Tobacco Institute
Liggett & Myers Incorporated Annual Report 1969
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Annotations
- 1. Liggett Myers Author
- Affiliation:
Liggett Myers
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Cigarette and Tobacco Division
Domestic Cigarettes
In 1969, domestic cigarette consumption
declined about 2 per cent from the
1968 level, chiefly as a result of the
imposition of higher state and local
cigarette taxes and the unprecedented
anti-cigarette publicity. According to the
United States Department of Agriculture,
additional price increases, continuing
adverse smoking and health publicity
and slower economic growth could
cause further industry declines.
Many of the most eminent men of
science and medicine have challenged
the health charges against cigarette
smoking. During Congressional hearings
in the spring and summer of 1969, as in
Congressional hearings in 1964 and
1965, the great preponderance of
scientific testimony supported the
industry's view that smoking has not
been established as a cause of any
disease. In addition, expert statisticians
attacked the validity of the statistical
foundation upon which the anti-tobacco
charges are based. One member of the
House Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee stated: "Whom do we
believe? Which way do we go? I wonder
if we should not have an investigation of
the investigators to try to find some facts
of our own." Although these viewpoints
have been given relatively little exposure
before the general public, the serious
doubts raised about conclusions drawn
by anti-smoking forces indicate a
greater need than ever for massive
scientific research before the truth can
be known. Hence, we will continue, as
we have in the past, to give financial
support to independent scientific
research as the only proper and effective
way to determine the truth with the hope
that this will resolve the smoking and
health controversy.
Higher retail cigarette prices due to
unreasonable and punitive state and
local taxes continued to be a major
industry problem in 1969. During the
year, 20 tax bills were passed in 19
states, and the tax increases averaged
approximately 45 per cent. North Caro-
lina, which had never before levied a
tax on cigarettes, became the 50th state
to impose such a tax. This action could
trigger further tax increases in other
states. The total state and local revenues
from cigarette excise taxes (about $2.4
billion) have increased to a level higher
than that from Federal cigarette excise
taxes, bringing the total direct cigarette
revenues to approximately $4.4 billion. If
there were no excise taxes on cigarettes,
the consumer would pay about half as
much as he now pays for his cigarettes.
These tax figures do not include income
and franchise taxes, state and local
sales taxes and other direct and
indirect taxes.
Filter cigarettes increased their
share of the total domestic market to
approximately 77 per cent. The 100
millimeter sizes increased their share to
about 16 per cent, and the menthol
varieties to almost 21 per cent.
For Liggett & Myers, total domestic
unit sales were lower, although 100
millimeter unit sales followed the upward
industry trend.
TIMN 445986

Contents
Highlights of Operations
1969 1968
Letter to Stockholders
Cigarette and Tobacco Division 2
Domestic Cigarettes 2
International Cigarettes 3
Smoking and Chewing Tobaccos 4
The Pinkerton Tobacco Company 4
Alcoholic Beverages 6
The Paddington Corporation 6
Carillon Importers Ltd. 6
Austin, Nichols & Co., Incorporated 6
Pet Foods 8
Allen Products Company, Inc. 8
Net sales $658,784,013 $617,240,028 Ready Foods Corp. 8
Income taxes
32,231,789
29,493,343 National Oats Company 10
Brite Industries, Inc. 10
Net earnings 24,898,167 24,066,287 Products and Company Locations 13
Net earnings, including minority interest, as a Operating Income 14
Five Years in Review
14
percentage of net sales 3.91% 4.03%
Net earnings applicable to common stock
$ 22,480,319
$ 21,519,421 Financial Review 15
Financial Statements
16
Net earnings per share of common stock 2.92 2.82 Officers and Directors 24
Net earnings per share of common stock-
assuming full dilution
2.87
2.78
Dividends per share of common stock 2.50 2.50
Current assets 348,891,187 343,319,057
Current liabilities 116,619,986 95,591,004
Ratio 3.0 to 1 3.6 to 1
Long-term debt $ 97,810,644 $ 84,018,998
Stockholders' equity
7% preferred stock
13,451,100
13,962,100
$5.25 convertible preference stock
(involuntary liquidation value)
25,313,600
29,895,600
Common stock
~ 281,546,720 274,245,936
Per share of common stock
~ 36.51 35.96
Number of stockholders 51,510 49,965
Number of employees 8,730 8,265
Stockholders' Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of stockholders will
be held on Tuesday, April 28, 1970, at the
Commodore Hotel, 42nd Street, between
Lexington and Park Avenues, New York
City, at 2:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time.
A formal notice of this meeting, together
with the proxy and proxy statement, will be
mailed to stockholders on March 27, 1970.
Stockholders who are unable to attend the
meeting are urged to sign their proxies and
return them promptly so that the stock of
the Corporation will be represented as fully
as possible at the meeting.
TIMN 445984

Annual Report 1969
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TIMN 445983

LiggettaMyers
To Our Stockholders:
The record sales and higher earnings
achieved by your company in 1969 were
primarily due to the continuation of our
aggressive diversification program
which made excellent progress during
the year.
Net sales increased to $658,784,013,
a gain of approximately 7 per cent over
the $617,240,028 recorded in 1968. Net
earnings increased to $24,898,167,
equivalent to $2.92 per share of common
stock, compared to $24,066,287, or
$2.82 per share, in the previous year.
As a result of our diversification
program our non-tobacco business for
the year increased to approximately
43 per cent of consolidated sales
compared to 36 per cent for the previous
year. Our improved performance reflects
higher sales and earnings in the pet
food and alcoholic beverage product
groups, where the results were
considerably better than the average in
those industries. Other favorable factors
were the inclusion for the first time of the
results of Ready Foods Corp. which was
acquired on January 29, 1969 and the
inclusion for the first full year of Brite
Industries, Inc. which was acquired
September 30, 1968. Our latest
acquisition, Liv-A-Snaps, Incorporated,
a small producer of nationally distributed
pet food treats, was completed on
December 1, 1969.
Pet foods and alcoholic beverages are
growth industries that are expected to
show good gains in the future.
According to the Pet Food Institute, pet
foods continued their impressive
increases in 1969, with American
consumers spending more than one
billion dollars for pet foods,
approximately three quarters of which
was for dog foods. Domestic
consumption of alcoholic beverages was
almost 6 per cent higher in 1969, and an
annual increase of from 5 to 6 per cent is
anticipated, based on growth of the
adult population.
Our substantial tobacco business,
both domestic and international, has
provided the resources essential to rapid
expansion into growth industries, so that
we now have a higher percentage of our
total business in non-tobacco products
than has any other major cigarette
manufacturer. A number of steps were
taken during 1969 to strengthen our
cigarette operations and to place us in a
more cbmpetitive sales position both at
home and abroad. A new Cigarette and
Tobacco Division was formed, and
Kenneth McAllister, an experienced
management executive with excellent
MILTON E. HARRINGTON
achievement records at several large
corporations, was named President of
the new Division. To assist him in our
expansion in the growing overseas
markets, Curt K. Brill, a senior executive
with a good background in international
marketing of consumer products, was
appointed President of the newly formed
International Cigarette and Tobacco
Division.
We intend to expand our worldwide
tobacco operations which we consider
fundamental to our total corporate
operations. We will also continue to
explore suitable prospects for further
diversification as such opportunities
arise and may be deemed advantageous
to the Corporation and in the best
interest of its shareholders.
Although there is uncertainty about the
present economic outlook, our outlook
for 1970 is good, and we feel confident
that the long-term prospects for your
company are excellent.
Your Board of Directors and
management join me in expressing their
appreciation to the shareholders for their
continued support of the company and
its products and to the employees whose
dedication and loyalty have contributed
substantially to our growth and progress.
Respectfully submitted,
Milton E. Harrington
President
_
~~:~~
March 5, 1970
TIMN 445985

Advertising for L&M, our leading
cigarette brand, was changed at
mid-year with a new campaign designed
to build a contemporary image for L&M
King, L&M Golden 100 and L&M
Menthol 100. The new L&M advertising
theme, "There is a cigarette for the two
of you ... L&M," represents a
new, fresh approach to cigarette
advertising.
CHESTERFIELD, our second largest-
selling cigarette brand, leveled its long-
term decline in the latter part of the year
as a result of its unique coupon plan
introduced during the year.
Available on all packs of CHESTER-
FIELD cigarettes (filters, menthol filters,
101 millimeter filters and king and
regular non-filters), the new Luxury
Merchandise Coupons are redeemable
in more ways than any other coupons:
for luxury merchandise, for cash (375
coupons equal $2.80), for redemption
in combination with trading stamps (one
coupon equals four stamps) and
together with cash for "speed redemp-
tion" for luxury merchandise.
The exclusive features of LARK's
Gas-Trap (TM) filter continued to be the
focal point of advertising for our third
largest-selling cigarette brand. LARK's
new advertising theme, "Tell someone
you like about LARK's Gas-Trap (TM)
filter ... he may do something nice for
you," appeared in full page, full color
ads in leading consumer publications.
LARK's 3-piece filter, protected by
U.S. Patent No. 3,251,365, consists of
two conventional outer filters and a
separate inner chamber that contains
activated, specially fortified charcoal
granules. The activated charcoal
granules trap certain harsh gases more
effectively than do other popular brands.
The two outer filters reduce "tar" and
nicotine the same way conventional
filters do.
International Cigarettes
Per capita consumption of cigarettes
in foreign countries is still substantially
below the rate in the United States, so
that the greatest potential for additional
cigarette sales is in these overseas
markets.
To meet the continuing worldwide
demand for American-type cigarettes,
Liggett & Myers exports its principal
brands to more than 100 countries and
holds equity positions in foreign cigarette
manufacturing companies and main-
tains licensing agreements for the
production and distribution of Liggett &
Myers brands in a number of foreign
countries.
The trend from non-filters to filters
continues in international markets, and
our principal filter brands, including
their 100 millimeter versions, are gaining
an increasing share of our export sales,
although non-filter CHESTERFIELD is
still a major export brand.
Sales of our cigarette brands
manufactured and marketed abroad in
1969 were substantially greater than in
the previous year. Royalties from sales
of our cigarette brands manufactured in
foreign countries continue to make an
important contribution to earnings.
Steps were taken during the year to
develop further our tobacco business
in important world trading groups such
as the European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) countries. L&M Filter and
CHESTERFIELD King, Regular and Filter,
manufactured in Switzerland, were
introduced in Sweden to take advantage
of the lower tariffs that exist within the
EFTA area. Within the EEC (European
Economic Community) area, L&M and
CHESTERFIELD cigarettes manufactured
in West Germany are now distributed
in France.
Liggett & Myers brands are manufac-
tured in Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica,
Holland, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines,
Switzerland and West Germany. In May,
1969, CHESTERFIELD Filter and Menthol
were introduced in Argentina, where
L&M Filter has shown recent rapid
growth.
TIMN 445987
3

Liggett & Myers has equity positions
in cigarette manufacturing companies
in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru,
Switzerland and West Germany. In
Brazil, Switzerland and West Germany,
where we have majority equity positions,
we incurred losses in 1969 from
substantial reorganization and start-up
costs. These expenditures should place
us in a better growth position in these
countries.
Smoking and Chewing Tobaccos
Although 1969 domestic consumption of
smoking tobaccos declined about
3 per cent to 67.5 million pounds,
Liggett & Myers'smoking tobacco sales
increased during the year. Sales of our
plug and twist chewing tobaccos
followed the downward trend of the
industry.
In March, 1969, the Smoking and
Chewing Tobacco Division, headquar-
tered in St. Louis, introduced in test
markets STERLING BLEND pipe
tobacco, a mild, flavorful mixture of white
burley and Virginia bright leaf tobaccos.
Distribution was expanded to regional
markets later in the year.
In mid-1969, two new blends, Light
Aromatic and Aromatic, developed as
companions to MASTERPIECE regular,
were introduced to meet pipe smokers'
demand for a wide variety of flavors in
premium smoking tobaccos. To ensure
freshness of the pocket sizes of
MASTERPIECE, a new cellophane
overwrap was introduced.
The large and medium sizes of
GRANGER, VELVET and MASTERPIECE
are now packed in the new Easy Open
Vacuum Tin with a plastic lid to reseal
freshness once the tin has been
opened. This new packaging gives our
principal pipe tobacco brands indefinite
shelf life and assures freshness.
Improved graphics on the new tins
provide better identification and greater
package appeal. Among various con-
sumer promotions for GRANGER and
VELVET were in-pack and pack-on pipe
offers, a Barlow knife offer and special
holiday packaging.
The Pinkerton Tobacco Company
Sales and earnings rose to record highs
in 1969 for Pinkerton, a large loose-leaf
chewing tobacco producer, wholly
owned by Liggett & Myers.
The company's principal brands, RED
MAN, RED HORSE, PAY CAR and
UNION STANDARD, are sold in modern
foil pouches that give the products
indefinite shelf life and assure freshness
for the consumer. These pouches and
their attractive package designs have
won each of the brands greater
consumer acceptance throughout the
country and are a significant factor in the
substantial sales gains.
In the fall of 1969, a new warehouse
was added to the Liggett & Myers Leaf
Department facilities located in Indus-
trial Park in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where
tobaccos for the Pinkerton brands are
processed.
L&M, Chesterfield and Lark ... popular cigarettes throughout the world.
4 TIMN 445988

~.
,

Alcoholic Beverages
The Paddington Corporation
Sales and earnings by The Paddington
Corporation, exclusive United States
importer of J&B Rare Scotch Whisky,
again set new records in 1969. These
increases were achieved despite the
fact that sales were adversely affected
by excess buying in anticipation of the
dock strike late in the previous year.
During 1969, total domestic sales of
Scotch whiskies registered substantial
increases over sales in 1968, and
according to an independent report
published in a leading trade magazine,
J&B not only maintained but improved its
position as the country's largest-selling
Scotch.
Effective advertising and sales pro-
motion programs for J&B throughout the
year further enhanced the brand's
popularity. Special promotions for
Father's Day and the peak-demand,
year-end holidays were particularly
successful.
A newly designed bottle in the half-
gallon size was introduced, in states
where its sale is legal,in time for the
holiday season and was well received
by both retailers and consumers.
Carillon Importers Ltd.
Because of the American public's
growing interest in foreign cuisine and
beverages, the principal import brands
of Carillon Importers did especially well
during 1969, and both sales and
earnings rose to record levels.
Sales of GRAND MARNIER, Carillon's
leading brand, reached an all-time high,
and demand continues to grow for this
popular liqueur both as an after-dinner
drink and as a key ingredient in grand
cuisine. More consumers are being
introduced to GRAND MARNIER through
the successful cookbook created
especially for the brand, "The Spirit of
Grand' Cuisine," published by The
Macmillan Company in 1969.
CHERRY MARNIER, introduced
several years ago, has met with good
consumer acceptance, and the brand
again had increased sales during the
year.
Another of Carillon's principal brands,
BOMBAY English gin, registered
substantial sales increases in 1969.
Other Carillon products which had
increased sales in 1969 include THE
"ANTIQUARY" 12-Year-Old Scotch
whisky, GOLD LEAF French Cognac,
BOMBAY French Vermouth and
BARDINET NAPOLEON French Brandy.
Austin, Nichols & Co., Incorporated
Austin, Nichols & Co., Incorporated, a
leading importer, rectifier, bottler and
distributor of alcoholic beverages, had
record sales and earnings in 1969.
WILD TURKEY, a company-owned,
101-proof, 8-year-old bourbon;
METAXA, the imported Greek liqueur;
and CAMPARI, the imported Italian
aperitif, continued to show substantial
growth in sales.
GRANT'S 8-year-old, one of the more
popular Scotch whiskies in the United
States, is the company's principal
imported brand. Austin, Nichols
imports a unique brand of Scotch,
GLENFIDDICH, also produced by Wm.
Grant & Sons Ltd. Unblended Scotches
like GLENFIDDICH are setting a new
taste trend among connoisseurs of
Scotch whisky in Scotland, England and
on the Continent, where they are known
as "single malt" Scotches.
The company improved its position
as the leading American importer of
premium quality European wines, with
sales of these products registering a
gain of more than 40 per cent. Austin,
Nichols has exclusive distribution rights
in the United States for CHARLES
HEIDSIECK French Champagne and
CHAUVENET RED CAP sparkling and
still Burgundy wines. The company also
imports Chateau-bottled Bordeaux wines
and Estate-bottled German wines from
many of the world's finest vineyards.
Austin, Nichols distributes alcoholic
beverages in the New York City and
Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas.
The company's headquarters, rectifying
and bottling plant, and Custom and
Internal Revenue bonded warehouses
are located in Maspeth, Long Island.
TIMN 445990
J&B Rare ... the largest-selling Scotch whisky in Americ
6

iaatiUral Cats Company
Earnings were higher in 1969 and sales
were approximately the same as in 1968
for National Oats Compdny, a;-ducer
of packaged cereals, pop corn wd
animal and poultry feeds.
In October, 1969, three "great new_
flavors" (Prune Apple, Maple Date and
Cherry) were added to the INSTANT
CREAM OF OATS line and are being
introduced nationally on a market-by-
market basis.
To capitalize on the 3-MINUTE
trademark franchise in the southeastern
and southwestern states, 3-MINUTE
STIR 'N EAT OATMEAL in three varieties
(Maple Date, Apple Brown Sugar and
unflavored) was introduced in those
areas. Consumer reaction to the six new
cereal products was favorable, and
sales potential appears to be good.
Instant cereals now comprise more than
30 per cent of the total hot cereal market,
and oat cereal products are the
leader in this category.
The company has an aggressive
marketing program for its CORNO line
of animal and poultry feeds. CORNO
products made substantial gains in 1969.
The company extended its sales of oat
products to the food industry. Its share
of the ingredients market for ready-to-
eat cereals and bakery and other food
products was at a record high in 1969.
Bulk pop corn sales to the commercial
and concessionaire trades were higher.
Significant progress was made in
achieving greater operating efficiencies
at the cereal and pop corn processing
plants, These benefits have already been
partially realized and will have a favor-
able effect on operations in the future.
10
Brite Industries, Inc.
Brite Industries' first full year as a
Liggett & Myers subsidiary was marked
by record sales and earnings. Brite
continues to be the nation's leading
manufacturer of popular-priced watch
bands.
During 1969, watch bands moved into
the world of high fashion, and this
created consumer demand for
wide fashion watch straps in leathers
and fabrics. As a result, Brite
placed heavy emphasis on styling and
new product development and promoted
the concept of "watch strap wardrobes"
for the fashion-conscious youth market.
As one major part of this fashion-
oriented marketing program, Brite
obtained the exclusive license to pro-
duce watch straps under the "HUSH
PUPPIESI~" label, and successfully
launched a complete line of watch straps
under this nationally advertised brand
name.
To meet the increasing demand.for
watch straps, a new manufacturing
plant was opened in St. Petersburg,
Florida in July, 1969. The new plant
immediately doubled the company's
production capacity and is believed to
be the largest installation in the world
devoted exclusively to the manufacture
of leather watch straps. The original
plant in Providence, Rhode Island man-
ufactures a full line of leather, nylon
and metal watch bands.
During the year, separate sales
divisions were organized in order to
enter new channels of distribution and
to expand Brite's present distribution.
Growth in sales to discount houses was
especially notable, as the company's
ROGER WILLIAMS product line
increased its share of this high volume
market at a higher rate than in any
previous year.
Further development of Brite's unique
in-store sales program and the addition
of several new product lines contributed
to the higher sales volume. Brite's
"self-service watch band departments"
have a built-in automatic inventory
control system and contain a product
variety that is the most diverse in the
industry.
Instant Cream of Oats with great new flavors.
TIMN 445994

Operating Income
Non-Tobacco
. Tobacco
$44,845,965
$40,320,830
$53,973,877
$37,322,893
1966
$38,347,416
$61,356,521
$36,284,105
Operating income represents
income before corporate ex-
penses, interest, other income
and expenses, income taxes
and minority interest.
The results of operations of
companies acquired by pur-
chase during the period are in-
cluded from dates of acquisi-
tion; companies acquired on a
pooling of interests basis are
included for the entire period.
1965
Five Years in Review
(Dollars expressed in thousands except per share figures)
1967
$64,007,927
1968
$69,605,774
$32,749,413
1969
1969 1968 1967 1966 1965
Operating Results - Year Ended December 31
Net sales .
$658,784
$617,240
$631,780
$635,258
$533,153
Excise taxes included in sales 170,118 178,992 205,952 215,971 204,735
Operating income 69,606 64,008 61,357 53,974 44,846
Income taxes 32,232 29,493 27,352 25,158 20,501
Net earnings 24,898 24,066 25,127 23,439 22,597
Net earnings per share of common stock 2.92 2.82 2.93 2.71 2.56
Dividends on common stock - per share 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
Financial Position - Year End
Inventories
259,292
258,640
274,992
293,034
278,637
Working capital 232,271 247,728 250,303 270,345 265,455
Plant and equipment (net) 56,915 48,224 42,773 40,263 35,170
Total assets 544,644 507,385 490,382 490,506 382,764
Long-term debt 97,811 84,019 75,636 73,322 564
Short-term debt 66,135 51,712 51,292 41,643 40,526
Stockholders' equity 320,311 318,104 315,334 313,177 311,448
Book value per share of common stock 36.51 35.96 35.45 34.91 34.58
14 TIMN 445998
