British American Tobacco has agreed a $49.4bn (£40bn) deal to take control of US rival Reynolds, creating the world’s largest listed tobacco firm.
The UK company has been in talks with Reynolds for months about buying the 57.8% stake it does not already own.
The merger would bring together some of the tobacco industry’s best-known brands, including Lucky Strike, Rothmans, Dunhill and Camel cigarettes.
A merger “creates a stronger, truly global tobacco” business, BAT said.
BAT, a shareholder in Reynolds since 2004, said last year that the merger was “the logical progression in our relationship”.
However, the UK company’s initial approaches were rebuffed by Reynolds, and a $47bn offer was rejected last November.
Full Content: BBC News
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