Altadis Press Release: Seita Wins Suit Before the Beziers Regional Court

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2004--

Altadis (ALT.MC)(ALDS.PA)(Sicovam:012975)

Altadis is pleased that the Beziers Regional Court (Tribunal de Grande Instance) accepted its arguments and dismissed the suit filed by the family of Suzanne Berger. With this decision, the Court rightly considered that Seita could not be held responsible for failing to provide information, as claimed by the plaintiffs.

The family of Mrs. Berger, who died of cancer she attributed to cigarette smoking, filed a suit demanding EUR 230,000 in damages and a monthly allowance of EUR 1,525 for her three children in compensation for the moral injury suffered.

The Court underlined that, before 1976, Seita did not have the authority to place health warnings on cigarette packs at its own initiative. As a result, the company cannot be held responsible for failing to fulfill an obligation to provide adequate information that did not fall within the scope of its competence.

It also considered that there was no causal link between the conditions of access to the information after 1976 and the damages incurred by Mrs. Berger.

Altadis is satisfied with this decision, which is in line with the Court of Cassation's ruling in the Gourlain case in November 2003 and reflects a precise analysis of the very stringent regulatory and legal framework governing the tobacco industry. At the same time, Altadis confirms that smoking is a personal, informed choice.

To date, Altadis has been acquitted in twelve rulings issued in Spain, France and Poland.