American Tobacco
the American Tobacco Company Incorporated Annual Report 1959
Fields
- Litigation
- 10004026
- 10004026 16822
- Type
- Annual Report
- Report
- Request
- Second
- Set
- No.
- 1
- Set
- Characteristic
- MN Selected
- Date Loaded
- 23 Nov 1998
- Attachment
- 90000278
Document Images
PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
Since April 1957 we have been acquiring the shares owned by the
minority stockholders and finally completed acquiring them in January
1959. The American Tobacco Company now owns 100% of the capital stock
of this company and, as indicated elsewhere in this report, the financial
results of this company are now consolidated with that of the parent
Company,
CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT IN MANUFACTURING
EFFICIENCY
While the production of tobacco products of top quality must start with
the best tobacco available, the manufacturing methods used in producing
the finished product contribute importantly to quality and to the consumer
acceptance of our products.
Since the end of World War II, substantial advancement has been made
in the manufacturing facilities and methods used in the handling of leaf
tobacco, its preparation for use in the finished product and for assuring that
the finished product measures up to the standards of quality set by the
Company. These improvements, both in methods and in equipment, have
also contributed to economy of manufacture with resultant beneficial effect
upon profit margins.
Your Company continues to explore the possibility of improving manu-
facturing methods that will not only safeguard the standards of quality of
its products but will also produce greater profits from operations.
Q
ADVERTISING AI~D SALES PROMOTION
With the number of competitive cigarette brands continuing to in-
crease, your Company's advertising and sales promotion programs are
under constant scrutiny with the object of improved efficiency and maxi-
mum economy. It is the policy of The American Tobacco Company to keep
its brand promotion in good taste to match the good taste of its products.
Virtually all major advertising media, including television, radio, news-
papers, magazines and billboards, are utilized to inform the smoking public
of the superior quality of our tobacco products.
The efforts of our Sales Organization supplement, and are coordinated
with, product advertising. Throughout the nation, members of the Sales
Organization strive to secure the widest possible distribution for our brands.
They reinforce the national advertising effort by placing point of sale dis-
plays in retail outlets and by direct sampling of consumers. They also sup-
ply service and assistance at the wholesale and retail levels.
MNAT 00028957
p/t GI~ TEN

PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
$
SI~IOKING AIND HEALTH
Despite repeated publicizing of certain statistical studies by anti-
tobacco theorists, no reliable evidence has been produced in the experimental
or pathological fields to support the theory that cigarette smoking causes
lung cancer. After five ),ears of studies, for example, the British Empire
Cancer Campaign reported "striking negative results" from animal experi-
ments involving inhalation of tobacco smoke.
The anti-cigarette stetisties themselves have increasingly come under
attack. Last year, for example, the British Medical Journal published a
study involving the heaviest cigarette smokers in the world, native white
males in South Africa. This group was found to have a relatively low lung
cancer death rate compared with that of immigrants to South Africa from
Great Britain and other European countries who smoke less.
The cause of cancer remains unknown and many reputable SCientists
and scientific bodies continue to refuse to accept the anti-cigarette theory
of lung cancer. In December 1959, commenting on a review article of the
United States Public Health Service, the Journal of the American Medical
Association stated that an "all-or-none authoritative position" in this mat-
ter is not warranted by the evidence to date.
STOCKttOLDERS' ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Wednesday, April
6, 1960. Formal notice of this meeting, together with the proxy and proxy
statement, is enclosed with this report.
Before closing this letter I should like to acknowledge the many com-
munications we have received from our stockholders during the year.
Especially gratifying have been the stockholders' continued loyalty to the
Company's products and their efforts to promote our brands.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to express our appre-
cialion for the cooperation of our customers and the loyal service rendered
by our employees.
PAUL M. HAHN
President
MNAT 0G0299S9
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PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
H[RB[RTTAREYION
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MODERN SIZE
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PRO1 ECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
1959 OPERATIONS AT A GLANCE
d
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The Company received for goods it sold and
from dividends, interest and miscellaneous.. $1,1§1,88B,000
This is how it was used or set aside
52,9% Taxes (excise, income, socia I security, etc.) $614,219,000
23.3% Tobacco (including applicable expenses) $ 271,052,000
17.8% Wages, Goods, Services, etc. $207.463.000
,5% Bond and Bank Interesl $ 5,906,000
33% DividendstoStockholders
$ 35330,000
2,~.% Earnings Retained to Meet Future Needs
$ 97,518,000
MNAT 00028961
p~GE FOURTEEN

PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PP-OTECTiVEEORDER
Consolidated Statements of
INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
e
o
For ]'ears E~zded December 3;:
Net Sales ...............
Cost of sales, selling, general and administrative
expenses ..............
Operating Profit .............
Other income .............
Interest and related charges ........
Other deductions from income .......
Total deductions .......
Incorn~, before taxes on income ........
Federal and other taxes on irlcome ......
Net income ..............
Retained earnings, beginning of year [includes
December 31, 1957, retained earnings of a
previously unconsolldated subsidiary) .....
Cash Dividends:
Common stock, $5 per share .......
Preferred stock, $6 per share .......
Total dividends ........
Retained earnlngs, end of year (Note R) ......
De ptecillt ion provided ~nd charged to COSTS and
expenses amounted to $5,215,154 in 1959
and $4,g49,930 in 195B,
19B9
$1,161,376,858
1,019,129,251
195~
S1,105,176,334
971,131,896
142,247,607 134,044,43B
S11~15 479,879
142,759,022 134,524,317
5,906,001
761,751
8,005,598
1,524,477
6,B87,752 9,530,075
136,071,270 124,994,242
72,823,000 66,138,000
63,248,2"/0 55,856,242
22"/,589,'/O? 204,263,061
290,637,977 263,119,303
32,562,610 32,562,610
3,166,986 3,166,986
35,729,596 35,729,596
_$ 254,508,381 $ 227,389,707
MNAT 00028962
pA(;l£ FIF'FEE %

PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIV_E ORDER
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
December 31,
Cash ...............
ACCounts receivable, customers ........
Leaf tobacco, manufactured stock, operating supplies,
etc., at average cost ...........
Miscellaneous accounts receivable ......
Total current assets ......
Investment in and advances to an unconsolidated sub-
sidiary, at amounts not in excess of cost (Note S)
Insurance deposits and miscellaneous investments,
Land, buildings, machinery, etc., at cost, )ess allow*
ance for depreciation, 1959, $55,844,776; 1958,
$52,767,525 .............
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges .....
Brands, trade-marks, patents, good will, etc .....
lglI
$ 17,740,414
51,910,968
G56,680,134
1,696,788
728,028,304
5,955,069
1,113,692
67,776,385
3,652,437
1
$806,525,888
IIIsl
41
$ 20,696,311
46,942,630
648,310,916
1,318,225
717~268,082
7,985,750
1,286,764 ~
64,894,849
5,096,257
1
$796,531,703
MNAT 0002896~
P~GE SIXTEE*'~ - i

PROT EC FED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
O
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LIABILITIES
Deeeml~¢r 31,
Notes payable .............
Loan payable by British subsidiary .......
Accrued taxes .............
Accounts payable and accrued expenses .....
Dividend on preferred stock for quarter ended
December 51 .............
Debentures to be redeemed through sinking fund opera-
tions (Note 4) ............
Total current liabilities .....
Debentures (Note 4) ...........
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Capital stock {Note 5):
Preferred, six per cent cumulative, par value $100
per share .............
Common, par value $25 per share ......
Excess of net proceeds from capital stocks issued over
par values .............
Retained earnings (Note 2/ .........
Total ...........
io6o
$ 56,000,000
4,410,546
53,817,206
15,760,433
791,746
9,624,000
140,403,931
150,653p000
291,056,931
52,783,100
162,813,050
44,964,426
260,560,576
254,908,381
515,468,957
$806,525,888
ID68
$66,000,000
50,655,309
15,211,365
791,746
10,521,000
143,179,420
165,402,000
308,581,420
52,783,100
162,813,050
44,964,426
260,560,576
227,389,707
487,950,283
$796,531,705
MNAT 00028964
PAGE SEYENTEE~

PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVEQRDER
iNotes Accompanying Financial Statements
The accompanying consolidated financial ~tatements include all wholly-o~ned subMdiariea.
The
Company acquired the minority interest in Golden Belt Manufacturing Company in January,
1959.
Accordingly, this subsidiary, not previously consolidated, is included for 1950, and the
financial
statements for 1958 have been adjusted In reflect this acquisition as of January 1,
1958.
2. Under the provisions of the indenture relating to the Twenty Year 3% Debentures, due
January 1,
1968, cash dividends declal"ed on common stock and payments made in purchasing shares of
any
cla~ of the Company's ~tock subsequent to December 31, 1947, may not exceed the
aggregate of
$15,000,000 and consolidated net income earned subsequent to December 81, 1947, less
dividends
paid on preferred stock, At December 31, 1959. approximately $220.600.000 of retained
earnings
was free of this restriction.
The net tangible assets applicable to the investment in and advances to an
unconsolidated subsid-
iary at December 31, 1059 and 1958, amounted to $10,069,546 and $11,548.284,
respectively.
Interest received from this subsidiary ~.'as: 1959, $254.1601 1958. $305,966; the equity
in earning6
amounted to: 1959, $658,958; 1958, $077,163.
4. Debentures Dutstanding at December 31, 1059, comprise:
5,
6~
7.
Principal Amounts
Redeemable Redeemable After
Within One Year* Dec, 31,1969
Twenty year 3ff¢, due April 15. 1962 ...... $3,074,000
$ 81,048,000
Twenty year 3%, due January 1, 1968 ..... 3,fi00,fi00 39,000,000
Twenty-five year 3~, due October 15, 1909 .... 2,160,000 " 43,372,000
Twenty-five ),ear 3~:~, due February 1, 1977 . . 1,390.000 37,238,000
$9.624,000
$1 fi0.653,000
*Estimated principal amounts to be redeemed through sinking fund
operati~n~ at prices as provided by the indentuTe$.
Capital stock at December 31, 1959, comprises:
Shares
Sharel
Authorized
Issued
Preferred ....... 540.1fi6
527,881
Common ........ 10,000.000
6.519,529
The stockholders will be asked to vote a'~ the 1060 annual meetlng on a proposal to change each
share of common ~tock of the par value of $25.00 per share into two shares of common stock of
the pat" value of 312.50 per share. This would increase the common "Shares Authorized" to
20,000.000 and "Shares Issued" to 13.025.044.
A noncon r butory Retirement Plan providing unfunded (pay-as-you-go) benefits for empnyees
has been in effect since J~nuary 1, 1049. Unde" the P an he Compan'*. ha.~ he , ght to amend.
rood fy or erminate the Plan in whole or in part at any time. Payments made under the Plan
and charged to income amounted to $1.128,823 in 1950 and SL0fi7,074 in 1958. Substantially
larger annual expenditures will be required if the proposed revisions referred to in Note 7 are
adopted.
The stockholders will be asked to vote at the 1960 annual meeting on revisions of the Company's
Retirement Plan includlng a provision for funding, a deferred Profit-Sharing Plan extending
benefits to regular ful]-~ime empb~yees of the Compan~ and des gna ed ~ ibsidiarles as well as an
amendment of the Incentive Compensation Plan under Article xn of the By-Laws, as set forth
in the Proxy Statement. to become effective in 1060.
p~*nF EIGHTEEN
MNAT (~028965

PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIJ/E ORDER
SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
IiIVelll oi'ies
Leaf tobacco .................
Manufactured stock .............
Supplies ..................
Revenue stamps ................
TOTAL .................
Dece.'aberJ1
1959 1958
$5~6.605,133 $578,305.788
51.065,978 49,517.829
19,009.023 18,829.248
-- 1,658,051
$656.680,134 $648,810,916
]nventcries used in the computation of cost of sales are priced at costs xvhieh
result from the avera gill~ monthly Of transaetiol~s reflected in the ilwenLory
accounts except that revenue st~mp inventorie~ were priced at actual ee~t.
In 1959 the TreaSlll'y Department instituted the return system for paymeIlt
cf exei~o taxes On ci[rarette~ ~l~d tobacco. This method ol tax ]~a~'mellt
elimil~ated the t~se of revellue sta/~p$.
Land. Buildings. ,Machinery, ctc.
GROSS
Land and buildings .......... $
53,708.587
Machinery and equipment ........ 50,135,283
Office furniture and equipment ..... 3,211,647
Automobile~ and trucks ........ 4,0S0,698
Construction in process ........ 2,484,946
TOTAL ............ $128.621.J 61
.Decembcr$I,1959
ALLOWANCE FOR
DEPRECIATION
$27,480,959
24,426,250
1,993,073
1,944,454
$55.~44,776
NET
$26,227,598
35,709,033
1,218,574
2,136,234
2,484,046
$67,776,385
MNAT 00028966
pAGF ~I~ETEEN
