basis, but were utilized in Altria's consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, we would recognize the resulting benefit in the calculation of our provision for income taxes. We made payments to, or were reimbursed by, Altria for the tax effects resulting from our inclusion in Altria's consolidated United States federal income tax return. On the date of the spin-off of PMI by Altria, we entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement with Altria. The Tax Sharing Agreement generally governs Altria's and our respective rights, responsibilities and obligations for pre-distribution periods and for potential taxes on the spin-off of PMI by Altria. With respect to any potential tax resulting from the spin-off of PMI by Altria, responsibility for the tax will be allocated to the party that acted (or failed to act) in a manner that resulted in the tax. Beginning March 31, 2008, we were no longer a member of the Altria consolidated tax return group, and we filed our own U.S. federal consolidated income tax return.

For further details, see Item 8, Note 11. Income Taxes to our consolidated financial statements.

• Hedging – As discussed below in "Market Risk," we use derivative financial instruments principally to reduce exposures to market risks resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates by creating offsetting exposures. For derivatives to which we have elected to apply hedge accounting, gains and losses on these derivatives are initially deferred in accumulated other comprehensive losses on the consolidated balance sheet and recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings in the periods when the related hedged transactions are also recognized in operating results. If we had elected not to use the hedge accounting provisions gains (losses) deferred in stockholders' (deficit) equity would have been recorded in our net earnings for these derivatives.

• Contingencies – As discussed in Item 8, Note 21. Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements, legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened against us, and/or our subsidiaries, and/or our indemnitees in various jurisdictions. We and our subsidiaries record provisions in the consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The variability in pleadings in multiple jurisdictions, together with the actual experience of management in litigating claims, demonstrate that the monetary relief that may be specified in a lawsuit bears little relevance to the ultimate outcome. Much of the tobacco-related litigation is in its early stages, and litigation is subject to uncertainty. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, after assessing the information available to it (i) management has not concluded that it is probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; (ii) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss for any of the pending tobacco-related cases; and (iii) accordingly, no estimated loss has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes in these cases, if any. Legal defense costs are expensed as incurred.

Our cigarette volume, net revenues, excise taxes on products and operating companies income by segment were as follows:

As discussed in Item 8, Note 12. Segment Reporting to our consolidated financial statements, we evaluate segment performance and allocate resources based on operating companies income, which we define as operating income, excluding general corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles, plus equity (income)/loss in unconsolidated subsidiaries, net. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze the business performance and trends of our various business segments.

References to total international cigarette market, total cigarette market, total market and market shares throughout this Discussion and Analysis reflect our best estimates based on a number of internal and external sources.

The following events that occurred during 2014 , 2013 and 2012 affected the comparability of our statement of earnings amounts:

• Asset Impairment and Exit Costs – For the years ended December 31, 2014 , 2013 and 2012 , pre-tax asset impairment and exit costs by segment were as follows:

For further details, see Item 8, Note 5. Asset Impairment and Exit Costs to our consolidated financial statements.

• Acquisitions and Other Business Arrangements – For further details, see Item 8, Note 6. Acquisitions and Other Business Arrangements to our consolidated financial statements.

2014 compared with 2013

The following discussion compares our consolidated operating results for the year ended December 31, 2014 , with the year ended December 31, 2013 .

Our cigarette shipment volume of 856.0 billion units decreased by 2.8% , excluding acquisitions, or 24.3 billion units. The decline in our cigarette shipment volume was due primarily to:

The overall declines were partially offset by:

Our market share increased, or was flat in a number of key markets, including Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Total cigarette shipments of Marlboro of 283.0 billion units decreased by 2.8% , due primarily to declines in: the European Union, notably France, Italy and Poland, partly offset by the Czech Republic and Spain; EEMA, notably in Egypt, Russia and Ukraine, partly offset by Algeria and Saudi Arabia; Asia, due almost entirely to Japan, partly offset by the Philippines; and Latin America & Canada, due predominantly to Mexico. The overall decline was partially offset by the positive impact of market share growth in the European Union and EEMA Regions. Market share of Marlboro in Asia and Latin America & Canada was flat.

Total cigarette shipments of Parliament of 47.2 billion units increased by 5.6% , driven by growth in all Regions and notably in Turkey. Total cigarette shipments of L&M of 94.2 billion units were down by 0.9% , due primarily to EEMA, notably Saudi Arabia and Turkey, partially offset by slightly increased or essentially flat shipments in the three other Regions. Total cigarette shipments of Bond Street of 43.6 billion units decreased by 2.9% , due predominantly to Kazakhstan, Serbia and Ukraine, partially offset by Australia and Russia. Total cigarette shipments of Philip Morris of 31.9 billion units decreased by 8.7% , due almost entirely to Japan, principally reflecting the morphing to Lark , partly offset by growth in the three other Regions. Total cigarette shipments of Chesterfield of 42.1 billion units increased by 22.6% , driven by growth in all Regions and notably in Italy, Poland and Turkey, partly offset by Russia and Ukraine. Total cigarette shipments of Lark of 28.5 billion units decreased by 1.3% , due predominantly to Turkey, partly offset by Japan (including the impact of the morphing of Philip Morris ).

Our other tobacco products ("OTP") primarily include tobacco for roll-your-own and make-your-own cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos. Total shipment volume of OTP, in cigarette equivalent units, increased by 3.4% to 33.8 billion cigarette equivalent units, mainly due to growth in the fine cut category, notably in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, partially offset by France and Germany.

Total shipment volume for cigarettes and OTP, in cigarette equivalent units, was down by 2.5% .

Our net revenues and excise taxes on products were as follows:

Currency movements decreased net revenues by $5.3 billion and net revenues, excluding excise taxes on products, by $2.1 billion , due primarily to the Argentine peso, Indonesian rupiah, Japanese yen, Russian ruble, Turkish lira and the Ukraine hryvnia, partially offset by the Euro.

Net revenues include $ 2,017 million in 2014 and $1,876 million in 2013 related to sales of OTP. These net revenue amounts include excise taxes billed to customers. Excluding excises taxes, net revenues for OTP were $ 753 million in 2014 and $739 million in 2013 .

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased by $77 million ( 0.1% ). Excluding excise taxes, net revenues decreased by $1,450 million ( 4.6% ) to $29.8 billion . This decrease was due to:

Excise taxes on products increased by $1.5 billion ( 3.1% ), due primarily to:

• higher excise taxes resulting from changes in retail prices and tax rates ( $5.5 billion ), partly offset by

• favorable currency ( $3.3 billion ) and

• volume/mix ( $755 million ).

Governments have consistently increased excise taxes in most of the markets in which we operate. As discussed in Business Environment , we expect excise taxes to continue to increase.

Our cost of sales; marketing, administration and research costs; and operating income were as follows:

Cost of sales increased $26 million ( 0.2% ), due to:

Marketing, administration and research costs increased by $111 million ( 1.6% ), due to:

Operating income decreased by $1.8 billion ( 13.4% ). This decrease was due primarily to:

Interest expense, net, of $1.1 billion increased $79 million , due primarily to higher average debt levels, partially offset by lower average interest rates on debt.

Our effective tax rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 29.1% . The 2014 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by the asset impairment and exit costs related to the factory closures. The 2013 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by the additional expense associated with the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 ($17 million) and the enactment of tax law changes in Mexico ($14 million). The effective tax rate is based on our full-year earnings mix by taxing jurisdiction and cash repatriation plans. Changes in our cash repatriation plans could have an impact on the effective tax rate, which we monitor each quarter. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and in evaluating tax positions. Based upon tax regulations in existence at December 31, 2014 , and our cash repatriation plans, we estimate that our 2015 effective tax rate will be approximately 29%.

We are regularly examined by tax authorities around the world, and we are currently under examination in a number of jurisdictions. It is reasonably possible that within the next twelve months certain tax examinations will close, which could result in a change in unrecognized tax benefits along with related interest and penalties. An estimate of any possible charge cannot be made at this time.

Equity (income)/loss in unconsolidated subsidiaries, net, of $(105) million increased by $127 million , due primarily to higher earnings from our investments in North Africa and Russia, which are reflected in the Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa segment.

Net earnings attributable to PMI of $7.5 billion decreased by $1.1 billion ( 12.6% ). This decrease was due primarily to an unfavorable currency impact on operating income and higher interest expense, net. Diluted and basic EPS of $4.76 decreased by 9.5% . Excluding an unfavorable currency impact of $0.80 , diluted EPS increased by 5.7% .

2013 compared with 2012

The following discussion compares our consolidated operating results for the year ended December 31, 2013, with the year ended December 31, 2012.

Our cigarette shipment volume of 880.2 billion units decreased by 5.1% or 46.9 billion units, driven by a total industry tax-paid volume decline. The decline in our cigarette shipment volume mainly reflected:

environment, the growth of the OTP category, and the prevalence of e-cigarettes and non-duty paid products;

Excluding the Philippines, our cigarette shipment volume was down by 2.7%, and our total tobacco volume (including OTP in cigarette equivalent units) was down by 2.4%.

Our market share grew in a number of key markets, including Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Total cigarette shipments of Marlboro of 291.1 billion units decreased by 3.5%, due primarily to declines in: the European Union, notably France, Poland and Spain, partly offset by Italy; EEMA, primarily Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, largely offset by North Africa; Asia, predominantly Japan and the Philippines, partly offset by Indonesia; and Latin America & Canada, mainly Argentina and Brazil, partly offset by Colombia and Mexico. Excluding the Philippines, total cigarette shipments of Marlboro declined by 1.3%.

Total cigarette shipments of L&M of 95.0 billion units were up by 1.4%, driven notably by Egypt, Russia and Saudi Arabia, partly offset by Turkey. Total cigarette shipments of Bond Street of 44.9 billion units decreased by 4.2%, due primarily to Russia and Ukraine. Total cigarette shipments of Parliament of 44.7 billion units were up by 2.9%, due primarily to Turkey, partly offset by Japan. Total cigarette shipments of Philip Morris of 35.0 billion units decreased by 7.9%, due primarily to Italy and the Philippines, partly offset by Argentina. Total cigarette shipments of Chesterfield of 34.4 billion units were down by 3.2%, due primarily to Russia and Ukraine, partly offset by Germany and Turkey. Total cigarette shipments of Lark of 28.8 billion units decreased by 10.2%, due predominantly to Japan and Turkey.

Total shipment volume of OTP, in cigarette equivalent units, grew by 4.9% to 32.7 billion cigarette equivalent units, primarily reflecting growth in the European Union, notably in Belgium, France, Hungary and Italy.

Total shipment volume for cigarettes and OTP combined was down by 4.7%.

Our net revenues and excise taxes on products were as follows:

Currency movements decreased net revenues by $1.4 billion and net revenues, excluding excise taxes on products, by $765 million. The $765 million decrease was due primarily to the Argentine peso, Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Indonesian rupiah, Japanese yen, Russian ruble and Turkish lira, partially offset by the Euro and Mexican peso.

Net revenues include $1,876 million in 2013 and $1,709 million in 2012 related to sales of OTP. These net revenue amounts include excise taxes billed to customers. Excluding excises taxes, net revenues for OTP were $739 million in 2013 and $676 million in 2012.

Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased by $2.6 billion (3.4%). Excluding excise taxes, net revenues decreased by $160 million (0.5%) to $31.2 billion. This decrease was due to:

Excise taxes on products increased by $2.8 billion (6.1%), due to:

Our cost of sales; marketing, administration and research costs; and operating income were as follows:

Cost of sales increased $37 million (0.4%), due to:

Marketing, administration and research costs decreased by $71 million (1.0%), due to:

Operating income decreased by $348 million (2.5%). This decrease was due primarily to:

Interest expense, net, of $973 million increased $114 million, due primarily to higher average debt levels, partially offset by lower average interest rates on debt.

Our effective tax rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 29.3%. The 2013 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by the additional expense associated with the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 ($17 million) and the enactment of tax law changes in Mexico ($14 million). The 2012 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by an additional income tax provision of $79 million following the conclusion of the IRS examination of Altria's consolidated tax returns for the years 2004-2006, partially offset by a $40 million benefit from a tax accounting method change in Germany.

Net earnings attributable to PMI of $8.6 billion decreased $224 million (2.5%). This decrease was due primarily to an unfavorable currency impact on operating income and higher interest expense, net, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate. Diluted and basic EPS of $5.26 increased by 1.7%. Excluding an unfavorable currency impact of $0.34, diluted EPS increased by 8.3%.

Business Environment

Taxes, Legislation, Regulation and Other Matters Regarding the Manufacture, Marketing, Sale and Use of Tobacco Products

The tobacco industry and our business face a number of challenges that may adversely affect our business, volume, results of operations, cash flows and financial position. These challenges, which are discussed below and in Item 1A. Risk Factors , include:

Ÿ     FCTC: The World Health Organization's ("WHO") Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ("FCTC"), an international public health treaty with the objective of reducing tobacco use, drives much of the regulation that shapes the business environment in which we operate. The treaty, to which 178 countries and the European Union are Parties, requires Parties to have in place various tobacco control measures and recommends others.

We support many of the regulatory policies required by the FCTC, including measures that strictly prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors, limit public smoking, require health warnings on tobacco packaging, regulate product content to prevent increased adverse health effects of smoking and establish a regulatory framework for reduced-risk products. We also support the use of tax and price policies to achieve public health objectives, as long as tax increases are not excessive, disruptive or discriminatory and do not result in increased illicit trade.

However, the FCTC governing body, the Conference of the Parties ("CoP"), has adopted non-binding guidelines and policy recommendations to certain articles of the FCTC, some of which we strongly oppose, including extreme measures such as point-of-sale display bans, plain packaging, bans on all forms of communications with adult smokers, ingredient restrictions or bans based on the concepts of palatability or attractiveness and excessive taxation. Among other things, these measures would limit our ability to differentiate our products and disrupt competition, are not based on sound evidence of a public health benefit, are likely to lead to adverse consequences, such as increased illicit trade and, in some cases, result in the expropriation of our trademarks and violate international treaties.

It is not possible to predict whether or to what extent measures recommended in the FCTC guidelines will be implemented. In some instances where these extreme measures have been adopted by national governments, we have commenced legal proceedings challenging them.

Ÿ Excise, Sales and Other Taxes: Excessive and disruptive tax increases and discriminatory tax structures are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on our profitability, due to lower consumption and consumer down-trading from premium to non-premium, discount, other low-price or low-taxed tobacco products, such as fine cut tobacco, and illicit products. In addition, in certain jurisdictions, our products are subject to tax structures that discriminate against premium-price products and manufactured cigarettes. Other jurisdictions have imposed, or are seeking to impose, levies or other taxes on tobacco companies. We oppose such extreme tax measures. We believe that they undermine public health by encouraging consumers to turn to the illicit trade for cheaper tobacco products and ultimately undercut government revenue objectives, disrupt the competitive environment and encourage criminal activity.

Ÿ EU Tobacco Products Directive: In April 2014, the EU adopted the text of a significantly revised EU Tobacco Products Directive that, among other things, provides for:

The revised Directive entered into force in May 2014. Member States are required to implement the Directive by May 2016.

In June 2014, two of our subsidiaries filed papers in the English High Court seeking judicial review of whether the Directive complies with existing EU Treaties. In November 2014, the English High Court referred the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") and requested that the CJEU issue a judgment in advance of May 2016. In July 2014, the government of Poland filed a complaint with the CJEU challenging the validity of various provisions in the Directive that ban menthol cigarettes. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these legal proceedings.

Ÿ Plain Packaging: To date, only Australia has implemented plain packaging. Its regulation, which came into force in December 2012, bans the use of branding, logos and colors on packaging of all tobacco products other than the brand name and variant, which may be printed only in specified locations and in a uniform font. The remainder of the pack is reserved for health warnings and government messages about cessation. The branding of individual cigarettes is also prohibited under this regulation.

In other countries, including Ireland, New Zealand and the U.K., proposals to implement plain packaging are in various stages of the legislative process. Additionally, several countries, including Turkey and Norway, are considering plain packaging, but no legislative proposals have been published. It is not possible to predict whether any of these countries will implement plain packaging.

Australia's plain packaging legislation triggered three legal challenges. First, major tobacco manufacturers, including our Australian subsidiary, challenged the legislation's constitutionality in the High Court of Australia. Although the High Court found the legislation constitutional, a majority of the Justices concluded that plain packaging deprives tobacco manufacturers of their property, raising serious questions about the legality of similar proposals in other jurisdictions. Second, our Hong Kong subsidiary has initiated arbitration proceedings against the Australian government pursuant to the Hong Kong-Australia Bilateral Investment Treaty and is seeking substantial compensation for the deprivation of its investments in Australia. Third, several countries have initiated World Trade Organization ("WTO") dispute settlement proceedings against Australia. The ongoing legal challenges may take several years to complete, and it is not possible to predict their outcomes.

We oppose plain packaging because it expropriates our valuable intellectual property by taking away our trademarks and moves the industry much closer to a commodity business where there is no distinction between brands and, therefore, the ability to compete for adult smoker market share is greatly reduced. Data from Australia appear to confirm that with plain packaging, adult smokers down-trade to lower price and lower margin brands and illicit products. According to recent industry-commissioned studies, the implementation of plain packaging in Australia has had no impact on smoking prevalence among adults or youth, while illicit trade has increased, with

a significant shift towards branded illicit products (away from unbranded loose tobacco). In the event any particular jurisdiction adopts plain packaging regulation, we will consider all available options, including litigation, to ensure the protection of our intellectual property.

Ÿ Restrictions and Bans on the Use of Ingredients: Currently, the WHO and some others in the public health community recommend restrictions or total bans on the use of some or all ingredients in tobacco products, including menthol. Some regulators have considered and rejected such proposals, while others have proposed and, in a few cases, adopted restrictions or bans. In particular, as mentioned above, the European Union has adopted a ban of characterizing flavors in tobacco products, subject to an exemption until May 2020 for menthol, while sweeping ingredient bans have been adopted only by Canada (with an exemption for menthol) and Brazil.

However, the Brazil ingredients ban, which, as originally drafted, would prohibit the use of virtually all ingredients with flavoring or aromatic properties, is not in force due to a legal challenge by a tobacco industry union, of which our Brazilian subsidiary is a member. It is not possible to predict the outcome of this legal proceeding.

Broad restrictions and bans on the use of ingredients would require us to reformulate our American Blend tobacco products and could reduce our ability to differentiate these products in the market in the long term. Menthol bans would eliminate the entire category of mentholated tobacco products. We oppose broad bans or sweeping restrictions on the use of ingredients, as they are often based on the subjective and scientifically unsupported notion that ingredients make tobacco products more "attractive" or "palatable" and therefore could encourage tobacco consumption, and also because prohibiting entire categories of cigarettes, such as menthol, will lead to a massive increase in illicit trade.

Many countries have enacted or proposed legislation or regulations that require cigarette manufacturers to disclose to governments and to the public the ingredients used in the manufacture of tobacco products and, in certain cases, to provide toxicological information about those ingredients. We have made, and will continue to make, full disclosures where adequate assurances of trade secret protection are provided.

Ÿ Bans on Display of Tobacco Products at Retail: In a few of our markets, governments have banned or propose to ban the display of tobacco products at the point of retail sale. Other countries have rejected display ban proposals. We oppose display bans because they restrict competition by favoring established brands and encourage illicit trade, while not reducing smoking or otherwise benefiting public health. In some markets, our subsidiaries and, in some cases, individual retailers have commenced legal proceedings to overturn display bans.

Ÿ Health Warning Requirements: In most countries, governments require large and often graphic health warnings covering at least 30% of the front and back of cigarette packs (the size mandated by the FCTC). A growing number of countries require warnings covering 50% of the front and back of the pack, and a small number of countries require larger warnings, such as Australia (75% front and 90% back), Mexico (30% front and 100% back), Uruguay (80% front and back) and Canada (75% front and back).

In March 2013, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand issued a regulation mandating health warnings covering 85% of the front and back of cigarette packs. While a lower court suspended this requirement pending the outcome of legal challenges by two of our affiliates, Thailand's Supreme Administrative Court recently overturned this order and allowed the regulation to be implemented during the pendency of our affiliates' claims. The legal challenges by our affiliates are still pending. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these proceedings.

We support health warning requirements designed to inform consumers of the risks of smoking. In fact, where health warnings are not required, we place them on packaging voluntarily in the official language or languages of the country. We defer to governments on the content of warnings except for content that vilifies tobacco companies or does not fairly represent the actual effects of smoking. However, we oppose excessively large health warnings, i.e., larger than 50%. The data show that disproportionately increasing the size of health warnings does not effectively reduce tobacco consumption. Yet, such health warnings impede our ability to compete in the market by leaving insufficient space for our distinctive trademarks and pack designs.

Ÿ Other Packaging Restrictions: Some governments have passed, or are seeking to pass, restrictions on packaging and labeling, including standardizing the shape, format and lay-out of packaging, as well as imposing broad restrictions on how the space left for branding and product descriptions can be used. Examples include prohibitions on (1) the use of colors that are alleged to suggest that one brand is less harmful than others, (2) specific descriptive phrases deemed to be misleading, including, for example, "premium," "full flavor," "international," "gold," "silver," and "menthol" and (3) in one country, all but one pack variation per brand. We oppose broad packaging restrictions because they unnecessarily limit brand and product differentiation, are anticompetitive, prevent us from providing consumers with information about our products, unduly restrict our intellectual property rights, and violate international trade agreements. In some instances, we have commenced litigation challenging such regulations. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these proceedings.

Ÿ Bans and Restrictions on Advertising, Marketing, Promotions and Sponsorships: For many years, the FCTC has called for, and countries have imposed, partial or total bans on tobacco advertising, marketing, promotions and sponsorships, including bans and restrictions on advertising on radio and television, in print and on the Internet. The FCTC also requires disclosure of expenditures on advertising, promotion and sponsorship where such activities are not prohibited. The FCTC guidelines recommend that governments adopt extreme and sweeping prohibitions, including all forms of communications to adult smokers. Where restrictions on advertising prevent us from communicating directly and effectively with adult smokers, they impede our ability to compete in the market. For this reason and because we believe that the available evidence does not show that marketing restrictions effectively reduce smoking, we oppose complete bans on advertising and communications that do not allow manufacturers to communicate directly and effectively with adult smokers.

Ÿ Restrictions on Product Design: Anti-tobacco organizations and some regulators are calling for the further standardization of tobacco products by requiring, for example, that cigarettes have a certain minimum diameter, which amounts to a ban on slim cigarettes, or requiring the use of standardized filter and cigarette paper designs. We oppose such restrictions because they limit our ability to differentiate our products and because we believe that there is no correlation, let alone a causal link, between product design variations and smoking rates, nor is there any scientific evidence that these restrictions would improve public health.

Reduced cigarette ignition propensity standards are recommended by the FCTC guidelines, have been adopted in several of our markets (e.g., Australia, Canada, South Africa and the EU) and are being considered in several others.

Ÿ Restrictions on Public Smoking: The pace and scope of public smoking restrictions have increased significantly in most of our markets. Many countries around the world have adopted, or are likely to adopt, regulations that restrict or ban smoking in public and/or work places, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Some public health groups have called for, and some regional governments and municipalities have adopted or proposed, bans on smoking in outdoor places, as well as bans on smoking in cars (typically, when minors are present) and private homes. The FCTC requires Parties to adopt restrictions on public smoking, and the guidelines call for broad bans in all indoor public places but limit their recommendations on private place smoking, such as in cars and private homes, to increased education on the risk of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

While we believe outright bans are appropriate in many public places, such as schools, playgrounds, youth facilities, and many indoor public places, governments can and should seek a balance between the desire to protect non-smokers from environmental tobacco smoke and allowing adults who choose to smoke to do so. Owners of restaurants, bars, cafes, and other entertainment establishments should have the flexibility to permit, restrict, or prohibit smoking, and workplaces should be permitted to provide designated smoking rooms for adult smokers. Finally, we oppose bans on smoking outdoors (beyond places and facilities for children) and in private places.

Ÿ Other Regulatory Issues: Some regulators are considering, or in some cases have adopted, regulatory measures designed to reduce the supply of tobacco. These include regulations intended to reduce the number of retailers selling tobacco by, for example, reducing the overall number of tobacco retail licenses available or banning the sale of tobacco within arbitrary distances of certain public facilities. We oppose such measures because they stimulate illicit trade and could arbitrarily deprive business owners and their employees of their livelihood with no indication that such restrictions would improve public health.

Regulators in some countries have also called for the exclusion of tobacco from free trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which is under negotiation. This could limit our ability to protect investments and intellectual property through these treaties. We oppose such measures because they unfairly discriminate against a legal industry and are at odds with fundamental principles of global trade.

In a limited number of markets, most notably Japan, we are dependent on governmental approvals that may limit our pricing flexibility.

Ÿ Illicit Trade: The illicit tobacco trade creates a cheap and unregulated supply of tobacco products, undermines efforts to reduce smoking, especially among youth, damages legitimate businesses, stimulates organized crime, increases corruption and reduces government tax revenue. Illicit trade may account for as much as 10% of global cigarette consumption; this includes counterfeit, contraband and the growing problem of "illicit whites," which are unique cigarette brands manufactured predominantly for smuggling. We estimate that illicit trade in the European Union accounted for more than 10% of total cigarette consumption in 2013.

A number of jurisdictions are considering regulatory measures and government action to prevent illicit trade. In November 2012, the FCTC adopted the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (the "Protocol"), which includes supply chain control measures, such as licensing of manufacturers and distributors, enforcement in free trade zones, controls on duty free and Internet sales and the implementation of tracking and tracing technologies. The Protocol, which we support, will come into force once the fortieth country ratifies it, after which countries must implement its measures via national legislation. To date, five countries have ratified the Protocol. It is not possible to predict whether other countries will do so.

Additionally, we and our subsidiaries have entered into cooperation agreements with governments and authorities to support their anti-illicit trade efforts. For example, in 2004, we entered into a 12-year cooperation agreement with the EU and its member states that provides for cooperation with European law enforcement agencies on anti-contraband and on anti-counterfeit efforts. Under the terms of this agreement we make financial contributions of approximately $75 million per year (recorded as an expense in cost of sales when product is shipped) to support these efforts. We are also required to pay the excise taxes, VAT and customs duties on qualifying seizures of up to 450 million genuine PMI products in the EU in a given year, and five times the applicable taxes and duties if seizures exceed this threshold in a given year. To date, our payments for product seizures have been immaterial.

In 2009, our Colombian subsidiaries entered into an Investment and Cooperation Agreement with the national and regional governments of Colombia to promote investment in, and cooperation on, anti-contraband and anti-counterfeit efforts. The agreement provides $200 million in funding over a 20-year period to address issues such as combating the illegal cigarette trade and increasing the quality and quantity of locally grown tobacco.

In June 2012, we committed €15 million to INTERPOL over a three-year period to support the agency's global initiative to combat trans-border crime involving illicit goods, including tobacco products. This initiative funds the coordination of information gathering, training programs for law enforcement officials, development of product authentication standards and public information campaigns.

Ÿ Reduced-Risk Products: We use the term Reduced-Risk Products ("RRPs") to refer to products with the potential to reduce individual risk and population harm in comparison to smoking combustible cigarettes. One of our strategic priorities is to develop, assess and commercialize a portfolio of innovative RRPs. Our RRPs are in various stages of development, and we are conducting extensive and rigorous scientific studies to determine whether we can support claims for such products of reduced exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents in smoke, and ultimately claims of reduced disease risk, when compared to smoking combustible cigarettes. Before making any such claims, we will need to rigorously evaluate the full set of data from the relevant scientific studies to determine whether they substantiate reduced exposure or risk. Any such claims may also be subject to government review and approval, as is the case in the U.S. today. We draw upon a team of world-class scientists from a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, and our efforts are guided by the following three key objectives:

Our product development is based on the elimination of combustion via tobacco heating and other innovative systems for aerosol generation, which we believe is the most promising path to reduce risk.

Our approach to individual risk assessment is to use cessation as the benchmark, because the short-term and long-term effects of smoking cessation are well known, and the closer the clinical data derived from adult smokers who switch to an RRP resemble the data from those who quit, the more confident one can be that the product reduces risk.

Four RRP platforms are in various stages of development and commercialization readiness:

exploring two routes for this platform, one with electronics and one without. The product replicates the feel and ritual of smoking without tobacco and without burning. We have begun pre-clinical testing of this product.

We are also developing other potential product platforms.

We are proceeding with the commercialization of RRPs. In January 2014, we announced an investment of up to €500 million in our first manufacturing facility in the European Union and an associated pilot plant near Bologna, Italy, to produce our RRPs. We plan for the factory to initially manufacture Platform 1 tobacco products ( HeatSticks). When fully operational by 2016, and together with the pilot plant that was opened for production in October 2014, we expect to reach an annual production capacity of up to 30 billion units.

In the United States, an established regulatory framework for assessing "Modified Risk Tobacco Products" ("MRTPs") exists under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). We expect that future FDA actions are likely to influence the regulatory approach of other interested governments. Our assessment approach and the studies conducted to date reflect the rigorous evidentiary standards set forth in the FDA's Draft Guidance for Modified Risk Tobacco Product Applications (2012). We have shared our approach and studies with the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. In parallel, we are engaging with regulators in several EU member states, as well as in a number of other countries. We expect to submit a Modified Risk Tobacco Product application for Platform 1 when we believe we have met the evidentiary standards set forth in the Draft Guidance.

As we work to develop evidence to substantiate the risk reduction potential of our products, we will review our ability to make claims of reduced exposure or disease risk based on applicable laws and regulations and, as we are already doing, engage with regulators and share the evidence with them. We are also engaging with the scientific community, sharing our assessment approach and the results we have generated. There can be no assurance that we will succeed in our efforts or that regulators will permit the marketing of our RRPs with substantiated claims of reduced formation, exposure, individual risk or population harm.

We have commercialized the Platform 1 electronic system under the iQOS brand name, for use with specially made tobacco sticks, under the Marlboro and HeatSticks brands. In November 2014, we introduced the iQOS system in pilot city launches in Nagoya, Japan, and in Milan, Italy, and plan to expand nationally in those two countries in 2015. We plan to launch the product in several other markets thereafter. The product is not being marketed with claims of reduced formation, reduced exposure or disease risk pending the outcome of our scientific studies and, where required, governmental review and approval.

In December 2013, we established a strategic framework with Altria Group, Inc. ("Altria") under which Altria will make available its e-vapor products exclusively to us for commercialization outside the United States, and we will make available two of our candidate reduced-risk tobacco products exclusively to Altria for commercialization in the United States. In March 2015, we will launch Solaris, a Platform 4 e-vapor product, in Spain. The agreements also provide for cooperation on the scientific assessment of and for the sharing of improvements to the existing generation of licensed products.

In June 2014, we acquired 100% of Nicocigs Limited, a leading U.K.-based e-vapor company whose principal brand is Nicolites . This acquisition provided PMI with immediate access to, and a significant presence in, the U.K. e-vapor market.

Ÿ Other Legislation, Regulation or Governmental Action: In Argentina, the National Commission for the Defense of Competition issued a resolution in May 2010 in which it found that our affiliate's establishment in 1997 of a system of exclusive zonified distributors ("EZDs") in Buenos Aires city and region was anticompetitive, despite having issued two prior decisions (in 1997 and 2000) in which it had found the establishment of the EZD system was not anticompetitive. The resolution is not a final decision, and our Argentinean affiliate has opposed the resolution and submitted additional evidence.

In Germany, in October 2013, the Administrative District Office Munich, acting under the policy supervision of the Bavarian Ministry of Health and Environment, sent our German affiliate an order alleging that certain components of its Marlboro advertising campaign do not comply with the applicable tobacco advertising law, which required our affiliate to stop this particular campaign throughout Germany and remove all outdoor advertisements within one month from the effective date of the order and point-of-sale materials within three months. Our affiliate does not believe the allegations properly reflect the facts and the law and filed a challenge in the Munich Administrative Court against the order. At a hearing held in April 2014, at the Bavarian Higher Administrative Court, the parties agreed

that our affiliate can continue the campaign with certain limitations on image visuals and text slogans for the duration of the court proceedings.

It is not possible to predict what, if any, additional legislation, regulation or other governmental action will be enacted or implemented relating to the manufacturing, advertising, sale or use of tobacco products, or the tobacco industry generally. It is possible, however, that legislation, regulation or other governmental action could be enacted or implemented that might materially affect our business, volume, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Governmental Investigations

From time to time, we are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. As part of an investigation by the Department of Special Investigations ("DSI") of the government of Thailand into alleged under declaration of import prices by Thai cigarette importers, the DSI proposed to bring charges against our subsidiary, Philip Morris (Thailand) Limited, Thailand Branch ("PM Thailand") for alleged underpayment of customs duties and excise taxes of approximately $2 billion covering the period from July 28, 2003, to February 20, 2007 ("2003-2007 Investigation"). In September 2009, the DSI submitted the case file to the Public Prosecutor for review. The DSI also commenced an informal inquiry alleging underpayment by PM Thailand of customs duties and excise taxes of approximately $1.8 billion, covering the period 2000-2003. In early 2011, the Public Prosecutor's office issued a non-prosecution order in the 2003-2007 Investigation. In August 2011, the Director-General of DSI publicly announced that he disagreed with the non-prosecution order. Thus, the matter was referred for resolution to the Attorney General, whose deputy subsequently stated that the Attorney General has made a ruling to proceed with a prosecution order. Based on available information, it is probable that criminal charges will be filed. PM Thailand has been cooperating with the Thai authorities and believes that its declared import prices are in compliance with the Customs Valuation Agreement of the WTO and Thai law.

Additionally, in November 2010, a WTO panel issued its decision in a dispute relating to facts that arose from August 2006 between the Philippines and Thailand concerning a series of Thai customs and tax measures affecting cigarettes imported by PM Thailand into Thailand from the Philippines. The WTO panel decision, which was upheld by the WTO Appellate Body, concluded that Thailand had no basis to find that PM Thailand's declared customs values and taxes paid were too low, as alleged by the DSI in 2009. The decision also created obligations for Thailand to revise its laws, regulations, or practices affecting the customs valuation and tax treatment of future cigarette imports. Thailand agreed in September 2011 to comply with the decision by October 2012. The Philippines contends that to date Thailand has not fully complied and is pursuing bilateral discussions with Thailand to address the outstanding issues. At WTO meetings, the Philippines has repeatedly expressed concerns with ongoing investigations by Thailand of PM Thailand, noting that these investigations appear to be based on grounds not supported by WTO customs valuation rules and inconsistent with several decisions already taken by Thai Customs and other Thai governmental agencies.

Acquisitions and Other Business Arrangements

In June 2014, we acquired 100% of Nicocigs Limited, a leading U.K.-based e-vapor company, for the final purchase price of $103 million, net of cash acquired, with additional contingent payments of up to $77 million, primarily relating to performance targets over a three-year period. As of December 31, 2014, the additional contingent payments were projected to be up to $62 million over the remaining two-year period. For additional information, see Item 8, Note 16. Fair Value Measurements to our consolidated financial statements. The effect of this acquisition was not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows in any of the periods presented.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, as part of our initiative to enhance profitability and growth in North African and Middle Eastern markets, we decided to restructure our business in Egypt. The new business model entails a new contract manufacturing agreement with our long-standing, strategic business partner, Eastern Company S.A.E., the creation of a new PMI affiliate in Egypt and a new distribution agreement with Trans Business for Trading and Distribution LLC. To accomplish this restructuring and to ensure a smooth transition to the new model, we recorded, in the fourth quarter of 2013, a charge to our 2013 full-year reported diluted EPS of approximately $0.10 to reflect the discontinuation of existing contractual arrangements.

In September 2013, Grupo Carso, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Grupo Carso") sold to us its remaining 20% interest in our Mexican tobacco business for $703 million. As a result, we own 100% of the Mexican tobacco business. A director of PMI has an affiliation with Grupo Carso. The final purchase price is subject to a potential adjustment based on the actual performance of the Mexican tobacco business over the three-year period ending two fiscal years after the closing of the purchase. In addition, upon declaration, we agreed to pay a dividend of approximately $38 million to Grupo Carso related to the earnings of the Mexican tobacco business for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. In March 2014, the dividend was declared and paid. The purchase of the remaining 20% interest resulted in a decrease to our additional paid-in capital of $672 million.

See Item 8, Note 6. Acquisitions and Other Business Arrangements to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

On September 30, 2013, we acquired a 49% equity interest in United Arab Emirates-based Arab Investors-TA (FZC) ("AITA") for approximately $625 million. As a result of this transaction, we hold an approximate 25% economic interest in Société des Tabacs Algéro-Emiratie ("STAEM"), an Algerian joint venture which is owned 51% by AITA and 49% by the Algerian state-owned enterprise Société Nationale des Tabacs et Allumettes SpA. STAEM manufactures and distributes under license some of our brands. The initial investment in AITA was recorded at cost and is included in investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries on the consolidated balance sheets.

On December 12, 2013, we acquired from Megapolis Investment BV a 20% equity interest in Megapolis Distribution BV, the holding company of CJSC TK Megapolis ("Megapolis"), our distributor in Russia, for a purchase price of $760 million . An additional payment of up to $100 million , which is contingent on Megapolis's operational performance over the four fiscal years following the closing of the transaction, will also be made by us if the performance criteria are satisfied. We have also agreed to provide Megapolis Investment BV with a $100 million interest-bearing loan. We and Megapolis Investment BV have agreed to set off any future contingent payments owed by us against the future repayments due under the loan agreement. Any loan repayments in excess of the contingent consideration earned by the performance of Megapolis are due to be repaid, in cash, to us on March 31, 2017. At December 31, 2013, we recorded a $100 million asset related to the loan receivable and a discounted liability of $86 million related to the contingent consideration. The initial investment in Megapolis was recorded at cost and is included in investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries on the consolidated balance sheets.

See Item 8, Note 4. Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Asset Impairment and Exit Costs

On April 4, 2014, we announced the initiation by our affiliate, Philip Morris Holland B.V. ("PMH"), of consultations with employee representatives on a proposal to discontinue cigarette production at its factory located in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. PMH reached an agreement with the trade unions and their members on a social plan, and ceased cigarette production on September 1, 2014. In total, we expect to incur a total pre-tax charge of approximately $547 million for the program. During 2014, we recorded pre-tax asset impairment and exit costs of $489 million. This amount includes employee separation costs of $343 million, asset impairment costs of $139 million and other separation costs of $7 million. In addition, as part of the total program, up to $58 million of pre-tax implementation costs, primarily related to notice period payments, will be reflected in cost of sales and marketing, administration and research costs on our consolidated statement of earnings. During 2014, $50 million of these pre-tax implementations costs were reflected in our consolidated statements of earnings. Excluding asset impairment costs, substantially all of these charges will result in cash expenditures expected to be paid by the end of 2015.

Trade Policy

We are subject to various trade restrictions imposed by the United States and countries in which we do business ("Trade Sanctions"), including the trade and economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") and the U.S. Department of State. It is our policy to fully comply with these Trade Sanctions.

Tobacco products are agricultural products under U.S. law and are not technological or strategic in nature. From time to time we make sales in countries subject to Trade Sanctions, pursuant to either exemptions or licenses granted under the applicable Trade Sanctions.

A subsidiary sells products to distributors that in turn sell those products to duty free customers that supply U.N. peacekeeping forces around the world, including those in the Republic of the Sudan. We do not believe that these exempt sales of our products for ultimate resale in the Republic of the Sudan, which are de minimis in volume and value, present a material risk to our shareholders, our reputation or the value of our shares. We have no employees, operations or assets in the Republic of the Sudan.

We do not sell products in Cuba, Iran and Syria.

To our knowledge, none of our commercial arrangements result in the governments of any country identified by the U.S. government as a state sponsor of terrorism, nor entities controlled by those governments, receiving cash or acting as intermediaries in violation of U.S. laws.

Certain states within the U.S. have enacted legislation permitting state pension funds to divest or abstain from future investment in stocks

of companies that do business with certain countries that are sanctioned by the U.S. We do not believe such legislation has had a material effect on the price of our shares.

2014 compared with 2013

The following discussion compares operating results within each of our reportable segments for 2014 with 2013 .

Ÿ European Union. Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased by $755 million ( 2.7% ). Excluding excise taxes, net revenues increased by $243 million ( 2.8% ) to $8.8 billion . This increase was due to:

The net revenues of the European Union segment include $ 1,644 million in 2014 and $1,524 million in 2013 related to sales of OTP. Excluding excise taxes, OTP net revenues for the European Union segment were $ 573 million in 2014 and $543 million in 2013 .

Operating companies income of $3.7 billion decreased by $511 million ( 12.1% ). This decrease was due primarily to:

The total cigarette market in the European Union of 467.7 billion units decreased by 3.1% , due primarily to the impact of tax-driven price increases and the unfavorable economic and employment environment, partly offset by: the subdued performance of the e-vapor category; less out-switching to fine cut products; a reduction in the consumption of illicit products in several markets; and lower than historical average pricing, mainly in Italy. In 2015, the total cigarette market in the European Union is forecast to decrease by approximately 4%. Our cigarette shipment volume of 185.2 billion units increased by 0.1% , predominantly reflecting improved market share that increased by 1.0 share point to 39.8% . The total OTP market in the European Union of 164.6 billion cigarette equivalent units increased by 1.1% , reflecting a larger total fine cut market, up by 0.9% to 143.1 billion cigarette equivalent units.

While shipment volume of Marlboro of 89.4 billion units decreased by 2.0% , mainly due to a lower total market, market share increased by 0.3 share points to 19.3%, driven notably by the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Spain, partly offset by France and Poland. While cigarette shipment volume of L&M was essentially flat at 32.9 billion units, market share increased by 0.2 share points to 7.1%, driven notably by Germany, partly offset by Poland. Cigarette shipment volume of Chesterfield of 26.2 billion units increased by 38.4% and market share increased by 1.1 share points to 5.5%, driven notably by Italy and Poland. Cigarette shipment volume of Philip Morris of 10.0 billion units increased by 5.0% , driven notably by Latvia, Lithuania, the Slovak Republic and Spain, and market share increased by 0.1 share point to 2.1%.

Our shipments of OTP of 22.8 billion cigarette equivalent units increased by 6.2% , driven principally by higher share. Our OTP total market share was 14.0%, up by 0.6 share points, reflecting gains in the fine cut category: notably in the Czech Republic, up by 7.8 share points to 26.5%; Hungary, up by 6.4 share points to 18.3%; Italy, up by 3.9 share points to 41.5%; Poland, up by 11.2 share points to 34.7%; partly offset by France, down by 0.7 share points to 26.2%; Germany down by 1.3 share points to 12.9%, and Portugal, down by 5.4 share points to 26.5%.

In France, the total cigarette market of 45.0 billion units decreased by 5.3% in 2014, mainly reflecting the impact of price increases in January 2014, the increased incidence of e-vapor products and a weak economy. Our cigarette shipment volume of 18.6 billion units decreased by 2.9%. Our market share increased by 0.8 share points to 41.0%, mainly driven by the growth of Marlboro , L&M and

premium Philip Morris , up by 0.4 share points, 0.1 share point and 0.3 share points to 25.1%, 2.6% and 9.4%, respectively. Market share of Chesterfield was flat at 3.4%. The total industry fine cut category of 13.6 billion cigarette equivalent units decreased by 2.2%. Our market share of the category decreased by 0.7 share points to 26.2%.

In Germany, the total cigarette market of 80.4 billion units increased by 0.9% in 2014, mainly reflecting the net favorable impact of estimated trade purchases and a lower incidence of illicit trade. Excluding the impact of these estimated inventory movements, the total cigarette market was essentially flat. Our cigarette shipment volume of 29.4 billion units increased by 2.0% , and market share increased by 0.4 share points to 36.6%, driven by L&M , up by 0.9 share points to 11.8%. Market share of Marlboro decreased by 0.3 share points to 21.7%, while share of Chesterfield was flat at 1.7%. The total industry fine cut category of 41.2 billion cigarette-equivalent units decreased by 1.0%. Our market share of the category decreased by 1.3 share points to 12.9%.

In Italy, the total cigarette market of 74.4 billion units increased by 0.5% in 2014, partly reflecting a lower incidence of e-vapor products.  Our cigarette shipment volume of 40.4 billion units increased by 3.9% . Our market share increased by 1.8 share points to 54.9%, driven by Chesterfield , up by 5.7 share points to 9.2% , partly offset by Marlboro , down by 0.7 share points to 25.2%, and Diana in the low-price segment, down by 2.8 share points to 8.5%, the latter primarily impacted by the growth of the super-low price segment. Share of Philip Morris was flat at 2.4%. The total industry fine cut category of 6.1 billion cigarette equivalent units increased by 1.6%. Our market share of the category increased by 3.9 share points to 41.5%.

In Poland, the total cigarette market of 42.1 billion units decreased by 9.8%, reflecting the prevalence of e-cigarettes, illicit trade and non-duty paid OTP products. Although our cigarette shipment volume of 16.6 billion units decreased by 2.6% , our market share increased by 1.9 share points to 40.1%, driven by L&M and Chesterfield , up by 0.4 and 2.0 share points to 18.2% and 7.6%, respectively. Market share of Marlboro was down by 0.3 share points to 11.2%. The total industry fine cut category of 3.6 billion cigarette equivalent units increased by 7.7%, and our market share of the category increased by 11.2 share points to 34.7%.

In Spain, the total cigarette market of 47.0 billion units decreased by 1.5% in 2014, mainly due to a deceleration in adult smoker down-trading to fine cut, e-vapor and illicit products. Our cigarette shipment volume of 14.9 billion units increased by 1.9% . Our market share increased by 0.9 share points to 32.1%, driven by higher share of Marlboro , up by 1.1 share points to 15.9% and Philip Morris , up by 0.3 share points to 0.9%. Market share of Chesterfield was down by 0.1 share point to 9.2% and share of L&M was down by 0.2 share points to 6.1%. The total industry fine cut category of 9.7 billion cigarette equivalent units decreased by 9.8%, partly reflecting lower consumption resulting from further tax harmonization with cigarettes following the July 2013 and July 2014 price increases. Our market share of the fine cut category increased by 1.0 share point to 14.8% in 2014.

Ÿ Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa . Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased by $1.2 billion ( 6.0% ). Excluding excise taxes, net revenues increased by $156 million ( 1.8% ) to $8.9 billion . This increase was due primarily to: