RAI Reynolds American (delisted)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE:RAI) today declared a 19 percent increase in the company's quarterly cash dividend, increasing it to $1.25 per common share, or $5.00 per share on an annualized basis. At the new rate, RAI will be paying more than $730 million in dividends annually. "Today's increase achieves our stated policy of returning approximately 75 percent of net income to shareholders in the form of a dividend," said Dianne M. Neal, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Reynolds American. "Since July of this year, RAI has increased its dividend by more than 31 percent. This reflects the success of the merger, our confidence in the future of our business and our ongoing commitment to return cash to our shareholders." The new quarterly dividend is payable Jan. 3, 2006, to shareholders of record Dec. 9, 2005. Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE:RAI) is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc., Lane Limited and R.J. Reynolds Global Products, Inc. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the second- largest U.S. tobacco company, manufactures about one of every three cigarettes sold in the country. The company's brands include five of the 10 best-selling U.S. brands: Camel, Kool, Winston, Salem and Doral. Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc. manufactures Natural American Spirit cigarettes and other tobacco products for U.S. and international markets. Lane Limited manufactures several roll-your-own, pipe tobacco and little cigar brands, and distributes Dunhill tobacco products. R.J. Reynolds Global Products, Inc. manufactures, sells and distributes American-blend cigarettes and other tobacco products to a variety of customers worldwide. Copies of RAI's news releases, annual reports, SEC filings and other financial materials are available at http://www.reynoldsamerican.com/. DATASOURCE: Reynolds American Inc. CONTACT: Investor Relations, Ken Whitehurst, +1-336-741-0951, or Media, Maura Payne, +1-336-741-6996, both of Reynolds American Inc. Web site: http://www.reynoldsamerican.com/

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