The OPMs' overall annual payment obligation is specified in the MSA: The nationwide base payments begin at $4.5 billion for the year 2000 and gradually increase to $9 billion in the year 2018 and each year thereafter.See MSA at 47-48. This obligation is allocated among the OPMs in accordance with their relative market shares.See MSA at 48. Annual payments to the Settling States are to be adjusted according to changes in the overall volume of cigarette sales.See MSA at 48 & Exhibit E. A significant reduction in sales will therefore lead to a reduction in payments and state revenue.
