British Tobacco Firm Buys U.S. Company with Local Plant

Source from:  The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - February 9, 2007 02/13/2007

Kentucky grocery store operator Houchens Industries Inc. has agreed to sell its tobacco manufacturing subsidiary, Commonwealth Brands, to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC for $1.9 billion. Commonwealth employs about 720 people, including employees at its single manufacturing center in Reidsville. It makes USA Gold, Sonoma, Montclair, Malibu and Riviera brand cigarettes. Imperial Tobacco, based in the United Kingdom, expects the acquisition to be completed by April, according to a news release. Commonwealth Brands, based in Bowling Green, Ky., is the fourth-largest cigarette manufacturer in the United States. Enditem