8-KOther Events

ALTRIA GROUP, INC. 8-K Report (Aug 13, 2002)

Filed August 13, 2002For Securities:MO

Summary

This 8-K filing from Philip Morris Companies Inc. (now Altria Group, Inc.) on August 13, 2002, primarily serves to comply with new regulatory requirements stemming from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The company is providing sworn statements from its CEO, Louis C. Camilleri, and CFO, Dinyar S. Devitre, attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the company's previous SEC filings. These certifications confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the company's "covered reports" (including its 2001 10-K and subsequent 10-Qs, 8-Ks, and proxy materials) did not contain any material misstatements or omissions. This filing is a direct response to the heightened corporate governance and financial reporting standards introduced by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reflecting a commitment to transparency and accountability in the wake of corporate scandals affecting the broader market.

Key Highlights

  • 1Philip Morris Companies Inc. (now Altria Group, Inc.) filed sworn statements from its CEO and CFO on August 13, 2002, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  • 2The certifications attest that, to the best of management's knowledge, prior SEC filings (Form 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and proxy materials) were accurate and did not omit material facts.
  • 3This filing is a direct response to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which mandates CEO and CFO certification of financial reports.
  • 4The company also submitted sworn statements under SEC Order No. 4-460, further emphasizing compliance with new regulatory demands.
  • 5These certifications cover reports filed from the year-end 2001 Form 10-K forward.
  • 6The filing indicates a proactive measure by the company to adhere to evolving corporate governance and financial disclosure standards.
  • 7The statements were reviewed with the company's audit committee prior to submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to comply with new disclosure requirements mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, specifically Section 906, which requires CEOs and CFOs to certify the accuracy of their company's financial reports. It includes sworn statements from the CEO and CFO of Philip Morris Companies Inc. attesting to the integrity of their past SEC filings.

The sworn statements are provided by Louis C. Camilleri, the President and Chief Executive Officer, and Dinyar S. Devitre, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Philip Morris Companies Inc.

The certifications cover Philip Morris Companies Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and all subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, and definitive proxy materials filed with the SEC up to the date of this statement (August 13, 2002).

No, this particular 8-K filing does not contain new financial results or operational updates. Its sole purpose is to fulfill the certification requirements imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The company had also filed its quarterly report (Form 10-Q) for the period ended June 30, 2002, on the same day, which would contain the latest financial information.