SEC Ft~. -rxICKY STRlyr. - PRICF POSITIO.N- pRIcE POSITTONING: From both short and long term perspectives, LUCKY STRIKE 1-5 the Group's best and most prooising UST-B contender versus Marlboro in the young adult male smoker segment. As the brand grows and is launched in Zara markets (i.e., becomes established as a truly global brand), key elements of the brand offering are constantly evaluated and improved, including: Product, pacy-aging, style portfolio, creative and pricing. From an bittorical perspective, the LUCKY STRIKE price strategy of being "one or two price points below Marlboro" provided a key point of difference for the brand versus Marlboro. The success of the brand at a lower price point in lead markets such as Spain, singap*re and Panama confirmed the validity of this strategy. At present, pricing across markets is not consistent; It ranges from being at parity price with Marlboro to being belov Marlboro price. Relative price versus Marlboro also !aries within the markets in every region ta "arket SummarY Is attached). The purpose of this document is to review current thinking regarding the optimal price position for LUCKY STRIKE vis a vis Marlboro. CONCUTSIONS: -in mostuarkets LUCXY STRIKE should be positioned at price parity with Marlboro it it is to achieve its maximum, long term potential as the leading global USIB for young adult male smokers. -Strategies and timetables for implementing price increases should be developed on &-market by market basis due to significant differences between markets In current price positions, franchise and target profiles, stage of brand development and market dynamics. 1991 PRICING sTRATRGY: "Retail price can be one or two price points below Marlboro but is to be in the next significant price category immediately below Marlboro. in cases where low price positioning can have a detrimental effect on the image, parity pricing with Marlboro should be utilized.* C7 \ BAT IndustrieS document for Province of BritiSh Wunlbia 25 October 1999 1991 PRICTNG STRATEGY. cont.: The iggi pricing strategy is a modification Of the historical price strategy which simply stated* -Retail price is normally one or two price points below Marlboro." The 1991 strategy language reflects the Group's directive to bring LUCKY STRIKE's retail price more in line with that of Marlboro, and to position the brand as a major USIB competitor and presence in the global market, i.e., a brand that in all respects is capable of usurping Marlboro's leadership role among young adult male smokers. In addition, the 1991 language recognizes that in many markets, USIB product price is an imagery element which supports attributes of U.S. origin or U.S. heritage, high product quality and smoker status. PRICING ANAT-YSIS FINDINGS: A comprehensive pricing analysis was conducted in 1990 to determine if a relationship existed between the relative price of LUCKY STRIKE versus Marlboro and the level of brand success in any given market. The analysis did not identify 6ny generalized formula for optimal price positioning, but it did yield the following general conclusions: h LUCKY STRIKE price point lower than that of Marlboro aDneAra to Arive SON orowth In markets where: - LUCKY STRIKE price is at an index of 80 or less versus Marlboro. - Relative consumer income (measured via per capita GDP) is lower. - Rate of population growth is higher. A LUCKY STRIKE price point lower than that of Marlboro does not annear to sianificant1v drive SOX crgvl-h in markets where-, - LUCKY STRIKE price indexes 93-99 versus Marlboro. - Relative consumer income is higher. Rate of population growth is lower. C~p r\J BAT Industries document for Province Of BritiSh COIurnbia 25 October 1999 SOURCE OF BUSINESS: The market review that was undertaken in the pricing analysis indicated that the current source of business (as well as target audience) for LUCKY STRIKE appears to vary significantly on a market by market basis. - Relativelv Downscale Directionally, the current franchise in those low price markets in which the price differential of LUCKY STRIKE versus Marlboro was 20%-or greater appears to consist of a smoker group with a lower socio-economic profile (e.g., Panama, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Israel and Spain). LUCKY STRIKEt at a much lower price, provides the lower income consumer with a significant enough savings versus Marlboro to either: Encourage uptrading to LOCRY STRIKE (rather than to Marlboro) from local brands; or, to encourage downtrading to LUCKY STRIKE from Marlboro. on Judgement, the overall LUCKY STRIKE proposition (USIB, product, packaging and imagery) is attractive and strong enough to allow lower income smokers to trade off the relative status gained from purchasing a premium priced brand (Marlboro) for meaningful price savings. Conversely, due to its low price position in these markets, LUCKY STRIKE may not be an attractive alternative to Marlboro among more upscale smokers who are willing to pay premium prices for reasons of status. Relativelv UDSCale Per capita income levels in Western Europe are much higher than in most other markets. In general, cigarette prices are high, and the absolute difference between price tiers does not permit LUCKY STRIKE to be priced at a level significantly lower than Marlboro. LUCKY STRIKE is priced at parity to Marlboro in two Scandinavian markets. RRP Index: TA vs Marlboro - Norway 100 - Germany 95 "tck - Denmark 100 - Belgium 94 U_j L.(-- - Italy 97 Switzerland 941 - France 97 Netherlands 89 -(American Tob.) -(Based on unit cost of LS 25's vs Marl 201s) CD r1 _1 r1 j CY\ BAT Industries document for Province of British COIUMbia 25 October 1999 -4- SOURCE OF BUSINRSS. cont. - - Relativelv lUDscale The Western European young adult male smoker target audience is likely to be more affluent and more sophisticated. The success of Marlboro in this region also indicates that a substantial pool of those smokers is willing to pay a premium price for a USIB. In Japan, LUCKY STRIKX has had success with a price at parity with the leading USIB, Lark, and at a premium (until may, 1991) with Marlboro. It is interesting to note that Marlboro shows signs of growing in Japan, and that .7TI has now raised its price from 240 to 250 yen, at parity WWI LUCKY STRIKE. On judgement, in markets where the target audience ismore upscale; is relatively more sophisticated; and is willing to pay a premium price for a USIB, the marginally lower price of LUCKY STRIKE may be a factor in limiting the brand's growth. This lower price.may create a consumer perception that the brand has a lower level of status than Marlboro and is inferior to Marlboro in terms of product quality. PrCOMYPRDATION: If LUCKY STRIKE is to ultimately become the most viable,, long term challenger to Marlboro among the largest pool of USIB smokers, i.e., those willing to pay a prezius price for a TJSIB, LUCKY STRIKE price should be brought to parity with that of Marlboro. Increasing LUCKY STRIIM price to a parity position with Marlboro entails, however, an element of risk; higher in some markets than in others. - T-w Risk Markets New markets in which the brand is to be launched, such as Denmark, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Venezuela and Saudi. - On judgement, this approach requires that a longer term perspective be taken in terms of rate of brand growth, investment, etc. - Since the historical "lower price" point of difference is eliminated, -market strategy changes. - From: Encouraging up-trading from lower priced local brands. - To: Encouraging switching from other premium priced USIB's or high priced local brands. CD CF\ -N, BAT IndustrieS document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 25 October 1999 RFCOMDMNDATION. cont.: - Medi- Risk Markets Markets with the following characteristics: - The brand is currently small; volume and SOM growth is relatively low or stagnant. - Current pricing is already close to that of Marlboro. Price differential versus Marlboro is 10% or less; or, the brand is only one significant price point below Marlboro. - A simulated test market conducted in 1991 for LUCKY STRIKE 200s by BAT Nederland indicated that the 20's at parity pricing with Marlboro (3.85) had greater potential than did a 20's priced lower than Marlboro (3.50, or, at a 91 index). - Includes Western European markets (less Spain), 0-hile, Iceland, Israel. - Hich Risk Markets Markets with the following characteristics: - The brand, at a lower price point, is well established and/or is growing. - current pricing is significantly lower than Marlboro. Price differential versus Marlboro is 15% or more; or, the brand is positioned two significant price points below Marlboro. - The franchise tends to be composed primarily of people from the lower socio-economic strata. - Includes Spain, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Panama, Indonesia and Paraguay. HIGH RISK VXPVRIrNCV: Experience in Israel has shown that an increase in price, although having longer term benefits, can have a serious and immediate impact on brand performance. CD ON -Z~- CC) BAT IndustrieS document for Province of BritiSh ColUmbia 25 October 1999 -6- HIGH RISK EXPFRIENCE. cant.: Although the change in pricing was not the only factor involved in the decline experienced in Israel, it is, on judgement, the significant factor. - Prior to the price increase in 1989, the brand was a very low priced product. As such, it was perceived to be a low quality brand that was smoked by people at the lower levels of the socio-economic spectrum. - Sourcing of the *product was changed from Cyprus to Macon to improve the product and the price was raised to improve positioning. RSP (NIS) Im 10/89 - LUCKY STRIKE 1.80 2.50 - Marlboro 2.80 2.90 Index Vs Marlboro 64 86 - Volume decreased from 47.3MM units in 1989 to 0.7MK LA-". units in 1990. - The now price (although still well below Marlboro) placed the brand beyond the means of its traditional franchise, who then defected to other lower price brands. This loss, however, was not offset by inflows from suckers downtrading from higher priced USIB's. The lesson learned from the Israel price increase is that in established and successful low price markets, both the strategy and timetable for increasing LUCKY STRIKE pricing should be based upon prior consumer research and, where possible, test market, experience. PFrMIUM PRICING VEPIqUS MART-BORO: Consideration has been given to p ricing the brand at a premium to Marlboro. At present, this strategy is not recommended. Once the brand has proven product superiority to Marlboro and SOM levels are significant, this potential approach should be reevaluated. NJ CD r"i J\J BAT Industries document for Province Of British COIUMbia 25 October 1999 TZICKY STRITP PRTCP VrRqUS MAIZT.RnRO IMY MARM SUMMARY Source: BWIT Region Survey April, 1991 N-) N.) C) 13 AT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 25 October 1999 LUCKY STRIKE PRICING REVIEW MARKETS BY ASC ENDING PRICE DIFFERENTIAL VERSUS MARLBORO RETAIL SELLING PRICE j X POINTS P INDEK LUU(Y INDEX ELOW S I RANGE STRIKE I MARL MARLBORO VS MARLBORO 100 - 10G+ JAPAN 250 250 100 1 PARITY HONG KONG 24 24 .100 PARITY MACAU 9.00 9.00 100 PARITY NORWAY 33.80 33.80 100 PARITY DENMARK 27.75 27.75 100 PARITY VENEZUELA* 36 36 100 PARITY 95-99 ITALY 3.250 3,350 97 ONE FRANCE 10.00 10.30 97 ONE CHILE 370 380 97 ONE GERMANY 4.00 4.20 95 ONE 90-94 BELGIUM 74 1 1 79 1 941 ONE SWITZERLAND 2.9 0 3.1 0 94 ONE 85-89 NETHERLANDS- 0.17 0.19 89 ONE ISRAEL 3.85 4.45 87 ONE COSTA RICA 100 115 87 ONE EL SALVADOR* 5.10 5.95 86 ONE SINGAPORE 3.00 3.50 86 TWO ICELAND- 179 208 86 ONE 80-84 PRC 4.50 5.40 83 2-3 MALAYSIA 2.30 z8o 82 TWO PANAMA 0.80 1.00 so TWO GREECE 230 270 85 ONE 75-79 INDONESIA 9D0 1,1501 781 TWO PARAGUAY Boo 1,000 so TWO B FLOW 75 SPAIN 1 S 0 205 73 TWO LEELANON 299 475 1 63 1 TWO SYRIA 18 00 28.50 63 TWO Brand In Development: Not Yet Launched Unit Price (LS 25*s vs Mart 20*s) Marlboro Not In Market; index Vs Winston & Camel C7 \ BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 25 October 1999