NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2007--Loews Corporation (NYSE:LTR) today reported Carolina Group net income for the 2007 second quarter of $227.1 million, compared to $187.2 million in the 2006 second quarter. The increase in net income is primarily due to higher effective unit prices resulting from a December 2006 price increase, an increase in unit sales volume and lower sales promotion expenses (accounted for as a reduction to net sales), partially offset by an increase in expenses for the State Settlement Agreements.
Net income per share of Carolina Group stock (NYSE:CG) for the second quarter of 2007 was $1.30, compared to $1.09 in the comparable period of the prior year. Carolina Group stock represented a 62.4% and 50.1% economic interest in the Carolina Group for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net sales for the Carolina Group were $1,055.4 million in the second quarter of 2007, compared to $977.3 million in the 2006 second quarter.
Carolina Group net income for the first half of 2007 was $415.8 million, compared to $337.3 million in the 2006 first half. The increase in net income is primarily due to higher effective unit prices resulting from a December 2006 price increase and lower sales promotion expenses (accounted for as a reduction to net sales), partially offset by an increase in expenses for the State Settlement Agreements.
Net income per share of Carolina Group stock for the first half of 2007 was $2.39, compared to $1.96 in the comparable period of the prior year.
Net sales for the Carolina Group were $1.968 billion in the first half of 2007, compared to $1.832 billion in the comparable period of the prior year.
Results of operations of the Carolina Group include interest expense on notional intergroup debt of $12.9 million, $18.1 million, $27.5 million and $37.4 million, net of taxes, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. At June 30, 2007, $978.0 million principal amount of notional intergroup debt was outstanding.
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.
At June 30, 2007 there were 108,443,641 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding, representing a 62.4% 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.
A separate press release reporting Loews Corporation's consolidated results for the second quarter of 2007 is being issued contemporaneously with this report.
A conference call to discuss the second quarter results of Loews Corporation has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EDT, Monday, July 30, 2007. 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, or for international callers, (973) 582-2757. The conference ID number is 8937174. An online replay will be available at the Company's website following the call.
Carolina Group
Financial Review
June 30,
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Three Months Six Months
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2007 2006 2007 2006
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(Amounts in millions, except per
share data)
Net sales (a) $1,055.4 $ 977.3 $1,968.4 $1,832.1
Cost of sales (a) (b) 613.5 552.6 1,157.8 1,064.3
Selling, advertising and
administrative (c) 82.9 108.9 164.8 201.8
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Total operating costs and expenses 696.4 661.5 1,322.6 1,266.1
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Operating income 359.0 315.8 645.8 566.0
Investment income and other (d) 26.4 21.3 60.7 47.3
Interest expense (23.0) (29.8) (46.2) (61.3)
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Income before income taxes 362.4 307.3 660.3 552.0
Income taxes 135.3 120.1 244.5 214.7
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Net income 227.1 187.2 415.8 337.3
Earnings attributable to the Loews
Group intergroup interest (e) 85.4 93.4 156.5 175.9
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Income attributable to Carolina
Group shareholders (f) $ 141.7 $ 93.8 $ 259.3 $ 161.4
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Per share of Carolina Group stock $ 1.30 $ 1.09 $ 2.39 $ 1.96
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Weighted diluted number of shares 108.56 86.11 108.54 82.24
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Notional, intergroup debt owed by
the Carolina Group to the Loews
Group
June 30, 2007 $ 978.0
December 31, 2006 1,229.7
(a) Includes excise taxes of $180.0, $176.7, $341.7 and $340.6 for the
respective periods.
(b) Includes charges of $275.2, $236.5, $524.3 and $453.5 ($172.4,
$144.0, $330.1 and $277.1 after taxes) to accrue obligations
under the State Settlement Agreements for the respective periods.
(c) Includes restructuring costs of $15.5 for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2006, related to early retirement and curtailment
charges for Lorillard's pension and other postretirement benefit
plans.
(d) Includes income from limited partnership investments of $8.4,
$3.8, $19.3 and $10.4 ($5.3, $2.3, $12.1 and $6.3 after taxes)
for the respective periods.
(e) The Loews Group's intergroup interest in the earnings of the
Carolina Group reflected share equivalents amounting to
65,445,000 shares of 173,888,641 share and share equivalents
outstanding as of June 30, 2007 and share equivalents amounting
to 80,445,000 shares of 173,736,246 share and share equivalents
outstanding as of June 30, 2006. As of June 30, 2007, there were
108,443,641 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding.
(f) Represents 62.4%, 50.1%, 62.4% and 47.9% of the economic interest
in the Carolina Group for the respective periods.
Carolina Group
Supplemental Information
The following information regarding unit volume shipped by Lorillard
Tobacco Company to its direct buying customers by brand follows (all
units in thousands):
June 30,
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Three Months Six Months
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2007 2006 2007 2006
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Full Price Brands
Total Newport 8,716,456 8,360,490 16,448,029 16,138,155
Total Kent Family 127,740 159,003 244,707 305,019
Total True 115,440 134,946 220,110 255,864
Total Max 7,821 8,976 14,721 17,133
Total Satin 1,482 72 2,670
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Total Full Price Brands 8,967,457 8,664,897 16,927,639 16,718,841
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Price/Value Brands
Total Old Gold 162,606 211,293 311,558 395,109
Total Maverick 343,398 265,380 621,516 495,732
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Total Price/Value Brands 506,004 476,673 933,074 890,841
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Total Domestic Cigarettes 9,473,461 9,141,570 17,860,713 17,609,682
Total Puerto Rico and U.S.
Possessions 212,652 212,064 402,744 400,032
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Grand Total 9,686,113 9,353,634 18,263,457 18,009,714
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Notes:
1. This information is unaudited and is not adjusted for returns.
2. Domestic unit volume includes units sold as well as promotional
units, and excludes volumes for Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions.
3. Unit volume for a quarter is not necessarily indicative of unit
volume for any subsequent period.
4. Unit volume is not necessarily indicative of the level of revenues
for any period.
CONTACT: For Carolina Group:
Peter W. Keegan, 212-521-2950
Chief Financial Officer
OR
Investor Relations:
Darren Daugherty, 212-521-2788
OR
Public Affairs:
Candace Leeds, 212-521-2416
SOURCE: Carolina Group