In November 1998, the nation's leading cigarette manufacturers, including Philip Morris USA and other Original Participating Manufacturers (OPMs), signed the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with the attorneys general of 46 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. Since then, other cigarette manufacturers have signed the agreement and are called Subsequent Participating Manufacturers (SPMs). Collectively, OPMs and SPMs are called Participating Manufacturers. Non-participating Manufacturers (NPMs) are those cigarette manufacturers and importers that have not signed the MSA. Prior to entering the MSA, OPMs had already reached agreements with Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas. These agreements with the previously settled states, combined with the MSA, are collectively referred to as the state Tobacco Settlement Agreements.
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