NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2005--Loews Corporation
(NYSE:LTR) today reported Carolina Group net income for the 2004
fourth quarter of $161.6 million, compared to $119.1 million in the
2003 fourth quarter. Net income attributable to Carolina Group stock
(NYSE:CG) for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $56.1 million, or $0.93
per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $34.8 million, or $0.74
per share in the comparable period of the prior year.
The increase in net income attributable to Carolina Group stock
for the fourth quarter of 2004, as compared to the comparable period
of the prior year, is due to improved overall results of the Carolina
Group and reflects the increased economic interest to 34.68% for the
three months ended December 31, 2004, as compared to 29.23% for the
comparable period of the prior year, due to the sale by Loews
Corporation of 10,000,000 shares of Carolina Group stock in December
of 2004. Net income per share of Carolina Group stock was not impacted
by the sale of Carolina Group stock.
Net sales for the Carolina Group were $832.5 million in the fourth
quarter of 2004, compared to $787.7 million in the 2003 fourth
quarter. The increase in net sales reflects an increase in unit sales
volume of 2.9%, partially offset by an increase in sales promotion
expenses.
Results of operations of the Carolina Group include interest
expense of $23.9 and $26.2 million, net of taxes, for the three months
ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, on notional intergroup
debt. At December 31, 2004, $1.871 billion principal amount of
notional intergroup debt was outstanding.
Carolina Group net income for the year ended 2004 was $545.9
million, compared to $468.3 million in the prior year. Net income for
the year ended 2003 included a $27.5 million charge ($17.1 million
after taxes) to settle litigation with tobacco growers and a $28.0
million charge ($17.5 million after taxes) to resolve indemnification
claims and trademark matters in connection with the 1977 sale by
Lorillard of its international business. Net income attributable to
Carolina Group stock for the year ended 2004 was $184.5 million, or
$3.15 per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $115.2 million,
or $2.76 per share in the comparable period of the prior year. The
increase in net income attributable to Carolina Group stock is
primarily due to improved overall results of the Carolina Group.
Net sales for the Carolina Group were $3.348 billion in 2004,
compared to $3.256 billion in 2003. The increase in net sales reflects
a 0.4% increase in unit sales volume and a decrease in sales promotion
expenses.
Results of operations of the Carolina Group include interest
expense of $97.3 and $114.0 million, net of taxes, for the years ended
2004 and 2003, respectively, on notional intergroup debt.
The Carolina Group stock, commonly called a tracking stock, is
intended to reflect the economic performance of a defined group of the
Company's assets and liabilities, referred to as the Carolina Group,
principally consisting of the Company's subsidiary Lorillard, Inc. The
Carolina Group, a notional group, is not a separate legal entity. The
purpose of this financial information is to provide investors with
additional information to use in analyzing the results of operations
and financial condition of the Carolina Group, and this financial
information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial information of Loews Corporation.
As of December 31, 2004, there were 67,967,250 shares of Carolina
Group stock outstanding representing a 39.19% economic interest.
Depending on market conditions, the Company, for the account of the
Carolina Group, from time to time may purchase shares of Carolina
Group stock in the open market or otherwise.
Loews Corporation has issued a separate press release reporting
its consolidated results for the fourth quarter of 2004, which
accompanies this press release.
A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results of Loews
Corporation has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EDT, Thursday, February
10, 2005. A live broadcast of the call will be available online at the
Loews Corporation website (www.loews.com). Please go to the website at
least ten minutes before the event begins to register and to download
and install any necessary audio software. Those interested in
participating in the question and answer session of the conference
call should dial (877) 692-2592. An online replay will be available at
the Company's website following the call.
Carolina Group
Financial Review
December 31,
-----------------------------------
Three Months Years Ended
-----------------------------------
2004 2003 2004 2003
-----------------------------------
(Amounts in millions, except per
share data)
Net sales (a) $ 832.5 $ 787.7 $3,347.8 $3,255.6
Cost of sales (a) (b) 461.2 457.7 1,965.6 1,893.1
Selling, advertising and
administrative (c) 92.7 107.8 381.1 460.6
-----------------------------------
Total operating costs and expenses 553.9 565.5 2,346.7 2,353.7
-----------------------------------
Operating income 278.6 222.2 1,001.1 901.9
Investment income 16.9 11.5 40.0 32.1
Interest expense (38.1) (42.1) (157.5) (182.8)
-----------------------------------
Income before income taxes 257.4 191.6 883.6 751.2
Income taxes 95.8 72.5 337.7 282.9
-----------------------------------
Net income 161.6 119.1 545.9 468.3
Earnings attributable to the Loews
Group intergroup interest (d) 105.5 84.3 361.4 353.1
-----------------------------------
Income attributable to Carolina
Group shareholders (e) $ 56.1 $ 34.8 $ 184.5 $ 115.2
===================================
Per share of Carolina Group
stock (f) $ 0.93 $ 0.74 $ 3.15 $ 2.76
===================================
Weighted number of shares
outstanding 60.03 47.17 58.49 41.74
===================================
(a)Includes excise taxes of $164.5, $158.0, $658.1 and $651.4 for
respective periods.
(b)Includes charges of $196.9, $193.0, $845.9 and $785.2 ($124.3,
$119.9, $522.6 and $489.5 after taxes) to accrue obligations under
the State Settlement Agreements for the respective periods.
(c)Includes a $27.5 charge in the year ended December 31, 2003 ($17.1
after taxes) to settle litigation with tobacco growers and a $28.0
charge in the year ended December 31, 2003 ($17.5 after taxes) to
resolve indemnification claims and trademark matters in connection
with the 1977 sale by Lorillard of its international business.
(d)Prior to December 13, 2004, the Loews Group's intergroup interest
in the earnings of the Carolina Group reflected share equivalents
amounting to 115,445,000 shares of 173,412,250 shares equivalents
outstanding. Subsequent to the Loews Group's sale of 10,000,000
shares of Carolina Group stock, the Loews Group's intergroup
interest in the earnings of the Carolina Group reflected share
equivalents amounting to 105,445,000 shares of 173,412,250 share
and share equivalents outstanding. As of December 31, 2004, there
were 67,967,250 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding.
(e)Represents 34.68%, 29.23%, 33.80% and 24.59% of the economic
interest in the Carolina Group for the respective periods.
(f)Earnings per common share-assuming dilution is not presented
because securities that could potentially dilute basic earnings
per share in the future would have been insignificant or
antidilutive for the periods presented.
Carolina Group
Supplemental Information
Information regarding unit volume shipped by Lorillard Tobacco Company
to its direct buying customers by brand follows (all units in
thousands):
December 31,
---------------------------------------------
Three Months Years Ended
---------------------------------------------
2004 2003 2004 2003
---------------------------------------------
Full Price Brands
Total Newport 7,812,616 7,508,067 31,335,184 30,976,222
Total Kent Family 204,264 246,597 855,391 1,064,086
Total True 160,998 183,297 663,191 777,681
Total Max 10,848 12,471 45,525 53,970
Total Satin 1,728 2,496 7,914 10,830
Total Triumph - 772 886 3,731
---------------------------------------------
Total Full Price Brands 8,190,454 7,953,700 32,908,091 32,886,520
---------------------------------------------
Price/Value Brands
Total Old Gold 216,469 243,108 903,173 1,030,580
Total Maverick 175,067 151,590 691,607 514,341
---------------------------------------------
Total Price/Value Brands 391,536 394,698 1,594,780 1,544,921
---------------------------------------------
Total Domestic Cigarettes 8,581,990 8,348,398 34,502,871 34,431,441
Total Puerto Rico and
U.S. Possessions 225,072 212,508 823,931 766,784
---------------------------------------------
Grand Total 8,807,062 8,560,906 35,326,802 35,198,225
=============================================
Notes:
1. This information is unaudited and is not adjusted for returns. Unit
volume for a quarter is not necessarily indicative of unit volume
for any
2. subsequent period.
3. Unit volume is not necessarily indicative of the level of revenues
for any period.
CONTACT: Loews Corporation
Peter W. Keegan, 212-521-2950
or
Candace Leeds, 212-521-2416
or
Investor Relations:
Joshua E. Kahn, 212-521-2788
SOURCE: Carolina Group
