\,B A T) QUARTERLY COMPETITOR ACTIVITY REPORT QUARTER ONE 1993 CD r') Vi 110 C) G" BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 26 October 1999 1. rHITSP MORRIS (a) Financial Philip Morris Companies Inc. results for 1992 were published in January. Profits af1cr tax, at USS4939 mns, were 17.5% up on the comparable result for 1992. The 20.0% growth expectation was achieved at earnings per share level, because of the share rc-purchase scheme. (Earnings per share for 1992 were S5.45, against the comparable 1991 figure of $4.54). Other Kev Results (USS Mns) Operating Revenues (Estd NTO) 1991 1992 :k% Domestic Tobacco 9384 9869 5.2 International Tobacco 6836 7527 10.1 Total Tobacco 16220 17396 7.3 Total Operating Revenues 48067 50095 4.2 Operating Income 1991 1992 :L% Domestic Tobacco 4774 5185 8.6 International Tobacco 1694 2018 19.1 Total Tobacco 6468 7203 11.4 Total Operating Income 9910 10960 10.6 Domestic tobacco continues to generate slightly under half of all corporate profit. Despite the good results, PM's share price has fallen acutely since the start of 1993, largely because of analyst concern about downtrading, the increase of Federal Excise Tax by S2 to S12/M in January 1993, and speculation about further and radical increases following the inauguration ofPresident Clinton. First quarter 1993 results were published on 20th April. (USS Mns.) Operating Revenues (GTO) IQ92 IQ93 % Domestic Tobacco 2440 2543 4.2 International Tobacco 3540 4153 17.3 Total Tobacco 5980 6696 12.0 Total Operating Revenues 14051 15189 8.1 Operating Income IQ92 IQ93 I % Domestic Tobacco 1027 1016 -1.1 International Tobacco 572 675 18.0 Total Tobacco 1599 1691 5.8 Total Operating Income 2486 2700 8.6 2 Un C:) C) U4 --j BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 26 October 1999 (b) Diversified Activities PM did not make any major acquisitions in the first quarter, despite rumours in late 1992 of a bid for either Heineken or Fosters brcwing interests. Smaller acquisitions were: Terrv's (M Kraft General Foods International through its Jacobs Suchard subsidiary, announced it would acquire the upmarket UK chocolate company from United Biscuits for E220 mns. Tcrry's UK market share is under 5%. PM spokesmen told the press that the Company aimed to be number one in the Europe=. chocolate market. Cesmtge A Hungarian chocolate company, also acquired by Suchard, from Stollwerck. Marsa Nfarparine Sanavi In April, Jacobs Suchard announced the acquisition of a 50% share in Turkey's largest edible oil company. The price has not been disclosed but Marsa's 1992 sales were S171 mn. Marsa is a subsidiary of Sabanci Holdings, which is PM's partner in the recently inaugurated cigarettejoint venture. FEMSA (Late 1992) Philip Morris Inc. bought a 7.9% stake in Fomentos Econornicos Mexicanos S.A., a Mexican conglomerate with significant brewing interests, including the brand Dos Equis. T'he holding was acquired from Citibank for USSISO rrin. Molsons (January 1993) Miller announced its intention of taking a 20% holding in Canada's Molson breweries, as well as all of the brewery's US based import operations (Molson Breweries U.S.A. Inc.). The deal is worth US$270 mn, and was completed in April. Offiers Suchard is currently negotiating to acquire the Hag coffee label from Crippa & Berger (in Italy). There are continued trade rumours of a Kraft General Foods International takeover of United Biscuits, whose name has also been linked with Cadbury. (c) Tobacco Acquisitions PMI's tobacco acquisition activities continue to focus on Eastern Europe. 3 U-1 C:) CD CO BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999 PMI announced in April 1993 the acquisi6on of a 47% interest in a joint venture with the Krunodarsk cigarette factory (planned capacity 25 b.p.a.). This is PMI's third Russian venture: the Samara joint venture is already producing Marlboro and a deal has been made with a plant in St Petersburg (December 1992). Lai--r, Izvcstia reported that production in Samara had stopped due to low market demand because of high prices. 7.1thuarils PMI announced a joint venture with the Klaipeda Tobacco Company, one of two in Lithuania. PMI will have 65% of Klaipeda, for US$40 mn. The plant virill produce Marlboro and Bond Street and L & M brands, amongst others. Latvia PMI made an offer for the Riga factory, but STK won the tender. Czechoslovakia PW increased its share holding in Tabak Kutna Hora (The Czech monopoly) to 77.1% in March 1993, bringing their overall investment to a rumoured $420 mn, inclusive of acqusition and refurbishment. Tilt-key Philsa (Turkey) the Philip Morris - Sabanci Holding joint venture had th: first stage of its plant formally opened by Prime Minister Demirel. (d) Brand Marketinp ne major focus in the quarter was PM (USA)'s defence of its Marlboro brand in the USA, culminating in an announcement on 2/4/93 that its would reduc-- the price of Marlboro, by couponing/money back offers and similar promotions (but not by list price reduction). This is said to be a result of readings of a test market of such schemes in Poriland, Or. The announcement had further negative affects on PM's share price, as it also accompanied a forecast that PM Inc. would not achieve 20% growth in 1993. Price reductions by PM were also noted in Brazil and Costa Rica, where the PM subsidiary initiated a price war by reducing the price of its leading brand, DERBY, by 37% and the price of Marlboro by a similar percentage. PM introduced L & M at very low price in Spain in the wake of an price increase in Januarv L&M was launched at a price of Ptas 160 ver pack, in two vcsions (Lights and Full Flavour), undercutting the previous best value USM's (Lucky Strike/Chesterfield) by 30 Ptas, at a price only Ptas 10 above Fortuna. 4 Ln C:) BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999 In terms of product innovation. PM have remtly been trying an oval HL pack ("pocket pack') (4-6-6A formation) for Philip Morri3 Superlights, in France. (This will now be extended to Switzerland). In March a new version of L & M, Artgerecht, was launched in Germany: in limited distribution, the brand features a leopard design filter. Market impact has been minimal. PM appear to have been relaxing Marlboro communication guidelines both in the new BST UK Campaign, and in the Dutch "Name of flavour/colour of flavour" campaign. (e) Trade Marketing PM (USA) are giving heavy emphasis to their Retail Masters key retailer programme. In Latin America, BATCo. companies are reporting increased PMI - KGFI co- operation on distribution. (f) ROW Al Mr. Geoffrey Bible, VP of PM International, was appointed executive VP worldwide tobacco. This unifies PM`s tobacco operations, US domestic and international, under a single executive. Mr. James Morgan was promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing; all brand groups will report to him. 5 Ln CD CD BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 26 October 1999 2. R J RPYNOY.DS (a) Financial RJR published their 1992 results. Profits after tax were US$ 753 mn, ap by ovcr 280% ftom 199 I's comparable result of$ 195 mn. Other Key Results (US$ Mns) Operating Revenues (Estd NTO) 1991 1992 % Domestic Tobacco 5861 6165 5.2 International Tobacco 2679 2862 6.8 Total Tobacco 8540 9027 5.7 Total Operating Revenues 14984 15734 5.0 Operating Income 1991 1992 :k% Domestic Tobacco 2226 2112 -5.1 International Tobacco Soo 575 15.0 Total Tobacco 2726 2687 -1.4 Total Operating Income 3646 3634 -0.3 RJR tobacco operating income declined, and the RJR share price declined. Tle main focus of interest in RJR!s activities during the first quar--r was the possibility of a scheme to float off a part of RfR's non tobacco interests. The motive of this seems to be stockholder (especially KKR) dissatisfaction with RJ-:,s progress, and a wish to find a mechanism to raise further funds pay down the dc~,t mountain (currently about USS14 bn) that resulted from the 1989 LBO. The s--*-Cmc would initially have sold shares equal to 25% of Nabisco section of RJR, anE this would have raised about US$ 1.5 bn. In a second phase, further separation of food and tobacco interests would have proceeded. The creation of a new stock, "RN - Nabisco", would have freed the s~.are price to some degree from "the taint of tobacco". It seems unlikely the scheme will proceed in the wake of (a) personnel changes at RJR and (b) the PM announc--ments. It is possible that PM's price reduction announcement was timed to damage t~! scheme: it also coincided with R-TR's AGM on 2nd April. Extra Note: RJR announced on 13th April that the scheme would proct:d but would be limited to 25% of RN Nabisco, with the balance of RN Nabisco shares (75%) being held by RN Reynolds. RJR Nabisco stock will become RN Reyno:.ds stock. A tobacco dividend of 32 c per share - the first dividend since the LBO iz 1989 - was cancelled. RJR's first quarter 1993 profits after tax were USS164 mn. comparee to a loss of US$15 mn. in the same period last year C> r11j V1 1-D C:) BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999 Operatin2 Profits (USSmn.) IQ92 IQ93 :k% Domestic Tobacco 512 500 -2.3 International Tobacco 139 159 +14.4 Total Tobacco 651 659 +1.2 (b) Piversifled Activities RJR are said to be interested in acquiring a holding in Royal Brands SA_ This is (what used to be) the Nabisco business in Spain and Portugal, acquired to Tabacalera SA in 1987 and 1989. RJR are said to have bid E95 mn for 50% of RB, but Tabacalera aim to sell the company entirely. (Initial agreement on a E190 mn. bid was announced by Tabacalera on 28th April: the deal is subject to Spanish government approval). (c) Tobacco Acquisition No new acquisitions were reported. RJR Espana, a joint venture modelled on BAT Espina and PM Espina, became operational, with a 50% holding by RJR. RJR announced that they planned to enter the Indian market, ITC report that goverment approval, denied in 1992, has now been granted. They are also lobbying for the abolition of the Czech monopoly, so that they can compete with Philip Morris. (d) Brand Marketing RJ'R were active in the Middle East: Agreement has been reached with Iran to produce Winston under the Bistoon name. RJR are being aggressive with price in Europe: Winston was dropped in price in Finland, being deployed as a "value-priced" brand, and in France its price was reduced to the 10 FF level in January. This realignment of Winston at non-premium price level is not universal: in Spain, RJR will be using Gold Coast and Magna as its low price brands. RJR have introduced a new advertising campaign for Winston in the USA. In Europe, they introduced a new Taste of Adventure campaign for Camel, based on adventure cinema themes, The campaign has a 1940's feel. On 26th April, RJR announced its response to the USA PM price reduction plans: it will discount Winston, temporarily, until end June 1993 and conduct 'increased promotional activity' for Camel. (e) Trade Marketing NTR 7 Qn CD N.) BATCO document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999 RJWs Chairman and CEO, Mr Louis V Gerstner Jr, resigned in March, to take over at IBM following the depanure of Mr. John Akers. Mr Karl von der Heyden (Finance Director) and Mr Laurence Riccciardi (General Counsel) were appointed co-chairman and co-Ceos. This has every appearance of an interim solution, not least because both men retain all their existing functional responsibilities. At RJR Germany, Mr Hans Joachim Weder replaced Mr Peter Barton as Chairman in December 1992. Mr Barton is being transferred to be VP sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. C:) N) CD BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 26 October 1999 3. ROTHMANS/RFMBRA"T Financials Rothmans financial year ends 31st March. Results for 1992 should be available in the second quarter 1993. Non Tobacco Activities NTR Tobacco Acquisitions Rothmans announced a joint venture with the Nevo Tobacco Factory in St Petersburg, Rothmans have a holding of 75%, and are paying US$ 55 um. A new plant should come on stream in 1995, with a capacity of 20 bn. This is Rothmans first direct investment in the former Soviet bloc. There was no further news of Rothmans' reported 20% interest in the Zagreb factory in Croatia. In the Far East, a joint venture is planned with the Ban Thanh Cigarette factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Ongoing Tobacco Activities -1-he major event of the quarter was Rothmans' announcement of a restructuring of its Far East operations. The new company - Rothmans of Pall Mail Ltd - will be incorporated in Bermuda and Tun from Hong Kong. It will hold the interests currently in:- Rothmans of Pall Mall (Malaysia) Berhad. Rothmans Industries (Singapore). Both of these are 50% publicly owned. In addition, it will hold smaller Rothmans subsidiaries in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. Rothmans International vAll own 50% of the shares in the new company - the balance Will be held by Malaysia shareholders (39%) and Singapore shareholders (10%). ne reorganisation is being sold to shareholders by Rothmans as "constructive reconstruction", to enable it to attack Far Eastern opportunity markets in a more coherent way. It is looked at by analysts as a way of unlocking the cash in the existing public companies. The reorganisation is also consistent with Rothmans International's ongoing restructuring of the group around four regional Chief executives - in this case, the Asia Pacific region. C:) r1 J (JI I'D C:) 4-1-- BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999 ne Australian and Philippines interests are not being included. Both are problematic at present. Rothman's Australian subsidiary gave a profit warning of a 15% decline for 1992, in February; Alhambra Industries (Philippines) is being closed this year, and Sterling Tobacco, the second Rothmans operation in the Philippines, is being "reviewed". In Europe, Rothmans consolidating its operations, closing the Turnhout and Liege plants in Belgium, and restructuring Brinkmann Tabaks Vcrtrieb, its Germany RYO subsidiary. Rothmans has set up a new subsidiary, Rothmans International Tobacco Products (RITP), to be responsible for production, sales and marketing of non cigarette brands. One main task is to attack the UK shag market; RITP's first launch is Cutter's Choice. The company is based in Amsterdam. Rothmans' planned plant in Nigeria seems unlikely to be finished this year: Mr C Murphy has been appointed Marketing Director. 4. RFFMSTNtA NTR 5. M JTI appears to be headed for privatisation. Two-thirds of a million shares %will be released to the market by the Ministry of Finance in Financial year 1993-4. (The Japanese financial year is April-March). This flotation is the maximum legally permitted, without changing the law. The floatation had been planned earlier for financial 1991-2, but was postponed because of the Tokyo stock market's poor performance. A listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange is expected in 1993, with an auction to establish the actual price (probably after M's 1992-3 results are available). JTI continues to attempt to expand exports aggressively: they announced plans to sell 5 bn to Iran in 1993, announced plans to set up in India as an offshore base for export manufacture, and are increasing the number of export markets. (33 in 1991, 42 in 1992). Hither-to JTI's presence in India has been limited to a technical services agrcemcnt with the Philip Morris associated company. 6. SETTA Financial Scita announced its 1992 results with profits of FF 341 mn (L40 mn), up by 122% on 1991's comparable result. Scita had, however, predicted a FF 590 mn profit at the half year, announced in November 1992. Privatisation The run-up to the victory by the RPRAJDF in the French elections, increased speculation that Seita might be privatised: a formal denial was issued by Mr. M Malvy, the Budget Minister in January 1993. 10 10 CD .Z:. U-1 BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999 7. TABACALERA S.A. Financial Tabacalera S.A. reported consolidated group results of Ptas 18998 mn (E 105.9 mn), 13.4% down on 199 1. The tobacco business profits actually rose by 3.5% but increased losses by diversified businesses, particularly Elosua S.A., reduced these. Tabacalera board is expected to approve the disposal of the largest diversified business (Royal Brands). 8. MONOPOLI DI STATO NTR un CD CD BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26 October 1999