Philip Morris International Inc., maker of Marlboro and other cigarettes for sale overseas, has agreed to buy a Swedish company's South African snuff and pipe-tobacco operations for roughly $222 million.
Philip Morris International estimated that Swedish Match South Africa Ltd.'s products account for about 31 percent of total tobacco consumption in South Africa. The brands involved in the deal, announced yesterday, include Boxer, Best Blend and Taxi.
In March 2008, Philip Morris International, with offices in New York and Lausanne, Switzerland, was spun off from Henrico County-based Altria Group Inc., which owns Philip Morris USA.
Swedish Match also owns Swedish Match North America, a Chesterfield County-based maker of cigars and smokeless tobacco.
Spokesmen for Altria and Swedish Match North America said their operations are not affected by the deal.
The deal "represents an excellent strategic fit for our business in South Africa," Jean-Claude Kunz, president of Philip Morris International's Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region, said in a statement.
Swedish Match South Africa reported sales of roughly $88 million last year.
Philip Morris International, the world's largest non-governmental cigarette seller, hopes to boost sales of smokeless-tobacco products to offset decreased demand for cigarettes because of concerns about health, smoking bans and price increases.
In February, Philip Morris International announced a 50-50 joint venture with Swedish Match AB to make and sell smokeless products such as snus -- teabaglike pouches that users stick between cheek and gum.
Philip Morris International said it expects to complete the acquisition of the South African company by the end of the fourth quarter, after approval by South African regulators.
"This agreement with Philip Morris International is in line with Swedish Match's strategy to focus on smoke-free tobacco, cigars and lights products," Swedish Match AB President and CEO Lars Dahlgren said in a statement.
Swedish Match South Africa will continue to distribute lighters, matches and cigars for Swedish Match, the company said.
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Showing posts with label cigarette articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cigarette articles. Show all posts
Jul 13, 2009
Putting Loved Ones At Risk Of Secondhand Smoke With Cigarettes
Once upon a time, a cigarette could be smoked just about anywhere. There were no rules or regulations regarding where someone could smoke a cigarette or whom they were around when smoking. Then there came the concerns with tobacco use and how it could affect one's health. Soon, interest groups and concerned citizens were calling for cigarettes to be banned.
Although cigarettes today are not banned or illegal in any form, they are no longer allowed to be used indoors at restaurants, theaters, or other venues. In fact, if a driver is smoking with a child in the car and was pulled over for a non-smoking citation, the officer can issue a ticket for tobacco usage in the car. Millions upon millions of people around the world are now aware of the many side effects associated with smoking tobacco cigarettes.
What could have been done by a teenager for rebellious reasons could now be a full-fledged addiction to the nicotine found in the cigarettes and could even become a lifelong habit that will only result in an illness that kills the person. By now, many are aware of the illnesses associated with smoking cigarettes. Heart and lung disease, cancer, and respiratory problems are just the beginning. Lethargy, a lack of strength, and shortness of breath when engaging in physical activity are all symptoms that a smoker can feel as well.
In addition, when someone is smoking a cigarette around anybody, that person is being exposed to secondhand smoke. In some cases, the secondhand smoke is actually worse than smoking the cigarette itself because the person who is smoking the cigarette is used to the experience, and his body has adapted to the nicotine, tobacco, and chemicals that are being inhaled. On the other hand, the person who normally does not smoke and is exposed to the toxins found in the cigarette smoke occasionally might have a worse reaction because their body is not used to it.
It is not uncommon to hear of a spouse of a smoker who contracted lung cancer as a result of being exposed to the smoke for prolonged periods of time. It is not uncommon to hear of a non-smoking black jack dealer working in a casino who feels the side effects of tobacco usage around him. The results are varied, and the side effects are serious. Protecting family, friends, and colleagues from secondhand smoke is as easy as smoking a cigarette on your own time when they are not around.
Although cigarettes today are not banned or illegal in any form, they are no longer allowed to be used indoors at restaurants, theaters, or other venues. In fact, if a driver is smoking with a child in the car and was pulled over for a non-smoking citation, the officer can issue a ticket for tobacco usage in the car. Millions upon millions of people around the world are now aware of the many side effects associated with smoking tobacco cigarettes.
What could have been done by a teenager for rebellious reasons could now be a full-fledged addiction to the nicotine found in the cigarettes and could even become a lifelong habit that will only result in an illness that kills the person. By now, many are aware of the illnesses associated with smoking cigarettes. Heart and lung disease, cancer, and respiratory problems are just the beginning. Lethargy, a lack of strength, and shortness of breath when engaging in physical activity are all symptoms that a smoker can feel as well.
In addition, when someone is smoking a cigarette around anybody, that person is being exposed to secondhand smoke. In some cases, the secondhand smoke is actually worse than smoking the cigarette itself because the person who is smoking the cigarette is used to the experience, and his body has adapted to the nicotine, tobacco, and chemicals that are being inhaled. On the other hand, the person who normally does not smoke and is exposed to the toxins found in the cigarette smoke occasionally might have a worse reaction because their body is not used to it.
It is not uncommon to hear of a spouse of a smoker who contracted lung cancer as a result of being exposed to the smoke for prolonged periods of time. It is not uncommon to hear of a non-smoking black jack dealer working in a casino who feels the side effects of tobacco usage around him. The results are varied, and the side effects are serious. Protecting family, friends, and colleagues from secondhand smoke is as easy as smoking a cigarette on your own time when they are not around.
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