EX-99.2 3 cg_exbcomplete.htm Carolina Group Press Release
Exhibit 99.2


 
Contact:
Peter W. Keegan
Senior Vice President
(212) 521-2950
     
   
Candace Leeds
V.P. of Public Affairs
(212) 521-2416
     
   
Darren Daugherty
Investor Relations
(212) 521-2788

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAROLINA GROUP REPORTS NET INCOME
FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2006


NEW YORK, May 2, 2006—Loews Corporation (NYSE:LTR; CG) today reported Carolina Group net income for the 2006 first quarter of $150.1 million, compared to $118.5 million in the 2005 first quarter. Net income attributable to Carolina Group stock for the first quarter of 2006 was $67.6 million, or $0.86 per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $46.5 million, or $0.68 per share in the comparable period of the prior year.

The increase in net income attributable to Carolina Group stock for the first quarter of 2006, as compared to the comparable period of the prior year, is due to improved overall results of the Carolina Group and reflects an increase in the amount of Carolina Group shares. Carolina Group stock represents a 45.04% and 39.20% economic interest in the Carolina Group for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Loews Corporation sold 10,000,000 shares of Carolina Group stock in November of 2005. Net income per share of Carolina Group stock was not impacted by the sale of Carolina Group shares.

Net sales for the Carolina Group were $854.8 million in the first quarter of 2006, compared to $795.1 million in the 2005 first quarter, reflecting a decrease in sales promotion expenses (accounted for as a reduction in net sales) and an increase in unit sales volume of 3.3%.

Results of operations of the Carolina Group include interest expense of $19.3 million and $22.4 million, net of taxes, for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, on notional intergroup debt. At March 31, 2006, $1.53 billion principal amount of notional intergroup debt was outstanding.



Page 1 of 4


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 March 31, 2006, there were 78,278,496 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding representing a 45.06% economic interest. Depending on market conditions, the Company may purchase, from time to time in the open market or otherwise, shares of Carolina Group stock for the Carolina Group account.

# # #

A separate press release reporting Loews Corporation’s consolidated results for the first quarter of 2006 is being issued contemporaneously with this report.

A conference call to discuss the first quarter results of Loews Corporation has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, May 2, 2006. 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.



Page 2 of 4


Carolina Group
Financial Review
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 
 
March 31, 
     
2006
   
2005
 
 
 
(Amount in millions, 
 
 
except per share data) 
               
Net sales (a)
 
$
854.8
 
$
795.1
 
               
Cost of sales (a) (b)
   
511.7
   
486.7
 
Selling, advertising and administrative
   
92.9
   
90.0
 
               
Total operating costs and expenses
   
604.6
   
576.7
 
               
Operating income
   
250.2
   
218.4
 
Investment income and other (c)
   
26.0
   
12.2
 
Interest expense
   
(31.5
)
 
(36.6
)
               
Interest before income taxes
   
244.7
   
194.0
 
Income taxes
   
94.6
   
75.5
 
               
Net income
   
150.1
   
118.5
 
Earnings attributable to the Loews Group intergroup interest (d)
   
82.5
   
72.0
 
               
Income attributable to Carolina Group shareholders (e)
 
$
67.6
 
$
46.5
 
               
Per share of Carolina Group stock
 
$
0.86
 
$
0.68
 
               
Weighted diluted number of shares
   
78.33
   
68.07
 
               
               
Notional intergroup debt owned by the Carolina Group to the Loews Group
             
March 31, 2006
 
$
1,525.3
       
December 31, 2005
   
1,626.9
       

(a)
Includes excise taxes of $163.9 and $156.2 for the respective periods.
(b)
Includes charges of $217.0 and $198.7 ($133.1 and $121.4 after taxes) to accrue obligations under the State Settlement Agreements for the respective periods.
(c)
Includes income from limited partnership investments of $6.6 and $3.9 ($4.0 and $2.4 after taxes) for the respective periods.
(d)
The Loews Group's intergroup interest in the earnings of the Carolina Group reflects share equivalents amounting to 95,445,000 shares of 173,723,496 share and share equivalents outstanding at March 31, 2006 and share equivalents amounting to 105,445,000 shares of 173,472,309 share and share equivalents outstanding at March 31, 2005. As of March 31, 2006, there were 78,278,496 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding.
(e)
Represents 45.04% and 39.20% of the economic interest in the Carolina Group for the respective periods presented.



Page 3 of 4


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):


 
 
Three Months Ended 
 
 
March 31, 
     
2006
   
2005
 
     
     
Full Price Brands
             
               
Total Newport
   
7,777,665
   
7,521,694
 
Total Kent Family
   
146,016
   
174,495
 
Total True
   
120,918
   
137,592
 
Total Max
   
8,157
   
9,591
 
Total Satin
   
1,188
   
1,596
 
               
Total Full Price Brands
   
8,053,944
   
7,844,968
 
               
Price/Value Brands
             
               
Total Old Gold
   
183,816
   
191,319
 
Total Maverick
   
230,352
   
177,432
 
               
Total Price/Value Brands
   
414,168
   
368,751
 
               
Total Domestic Cigarettes
   
8,468,112
   
8,213,719
 
               
Total Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions
   
187,968
   
166,764
 
               
Grand Total
   
8,656,080
   
8,380,483
 

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.



Page 4 of 4