In a Multi-Billion Dollar Deal, Reynolds American,Lorillard, Imperial and BAT Mix It Up

摘要

Following a period of speculation in the tobacco industry and a good deal of market anticipation concerning various possible merger and acquisition scenarios, an announcement was made July 15 that Reynolds American[Camel, Grizzly (smokeless), Kool, VUSE (vapor), and Winston] will acquire Lorillard (top menthol brand Newport and blu e-cigs) for approximately US $25B. As part of the deal, which will require government approval, Britain's Imperial Tobacco Group PLC will step in to acquire several Reynolds American brands through its US subsidiary (Imperial-Altadis) including Winston, Maverick, Kool, Salem and both the domestic US and international brands of the e-cigarette, blu. Imperial will pay US $7.1B for its acquisitions. Finally, with its own 40 percent-plus stake in Reynolds, British American Tobacco is expected to spend US $4.7B to maintain that ownership position and to further "help finance the deal," as The New York Times reported.