Settlement FAQs

how to buy tobacco settlement bonds

by Sylvan Walker I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How are bonds used to pay for tobacco?

The answer: bonds. A bond is like a loan. Investors buy the bonds, providing states with cash. States repay the bondholders using the tobacco money. The typical bond lasts 30 years or less and pays interest every year. If tobacco payments fall short, investors have no right – ‘no recourse’ – to be repaid with taxpayer money.

How long does a tobacco bond last?

The typical bond lasts 30 years or less and pays interest every year. If tobacco payments fall short, investors have no right – ‘no recourse’ – to be repaid with taxpayer money.

How much tobacco money is still owed to taxpayers?

Because of the steep payments promised to some bondholders, that could take years or decades in which taxpayers lose out on the tobacco money. In all, states, counties, cities, and territories sold some $36 billion in tobacco bonds that are still outstanding.

How did the tobacco settlement with Big Tobacco affect states?

A landmark 1998 settlement with Big Tobacco awarded states billions of dollars a year to offset the health-care costs of smoking. What seemed like a boon become a debt trap for many state and local governments when they used it to promise investors billions in the future in exchange for cash advances.

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What is a tobacco settlement bond?

Unlike other bonds that are backed by revenues or taxes, a securitized bond is backed by a stream of future payments to the public entity. A tobacco securitization bond is backed by payments pursuant to a tobacco settlement, and is based on tobacco sales from the participating manufacturers.

What are tobacco settlement payments?

Under the Master Settlement Agreement, seven tobacco companies agreed to change the way they market tobacco products and to pay the states an estimated $206 billion.

Where did all the tobacco settlement money go?

This year (fiscal year 2020), the states will collect $27.2 billion from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes. But they will spend less than 3% – just $739.7 million – on programs to prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit - less than a quarter (22.4%) of the total funding recommended by the CDC.

What is the 1998 American tobacco settlement?

In 1998, 52 state and territory attorneys general signed the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with the four largest tobacco companies in the U.S. to settle dozens of state lawsuits brought to recover billions of dollars in health care costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses.

Can I sue tobacco companies for COPD?

Yes, you can still sue tobacco companies in certain cases. You may be able to bring an action as an individual or, in some cases, as a representative of a class in a class action.

What is MSA reporting for tobacco?

MSA Multicat Mandatory Data Multicat reports are weekly reports filed electronically by tobacco, candy, drinks, and grocery distributors to report sales and inventory floor counts to brand manufacturers as part of participating in their trade programs.

Does the government get money from cigarettes?

State and local governments collected $19 billion in revenue from tobacco taxes in 2019, which was 0.6 percent of state and local general revenue.

How long did tobacco litigation last?

In the forty years through 1994, over 800 private claims were brought against tobacco companies in state courts across the country.

Who fought Big Tobacco?

In 2006, the American Cancer Society and other plaintiffs won a major court case against Big Tobacco. Judge Gladys Kessler found tobacco companies guilty of lying to the American public about the deadly effects of cigarettes and secondhand smoke.

What were 3 provisions of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement?

Tobacco advertising that targets people younger than age 18 was prohibited. Cartoons in cigarette advertising were eliminated. Outdoor, billboard and public transit advertising of cigarettes was eliminated. Cigarette brand names could no longer be used on merchandise.

What year was tobacco settlement?

1998The tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) is an accord reached in November 1998 between the state Attorneys General of 46 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and the four largest cigarette manufacturers in the United States.

Which state has the highest percentage of smokers?

As of 2020, the U.S. states with the highest smoking rates included West Virginia, Kentucky, and Arkansas. In West Virginia, around 22 percent of all adults smoked as of this time....Percentage of adults who smoke in the United States as of 2020, by state.CharacteristicPercentage of adultsAlabama16%12 more rows•Nov 19, 2021

What is the 1998 American Tobacco Settlement What effect did the settlement have on tobacco sold in the US?

It settled the state lawsuits that sought billions of dollars in costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses. The Attorneys General of the 46 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories signed the MSA with the four largest U.S. tobacco companies in 1998.

How long did tobacco litigation last?

In the forty years through 1994, over 800 private claims were brought against tobacco companies in state courts across the country.

What did the master settlement agreement do?

It requires the tobacco industry to pay the settling states billions of dollars annually forever, forbids participating cigarette manufacturers from targeting youth, imposes restrictions on advertising and promotional activities, and bans or restricts transit advertising, outdoor advertising, product placement in media ...

When was the Big Tobacco lawsuit?

In 2006, the American Cancer Society and other plaintiffs won a major court case against Big Tobacco. Judge Gladys Kessler found tobacco companies guilty of lying to the American public about the deadly effects of cigarettes and secondhand smoke.

How much money did states sell in tobacco bonds?

In all, states, counties, cities, and territories sold some $36 billion in tobacco bonds that are still outstanding. Most had routine repayment terms. But to get extra cash up front, some sold capital appreciation bonds, or CABs which came with steeper repayments terms.

What was the settlement with Big Tobacco?

A landmark 1998 settlement with Big Tobacco awarded states billions of dollars a year to offset the health-care costs of smoking. What seemed like a boon become a debt trap for many state and local governments when they used it to promise investors billions in the future in exchange for cash advances.

How long do bonds last?

Investors buy the bonds, providing states with cash. States repay the bondholders using the tobacco money. The typical bond lasts 30 years or less and pays interest every year.

Do states get cash up front?

States and localities got cash up front but may end up paying back a lot more than they expected.

Can investors be repaid for tobacco?

If tobacco payments fall short, investors have no right – ‘no recourse’ – to be repaid with taxpayer money. But they retain rights to future tobacco payments. Because of the steep payments promised to some bondholders, that could take years or decades in which taxpayers lose out on the tobacco money.

How many states issue tobacco settlement bonds?

Municipal tobacco settlement bonds are one of the largest, most liquid and highest yielding sectors within the municipal high yield bond market. Issued by 17 states, the District of Columbia, three territories and a handful of counties, senior lien tobacco bonds total about $32 billion in par amount outstanding, ...

What is municipal tobacco bond?

Municipal tobacco bonds issued against the proceeds of the landmark settlement are one of the largest, most liquid and highest yielding segments of the municipal bond market.

What are the risks of investing in bonds?

Investing in the bond market is subject to risks, including market, interest rate, issuer, credit, inflation risk, and liquidity risk. The value of most bonds and bond strategies are impacted by changes in interest rates. Bonds and bond strategies with longer durations tend to be more sensitive and volatile than those with shorter durations; bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise, and the current low interest rate environment increases this risk. Current reductions in bond counterparty capacity may contribute to decreased market liquidity and increased price volatility. Bond investments may be worth more or less than the original cost when redeemed. Income from municipal bonds may be subject to state and local taxes and at times the alternative minimum tax. There is no guarantee that these investment strategies will work under all market conditions or are suitable for all investors and each investor should evaluate their ability to invest long-term, especially during periods of downturn in the market. Investors should consult their investment professional prior to making an investment decision.

What are the effects of reductions in bond counterparty capacity?

Current reductions in bond counterparty capacity may contribute to decreased market liquidity and increased price volatility. Bond investments may be worth more or less than the original cost when redeemed. Income from municipal bonds may be subject to state and local taxes and at times the alternative minimum tax.

What is the most important factor affecting the stream of settlement payments under the MSA?

The most important factor affecting the stream of settlement payments under the MSA is U.S. cigarette consumption. A quick look back in history: Cigarette production began in the U.S. in the early 20th century. In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report titled “Smoking and Health” that warned of smoking’s adverse health effects. In 1981, the number of cigarettes smoked annually in the U.S. peaked at 640 billion. This number has since fallen to 263 billion for 2014 as usage bans, cigarette taxes and other restrictions have been enacted.

Can municipal bonds be used as investment?

Yes; however, municipal tobacco bonds can still be an attractive investment. This is because they behave differently from a typical corporate bond in a default scenario. For a typical corporate, assets are sold or debtor liabilities are reorganized, leaving the original creditor with a recovery claim. For a tobacco bond, if the tobacco trust does not have enough cash to pay interest and principal due, bonds remain outstanding (no acceleration) and payments continue to be made from whatever tobacco settlement revenues are available. As a reminder, the settlement payments go on in perpetuity until the bonds are paid off or people stop smoking altogether.

Is PIMCO a trademark?

Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO and YOUR GLOBAL INVESTMENT AUTHORITY are trademarks or registered trademarks of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, respectively, in the United States and throughout the world. ©2015, PIMCO.

What happens when you buy a bond in TreasuryDirect?

When you buy a bond in TreasuryDirect, we withdraw the purchase price from the source of funds that you specify , which could be one of your bank accounts or your Certificate of Indebtedness (C of I). When the bond matures, we deposit payments into your bank account or your C of I, whichever you specify.

What are the two types of bidding for bonds?

Banks, brokers, and dealers offer two types of bidding for bonds: Competitive. You specify the yield you will accept. Depending on what yield is determined at the auction, you may or may not receive the bond you want, and if you receive it, you may receive it in less than the amount you want. Noncompetitive.

How to submit a bid in TreasuryDirect?

The bid submission process in TreasuryDirect is completely online. Login to your account and click the BuyDirect® tab. Follow the prompts to specify the security you want, the purchase amount, and other requested information.

Can you reinvest a bond?

You also can set up reinvestments, using the proceeds from a maturing bond to buy another bond.

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What Are Tobacco Bonds?

Who Needs them?

  • Companies that sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to the public may be required to purchase a tobacco bond. Some states require two separate bonds—one for cigarette sales and one for all other tobacco products, such as cigars, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco. Distributors, manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers of tobacco products may ...
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How Do They Work?

  • The primary purpose of these bonds is to ensure payment of sales tax on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The obligee, the party requiring the bond, is the state agency responsible for collecting sales tax payments. The principal is the tobacco vendor or other business entity purchasing the bond, and the surety is the company issuing the bond. Principals …
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What Do They Cost?

  • The cost of a tobacco bond is based on the required amount of the bond and the premium rate established for a given applicant. Most states don’t impose a standard bond amount, as there is a wide disparity in the level of tobacco sales and the sales tax due from one vendor to the next. Therefore, the bond amount is typically based on the principal’s estimated annual sales tax liabil…
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