Swedish Match Ab Agrees To Acquire Cigars International Inc.

pds

Enjoying today
Staff member
Thoughts folks may be interested...the devil site changes hands.

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Richmond, VA—Swedish Match NA announces today that its parent company Swedish Match AB has agreed to acquire Cigars International Inc., a privately-held company that specializes in the direct marketing and sales of premium and machine-made cigars and related accessories.

Cigars International will be operated as a separate business independently of Swedish Match AB’s existing U.S. operations: Swedish Match North America and General Cigar Holdings. Keith Meier, founder and chief executive officer and John De Marco, vice president and chief operating officer of Cigars International will both continue in their respective roles.

Sven Hindrikes, president and chief executive officer of Swedish Match AB explained, “Swedish Match AB’s purchase of Cigars International is aligned with our long-term growth strategies in the premium cigar category and represents an opportunity to strengthen our position within the global cigar market.”

Headquartered in Bath, Pennsylvania, Cigars International utilizes a multi-channel direct marketing strategy encompassing catalog sales and email programming, as well as fulfillment and wholesale distribution via its websites: cigarsinternational.com and cigarbid.com. Cigars International also operates two retail outlets in Pennsylvania. The company features a comprehensive product selection including but not limited to premium brands such as Macanudo®, Cohiba®, Romeo y Julieta® and Arturo Fuente®. These offerings are complemented by a collection of proprietary cigars sold exclusively through Cigars International.

Keith Meier remarked, “Considering Swedish Match AB’s leadership position within the global tobacco industry, we are enthusiastic about the opportunities for growth that this transaction represents.”

The transaction which is subject to regulatory approval is expected to close within the next 30 days. Terms of the proposed purchase have not been disclosed.

Harris Williams & Co., a middle market investment banking and advisory firm acted as an advisor to Cigars International on this transaction. BB&T Capital Markets served as the exclusive financial advisor to Swedish Match AB in the transaction.

About Swedish Match
Swedish Match is a global group of companies with a broad assortment of market-leading brands in smokeless tobacco products, cigars, pipe tobacco and lights products. The group’s global operations generated sales of 12,470 MSEK for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007. Swedish Match shares are listed on Stockholmsbörsen (SWMA).

® Macanudo and Cohiba are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co., Inc.
® Romey y Julieta is a registered trademark of Altadis USA, Inc.
® Arturo Fuente is a registered trademark of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.
 
Change is not good. I have enough General-distriubuted cigars to last a lifetime, thank you very much, LOL.
 
:tpd:

Also that nasty rumor going around about General Cigar purchasing Padron is really beginning to chap my ass............. and because it would be awful, then I am sure it will happen.
 
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