Tobacco Institute
1955 Annual Report Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co.
Fields
Annotations
- 1. Liggett Myers Author
- Affiliation:
Liggett Myers
- Affiliation:
Document Images
Annzfal
Stockholders'
Meeting
T HE Annual Stockholders' Meeting will be held at
43 Park Avenue, Flemington, New Jersey, at 2:00
P.M., Monday, March 12, 1956.
Proxies will be mailed to stockholders February 10,
1956. Stockholders who are unable to attend the meet-
ing are urged to sign their proxy and return it promptly
to the Company so that the stock of the Company will
be represented as fully as possible at the meeting.
TIMN 446294
L I G G E T T & .ll Y E R S -~- 0 NE 0 F

I
Highli(; lit,~
1955
Net sales ................................................$546,964,616
Profit from operations ............................ 60,134,062
Percentage of net sales ............................ 10.99%
Profit before taxes .................................. 56,677,972
Income and franchise taxes .................... 29,957,000
Profit before preferred dividends............ 26,720,972
Net income after preferred dividends...... 25,259,785
Percentage of net sales ............................ 4.62 %
Net income per share of common stock $6.46
Dividends paid per share of
common stock .................................. $4.00
Current assets ........................................$425,252,089
Current liabilities .................................. 92,453,907
Ratio .................................................... 4.6 to 1
Funded debt .................................... °.
~... 107,250,000
Capital stock .......................................... 118, 662,125
Paid-in surplus end of year ...................... 19,364,550
Earned surplus end of year ...................... 120,861,562
(Further details on pages 14, 15, 16 and 17)
Approximate number of Ntockholders.... 43,700
LIGGET T & .ll YERS
,-00~
1954
$548,861,959
53,592,624
9.76%
47,835,364
25,634,000
22,201,364
20,740,177
3.78%
$5.30
$5.00
$459,145,998
129,034,362
3.6 to 1
1 13,1)00,000
1 18,662,125
19,364,550
111,247,861
40,900
O N E O F
TIMN 446296

3
f
Distribution
and
Promotion
Distribution is the keystone in the sale of "mass" merchandise to the
public. Promotion creates the desire to buy, but it is of no avail if the goods
advertised are not on the shelves.
Liggett & Myers' products are now sold to the domestic public by almost
one million four hundred thousand retail outlets from roadside stands to
shopping center super markets. This width of distribution has been achieved
by the unceasing efforts of our six thousand distributors and the Company's
own sales force. Each year this distribution widens, paralleling population
increases, area by area.
Brand preferences vary from year to year as styles and tastes change, so
promotion must not only be aggressive but continuous in order to reach again
and again, the present and potential consumer in every corner of the United
States. Almost every type of media (television, radio, newspapers, magazines,
car cards and point-of-sale material) is used to keep present customers, and
to attract new smokers.
As distribution increases in new areas, so does promotion. Therefore,
through expanding advertising, consumers in areas not previously reached by
your Company's radio and TV advertising now receive sales messages on
Liggett & Myers' brands.
Overseas, many of your Company's products have achieved wide popu-
larity. Chesterfields are now distributed in 86 countries outside of the United
States. In the majority of these, L&M Filters are also sold.
TIMN 446299
"OBA CCO'S i1OST RESPECTED NAMES
5
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LIGGETT & MYERS TOBACCO Go.
INC.
630 Fifth Avenue
New York 20, N. Y
45th Annual Report
December 31S ;1935
r TOBACCO'S MOST RESPECTED
NAMES
i
TIMN 446295

To the
Stockholders
Earnings
Sales
This is the 45th time that your Company has made its annual report to
you. The following has been prepared to give you an overall picture of your
Company's operations and financial affairs in 1955.
Earnings per share of Common Stock were substantially higher than for
the previous year, amounting to $25,259,785 compared with $20,740,177 for
1954. The ratio of profit from operations to net sales increased from 9.76%
to 10.99% in 1955.
Earnings for the year included special items of $839,184 and $1,066,124
shown separately on the Consolidated Income statement. The item of $1,066,124
represents the balance of the reserve of $4,473,163 (established in 1942 to
provide for possible loss on our investment in a foreign tobacco company)
after deducting the actual loss from sale of such investment in 1955. This
transaction also resulted in a tax credit in an amount more than sufficient to
offset any capital gains tax otherwise payable on profit from sale of land and
buildings during the year.
For 1955, net sales were $546,964,616 compared to $548,861,959 for
the previous year-down slightly. The volume in L&M Filters increased sharply.
Sales began to show a definite upturn in the third quarter. In the fourth
quarter, your Company's sales showed an increase of more than 6% over the
fourth quarter of 1954.
700
600
Millions This chart shows a record of the Company's sales for the past ten years.
500
400
300
200
100
0
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
'TOBACCO'S R1OST RESPECTED NAMES
1954
1955
TIMN 446297

Dividends
Taxes
Four quarterly dividends of $1.00 each per share of Common Stock were
paid during the year. Effective with the year 1955, your Company reverted to
its original plan of taking action with respect to extra dividends in the follow-
ing January after final results for the year are known. Therefore, on January
18, 1956 an extra dividend of $1.00 per share, payable March 1, was declared.
There has been no decrease in the tax burden placed on cigarettes and
other tobacco products during the year just past, in fact the trend is upward.
Your Company has provided $29,957,000 for Federal and State income and
franchise taxes for 1955. This amounts to $7.66 per share of Common Stock -
an outlay of 91 % more than the total amount of dividends declared on the
Common Stock during 1955.
Few people realize the immensity of the tax load incurred by a manu-
facturer of tobacco products, so the following chart has been prepared to give
a graphic comparison of Federal and State income taxes and franchise taxes
with net income after taxes for the past eight years.
1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
This chart shows the Federal and State Income and Franchise Taxes (dark area)
compared with Net Income after Taxes (light area) 1948-1955.
TIMN 446298
LIGGETT & !lI Y E R S -~ O'V F. O F
4

I
Research
In research lies the key to quality. This is a fundamental manufacturing
philosophy of Liggett & Myers, gained through thirty-three years of leadership
in the scientific study of tobacco, its growth, uses and processing.
The first small project in tobacco research which started in 1922 at
Duke University, has grown, in the succeeding years, into one of the most
important activities of your Company. Liggett & Myers' research program
centers around its Durham, N. C., laboratory which is considered to be the
best in the industry. Grants to universities for tobacco research and the use
of outside scientific consultants, such as Arthur D. Little Inc., further imple-
ment this program.
Your Company believes that through research it produces the highest
quality tobacco products now being marketed. Furthermore, research has
resulted in a permanent control of quality - something no other manufacturer
of cigarettes has yet achieved - through the use of the amazing new Accu-
Ray control.
Acclz-Ray
The use of Accu-Ray by Liggett & Myers represents the greatest advance
in the manufacture of cigarettes in the last thirty years. Each and every Chester-
field is perfectly packed . .. 14% more so than cigarettes made without Accu-
Ray. As a result, they burn more evenly, have no hot spots or hard draw, and
smoke milder.
The Accu-Ray was developed by the Industrial Nucleonics Corporation.
It is really a nuclear gauge which passes a continuous stream of electrons
through the cigarette and analyzes it while it is actually being made. This
nuclear stream transmits what it sees to the electronic brain which adjusts the
production machinery down to millionths of an inch. Accu-Ray controls are
now used by such industrial giants as: U. S. Steel, International and St. Regis
Paper Companies: Goodrich, Firestone and Goodyear Rubber Companies; the
Du Pont Company and a host of others. Illustrated on the next page is the
Accu-Ray quality control as used by Liggett & Myers.
TIMN 446300
6
LIGGETT & .11 YERS
.-..~.
O N E O F

I
111anageinent
Changes
Stockholders
The Company's cigarette factories are the most modern in the industry
and are air-conditioned, well-lighted and designed to guard safety and health.
Cafeterias for employees provide excellent meals at very moderate prices.
There was only one important change in management personnel during
1955. Milton E. Harrington, Manager of the Leaf Department, was elected a
Director to fill the vacancy on the Board created by the retirement, under the
Employees' Retirement Plan, of James E. Farley.
There are now approximately 43,700 Common and Preferred stock-
holders. This is an increase of 2800 stockholders (about 7% ).
The stock of your Company is widely held, ranging from a few shares in
the hands of thousands of stockholders to many hundreds of shares owned by
investment groups, educational institutions, insurance companies, trusts,
estates and banks.
Approximately 80% of the total stock of your Company, both Common
and Preferred, was voted, either by person or by proxy, at the last annual
stockholders' meeting of Liggett & Myers on March 14th, 1955.
,:
TIMN 446303
TOB:-1CCO'S .11 0 ST RESPECTED NAMES

fi
SZ[mYYlCl'YV
Net profits for the year increased by $4,519,608. A portion of this came
from non-recurring items of income. The higher selling price of Chesterfield
King Size cigarettes, in effect part of the year, resulted in a better profit margin
on this brand. Other factors which helped were reduction in expenses by pro-
viding more efficient manufacturing facilities, adoption of a direct deposit
plan resulting in a quicker conversion of sales receipts into usable funds, and
by working more closely with our customers.
The market trend in 1955 continued toward king size and filter tip
cigarettes. Following this trend, King Size Chesterfield sales continued upward
and the sales of L&M more than doubled. Necessarily, the increase in the
sales of king size and filter tips was made at the expense of regular size
cigarettes.
During the year, Liggett & Myers continued and intensified the moderni-
zation program which has been underway for some time. Our products today
are the best that we have ever made and we are confident that new improve-
ments to come will continue to offer smokers a better product.
The Management greatly appreciates the cooperation and loyal support
of its stockholders and employees.
January 27, 1956
TIMN 446306
12
LIGGETT & J1 Y E R S
..W.--
O N E O F

Of,icers
Directors
President
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President & Treasurer
Vice President & Secretary
Vice President
Russell M. Chenoweth
Frederick J. Graeff
William A. Blount
Lawrence W. Bruff
Benjamin F. Few
Milton E. Harrington
Francis H. Horan
J. Camden Hundley
Benjamin F. Few
William A. Blount
William B. Lewis, Jr.
William L. Perry
Zach Toms
James N. Wellman
Assistant Treasurer
J. Bowling Anderson
Assistant Secretaries
Henry A. Petry
Rufus H. Hosea
Charles B. Morganthaler
William B. Lewis, Jr.
William L. Perry
Eugene C. Ringler
Loy D. Thompson
Zach Toms
James N. Wellman
GENERAL COUNSEL
Francis H. Horan
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Dr. Frederick R. Darkis
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
630 Fifth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y.
TRANSFER AGENT
Chemical Corn Exchange Bank
30 Broad St., New York 15, N. Y.
AUDITOR
Eugene C. Ringler
REGISTRAR
The First National City Bank of New York
55 Wall St., New York 15, N. Y.
TIMN 446307
!'OBA CCO'S .11OST RESPECTED
NAMES
13

Greatest '
jY12pr02'enZ212t
i n 30 1 ea rs
B
A. The electronic brain, which calculates adjustments to millionths of a
degree and controls ...
B. The tobacco feed box, which feeds tobacco in just the right amount
into ...
C. The moving cigarette paper strip; - which is rolled and sealed into the
cigarette rod as it continues to pass through ...
D. The Accu-Ray box with its electronic beam continuously measuring
the density and distribution of the tobacco and correcting errors to
one-ten millionth of a degree.
TIMN 446301
ITOBA CCO'S MOST RESPECTED NAMES
~

I
Factories
The principal factories of
Liggett & Myers are at Durham,
N. C., and Richmond, Va., where ,
all the company's cigarettes are
r;]
~-
chewing tobacco brands and a "1w'
t
large number of smoking tobaccos are manufactured.
The Durham and Richmond factories are great tourist attractions and are
annually visited by thousands of people
who take the guided tours. All of them
comment favorably on the size, efficiency
and cleanliness of your Company's man-
ufacturing operations and on the evident
emphasis on quality.
The Company also operates mod-
ern processing plants at Danville, Va.;
Durham, N. C.; Lexington and Paris, Ky.; Rocky Mount, N. C.; and Water-
town, Wis.-all, important tobacco cen-
ters. Huge storage facilities covering
hundreds of acres are located in the
bright and burley tobacco-growing
States.
In the Near East, Liggett & Myers
buys and prepares the spicy and deli-
cate Turkish tobaccos used in its cigar-
ette blends at its plants in Izmir and Samsun, Turkey, and Cavalla and Xanthi,
Greece.
Evnployees
Your Company has about 10,000 employees whose interest in and rela-
tionship with the Company is typified by the fact that the average length of
service per employee is well over ten years.
A complete benefits program for Liggett & Myers' employees has been
operating for some time and includes a retirement plan, group life insurance,
hospital, surgical and sickness benefits.
TIMN 446302
L I G G E T T & .ll Y E R S
.-00~
O N E

Spur
N
Cigarettes
0
Products
LIGGETT & .ll YEd2S
D on these pages are twenty-five
of the best-known and most active of
the tobacco products manufactured by
your Company.
Liggett & Myers has registered
~ R By.S
Vff~GINIA WRA
ea ,:'
~r
;
SMHING TOBACCC+
TIMN 446304
O N E O F
: 10

Liabilities
,tANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1955 AND 1954
CZf YYen t
Liabilities
Funded Debt
Capital Stock
and Surplais
1955 1954
Notes payable to banks ................................ $ 52,000,000 $ 95,220,000
Accounts payable ........................................ 5,855,755 4,041,183
Dividend payable on preferred stock............ 365,297 365,297
Accrued interest on debentures .................... 907,812 929,687
Funded debt payable within one year.......... 5,750,000 2,000,000
Taxes payable and accrued .......................... 27,575,043 26,478,195
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES.......... 92,453,907 129,034,362
25/s % Sinking Fund Debentures, $5,750,000
payable annually during the years 1957
through 1964, $23,750,000 payable in
1965, and $37,500,000 payable in 1966
Preferred stock 7% cumulative,
par value $100.00
Shares - authorized 341,398, issued =
225,141, in treasury 16,400 ..................
Common stock, par value $25.00
Shares - authorized 5,000,000,
issued 3,911,521 ..................................
Paid-in surplus ............................................
Earned surplus (see statement annexed)........
TOTAL CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
TOTAL ........................................
107,250,000 113,000,000
20,874,100 20, 874,100
97,788,025 97,788,025
19,364,550 19,364,550
120,861,562 111,247,861
258,888,237 249,274,536
$458,592,144 $491,308,898
TIMN 446309
TOB.~CCO'S 1/1OST RESPECTED Na.t11ES
15

Assets
LIGGETT & MYERS TOBACCO COMPANY CONSOLIDATE
1955 1954
Czcrren t A ssets
Property, Plant
and Equipment
- at Cost
Other Assets
Cash ............................................................ $ 11,652,010 $ 11.592,982
Accounts receivable, customers .................... 23,410,069 23,131.291
Accounts receivable, others .......................... 1,176,001 982,339
Leaf tobacco, at average cost ...................... 360,197,288 393,193,579
Manufactured stock and operating supplies,
at average cost ........................................ 28,816,721 30,245,807
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS ........................ 425.252,089 459,145.998
Land and buildings ...................................... 19,185,180
Machinery and equipment ............................
20,024,589
43,823,000 41,054,224
63,008,180 61,078,8 13
Less reserves for depreciation ................ 32,374,575 32,386,362
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 30,633,605 28,692,451
1
compan ies .............................................. 627,004 627,004
Stocks in foreian tobacco companies,
less reserve of S-1,473,163 in 1954........ 4,000 4,001
Deferred char-e~ .......................................... 2,075,445 2,839,443
Brands, trade-marks and good will .............. 1
Stocks in unconsolidated subsidiary
TOTAL 01111 RAtitiFTS ............................ 2,706,450 3,470.449
Tt)r \E ............................ $458,592,144 $491,308,898
TIMN 446308
L I G G E T T & tl 1"ERS
-.000"', O N E O F
14

a
TOBACCO'S R1OST RESPECTED NAMES
TIMN 446315

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Certificate of
Certlfred Public
Acco 1 f 11 tC7YZ tS
HASKINS & SELLS
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
BOATMEN'S BANK BUILDING
SAINT LOUIS 2
January 20, 1956
To the Directors and Stockholders of
Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company:
We have examined the consolidated balance sheet
of Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company and its wholly-owned
subsidiary as of December 31, 1955 and the related
statements of consolidated income and earned surplus for
the year then ended. Our examination was made in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
and accordingly included such tests of the accounting
records and such other auditing procedures as we
considered necessary in the circumstances.
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated
balance sheet and statements of consolidated income and
earned surplus present fairly the financial position of
the companies at December 31, 1955 and the results of
their operations for the year then ended, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a basis consistent with that of the preceding year.
TIMN 446312
18
L I G G E T T & ,11 Y E R S
__..00--
n.`"I: nF

'
Consolidated
Earned
Slcrplczs
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1955 AND 1954
1955
1954
EARNED SURPLUS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR.. $111,247,861 $110,065,289
ADD
Net Income for the Year ........................ 26,720,972 22.201,364
137,968,833 132,266,653
DEDUCT
CASH DIVIDENDS OF $7.00 PER SHARE
ON PREFERRED STOCK .................... 1,461,187 1,461,187
CASH DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK
$4.00 per share in 1955 and
$5.00 per share in 1954 .................... 15,646,084 19,557,605
17,107,271 21,018,792
EARNED SURPLUS AT END OF YEAR
(see note) ........................................ $120,861,562 $111,247,861
NOTE: Under the terms of the Indenture covering each issue of 25/s% Sinking Fund Deben_
tures $58,898,960.47 of earned surplus is restricted as to payment of cash dividends on
Common Stock. This limitation does not apply to stock dividends on Common Stock,
nor does it restrict payment of dividends on Preferred Stock.
TOBACCO'S 1t7OST RESPECTED NA:11ES
TIMN 446311 17

I
Consolidated
Income
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1955 AND 1954
1955 1954
NET SALES .................................................. $546,964,616 $548,861,959
OTHER INCOME
Interest and dividends received ..............
166,990
160,617
Profit from sale of land and buildings...... 839,184 -
Balance of reserve after deducting loss on
sale of stock in a foreign tobacco
company (see page 3) ......................
1,066,124
-
Miscellaneous ........................................ 82,666 74,451
TOTAL INCOME ........................ 549,119,580 549,097,027
DEDUCTIONS
Cost of goods sold, selling,
administrative and general expenses
484,049,950
492,771,480
Provision for depreciation ...................... 2,780,604 2,497,855
Interest and amortization on funded debt 3,020,313 3,042,188
Interest on bank loans ............................ 2,535,541 2,925,243
Miscellaneous ........................................ 55,200 24,897
Provision for Federal income tax............ 27,275,000 23,595,000
Provision for State income and
franchise taxes ................................
2,682,000
2,039,000
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS .................. 522,398,608 526.895,663
NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR ........................ 26,720,972 22,201,364
DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK ................ 1,461,187 1,461,187
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO
COMMON STOCK .................................... $ 25,259,785 $ 20,740,177
16
L I G G E T T & .11 YERS
.~.-.
OA'E OF
TIMN 446310

a,Lw~2. C.3&.1
nost one hundred brand names, and
rrently makes sixty-three different
ids of cigarettes, smoking and chew-
tobaccos.
tobaccos.
Each and every one of the sixty-three
4A
Red Man, Red Horse and ay ar.
®
~ocEs saRRaZti~
j~Ew OR4EAMs.LA. ~
t;WW+Jw+%-,a3- I
_ ~e....«..
TIMN 446305
.''OBACCO'S :17OST RESPECTED NAMES
products must conform to the highest
standards of quality and workmanship.
This insistence on quality is the reason
why "Liggett & Myers is one of tobac-
co's most respected names."
The Pinkerton Tobacco Company at
Toledo, Ohio, an unconsolidated sub-
~sidiary, has as ~ts principal brands:
P C
®
ll

it
Disposition of
Total Income
The Company received from its customers _for goods sold and from
Dividends, Interest and miscellaneous sources a total of $549,119,000 in
1955. This chart shows how it was used or set aside:
V)
Federal and other excise taxes...... $250,874,000
Leaf tobacco, wages, other manu-
facturing costs and freight........ 186,029,000
~.
Selling, advertising, administrative,
interest and other expenses...... 55,538,000
Federal income and State income
and franchise taxes .................. 29,957,000
Dividends to stoel.hulders............ 17,107,000
Earnings retained for future needs 9,614,000 -U-
~ ~
_TOB:=ICCO'S .11OST Rf;Sf'l:CTED NA!ti1ES
TIMN 446313 19

#
Record for
Fifteen Years
SALES - EARNINGS - DI VIDENDS
NET
SALES NET INCOME
APPLICABLE TO
COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS
PAID ON
COMMON STOCK
Year
Amount
Amount Percent
of Sales Per
Share
Amount Per
Share
1941 $275,103,587 $16,389,273 5.96% $5.23 $15,684,695 $5.00
1942 294,351,573 14,293,355 4.86 4.56 10,979,286 3.50
1943 347,258,296 14,195,223 4.09 4.53 10,979,286 3.50
1944 374,032,971 13,332,272 3.56 4.25 10,979,286 _3.50
1945 399,212,620 13,477,648 3.38 4.30 10,979,286 3.50
1946 464,507,825 16,907,740 3.64 5.39 12,547,756 4.00
1947 513,771,422 21,439,504 4.17 6.83 14,116,225 4.50
1948 556,506,847 27,799,934 4.99 8.86 15,684,695 5.00
1949 557,733,433 28,105,507 5.04 7.18" 18,783,023 5.00
1950 530,547,285 27,597,044 5.20 7.05* 19,557,605 5.00
1951 539,947,406 20,292,047 3.76 5.19* 19,557,605 5.00
1952 603,080,876 19,987,339- 3.31 5.11" 19,557,605 5.00
1953 586,498,727 21,517,389 3.67 5.50* 19,557,605 5.00
1954 548,861,959 20,740,177 3.78 5.30* 19,557,605 5.00
1955 546,964,616 25,259,785 4.62 6.46* 15,646,084 4.00*'
*Calculated on the 3.911.521 shares of Common Stock outstanding at the end of the year. Per share
earnings for prior
years in above table calculated on the 3,136,939 shares of Common and/or Common B stock outstanding
at the end
of each year.
'°*See DIVIDENDS on Page 4.
In addition to the .tnnual div idend of $7.00 per share on its Preferred Stock, the Company has paid
a
substantial cash .livtdend to holders of its Common Stock in every year since its organization in
1911.
TIMN 446314
20
LIGGETT & J1 Y E R S
O N E 0

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