Tobacco.org

Manufacturer claims new tobacco product encourages harm reduction  

Imperial Tobacco Canada is selling a new smokeless tobacco product in Canada, advocating its use as part of a harm reduction response to nicotine addiction.

Snus, which rhymes with "loose," is an oral tobacco packaged in small sachets that look like tea bags, although it can also be sold loose. Users place a sachet under their upper lip and absorb the nicotine through their mucous membranes. Unlike other forms of oral tobacco, users don't spit or chew it. The ground tobacco is pasteurized, which the manufacturer says reduces the amount of tobacco-specific nitrosamines it contains. . . .

Critics don't dispute that snus is less harmful than smoking, but point out that the product carries its own risks. "There is nothing you can do as dangerous as smoking," says Dr. Goran Boëthius, chair of Doctors Against Tobacco. "But there are effects that are serious enough," that result from snus use, including increased risk of pancreatic cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Other critics question whether the availability of snus will actually reduce smoking rates.

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• Ask SAM 

Q. An ad in Monday's Winston-Salem Journal, paid for by the North Carolina Taxpayers Alliance, urged readers to call state Sens. Linda Garrou and Pete Brunstetter to "take a stand" against higher tobacco taxes. Who is behind this alliance? -- K.O.

A. The members of the alliance, according to the Raleigh News & Observer, are tobacco interests: tobacco companies Reynolds American, Lorillard, Universal Leaf and Swedish Match; the N.C. Tobacco Growers Association; and the Cigar Association of America. The alliance is running ads in several newspapers across the state

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• The Original Swedish Snus by Swedish Match North America Launches Brand New Website 

Swedish Match North America asks: Are you interested in a modern smokeless tobacco product? Are either you or a loved one a cigarette smoker who is looking for a change? The original Swedish Snus by Swedish Match North America just launched a bold new website full of information. General Snus is a premium, smoke-free tobacco product that can be enjoyed discreetly anytime, anywhere.

Invented by the Swedes over 200 years ago, Snus is an effective alternative to more traditional smoked tobacco. Scientifically shown to be a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking, Snus allows users to enjoy tobacco without emitting harmful second hand smoke or falling victim to public smoking bans.

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General Ekstra Sterk – now as loose snus 

A new member of the popular General family is now being launched; a loose snus for those who want a strong tobacco flavor and more nicotine.

“The portion-packed varieties, General Sterk and Ektra Sterk, which were both introduced last year, have become very popular products. General Ekstra Sterk Loose will add another member to the successful brand family,” says Niklas Krohn, Marketing Manager for the General portfolio.

General is the preferred snus for Norwegian men, with a total market share of about 63 percent.

General Ekstra Sterk Loose is based on the same recipe as the portion-packed snus, General Ekstra Sterk, and has the classic and very popular General flavor; a distinct tobacco taste with hints of citrus and pepper.

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Annual General Meeting 

According to the Swedish Companies Act, the Annual General Meeting is the highest governing body in a limited liability company. The Annual General Meeting elects the Board of Directors and the auditors and takes decisions on such matters as changes in the Articles of Association and changes in the share capital.

Annual General Meeting 2009

Swedish Match Annual General Meeting 2009 will be held at Hotel Rival in Stockholm, Sweden, at 4:30 pm CET on Tuesday, April 28, 2009. The entrance to the venue for the Meeting will opened at 3:30 pm (CET). Coffee will be served before the Meeting.

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Swedish Match publishes annual report for 2008  

As of today, 1 April, the Swedish Match AB annual report for 2008 is available on www.swedishmatch.com.

A printed version of the annual report can be ordered through the Swedish Match website or telephone +46 8 658 0200.

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New star in the General sky 

General White Portion now becomes the second member of the General family to have star-designed portion packages.

“Our users are continuously imposing new demands on our products. The attractive way of presenting portion packages in the can is one demand that we have acknowledged and has resulted in the star-design for General White Portion,” says Niklas Krohn, Marketing Manager for the General brand.

General Onyx was the first snus brand in the Nordic region to use the star design for portion packages. It is now time to do the same with General White Portion, one of the most widely sold products in the market.

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New Catch Collection changes flavor continuously 

The new Catch Collection is being launched today. The collection comprises snus varieties whose flavor will be changed four times during the year. In other words, each flavor will only be sold for a limited amount of time. This means that a new flavor will always be available for those who want to vary their snus consumption.

“We have noticed that many snus consumers would like more flavors from which to choose and want to see more frequent product innovation. That’s why we’re introducing the Catch Collection, which offers precisely that feature. The decision to develop the flavor series within the framework of Catch was a given, since this brand is market leader within flavored snus,” says Robert Lundgren, Product Manager for the Catch portfolio.

The first product on the shelf will be Catch Collection Chill with a Mint/Vanilla flavor combination. This will then be followed by Fresh, with a Peppermint flavor. The third variety is called Still and combines the Violet/Licorice flavors. Just in time for Christmas, Cozy will be launched, which will allow the user to cozy up with the Cardamom/Cinnamon flavor combination.

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Full Year Report 2008  

• Net sales for the fourth quarter increased to 3,628 MSEK (3,527) and 13,162 MSEK (12,551) for the full year

• Operating profit excluding larger one time items* for the fourth quarter increased to 864 MSEK (795) and 3,017 MSEK (2,730) for the full year

• Operating profit for the fourth quarter amounted to 937 MSEK (1,062) and 3,090 MSEK (2,997) for the full year

• EPS (basic) for the fourth quarter amounted to 2.91 SEK (3.04) and 8.98 SEK (7.82) for the full year

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Annual General Meeting of Swedish Match AB (publ) 

The shareholders of Swedish Match AB are hereby notified of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Tuesday April 28, 2009 at 16:30 (CET) at Hotel Rival, Mariatorget 3, Stockholm, Sweden.

The Board of Directors proposes an increased dividend to 4.10 SEK per share. The proposed record date for entitlement to receive a cash dividend is May 4, 2009. The Board also proposes that the current mandate to repurchase up to 10 percent of all shares in the Company for a maximum amount of 3,000 MSEK be prolonged. In addition the Board will also propose a reduction in the Company’s share capital of 6,110,045.76 SEK through withdrawal of 4,000,000 previously repurchased shares, with a simultaneous bonus issue without issuing new shares, of the corresponding amount to restore the share capital. Furthermore, the Board will propose that the reduction be allocated to a fund for use in repurchasing the Company’s own shares.

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• Swedish Match and Philip Morris International announce global joint venture to commercialize smokefree tobacco products 

Swedish Match AB [publ] and Philip Morris International [NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM] (PMI) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to establish an exclusive joint venture company to commercialize Swedish Snus and other smokefree tobacco products worldwide, outside of Scandinavia and the United States.

The joint venture will utilize the strong combination of Swedish Match’s product development and manufacturing expertise in the smokefree category and PMI’s extensive sales and distribution infrastructure to develop business opportunities worldwide. Under the agreement, each company will own a 50% stake and will license their respective trademarks and intellectual property to the joint venture.

“PMI is the ideal strategic partner for Swedish Match in the smokefree category. This agreement provides us with the opportunity to bring our quality products to consumers across a broader geography,” said Lars Dahlgren, Swedish Match President and CEO. “The smokefree category has demonstrated substantial growth in Sweden and Norway over a number of years and we believe that smokefree tobacco products, and especially Swedish Snus, have potential outside of their current markets.”

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Annual General Meeting of Swedish Match AB (publ) 

The shareholders of Swedish Match AB are hereby notified of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Tuesday April 28, 2009 at 16:30 (CET) at Hotel Rival, Mariatorget 3, Stockholm, Sweden.

Agenda

1. Opening of the Meeting and election of the Chairman of the Meeting.

2. Preparation and approval of the voting list.

3. Election of one or two persons, to verify the Minutes.

4. Determination of whether the Meeting has been duly convened.

5. Approval of the Agenda.

6. Presentation of the Annual Report and the Auditors' Report, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Auditors' Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements for 2008, the Auditors' Statement regarding compliance with the principles for determination of remuneration to senior executives as well as the Board of Directors' motion regarding the allocation of profit and explanatory statements.

In connection therewith, the President's address and the Board of Directors' report regarding its work and the work and function of the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee.

7. Adoption of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet and of the Consolidated Income Statement and Consolidated Balance Sheet.

8. Resolution in respect of allocation of the Company's profit in accordance with the adopted Balance Sheet and resolution on record day for dividend.

9. Resolution regarding discharge from liability for the Board members and the President.

10. a) Resolution regarding the reduction of the share capital by way of a recall of repurchased shares, and the transfer of the reduced amount to a fund for use in repurchasing the Company's own shares; and

b) Resolution regarding a bonus issue.

11. Resolution regarding the authorization of the Board of Directors to decide on the acquisition of shares in the Company.

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• Swedish Match Hires Motorbike Champ Rickardsson for East Europe 

Swedish Match AB, the Swedish maker of smokeless tobacco, hired former world speedway champion Tony Rickardsson to head its eastern European operations, marrying two of Sweden’s favorite pastimes: snuff and motorcycle racing.

The 39-year-old Swede, who won six motorbike speedway world titles between 1994 and 2005, will join the Stockholm-based company in October after driving for his own team in the Porsche Carrera Cup car racing series, Swedish Match said today.

As area manager of the company’s eastern European region, Rickardsson will be responsible for selling Cricket lighters, Korona matches and Macanudo cigars in countries such as Russia and Ukraine. Swedish Match, which has sponsored his racing career since the start of 2002, is seeking to expand beyond Scandinavia, where it gets 42 percent of revenue.

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Earn the Gear, Win the Ride and Break the Boundaries with the Timber Wolf Back Roads Sweepstakes 

Timber Wolf moist snuff offers consumers a chance to create their own off road experiences with the Timber Wolf Back Roads Sweepstakes. Beginning March 16, 2009 through September 30, 2009 consumers have a chance to earn gear or enter to win one of three off-road vehicles.

"Our consumers are enthusiastic outdoorsmen with a sense of adventure," according to Ryan Ganley, Associate Brand Manager of Timber Wolf. "This promotion will allow winners to make their own path and, in the great tradition of back roads sports, break the boundaries."

Consumers can visit www.twbackroads.com and register to win with no purchase necessary. Grand prize winners will receive a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI or a Polaris Sportsman XP.

Consumers also have the option to start earning back roads gear when they visit the website by simply entering a code found under the lid of the specially marked cans of Timber Wolf

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Swedish Match AB: Full Year Report 2008 

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2008 increased by 3 percent to 3,628 MSEK (3,527) compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. In local currencies, sales declined by 3 percent. Currency translation has affected the sales comparison positively by 204 MSEK.

Sales of snuff in the fourth quarter increased by 8 percent to 1,063 MSEK (981) and operating profit increased by 7 percent to 470 MSEK (441). Scandinavian snus sales were up 2 percent compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year while volumes measured in number of cans declined by 12 percent. Snus sales and can volume in the fourth quarter 2007 were positively impacted by hoarding in anticipation of tax and price increases in January 2008. Snuff sales in North America were up by 13 percent in local currency, as a result of both volume growth and a higher average price for the portfolio. During the fourth quarter there was a high level of marketing activity in Scandinavia, related to new product launches and product changes. Operating margin was 44.2 percent (45.0).

For cigars, sales increased by 14 percent during the fourth quarter to 1,056 MSEK (928). Operating profit increased to 206 MSEK (195). US cigar sales declined less than one percent in dollar terms, as Internet and mail order sales offset declines in other areas, primarily within premium cigars. In Europe, sales declined slightly. Operating profit declined in the US in local currency and increased versus prior year in Europe. Operating margin for cigars was 19.5 percent (21.0).

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