IMPERIAL TOBACCO

'Imperial Tobacco Group PLC' () is the world's fourth largest international tobacco company and the largest manufacturer in the UK where it is also market leader. It is the second largest UK-based tobacco company by global sales after British American Tobacco). It is Germany's second largest tobacco company following its purchase of Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH in 2003 which added brands such as Davidoff, Peter Stuyvesant and West to its portfolio. In 2007 Imperial Tobacco entered the United States tobacco market with its acquisition of Commonwealth Brands Inc, the fourth largest tobacco company in the US. Imperial Tobacco's corporate headquarters are in Bristol, England.
For the year ended 30 September 2006 Imperial Tobacco had a turnover of £11.676 billion, or £3.162 billion excluding tobacco duty. It made a profit before tax of £1.168 billion.

Contents

History

Some Current Cigarette Brands in the Portfolio

Other products include:

External links

History

Imperial Tobacco was created in 1901 from a merger of a number of British tobacco and cigarette companies that were being threatened by competition from the United States. The original merger was between W.D. & H.O. Wills of Bristol and Stephen Mitchell & Son of Glasgow. The company's first Chairman was William Henry Wills of the Wills company. Later mergers swallowed Lambert & Butler, William Clarke & Son, John Player & Sons, Franklyn Davey, Edwards Ringer, J & F Bell and F & J Smith.
In 1902 the then Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company agreed to form a joint venture, the British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. The parent companies agreed not to trade in each other's domestic territory and to assign trademarks, export businesses and overseas subsidiaries to the joint venture. American Tobacco sold its share in 1911 but Imperial maintained an interest until 1980.
In 1973, having become increasingly diversified (restaurant chains, food services and brands, distribution etc), Imperial Tobacco Company became Imperial Group Limited, later 'Imperial Group PLC'. The company was acquired by the conglomerate Hanson Trust plc in 1986, at a price of £2.5 billion. Hanson undertook a major reorganisation of the company; divestments netted £2.3 billion, leaving Hanson with the hugely profitable tobacco business for "next to nothing." These sales included:

★ Courage Limited to Elders

★ Golden Wonder to Dalgety

★ Finlays

★ Wholesaling arm of Sinclair and Collis

★ Imperial Hotels and Catering to Trust House Forte

★ Ross Frozen Foods to United Biscuits
In 1996, following a decision to concentrate on core tobacco activities, Hanson demerged Imperial and it was listed as an independent company on the UK stock exchange. A US listing followed shortly afterwards.

Some Current Cigarette Brands in the Portfolio

★ Davidoff

★ West

★ Lambert & Butler - the UK's top selling brand

★ Richmond

★ Superkings

★ Embassy

★ Regal

★ Excellence

★ Horizon

★ John Player Special (JPS)

★ Peter Jackson

★ Peter Stuyvesant

★ Prima

★ Moon

★ R1

★ Route 66

Other products include:

★ Drum fine cut tobacco

★ Van Nelle fine cut tobacco

★ Golden Virginia fine cut tobacco

★ Rizla rolling paper

★ Skruf snus

External links

★ Official website

★ Yahoo profile