U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Announces Price Increase for Most of Its Smokeless Tobacco Products

GREENWICH, Conn., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, the principal subsidiary of UST Inc. , today announced the wholesale price on all its Copenhagen, Skoal and Rooster products will increase by 10 cents to $3.01 per can. Red Seal will increase by 10 cents to $1.97. Prices on Husky products will remain the same at $1.05. The price increase will take effect Oct. 24, 2005.

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is a distinctly different tobacco company. Through its subsidiaries, it is a leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products. The company's primary brands are Copenhagen, Skoal, Rooster, Red Seal and Husky. The company is the only smokeless tobacco manufacturer to sign the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (STMSA). Under the STMSA, the company voluntarily adopted an array of advertising and promotional restrictions and agreed to pay $100 million towards programs to reduce youth access to tobacco products and combat youth substance abuse.