TEXT - S&P comments on Altria, Reynolds and Lorillard

Dec 19 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that the ratings on Altria Group Inc. (BBB/Stable/A-2; parent company of Philip Morris USA), Reynolds American Inc. (BBB-/Stable/--; parent of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company), and Lorillard Inc. (BBB-/Stable/--; parent company of Lorillard Tobacco Co.) are currently unaffected by the announcement that their respective operating subsidiaries have reached agreement in principle with 17 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (the sign