LONDON (AFP) - Cigarette maker Imperial Tobacco has announced the purchase of US group Commonwealth Brands for 960 million pounds.
"Imperial Tobacco Group PLC today announced that it has agreed to acquire 100 percent of CBHC Inc, which trades as Commonwealth Brands, from Houchens Industries Inc for a total cash consideration of 974 million pounds," the company said in an official statememt.
Commonwealth makes cigarette brands including USA Gold, the eighth best-selling brand in the country, and Sonoma, ranked fourteenth and the best seller in the US military.
Imperial, which makes Davidoff cigarettes, Drum tobacco and Rizla cigarette papers among others, said last year it was keen to widen its geographical base through bolt-on acquisitions.
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