NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2005--Loews Corporation (NYSE:LTR) today reported Carolina Group net income for the 2005 third quarter of $172.0 million, compared to $159.9 million in the 2004 third quarter. Net income attributable to Carolina Group stock (NYSE:CG) for the third quarter of 2005 was $67.5 million, or $0.99 per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $53.4 million, or $0.92 per share in the comparable period of the prior year.
The increase in net income attributable to Carolina Group stock for the third quarter of 2005, as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year, reflects 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 in December of 2004. Carolina Group stock represents a 39.26% and 33.43% economic interest in the Carolina Group for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Net income also increased due to $3.3 million ($2.1 million after taxes) of improved performance of limited partnership investments.
Net sales for the Carolina Group were $928.4 million in the third quarter of 2005, compared to $879.3 million in the 2004 third quarter, reflecting an increase in unit sales volume of 3.3%.
Carolina Group net income for the first nine months of 2005 was $432.6 million, compared to $384.3 million in the comparable period of the prior year. Net income attributable to Carolina Group stock for the first nine months of 2005 was $169.7 million, or $2.49 per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $128.4 million, or $2.21 per share in the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in net income attributable to Carolina Group stock reflects the December of 2004 sale by Loews Corporation of Carolina Group stock discussed above. Net income also increased due to $2.9 million ($1.7 million after taxes) of improved performance of limited partnership investments.
Net sales for the Carolina Group were $2.652 billion in the first nine months of 2005, compared to $2.515 billion in the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in net sales reflects an increase in unit sales volume of 3.1% and reduced sales promotion expenses (accounted for as a reduction in net sales).
Results of operations of the Carolina Group include interest expense of $22.0, $24.4, $65.4 and $73.3 million, net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, on notional intergroup debt. At September 30, 2005, $1.71 billion 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.
As of September 30, 2005, there were 68,180,678 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding representing a 39.27% 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 third quarter of 2005 is being issued contemporaneously with this report.
A conference call to discuss the third quarter results of Loews Corporation has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EDT, Thursday, October 27, 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
September 30,
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Three Months Nine Months
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2005 2004 2005 2004
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(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
Net sales (a) $928.4 $879.3 $2,651.8 $2,515.3
Cost of sales (a) (b) 543.9 504.8 1,605.0 1,504.4
Selling, advertising and
administrative 95.3 85.1 282.5 288.4
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Total operating costs and
expenses 639.2 589.9 1,887.5 1,792.8
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Operating income 289.2 289.4 764.3 722.5
Investment income and
other (c) (d) 20.5 8.1 51.0 23.1
Interest expense (34.8) (39.3) (107.0) (119.4)
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Income before income taxes 274.9 258.2 708.3 626.2
Income taxes 102.9 98.3 275.7 241.9
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Net income 172.0 159.9 432.6 384.3
Earnings attributable to
the Loews Group
intergroup interest (e) 104.5 106.5 262.9 255.9
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Income attributable to
Carolina Group
shareholders (f) $67.5 $53.4 $169.7 $128.4
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Per share of Carolina
Group stock $0.99 $0.92 $2.49 $2.21
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Weighted diluted shares
(g) 68.23 57.97 68.14 57.97
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Notional intergroup debt
owed by the Carolina
Group to the Loews Group
September 30, 2005 $1,709.8
December 31, 2004 1,871.2
(a) Includes excise taxes of $176.2, $167.9, $511.4 and $493.6 for the
respective periods.
(b) Includes charges of $223.9, $213.6, $658.2 and $649.0 ($140.8,
$132.8, $402.0 and $398.3 after taxes) to accrue obligations under
the State Settlement Agreements for the respective periods.
(c) Includes $6.1 of interest income, for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005, relating to a federal income tax settlement.
(d) Includes income from limited partnership investments of $6.4,
$3.1, $12.8 and $9.9 ($4.0, $1.9, $7.8 and $6.1 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
105,445,000 shares of 173,625,678 share and share equivalents
outstanding in 2005 and share equivalents amounting to 115,445,000
shares of 173,411,750 share and share equivalents outstanding in
2004. As of September 30, 2005, there were 68,180,678 shares of
Carolina Group stock outstanding.
(f) Represents 39.26%, 33.43%, 39.23% and 33.43% of the economic
interest in the Carolina Group for the respective periods
presented.
(g) Earnings per share-assuming dilution and earnings per share-basic
are the same for all periods presented because securities that
could potentially dilute earnings per share in the future are
insignificant or antidilutive.
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):
September 30,
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Three Months Nine Months
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2005 2004 2005 2004
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Full Price Brands
Total Newport 8,304,127 8,040,274 24,429,603 23,522,568
Total Kent Family 180,261 215,505 543,561 651,127
Total True 148,488 167,970 436,980 502,193
Total Max 9,798 11,364 29,737 34,677
Total Satin 1,542 1,959 4,755 6,186
Total Triumph 886
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Total Full Price Brands 8,644,216 8,437,072 25,444,636 24,717,637
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Price/Value Brands
Total Old Gold 221,097 233,650 633,519 686,704
Total Maverick 235,210 178,734 631,534 516,540
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Total Price/Value Brands 456,307 412,384 1,265,053 1,203,244
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Total Domestic Cigarettes 9,100,523 8,849,456 26,709,689 25,920,881
Total Puerto Rico and U.S.
Possessions 233,970 187,519 621,354 598,859
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Grand Total 9,334,493 9,036,975 27,331,043 26,519,740
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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: Loews Corporation
Peter W. Keegan, 212-521-2950
OR
Candace Leeds, 212-521-2416
OR
Investor Relations:
Joshua E. Kahn, 212-521-2788
SOURCE: Loews Corporation