Imperial Confirmed as MSA Participant

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Nov 21, 2007 11/22/2007

Imperial Tobacco Group's application to join the US' Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) has been approved. An announcement on the company's website this morning said that Imperial Tobacco Group PLC had received confirmation from the National Association of Attorneys General in the US that its application to join the MSA as a 'Participating Manufacturer' had been approved. Chief executive, Gareth Davis, described the confirmation as "excellent news" and said Imperial was looking forward to further enhancing its presence on the highly profitable US market. "We need to complete a formal brand registration process before launching any new Imperial Tobacco brands in the USA," he said, before adding: "This process should be concluded in the coming weeks." Following its acquisition in April of Commonwealth Brands, the fourth largest cigarette company in the US, Imperial has a cigarette market share of 3.7 per cent. In the discount sector, it has a 13.4 per cent share. 'Key brands USA Gold and Sonoma are the third and sixth best-selling brands in the discount sector, with respective shares of 8.2 per cent and 4.8 per cent,' according to this morning's announcement. 'Following the acquisition of the USA trademarks of Bali Shag and McClintock fine cut tobaccos in July 2007, Imperial Tobacco also has around 1 per cent of the fine cut tobacco market to complement its established rolling papers and filter tubes business in the USA,' it added. Enditem