EX-99.2 3 cg_exb2.htm CAROLINA GROUP EXHIBIT 99.2 Carolina Group-Exhibit 99.2

Exhibit 99.2

 Carolina Group News Release logo
Contact:
Peter W. Keegan
Senior Vice President
(212) 521-2950
 
Candace Leeds
V.P. of Public Affairs
(212) 521-2416
 
Joshua E. Kahn
Investor Relations
(212) 521-2788

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAROLINA GROUP REPORTS NET INCOME
FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2005


NEW YORK, July 28, 2005—Loews Corporation (NYSE:LTR) today reported Carolina Group net income for the 2005 second quarter of $142.1 million, compared to $121.4 million in the 2004 second quarter. Net income attributable to Carolina Group stock (NYSE:CG) for the second quarter of 2005 was $55.7 million, or $0.82 per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $40.6 million, or $0.70 per share in the comparable period of the prior year.

The increase in net income attributable to Carolina Group stock for the second 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 39.22% and 33.43% economic interest in the Carolina Group for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Net sales for the Carolina Group were $928.3 million in the second quarter of 2005, compared to $868.1 million in the 2004 second quarter, reflecting an increase in unit sales volume of 5.3%.

Carolina Group net income for the first half of 2005 was $260.6 million, compared to $224.4 million in the 2004 first half. Net income attributable to Carolina Group stock for the first half of 2005 was $102.2 million, or $1.50 per share of Carolina Group stock, compared to $75.0 million, or $1.29 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 sales for the Carolina Group were $1.723 billion in the first half of 2005, compared to $1.636 billion in the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in net sales reflects an increase in unit sales volume of 2.9% and reduced sales promotion expenses (accounted for as a reduction in net sales).

1 of 4


Results of operations of the Carolina Group include interest expense of $21.0, $24.3, $43.4 and $48.9 million, net of taxes, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, on notional intergroup debt. At June 30, 2005, $1.76 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 June 30, 2005, there were 68,034,559 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding representing a 39.22% 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 2005 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, Thursday, July 28, 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.

2 of 4


Carolina Group
Financial Review


                   
   
June 30,
 
   
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                   
   
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
 
                   
Net sales (a)
 
$
928.3
 
$
868.1
 
$
1,723.4
 
$
1,636.0
 
                           
Cost of sales (a) (b)
   
574.4
   
532.3
   
1,061.1
   
999.6
 
Selling, advertising and administrative
   
97.2
   
103.3
   
187.2
   
203.3
 
                           
Total operating costs and expenses
   
671.6
   
635.6
   
1,248.3
   
1,202.9
 
                           
Operating income
   
256.7
   
232.5
   
475.1
   
433.1
 
Investment income and other (c)
   
18.3
   
6.5
   
30.5
   
15.0
 
Interest expense
   
(35.6
)
 
(39.8
)
 
(72.2
)
 
(80.1
)
                           
Income before income taxes
   
239.4
   
199.2
   
433.4
   
368.0
 
Income taxes
   
97.3
   
77.8
   
172.8
   
143.6
 
                           
Net income
   
142.1
   
121.4
   
260.6
   
224.4
 
Earnings attributable to the Loews Group intergroup interest (d)
   
86.4
   
80.8
   
158.4
   
149.4
 
                           
Income attributable to Carolina Group shareholders (e)
 
$
55.7
 
$
40.6
 
$
102.2
 
$
75.0
 
                           
Per share of Carolina Group stock (f)
 
$
0.82
 
$
0.70
 
$
1.50
 
$
1.29
 
                           
Weighted diluted shares
   
68.10
   
57.98
   
68.08
   
57.99
 
                           
Notional, intergroup debt owned by the Carolina Group to
                         
the Loews Group
                         
June 30, 2005
 
$
1,764.7
                   
December 31, 2004
   
1,871.2
                   

(a)
Includes excise taxes of $179.0, $169.5, $335.2 and $325.7 for the respective periods.
(b)
Includes charges of $235.6, $234.3, $434.3 and $435.4 ($139.8, $142.8, $261.2 and $265.5 after taxes) to accrue obligations under the State Settlement Agreements for the respective periods.
(c)
Includes $6.1 of interest income, in the second quarter of 2005, relating to a federal income tax settlement.
(d)
The Loews Group's intergroup interest in the earnings of the Carolina Group reflected share equivalents amounting to 105,445,000 shares of 173,478,759 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 June 30, 2005, there were 68,034,559 shares of Carolina Group stock outstanding.
(e)
Represents 39.22%, 33.43%, 39.21% and 33.43% of the economic interest in the Carolina Group for the respective periods presented.
(f)
Earnings per common share-assuming dilution is not presented because securities that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future would have been insignificant or antidilutive for the periods presented.


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):

   
June 30,
 
   
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                   
Full Price Brands
                 
                   
Total Newport
   
8,603,782
   
8,102,336
   
16,125,476
   
15,482,294
 
Total Kent Family
   
188,805
   
225,173
   
363,300
   
435,622
 
Total True
   
150,900
   
173,459
   
288,492
   
334,223
 
Total Max
   
10,348
   
12,006
   
19,939
   
23,313
 
Total Satin
   
1,617
   
2,133
   
3,213
   
4,227
 
Total Triumph
         
358
         
886
 
                           
Total Full Price Brands
   
8,955,452
   
8,515,465
   
16,800,420
   
16,280,565
 
                           
Price/Value Brands
                         
                           
Total Old Gold
   
221,103
   
234,240
   
412,422
   
453,054
 
Total Maverick
   
218,892
   
182,244
   
396,324
   
337,806
 
                           
Total Price/Value Brands
   
439,995
   
416,484
   
808,746
   
790,860
 
                           
Total Domestic Cigarettes
   
9,395,447
   
8,931,949
   
17,609,166
   
17,071,425
 
                           
Total Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions
   
220,620
   
199,476
   
387,384
   
411,340
 
                           
Grand Total
   
9,616,067
   
9,131,425
   
17,996,550
   
17,482,765
 

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.


4 of 4