Philip Morris
Philip Morris Incorporated Annual Report 760000
Fields
- Author
- Cullman, F.J. III
- Millhiser, R.R.
- Weissman, G.
- Millhiser, R.R.
- Area
- GONZALEZ,AURORA/CARLSTADT
- Type
- CONT, CONTRACT, AGREEMENT RESOLUTION
- BUDG, BUDGET, BUDGET REVIEW
- CHAR, CHART, GRAPH, TABLE, MAPS
- PHOT, PHOTOGRAPH
- BUDG, BUDGET, BUDGET REVIEW
- Request
- Stmn/R1-004
- Master ID
- 2500010448/1454
Related Documents:- 2500010448 Annual Reports 710000 - 870000
- 2500010449-0501 Philip Morris Companies Inc. Annual Report 850000
- 2500010502-0555 Philip Morris Incorporated Annual Report 770000
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- 2500011195-1238 Philip Morris Incorporated Annual Report 740000
- 2500011239-1282 Philip Morris Incorporated Annual Report 750000 Ten Year Growth
- 2500011331-1350 Philip Morris Incorporated 760000 Retrospective De L'anee Informe Anual Jahresruckblick Rassengna Annuale Terugblik Op Het Jaar
- 2500011351-1402 Philip Morris Companies Inc. Annual Report 860000
- 2500011403-1454 Philip Morris Companies Inc. Annual Report 870000
- Named Organization
- Benson Hedges Canada
- Chermayeff Geismar
- Ctr, Council for Tobacco Research
- District Court
- Financial Accounting Standards Board
- Ftr, Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A.
- Lindeman
- Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of Ny
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Philip Morris Board of Directors
- Plainwell Paper
- Securities + Exchange Commission
- United Va Bank
- US Dept of Commerce
- Washington + Lee Univ
- Appeals Court
- Audit Comm
- Chermayeff Geismar
- Named Person
- Ahrensfeld, T.F.
- Beane, R.N.
- Bellot, A.E.
- Berkowitz, M.L.
- Buzzi, A.G.
- Cremin, R.H.
- Cullman, H.
- Flanagan, Ejt
- Goldsmith, C.H.
- Gunnarsson, S.
- Huntley, Rer
- Hurley, H.
- Janssen, E.M.
- Landry, J.T.
- Laux, F.J.
- Lawler, T.N.
- Lee, Jpj
- Lombard, C.F.
- Longest, W.G.
- Maxwell, H.
- Mcdowell, W.W.
- Morgan, J.J.
- Murray, R.W.
- Oconnor, W.J.
- Resnik, F.E.
- Robertson, R.D.
- Salguero, C.E.
- Schaaf, E.M., J.R.
- Seligman, R.B.
- Snyder, R.L.
- Soyars, B.A.
- Storr, H.G.
- Surgeon General
- Wakeham, Hrr
- Webb, W.H.
- Beane, R.N.
- Site
- G13
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Author (Organization)
- Coopers Lybrand
- PM, Philip Morris
- Characteristic
- MARG, MARGINALIA
- Date Loaded
- 05 Jun 1998
- Brand
- Belvedere
- Benson & Hedges
- Brunette
- Flint
- Mark Ten
- Marlboro
- Merit
- Muratti Ambassador
- Parliament
- Virginia Slims
- Viscount
- Astor
- Fortuna
- Shelton
- Benson & Hedges
- UCSF Legacy ID
- lhi42e00
Document Images
Financial Highlights
_ Table of Contents
211111111111 1111 Philip Morris U.S.A. 3 Financial Highlights
Philip Morris International 4 Review of the Year
Miller Brewing Company
Am
Philip Morris Industrial 10 Philip Morris U.S.A.
Mission Viejo Company 14 Philip Morris International
18 Miller Brewing Company
22 Philip Morris Industrial
24 Mission Viejo Company
26 Financial Review
44 Directors and Officers
Operating Revenues Operating Income Net Earnings
by Operating Company by Operating Company
4500 Milhons of
Dollars
720 Millions of
Dollars
270 Milhons of
Dollars
4250 68 255
4000 640 240
3750 600 225
3500 ~`-
- 560 . 210
° -- -S
-
3250 __ 520 195
3000 -`~ - 480 180
2750 440 -- -
165 '
2500 = 400 150
2250 360 135
2000 320 120
1750 260 105
1500 240 so
1250 200 75
1000 160 60
750
120
45 N
500 80 30
250 40 15
0 0 0
72 73 74 75 76 72 73 74 75 76 72 73 74 75 76
~e

Philip Morris Incorporated and Consolidated Subsidiaries 1
Fully Diluted Earnings Dividends Declared Capital Expenditures
Per Share Per Share
Dollars Dollars Millions of
Dollars
4.50 1 ,26 270

2 Philip Morris Incorporated 1976 ~
-=
Philip Morris Incorporated is a lead.ing
company in two large industries-cigarettes
and beer-that provide simple pleasures
to tens of millions of people every day. in
each of those industries, Philip Morris is
the fastest-growing U.S. company.
Founded more than a century ago and
incorporated in Virginia in 1919, the
company has long been a major cigarette
manufacturer. Today, it is the
second-largest cigarette company in the
U.S. market and the largest U.S.-based
international cigarette company, selling its
175 brands in more than 160 countries
and territories.
The corporation acquired the Miller
Brewing Company in 1970. Atthattime,
Millerwas the seventh-largest brewer in the
U.S. Today, it is the third-largest.
The company has also diversified
into the manufacture of specialty papers,
flexible packaging materials, and specialty
chemicals as well as into community
development and homebuilding.
These businesses are conducted by five
operating companies: Philip Morris U.S.A.,
Philip Morris International, Miller Brewing
Company, Philip Morris Industrial, and
Mission Viejo Company.
I
!
}
I
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r
Philip Morris Incorporated
100 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
The company's annual report on
Form 10-K, which will be filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission, will be available to
stockholders in early April without
charge by writing to: --
Eugene J. T. Flanagan, Secretary
Philip Morris Incorporated
100 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017 The "Review of the Year" contained
in this annual report has been
translated into French, Spanish,
German, Italian, and Dutch. These
translations are included in a
separate foreign language booklet
which is available upon request.
Transfer Agents: Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company of New York
30 West Broadway
New York, New York 10015.
for common and preferred shares: Paper stocks used in this report are
made by Plainwell Paper Company,
a division of Philip Morris Industrial.
Cover: Kashmir Dull 80#
Text: Kashmir Dull 100#
Design: Chermayeff & Geismar Associates
Printed in U.S.A.
v
_n ~
United Virginia Bank 0
Box 6E
Richmond, Virginia 23214.
for common shares. O
J
~
~
Annual Meeting: April 28, 1977 rJ
~
3601 Commerce Road
Richmond, Virginia

Financial Highlights
(A) Consolidated operating revenues include
(B)
3
p
y
ar
es
ed subs
since September 30, 1972), and the company's equity
in the net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries.
Operating income of Mission Viejo Company for the
,714,000. entire year 1972 was $5
holly-owned ownexpenses, interest, and items which are
not directly attributable to the operating companies
are not allocated to them. In the opinion of
management, any allocation thereof would be
arbitrary and would diminish the accuracy of
measurement of their performances. ,
,
1974, 11 % i n 1973, and 10% i n 1972, and 12% of
consolidated operating income in 1976, 6% in 1975,
2% in 1974, (1 %) in 1973, and 0% in 1972. No other
ass of similar products accounted for as much as
10% of consolidated operating revenues or
operating income in any year.
(dollar lntthousapnde) r snare amounts 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972
Operating Revenues $4,293,782 $3,642,414 $3,010,961 $2,602,498 $2,131,224
Net Earnings 265,675 211,638 175,516 148,632 124,466
Earnings Per Common Share:
Primary 4.47 3.62 3.15 2.71 2.34
Fully Diluted 4.47 3,62 3.07. 2.61 2.18
Dividends Declared Per Common Share 1.15 .925 .775 .674 .631
Percent Increase Over Prior Year
r.)
Operating Revenues 17.9% 21.0% 15.7% 22.1 % e 15.0%
Net Earnings
25.5%
20.6%
18,1 %
19.4% 0
0
~
22.6%
Earnings Per Common Share: ~
Primary 23.5% 14.9% 16.2% 15.8% a 16.4%
Fully Diluted
Operating Companies Revenues 23.5% 17.9% 17.6% 19.7% 19.8%
Philip Morris U.S.A. $1,963,144 $1,721,549 $1,502,267 $1,303,629 $1,164,550
Philip Morris International._ _- 1,083,970 1,040,002 887,077 822,907 623,699
Miller Brewing Company 982,810 658,268 403,551 275,860 211,262
Philip Morris Industrial 169,096 151,960 155,390 132,126 113,136
(A) Mission Viejo Company 94,762 70,635 62,676 67,976 18,577
(A) Consolidated Operating Revenues $4,293,782 $3,642,414 $3,010,961 $2,602,498 $2,131,224
` Operating Companies Income
Philip Morris U.S.A. $ 401,426 $ 337,314 . $ 286,225 $ 227,282 $ 194,072
Philip Morris International 130,104 112,975 94,017 92,150 84,095
+ Miller Brewing Company 76,056 28,628 6,291 (2,371) 228
~ Philip Morris Industrial 10,620 8,052 12,280 8,300 7,735
I (B) Mission Viejo Company 16,333 5,875 4,772 - 4,122 1,331
(B) Consolidated Operating Income $ 634,539 $ 492,844 $ 403,585 $ 329,483 $ 287,461
operating revenues of the company and all
wholly-owned subsidiaries (Mission Viejo Company
since September 30, 1972). Operating revenues of
Mission Viejo Company for the entire year 1972
were $60,824,000.
Consolidated operating income includes the
operating income of the company and all
(Mission Viejo Com
an
idi
i
Total Philip Morris tobacco product sales, both
within and without the United States, accounted for
70% of consolidated operating revenues in 1976,
74% in 1975, 77% in 1974, 79% in 1973, and 80% .
in 1972, and 83% of consolidated operating
income in 1976, 91 % in 1975, 94% in 1974, and 97%
in 1973 and 1972. Sales of beer by Miller Brewing
Company accounted for 23% of consolidated
operating revenues in 1976
18% in 1975
13% in

Review of the Year
In 1976, Philip Morris Incorporated extended
its record of revenues and earnings growth to
23 consecutive years. New records were set
for operating revenues which increased
17.9%, net earnings which rose 25.5%, and
earnings per share which were up 23.5%.
Both the cigarette and beer industries,
our principal areas of operation, continued
to demonstrate their fundamental strength
by achieving increases in sales in 1976.
Philip Morris substantially outpaced the
gains in both industries.
Curcompany's outstanding performance
in both of its primary large and growing
industries is reflected by our compounded
average annual growth rates over the past
ten years, up 18.7% in operating revenues
and up 19.2% in fully diluted earnings per
share.
Cigarette sales in the U.S. industry
increased 1.0% in 1976 to an estimated 606
billion units, marking the 20th year out of the
last 22 years in which the industry has
registered a gain. Philip Morris U,S.A.'s unit
volume rose 7.5% to a total of 152 billion
units,
Marlboro, the world's leading cigarette
brand since 1972, was clearly established
last year as the leading brand in the U.S, as
well, Merit, our low-tar brand introduced
.nationally in January, 1976, proved to be an
immediate success.
The international cigarette market is over
five times the size of the U.S. market and
growing twice as fast. Cigarette sales
outside the U.S. last year were an estimated
3.3 trillion units, an increase of 3.3% over
1975. Philip Morris International's unit sales
were up 10.6% to 171 billion units.
The U.S. brewing industry increased its
sales in 1976 for the 19th consecutive year
with estimated shipments of 150.5 million
barrels, a gain of 1.3%. over 1975. Forthe
fourth straight year, Miller Brewing
considerably outperformed its industry,
with a gain of 43.1 % to 18.4 million barrels.
With 25% of the U.S, cigarette market,
5% of the international cigarette market,
and 12% of the U.S. beer market, Philip
Morris has ample opportunity for growth in
its two primary industries.
The company is now increasingly
realizing the benefits of its major capital
expenditure program for the modernization
and expansion of its facilities begun in 1971.
Capital expend.itures were $220 million in
1976, and they are projected to exceed $1 .25
billion forthe 1977-1981 period - about
one-half of which will be for our U.S. beer
operations and the rest for our U.S. and
international cigarette operations. By the
end of this decade, we expect 90% of our
greatly enlarged fixed asset base to be less
than ten years old.
Philip Morris paid dividends on its
common stock last yearforthe 49th
consecutive year: In August, 1976, the Board
of Directors authorized a 30% increase in
the annual dividend rate, marking the ninth
straight year the dividend has been raised.
The Public Interest
Philip Morris recognizes that the
responsible role a corporation plays in the
lives of its employees, its stockholders, the
people in its plant communities, and the
citizens of the countries where it operates
is increasingly a matter of corporate
concern.
As a responsible corporation, we are
acutely aware of our overriding obligation
to abide by the law and refrain from
questionable practices, including so-called
improper payments.
An explicit policy statement reaffirming
the corporation's commitment to these
principles was issued to our worldwide
organization early in 1976. Further, all key
management has been asked to sign a
letter of understanding and compliance with
corporate policy. At the same time, we have
strengthened our audit and control
procedures.
In a related move, the company with the
concurrence and involvement of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors,
composed of non-management directors,
conducted a special audit of its worldwide
activities and those of its subsidiaries
for the period from January 1, 1971, to
March 31, 1976, The results of this
investigation were reported to the Philip
Morris Board of Directors and in a Form 8-K
to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

,
No evidence was found of unlawful political
contributions in the United States or any
other country. Certain questionable
payments were reported.
With regard to our responsibility to
employees, we have continued to make
progress in the employment and upgrading
of minorities and women, At year-end, about
25% of our U.S. employees were members
of minority groups, and 28% were women.
Members of minority groups occupied 11 %
of our managerial, professional, and
technician-level positions, and women held
16% of such positions.
Our international affiliates continued
their successful programs to train nationals
and promote them into management
positions, while further developing the skills
of hourly workers.
About one-half of our corporate
contributions in the U.S. involved support of
education. Included were major grants to
private, independent colleges and an
increasing number of college and vocational
scholarships for children of our employees.
We also continued our support of a
scholarship program for men and women
who want to upgrade their positions or
reenter the work force.
Overseas, contributions are granted to
meet specific needs and opportunities.
Philip Morris International's commitments,
for example, include basic health care,
community development, education, and
cultural programs.
Philip Morris is recognized around the
world as a leading corporate patron of the
arts. We supported the widely heralded visit
of Italy's famous La Scala opera company
to the U.S. in connection with the
Bicentennial. A major art exhibition entitled
"Frontier America: The Far West" has
been presented in Europe'an museums,
following its tour of the U,S. Two other major
exhibitions, "Rememberthe Ladies," which
included arts and crafts related to American
women of the Revolutionary era, and "Two
Centuries of,Black American Art" opened to
critical acclaim. Both continue to tour the
U,S. this year.
Philip Morris U.S.A.
Operating revenues and operating income
for Philip Morris U.S.A. reached record
levels with increases of 14,0% and 19.0%,
respectively.
Philip Morris U.S.A. recorded the
industry's largest gain in unit sales, as it has
every year since 1966. Our share of the U.S:
market rose to 25.1 % from 23.6% in 1975.
Marlboro extended its lead as the number
one selling brand in the U.S. Continued
growth was recorded by Benson & Hedges
100's as the top 100mm brand and by
Virginia Slims as the leading brand
designed for women.
In 1976, significant changes in the
industry occurred in the low-tar segment,
now the fastest growing portion of the
market. We have been well represented in
this segment with Marlboro Lights and
Parliament, but market research indicated
that an increasing number of smokers would
be interested in an even lower tar cigarette,
if the taste were satisfying.
Twelve years of scientific research
enabled Philip Morris to score a timely
breakthrough, which we call 'Enriched
Flavor.' It is the result of a process for
introducing more natural flavor into a
cigarette while reducing its tar and nicotine
delivery. This technology was applied in a
new cigarette, Merit, which was introduced
nationally in January, 1976.
Merit quickly proved to be one of the most
successful new cigarette brands in the
history of the industry, selling 8.5 billion
units and capturing 1.4% of the market in
its first year. Early in 1977, Merit 100's were
introduced to further establish our position
in the low-tar segment.
The capacity and efficiency of our
Operations Center in Richmond, Virginia,
have been essential to the simultaneous
introduction of new brands and the growth
of our established brands. The facility is now
producing cigarettes at an annual rate of
100 billion units, approximately two-thirds
of its planned production capacity.

6
Philip Morris International
New records in operating revenues, up
4.2%, and operating income, up 15.2%,
were achieved by Philip Morris International.
Operating revenues were affected by
adverse currency movements and the
deconsolidation of a foreign subsidiary.
Our share of the world cigarette market
outside of the U.S. increased to 5.1 % from
4.8% in 1975.
Philip Morris International sells more than
175 brands in more than 160 countries and
territories, through 25 manufacturing and
marketing affiliates, 18 licensees, and
regional export sales organizations.
In more than 20 countries, Philip Morris
holds a market share of at least 15%, and
the share is substantially higher in more
than one-half of these countries. Marlboro is
the preeminent brand fulfilling the growing
worldwide demand for American-type
blended cigarettes and accounting for more
than one-third of our international volume.
However, about 60% of our sales are
accounted for by regional and national
brands.
Philip Morris Europe/Middle East/Africa,
our largest international region, again
increased its unit volume and market share
with particularly strong progress being
made in West Germany, where Marlboro is
one of the fastest growing brands. In
Switzerland, where Marlboro, Brunette, and
Muratti Ambassador are our leading brands,
the success of Flint, a new low-tar and low-
nicotine brand, helped us achieve a higher
market share than in 1975. We maintained
our traditionally strong sales position in Italy
and showed encouraging sales growth in
the large United Kingdom market, though
our market share is quite small.
The Australia/New Zealand region also
increased its unit sales and market share,
and Philip Morris (Atrsfralia) Limited further
strengthened its market leadership.
Lindeman (Holdings) Limited increased
sales volume and maintained its position as
the leading wine company in Australia.
In the Asia/Canada region, Benson &
Hedges (Canada) Limited increased its unit
sales, although government profit controls
reduced income. In Canada, sales of
Viscount, a high-filtration, low-tar and low-
nicotine cigarette, doubled, and Viscount
became one of our leading brands along
with Benson & Hedges 100's, Belvedere,
and Mark Ten. In Asia, sales gains were
achieved by our affiliates in Pakistan, India,
and Indonesia. Sales of our licensee in the
Philippines were depressed, following
discrim~ato_c~taxin~of~~,t~~ian~Lbrands.~~
The Latin America/Iberia region again
achieved record unit volume and market ~
share. Our Venezuelan affiliate maintained ~
a substantial market share with the addition j
,
of Astor Super Suave to the Astor line. As we ~
have previously stated, we continue to incur j
significant losses in Brazil, while building ~
our business. We maintain our confidence ~
in the long-term profit potential of our j
Brazilian operations. The Fortuna brand, ~
produced under contract for the Spanish
monopoly by our Canary Islands affiliate,
V_registered stroncLC~mw+h
Our international operations illustrate the
importance of maintaining the present
policy on U.S. taxation on foreign-source
income. According to the latest figures of
the U.S. Department of Commerce, the net
cash inflow from the international operations
of U.S. multinational corporations is
estimated to be over$12 billion in 1976. This
income, which makes a major contribution
to the U.S. balance of payments, would be
jeopardized if credit against U.S. taxes for
taxes paid to foreign governments were
reduced or eliminated or if U.S. taxes were
made payable when the overseas income is
earned, rather than when it is brought back
to the U.S. Proposals regarding both tax
credits and tax deferrals have received
serious consideration in the past year. We
believe these proposals would in some
cases eliminate and in other instances
materially reduce the overseas
competitiveness of American companies,
and they would therefore endanger 0
0
export-related jobs in the U
S 0
.
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7
During the past 20 years, our international
operations have generated a fivefold
increase in export-related jobs for Philip
Morris employees in the U.S., a more than
fivefold increase in exports of cigarettes
from the U.S., and a more than 25-fold
increase in exports of U.S,-grown tobacco.
It has been our policy to conduct our
international operations in conformity with
the economic and social objectives of the
countries in which we do business. We have
a long record of positive contributions to
economic and social progress in countries
where we are active.
We therefore concur with the initiative of
the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development in the adoption last year
of a Declaration of International Investment
and Multinational Enterprises.
This Declaration, which recognizes the
positive contributions of multinational
companies, recommends responsible
standards of behavior both for host
governments and multinational enterprises,
including voluntary business guidelines. We
believe that Philip Morris's international
operating policies are generally consistent
with these guidelines.
Miller Brewing Company
In 1976, Miller Brewing Company continued
the resurgence begun in 1973. Operating
revenues increased 49.3%, and operating
income of $76.1 million almost tripled.
Miller's gain of 5.5 million barrels over 1975
volume was not only the largest one-year
barrelage increase ever in the U.S. brewing
industry but also largerthan Miller's total
barrel volume in 1971, our first year of 100%
ownership. Miller moved into third place in
the U.S. industry, and its market share rose to
about 12.2% from 8.6% in 1975.
Miller High Life, our major premium brand,
continued its rapid growth. Increased sales of
Lite, our low-calorie brand, made it an
emerging leader in the industry, despite
heavily promoted introductions of competitive
products:
During the year, demand for Miller's
products exceeded the company's
production capacity, requiring allocation.
Miller's capital expansion program was
accelerated during the year to meet current
demand and to anticipate future needs.
In April, before our new Fulton, New York,
brewery began initial production, Miller
started construction there to expand its
capacity from 4 million to 8 million barrels a
year. Shipments from Fulton began in June.
Also in June, Miller broke ground for.a
new mid-Atlantic brewery in Eden, North
Carolina, which is scheduled to come
on-stream in 1978 with an initial capacity of
3 million barrels a year.
Our Milwaukee brewery with its annual
capacity of over 9 million barrels is the
largest in Wisconsin, and our Fort Worth
brewery with its yearly capacity of over 6
million barrels is now the largest in Texas.
By the end of 1977, Miller will have
approximately 25 million barrels of annual
production capacity or about 16.5% of U.S.
industry volume. The vast majority of this
capacity will use the most technologically
advanced equipment available.
During 1976, aluminum can manufacturing
plants atFulton and Fort Worth began production.
Our Milwaukee can plant began operations in
1975. Miller's three can making facilities, which
produce a portion of the company's container
requirements, will result in substantial savings.
Capital has been appropriated for Miller's first
glass bottle making plant.
Since 1973, we have invested about $385
million on brewery expansion and
modernization, and we plan to spend
substantially more over the next five years.
a
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8
Ph((ip Morris (nclustrial
For Philip Morris Industrial, this past year
was one of recovery from the recession in
the U.S. economy of 1975. Operating
revenues increased 11.3%, and operating
income rose 31.9%,
The Paper, Packaging, and Chemical
Groups of Industrial each operated profitably
and registered increased revenues over
1975. The Paper Group, which produces
specialty and technical papers, reported
record levels of revenues and outperformed
the paper industry in general. The Packaging
Group, primarily in sophisticated flexible
packaging materials, also reported a record
sales level although profitabilitywas affected
by the packaging industry's slower recovery
from the recession. Income more than
doubled over 1975 for the Chemical Group,
which makes specialty chemicals for the
textile and packaging industries. However,
its results were hindered by the continuing
soft market conditions in the textile industry,
especially in the printed fabric segment of
the market.
Early in 1977, our company acquired
Wisconsin Tissue Mills, a small but
profitable company in the premium segment
of the disposable paper napkin industry.
This company fits well into the framework
of Philip Morris Industrial's specialty paper
operations and could provide an important
boost to Industrial's profits.
Mission Viejo Company
In 1976, Mission Viejo Company achieved
by far the best year in its history. Operating
revenues were up 34.2% over 1975, and
operating income nearly tripled and
amounted to 17.2% of revenues for one of
the highest levels of profitability in the
industry. The record levels reached in
revenues and income marked the
emergence of Mission Viejo as a leader in
the U.S. homebuilding industry.
The strong performance of Mission Viejo
is directly related to the company's excellent
location in Orange County, Southern
California. In this area of the country,
housing sales have rebounded to pre-1 974
levels, although the nation as a whole failed
to experience the hoped-for housing
recovery.
A long-awaited facility-the Mission
Viejo regional shopping center- moved
closer to reality with the start of construction
planned for early in 1977.
Looking toward increasing participation
in the growing Orange County housing
market, Mission Viejo Company acquired
the 6,700-acre Moulton Ranch, located two
miles west of Mission Viejo. A three-year
period of careful planning in cooperation
with citizen groups and various
jurisdictional authorities has now begun to
set the stage for future housing sales at the
Moulton Ranch site.
Development is continuing in Denver.
The company is no longer actively involved
in Fresno.
Cigarette Taxes
In 1976, total U.S. cigarette excise tax
revenues increased 5.8% to $6.0 billion, of
which $2.4 billion was federal; $3.5 billion,
state; and $0.1 billion, municipal. These
excise taxes accounted for about 41 % of
the average retail price of a pack of
cigarettes on a national basis.
Despite the excessive tax burden
placed on the consumers of cigarettes,
pressure to increase these excise taxes has
continued. Although cigarette tax increase
proposals were defeated in 24 states in
1976, there is still little acknowledgement of
the regressive nature of excise taxes which
places a disproportionate burden on lower
income consumers.

In states with the higher rates, however,
there is increasing recognition of the need
for a reduction in cigarette taxes.
Bootlegging activities, which are
encouraged by the tax disparities among the
states, tend to make the taxes
counterproductive and place the legitimate
distributor of tobacco products in
competition with organized crime.
Smoking and Health
It has been 13 years since the Surgeon
General issued the report alleging a
statistical relationship between smoking
and health. Since then, intensive research
has failed to establish clinical evidence that
cigarettes cause the diseases forwhich they
have been blamed. Moreover, leading
epidemiologists continue to question the
integrity of the statistics and the conclusions
drawn from them.
In the meantime, research has been
considerably broadened into such areas as
viruses, immunological response, genetic
disposition, and environmental factors.
Anti-cigarette groups have largely
redirected their efforts and now concentrate
on attempts to ban smoking in public places.
Among the independent researchers into
the question of the effect of cigarette smoke
on non-smokers, none has found it to be
hazardous to health.
This led the New England Journal of
Medicine to conclude, in an editorial, that
the issue arises from psychological factors
among those who object to smoking in
public.
We believe that legislation concerning
smoking in public places infringes on the
rights of smokers and has resulted in unfair
discrimination toward the hundreds of
millions around the world who enjoy
smoking.
-
Philip Morris and the tobacco industry
continue their substantial support of
independent medical research. The
industry's commitment to the funding of
fundamental research programs through the
Council for Tobacco Research-U.S.A. and
other institutions has totaled more than
$60 million since 1954.
T. Newman Lawler retired as an elected
Director last year after 17 years of service
on our Board of Directors. We are deeply
indebted to him for his many contributions,
The company is fortunate to have the
continuing benefit of his counsel as a
Director Emeritus and as an active
participant in Board meetings.
During 1976, two new members were
elected to the Philip Morris Board of
Directors - Robert E. R. Huntley, president
of Washington and Lee University, and
Thomas F. Ahrensfeld, senior vice
president and general counsel of Philip
Morris Incorporated.
To our 51,000 employees around the
world, we extend our gratitude for their
dedication and contributions to our
success. We also thank our 28,000
stockholders for their support during the
year.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the
Board of Directors,
Joseph F. Cullman 3rd
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
George Weissman
Vice Chairman of the Board
Ross R. Millhiser
President
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