Tobacco giant BAT buys out Reynolds in mega-deal

BAT will purchase the 57.8-per cent of Reynolds American that it does not already own, the group said, unveiling an improved cash-and-shares offer after Reynolds had rejected its previous $47-billion bid

AFP, LONDON:  British American Tobacco agreed yesterday to pay almost $50 billion for control of US peer Reynolds American in a move which targets the lucrative United States market and the fast-growing e-cigarette sector.
BAT will purchase the 57.8-per cent  of Reynolds American that it does not already own, the group said, unveiling an improved cash-and-shares offer after Reynolds had rejected its previous $47-billion bid.
The deal brings together a raft of global brands, including BAT products Lucky Strike, Rothmans and Kent, and Reynolds’ brands such as Newport, Camel and 
Pall Mall.
The transaction will also create the world’s largest listed tobacco company with a strong foothold in the US, and a significant presence in high-growth markets including South America, the Middle East and Africa.
E-cigarettes in focus 
BAT added it would also create a “truly global” business for fast-growing next generation products (NGP) like e-cigarettes or vaping.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with ... Reynolds and we look forward to putting the recommended offer to shareholders,” said BAT Chief Executive Nicandro Durante in the statement.
He added that the blockbuster deal “will create a stronger, global tobacco and NGP business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world”.
“We believe this will drive continued, sustainable profit growth and returns for shareholders long into the future.”
Reynolds shareholders will receive $29.44 in cash and 0.5260 BAT ordinary shares, under the terms of the transaction.
That represented an increase of 26 per cent  compared with the closing Reynolds share price on October 20 -- the day before BAT’s unsuccessful bid.
The offer comprises $25 billion worth of BAT shares and $24.4 billion in cash and values the entire Reynolds group at more than 
$85 billion.
BAT forecasts that it will make at least $400 million in annualised cost savings following the purchase, while the deal remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The London-listed firm plans to expand further in the e-cigarette market—where it is already the largest international company outside the US—adding Reynolds’ popular Vuse vapour brand to its portfolio.
Major global tobacco companies are smoking out emerging markets to offset sliding demand in Western Europe, where high taxes, public smoking bans and health worries have persuaded many people to give up or turn to e-cigarettes, battery-powered devices that heat a nicotine liquid.
Reynolds is the second biggest player in the US market and has three out of the four top-selling cigarette brands.
Half of BAT’s sales are in developed nations and the rest in emerging markets, while it claims to sell its cigarette brands to one in eight of the world’s one billion smokers.
Deal ‘makes eminent sense’ 
Shane MacGuill, head of tobacco at consultancy Euromonitor International, added that the deal was motivated by the lucrative US market.
“BAT and Reynolds American have a strong existing relationship and while cost savings will be relatively modest the full access this acquisition would give BAT to the US—a lucrative, consolidated market with high barriers to entry—meaning it makes eminent sense,” said MacGuill.
“BAT will be inheriting full control of strong brands such as Newport, Camel and the super-premium Natural American Spirit.
“It will also gain the option to leverage Reynolds American’s emerging product platform in world markets.”
In morning London deals, BAT’s share price added 0.24 per cent  to 4,774 pence on London’s declining stock market.
The world’s biggest cigarette producer by market share is the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation, followed by Marlboro maker Philip Morris International.

 

 

Tobacco giant BAT buys out Reynolds in mega-deal

BAT will purchase the 57.8-per cent of Reynolds American that it does not already own, the group said, unveiling an improved cash-and-shares offer after Reynolds had rejected its previous $47-billion bid

AFP, LONDON: British American Tobacco agreed yesterday to pay almost $50 billion for control of US peer Reynolds American in a move which targets the lucrative United States market and the fast-growing e-cigarette sector. BAT will purchase the 57.8-per cent of Reynolds American that it does not already own, the group said, unveiling an improvedcash-and-shares offer after Reynolds had rejected its previous $47-billion bid. The deal brings together a raftof global brands, including BAT products Lucky Strike, Rothmans and Kent, and Reynolds brands such as Newport, Camel and Pall Mall. The transaction will also create the worlds largest listed tobacco company with a strong foothold in the US, and a significant presence in high-growth markets including South America, the Middle Eastand Africa. E-cigarettes in focus BAT added it would also create a truly global business for fast-growing next generation products (NGP) like e-cigarettes or vaping. We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with ... Reynolds and we look forward to putting the recommended offer to shareholders, said BAT Chief Executive Nicandro Durante in the statement. He added that the blockbuster deal will create a stronger, global tobacco and NGP business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world. We believe this will drive continued, sustainable profit growth and returns for shareholders long into the future. Reynolds shareholders will receive $29.44 in cash and 0.5260 BAT ordinary shares, under the terms of the transaction. That represented an increase of 26 per cent compared with the closing Reynolds share price on October 20 -- the day before BATs unsuccessful bid. The offer comprises $25 billion worth of BAT shares and $24.4 billion in cash and values the entire Reynolds group at more than $85 billion. BAT forecasts that it will make at least $400 million in annualised cost savings following the purchase, while the deal remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The London-listed firm plans to expand further in the e-cigarette marketwhere it is already the largest international company outside the USadding Reynolds popular Vuse vapour brand to its portfolio. Major global tobacco companies are smoking out emerging markets to offset sliding demand in Western Europe, where high taxes, public smoking bans and health worries have persuaded many people to give up or turn to e-cigarettes, battery-powered devices that heat a nicotine liquid. Reynolds is the second biggest player in the US market and has three out of the four top-selling cigarette brands. Half of BATs sales are in developed nations and the rest in emerging markets, while it claims to sell its cigarette brands to one in eight of the worlds one billion smokers. Deal makes eminent sense Shane MacGuill, head of tobacco at consultancy Euromonitor International, added that thedeal was motivated by the lucrative US market. BAT and Reynolds American have a strong existing relationship and while cost savings will be relatively modest the full access this acquisition would give BAT to the USa lucrative, consolidated market with high barriers to entrymeaning it makes eminent sense, said MacGuill. BAT will be inheriting full control of strong brands suchas Newport, Camel and thesuper-premium Natural American Spirit. It will also gain the option to leverage Reynolds Americans emerging product platform in world markets. In morning London deals, BATs share price added 0.24 per cent to 4,774 pence on Londons declining stock market. The worlds biggest cigarette producer by market share is the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation, followed by Marlboro maker Philip Morris International.