Imperial Tobacco Group PLC

Bristol United Kingdom

  (London: IMT)

Company Description

The UK's #1 cigarette maker, Imperial Tobacco Group eyes an even larger throne. The group has lavished billions on brand-building acquisitions -- including Spain's Altadis (2008), Commonwealth Brands in the US (2007), and Germany's Reemtsma (Davidoff and West cigarettes, 2002) -- to extend its reign across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia/Pacific region, and North America. In addition to Davidoff, brands include Gauloises, JPS, Rizla, Montecristo cigars, and Skruf snus. Imperial Tobacco operates some 50 cigarette and tobacco product and processing plants worldwide, as well as a logistics business. Products are sold in 160-plus countries; emerging markets account for 60% of cigarettes sold.