Altria.com Altria Group top in the tobacco category on its Most Admired.
Altria Group
Based in the New York City, Altria Group, Inc. became the parent company of Kraft Foods, Philip Morris USA, Philip Morris International, and Philip Morris Capital Corporation on January 27, 2003. The firm owns 100% of the outstanding stocks of the last three of these four companies. Philip Morris USA is the world’s largest tobacco, food and beverage corporation, ruling about half of the U.S. cigarette market. Philip Morris International holds seven of the top 20 cigarette brands of the world and is the leader among the global tobacco companies. Thus, Altria Group is proud of owning the two premier tobacco companies of the world. The third enterprise called Philip Morris Capital Corporation holds a range of leverages and direct finance leases. In addition to managing a range of assets of the group, the corporation provides various financial, tax and economic benefits to the Altria Group, Inc. It is also interesting to note that 28.6% of the voting interest in SABMiller, plc., the world's second-largest brewer, vests with Altria Group.
History
The history of Altria Group stretches back 150 years with the retail tobacco shop opened by Philip Morris, Esq. on London’s Bond Street in 1860. This simple business enterprise has grown to massive proportions and has given birth to Altria Group. The New York office of the company was opened in 1902 and eventually the enterprise became part of the James Duke’s American Tobacco Company Monopoly. Earlier known as Philip Morris Companies Inc., the name of this company was changed to Altria Group, Inc. on January 27, 2003. The name Altria is a derivative of the Latin term ‘altus’. The name is thus suggestive of the spirit of the enterprise to ‘reach higher and higher’. The name change was effected to distinguish the parent company from two of its operating companies Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris International.
Popular Brands
Altria group is the owner of some of the most popular and valued trademarks of the world. With constant innovation, Altria Group’s brands are poised towards a prosperous future.
The most popular cigarette brands of Philip Morris USA are Marlboro, Chesterfield, Lark, Basic, L&M, Parliament and Virginia Slims.
Some of the world-class cigarette brands of Morris International are Marlboro, Philip Morris, Lark, L&M, Bond Street and Parliament.
Financial Strength and Market Performance
With a long track record in manufacturing quality products, today Altria Group sells its products in more than 160 countries on the globe. The various units of the group have given employment to more than 199,000 people around the globe.
With a sound financial history and astonishing development over the past 39 years, the company has been able to raise its dividend 39 times for its investors. The Annual Revenue of Altria Group for the year in 2006 was 101.407 billion USD and the net income for the year was 12.022 billion USD.
Driven by a commitment to preserve the interests of its shareholders and to ensure a strong business performance, Altria Group, Inc. takes keen interest in good corporate governance, the standards of which have been attested by its excellent track record. The Group states that its premier goal is to deliver superior returns to its investors by continuously improving its operating companies.
Recent Events
On January 31, 2007, the Board of Directors of Altria Group, Inc. voted and authorized the Spin-off of all the outstanding shares of Kraft Foods Inc. to the shareholders of Altria. About 88.9% shares were distributed on March 30, 2007. For U.S. Federal income tax purposes, the Spin-off was tax-free to Altria and its shareholders.
'Rankings of Altria Group, Inc. in various financial listings
- 1 on the 2006 Fortune America’s Most Admired Companies
- 3 on the list in the areas of Long-Term Investment
- 10 on the list in the areas of Social Responsibility
- 10 on the 2006 Fortune 500 Most Profitable Companies list
- 11 on the 2006 Fortune 500 Biggest Companies by Market Value list
- 20 on the 2006 Fortune Global 500 Highest Profits list
- 27 on the 2006 Forbes Global 2000 World's Biggest Public Companies list
In addition, Altria Group, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a ticker symbol ‘MO’ and is also listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam, Australia, Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Swiss and Vienna.
Website
The official site of the company is Altria.com. This site provides a good overview of the organizational set up of Altria Group, Inc., its history, policies, and performance of the group and its operating companies with exhaustive facts and figures. In addition, quick links are provided to discuss about each of the operating company in detail.
Languages
English
Address
- 120 Park Ave
- New York NY 10017 US
Contact
- Telephone: 917-804-8233; 917-663-4000
- Fax: 91- 663-2167
Additional Information
- List of assets owned by Altria Group
- Board of Directors
- Philip Morris history
- Altria history
- Tobacco industry
- Philip Morris USA
- Master Settlement Agreement
- Altria "when-issued" shares set to trade
- The Center for Public Integrity: Top 100 Companies and Organizations
- The Guardian: "The denial industry"
Related Domains
External Links
- Alexa: AltriA.com
Sources
- http://altria.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altria_Group
- http://www.altriameanstobacco.com/
- http://financial.washingtonpost.com/custom/wpost/html-qcn.asp?dispnav=business&mwpage=qcn&symb=MO&nav=el
- http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/altria_group_inc/index.html
- http://www.investorguide.com/stock.cgi?ticker=mo
