Philip Morris International Announces Reorganization of Its Business in the Dominican Republic
November 17 2006 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
Altria Group, Inc.
Altria Raises 2006 Full-Year Guidance to a Range of $5.63 to $5.68, Versus
Previously Disclosed Range of $5.48 to $5.53
Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI), the international tobacco business of
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO), today announced that it is reorganizing its
tobacco and beer equity holdings in the Dominican Republic.
Currently, a subsidiary of PMI holds a 47.5% interest in E. Leon Jimenes, C.
por. A. (ELJ), which has equity holdings in tobacco and beer operations in the
Dominican Republic. PMI said its subsidiary will exchange its 47.5% interest in
ELJ, which represents a 40% indirect interest in ELJ's beer subsidiary,
Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, C. por. A., for 100% ownership of ELJ's
cigarette subsidiary, Industria de Tabaco Leon Jimenes, S.A. (ITLJ) and
approximately $427 million of cash, which will be contributed to ITLJ prior to
the transaction. When the transaction is completed, PMI will own 100% of the
cigarette business and will no longer hold an interest in ELJ's beer business.
The reorganization is expected to close later this month.
The transaction is expected to increase Altria's 2006 consolidated net earnings
by $0.15 per share. As a result, Altria said that it is increasing its forecast
for full-year 2006 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations to a
range of $5.63 to $5.68, versus a previously disclosed range of $5.48 to $5.53.
Altria Group, Inc. Profile
As of September 30, 2006, Altria Group, Inc. owned approximately 88.6% of the
outstanding common shares of Kraft Foods Inc. and 100% of the outstanding common
shares of Philip Morris International Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc. and Philip
Morris Capital Corporation. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. owned approximately
28.7% of SABMiller plc. The brand portfolio of Altria Group, Inc.'s consumer
packaged goods companies includes such well-known names as Kraft, Jacobs, L&M,
Marlboro, Maxwell House, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Parliament, Philadelphia,
Post and Virginia Slims. Altria Group, Inc. recorded 2005 net revenues of $97.9
billion.
Trademarks and service marks mentioned in this release are the registered
property of, or licensed by, the subsidiaries of Altria Group, Inc.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains projections of future results and other
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and
are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors could cause
actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such
forward-looking statements.
Altria Group, Inc.'s consumer products subsidiaries are subject to changing
prices for raw materials; intense price competition; changes in consumer
preferences and demand for their products; fluctuations in levels of customer
inventories; the effects of foreign economies and local economic and market
conditions; unfavorable currency movements and changes to income tax laws. Their
results are dependent upon their continued ability to promote brand equity
successfully; to anticipate and respond to new consumer trends; to develop new
products and markets and to broaden brand portfolios in order to compete
effectively with lower-priced products; to improve productivity; and to respond
effectively to changing prices for raw materials.
Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries (Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris
International) continue to be subject to litigation, including risks associated
with adverse jury and judicial determinations, and courts reaching conclusions
at variance with the company's understanding of applicable law and bonding
requirements in the limited number of jurisdictions that do not limit the dollar
amount of appeal bonds; legislation, including actual and potential excise tax
increases; discriminatory excise tax structures; increasing marketing and
regulatory restrictions; the effects of price increases related to excise tax
increases and concluded tobacco litigation settlements on consumption rates and
consumer preferences within price segments; health concerns relating to the use
of tobacco products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; governmental
regulation; privately imposed smoking restrictions; and governmental and grand
jury investigations.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are subject to other risks detailed from
time to time in its publicly filed documents, including its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006. Altria Group, Inc. cautions
that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete and does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements that it may make.
Altria Group, Inc.
Nicholas M. Rolli, 917-663-3460
Timothy R. Kellogg, 917-663-2759
Altria Group (LSE:ALA)
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