RJ Reynolds
the American Tobacco Company Annual Report - Year 1958 (580000).
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- CORPORATE
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- Marginalia
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- American
- Box
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- Date Loaded
- 27 Feb 1998
- Request
- Kueper
- 1int3
- 1rfp37
- 1rfp39
- 4rfp9
- Minnesota
- 1rfp41
- Rogers
- 1rfp1
- 1int3
- Named Person
- Hanlon, J.W.
- List, O.F. Directors & Officers
- Lybrand Ross Bros & Montgomery
- Sparrow, J.B.
- American Suppliers
- Gilbert, L.D.
- Gilbert, J.J.
- Henry, J.C.
- Philip, G. Cameron
- Little, C.C.
- Va Academy, O.F. Science
- Hutchings, J.R. Jr
- Guaranty Trust, C.O. Of, N.Y.
- City Bank Farmers Trust
- Reynolds, R.J.
- American
- Lorillard
- Rjr
- Ti
- Tirc
- List, O.F. Directors & Officers
- Brand
- Hit Parade
- Lucky Strike
- Pall Mall
- Tareyton
- American Brands
- Lucky Strike
- UCSF Legacy ID
- ziz79d00
Document Images
Sates
1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956' 195)' 1958'
includes ell wAolqowned suDsidi.ries
0
Havana line.
activated charcoal, which has been scientifically proved to make cigarette
smoke exceptionally mild. This unique filter tip enables DuAL FILTER
TAREYTON to offer the smoker not only high filtration of smoke solids 'but
high filtration of smoke vapors as well, thus delivering a-mild and truly
"balanced" smoke.
The Company's filter cigarette volume during the last half of 1958 was
substantially higher. than in the first half. Additional measures to increase
our filter cigarette volume are now in preparation.
Export (tax-free) cigarette sales were lower in 1958 than in 1957,
the major factor being reduced requirements for tobacco products by ,
Armed Forces installations overseas.
Unit sales of cigarettes manufactured by J. Wix & Sons Limited, the
Company's English subsidiary, were higher in 1958 than in 1957.
Unit sales of the Company's cigars increased during 1958. In the
domestic cigar field, EL Roi-TAN increased in volume and strengthened its
position as America's largest-selling 10¢ cigar. A new Rol-TAN Cigarillo
retailing at 5y was introduced early in 1958 and is now av,ailable nationally;
during its first year the Roi-TAN Cigarillo -showed very satisfactory unit
sales volume. Combined unit sales of your Company's clear Havana cigars
increased. These brands, which include LA CORONA, ANTONIO y CLEOPATRA
and BOCK y CA, continue to comprise the largest-selling Bonded Clear
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4
Your Company's smoking tobacco brands-including HALF AND HALF
and "BULL" DURHAM-increased their sales volume during 1958.
In view of the fact that industry and Company sales of plug -chewing
tobacco have been declining steadily for a number of years, your Manage-
ment in March 1958 sold the eleven plug tobacco brands formerly manu-
factured in Louisville. In 1957 these brands had accounted for less than
one-fiftieth of 1% of the Company's total sales revenue, this volume being
too small to yield a profit. The plant facility at Louisville formerly used for
plug manufacture will be available for use in our cigarette operations.
A thorough study of the Company's cigarette, cigar and smoking
tobacco packaging has been undertaken. Improvements made in 1958 in-
clude a pouch-in-box packing for HALF AND HALF Smoking Tobacco, a com-
pletely new package design for DUAL FiLTLR TAREYTON Cigarettes and new
packirigs for LA CORONA Cigars. This packaging review is continuing.
EARNINGS
Another new record for earnings-the fourth in a row-was estab-
lished by your Company in 1958, as net income increased to $58,845,844
compared with $57,094,650 in 1957.*
The extent of the gain in earnings was diminished by the heavy promo-
tional costs incident to the introduction of a new and highly effective filter
on our HIT PARADE brand and by the marketing of the new DUAL FILTER
TAREYTON Cigarette.
Net income per Common share in 1958 amounted to $8.55 compared
with $8.28 in 1957.
DISPOSITION OF EARNINGS
.
For the 54th consecutive year, 'dividends were paid on the Common
stock. The total during 1958 amounted to $5.00 per share, consisting of
four regular quarterly dividends of $1.00 each and an extra dividend of
$1.00.
The 214th dividend on the Common stock was declared on January 27,
1959, and is payable on March 2, 1959, to stockholders of record February
10, 1959. This payment includes a regular dividend of $1.00 per share and
an extra dividend of $1.00 per share, making a total dividend of $2.00 per
share to be paid on the Common stock on March 2, 1959.
The total amount of dividends paid in 1958 on both. Common and
Preferred stock was $35,729,596, the same as in 1957. Earnings retained
for use in the business totaled $23,116,248 as against $21,365,054 in 1957.
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FINANCES
Includes all whollyowned subsidia,ief
Cash on hand and in banks at December 31, 1958, was $20,284,075
compared with $22,971,526 at the end of 1957. Notes Payable at Decem-
ber 31, 1958, were $66,000,000 compared with $92,350,000 at the end of
1957: Average Notes Payable during 1958 was $70,800,000, considerably
below the figure of $105,600,000 for 1957.
The combination of lower Notes Payable and more favorable interest
rates than in 1957 resulted in a significant reduction in the Company's
interest costs. Total interest on Notes Payable in 1958 was about $2,000,000
lower than in 1957.
Long-term debt was $13,928,000 lower at the end of 1958 compared
with the previous year, as a result of retirement of debentures through oper-
ation of the Sinking Funds. This reduction, together with the addition of
$23,116,248 of retained earnings to net worth, produced a further improve-
ment in the ratio of funded debt to net worth. Thus, funded debt was 34%
of net worth at the end of 1958 compared with 88% ten years ago.
In the absence of unusual developments, your Management does not
anticipate any need for new financing in the foreseeable future.
TAXES
Federal and other taxes on income amounted to $65,762,000 in 1958
compared with $61,510,000 in 1957. Taxes on income in 1958 amounted
6

~ .s.a .
. S
to $10.10 per Common share compared with net income of $8.55 per share.
Excise taxes on your Company's products totaled $465,779,000 in 1958.
As previously reported to stockholders, the method of liayment of these
excise taxes imposes an unfair financial burden on the industry, and it had
been hoped that the return and deferred payment system authorized by
the Revenue Code of 1954 would provide partial relief. However, neither
the Treasury Department nor Congress has taken any further action to
put into effect this more equitable system of payment for cigarette and
4 smoking tobacco excise taxes.
.
In addition to the income taxes and excise taxes mentioned above,
social security and other taxes amounted to $42,389,000. Including these
amounts, your Company's total tax bill amounted to $573,930,000 for the
year 1958.
. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
The program of maintaining plant and equipment at maximum effi-
ciency was continued during the year 1958. Capital expenditures were
about the same as in the previous year, totaling $10,413,000, compared with
$10,829,000 in 1957. Major expenditures were made for the purchase of
modern machinery and equipment in both cigarette and cigar plants in
order to achieve maximum production efficiency and greater control of
quality.
Net Inco me, Divlde ds an d Income Reinvest
~
Millions oi Dollars
-- 60
-
--
--
--
- I I ~
~ ~ ~ ~
50
NET INCOME
.. i i J
- 45
--- ~ I ~ ~
INCOME 40
,
I +
REINVESTED r-
ed
1 1 ~_
-- 1 ~-~~
--- -- ,
PREFERRED AND
~ COMMON. DIVIDENDS ~- - ~ ~-,
!
~
5949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958
N- -
ledudes atl whotlypwned subsld:a.ks . .
7

~
j
Net Worth Compared with Long-Term Debt
MdLon.Of OWI.r. I q
500
l
© NET WORTH
LONG-TERM DEBT
400
'300
200
100
0
-Inctudes all wAolly.owned suDsld7.ries
Net land, buildings, machinery, etc., increased from $58,154,475 at the
end of 1957 to $62,639,794 at the end of 1958. Depreciation charged to cost
and expense in 1958 amounted to $4,737,116. '
1
1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956' 1957e 1958'
LEAF TOBACCO
Production of leaf tobacco in the U. S. last year was 5% above the
previous year's level. As usual, your Company's purchases on the auction
markets were confined to the better grades, in line with our long-established
policy of manufacturing products of the highest quality.
The 1958 crop of flue-cured tobacco was about 10% greater than that
produced in 1957. With the sale of- flue-cured tobacco on all markets having
been completed before the end of the year, the average selling price for the
entire 1958 crop was 57.7~ per pound, which represents a 5% increase
over the previous year and establishes a new record. The price support
level for the 1958 crop was 54.6¢ per pound.
The 1958 Burley crop production was a little smaller than the previous
year. Approximately 80% of the 1958 crop of Burley tobacco had been
sold on the auction markets by the end of 1958. Average market prices
through the end of the year for the crop were 8% higher than the com-
parable period in 1957, averaging 66.5¢ per: pound compared with a price
support level of 55.4¢ per pound. For many years the buying, storing and processing of the
Company's do-
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mestic leaf tobacco requirements have been handled by a wholly-owned sub-
sidiary known as American Suppliers, Incorporated. This organization has
been responsible for maintaining the high standards in leaf tobacco which
have made your Company's products famous and a byword for quality. ~
In order to eliminate certain duplications inherent in a separate cor-
porate structure and to effect greater convenience and efficiency in opera-
tion, this subsidiary was merged with The American Tobacco Company as
of December 31, 1958. However, the American Suppliers organization will
be kept intact as a separate operating Division of The American Tobacco
Company, thus insuring a continuation of the capable work performed by
this group.
Since the operating results of American Suppliers, Incorporated, have
always been consolidated in the report of the Company, the merger will
not have any significant effect upon the operating results of The American
Tobacco Company.
ADVERTISING AND SALES PROMOTION
Maximum competitive effectiveness at minimum cost is the object of
the Company's advertising on behalf of its major brands. Similarly, our
Sales Organization concentrates its efforts in the more heavily populated
areas and in the larger-volume outlets where sales potential is greatest.
During 1958, two of our newspaper advertising campaigns were
awarded citations for effectiveness: the PALL MALL campaign, "Get Satis-
fying Flavor-So Friendly to Your Taste," and the LucKY STtiiKE cam-
paign, "Get the_Honest Taste of a LvcxY STRIKE."
Advertising is conducted via magazines, newspapers, radio, television,
car cards, billboards and other media. Sales messages in national media are
supplemented by local advertising in key markets. Our Sales Organization
reinforces the advertising effort at the point of sale by supplying mer-
chandising aids to retail outlets, by direct sampling of consumers in-the
field, and by securing wide distribution for our brands.
SMOKING AND HEALTH
Although public pronouncements by anti-c.igarette theorists continued,
the theory itself has not been substantiated. On the contrary, recent research
has yielded negative evidence with respect to anti-cigarette charges.
In his 1958 Report, Dr. Clarence Cook Little, Scientific Director of the Tobacco Industry Research
Committee, notes in substance that:
1. All animal experiments involving direct inhalation 'of tobacco
smoke have failed to produce bronchogenic cancer, and even tobacco
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smoke condensates in heavy dosages introduced into animals' res-
piratory systems have failed to do so.
2. Evidence of the importance of factors of a different nature as
possibly relevant to the study of causation of constitutional disease
has greatly increased.
3. An examination of the reported statistical association between
cigarette smoking and lung cancer reveals two facts clearly. First:
Non-smokers develop the ailment. Second: The overwhelming
majority of smokers do not.
Your Company, along with other manufacturers, leaf growers, dealers,
warehQusemen and cooperatives, continues to support the research program
of the Tobacco Industry Research Committee, now in its sixth year. All-
grants are made upon recommendation of an Advisory Board of independent
scientists, doctors and educators; recipients of grants are assured complete
scientific freedom in conducting their investigations and reporting their
results.
The Company's own research on the composition of tobacco and tobacco
smoke, now in its thirty-eighth year, continuess in our Richmond Laboratory.
In 1958 our Research Laboratory became the first industrial research lab-
oratory to receive the Distinguished Service Award of the Virginia Academy
of Science, and was cited as "International Leader in Tobacco Research,
Befriender of Science in Community Affairs, and Outstanding Contributor
to the Advancement of Science in America."
Last year your Company and thirteen other tobacco manufacturers ,
formed The Tobacco Institute, Inc., with headquarters in Washington, D. C.
The Tobacco Institute works to create a better public knowledge and under-
standing of tobacco and the tobacco industry.
PERSONNEL
The Directors record their deep sense of loss at the passing, on June 21,
1958, of Mr. John Richard Hutchings, Jr. As President of the Company's
domestic leaf-buying organization, Mr. Hutchings bore a major share of the
responsibility for maintaining the high quality of leaf used in the Com-
pany's products. Even more important than his personal devotion to this
task was his great capacity for communicating to those under him his
.
.
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feeling for tobacco quality and his loyalty to the Company and its opera-
tions. Mr. Hutchings had served the Company for 42 years.
.STOCKHOLDERS' ANNUAL MEE7ING
. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Wednesday,
April 1, 1959. Formal notice of this meeting, together with the proxy and
.~ proxy statement, is enclosed with this report.
In keeping with the trend in modern corporate procedure the new form
of punch-card proxy, which is enclosed, has been adopted.
Before closing this letter I should like to acknowledge the many letters
relating to the Company's affairs which I have received from stockholders
during the past year. Particularly gratifying are those which express a
sincere loyalty to the Company's products and an active interest in the
promotion of the Company's various brands.
I should like to express the appreciation of your Board of Directors
for the cooperation of our customers and the loyal service of our employees
which have helped to make the year's results possible.
PAUL M. HAHN
President

The Comp(my received for goods it sold and fiom
dividerrds, interest (IJ2d ))21SCelI(I1Zeolls .. . . .

Consolidated Statements of Income
and, Retained Earnings FOR YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
Net Sales . . . . . . . . .
. .. . . .
Cost of sales, selling, general and administrative
expenses . . . . . . . . . . . ,
Operating Profit .
Other income . . .
1958
$1,103,023,397
969,662,731
133,360,666
769,918
134,130,584
Interest and related charges . . . . . . . ' .
Other deductions from income . . . . . . .
Tota l deductions . . . . . . .
Income, before taxes on income . . . . . ..'. .
Federal and other taxes on income ......
Net Income . .
Retained earnings, beginning of year_ ......
8,005,598
1,517,142
9,522,740
124,607,844
65,762,000
58,845,844
204,178,185
263,024,029
Cash Dividends:
Common stock, $5 per share .
Preferred stock, $6 per share .
Total dividends . . . .
Retained earnings, end of year (Note 2) .
32,562,610 "
3,166,986
35,729,596
$ 227,294,433
1957
$1,098,092,746
969,805,141
128,287,605
897,225
129,184,830
9,980,877
599,303
10, 580,180
118,604,650
61,510,000
57,094,650
182,813,131
239,907,781 1 1/
32,562,610 ~
3,166,986
35,729,596
$ 204,178,185
Depreciation provided and charged to costs and
expenses amounted to $4,737,116 in 1958 and
$4,194,785 in 1957.
