Imperial Brands in talks to save wholesaler Palmer & Harvey alongside Carlyle and McColl’s founder
Tobacco giant Imperial Brands confirmed this morning that it is in talks to help save Palmer & Harvey, the UK’s biggest cigarette supplier.
In a trading update, Imperial said it was seeking to create a “sustainable future” for P&H, which supplies Tesco and other major retailers.
Shares in Imperial dropped 2.3 per cent this morning following the announcement.
The rescue deal for Palmer & Harvey is also expected to involve James Lancaster, co-founder of convenience chain McColl’s, according to Sky News.
Buyout firm Carlyle is thought to be leading the rescue, with an exclusivity agreement expected to be announced this week.
Competition fears
The future of P&H has been in doubt for some months, due to concerns over the private company’s debts.
It is also set to face a threat to its contract with Tesco, with accounts for a large proportion of its business, if the supermarket’s merger with rival Booker goes through.
The proposed deal between Tesco and Booker was referred for an in-depth competition probe in July, due to concerns that Booker would be able to supply inferior wholesale products to other stores in a bid to drive customers to Tesco.
Tobacco duty impacting cigarette trade
The news that the UK’s biggest cigarette supplier is in the midst of a rescue deal comes ont he same day that the tobacco industry advocacy body releases findings around the illicit cigarette trade.
The TMA found that 72.5 per cent of UK smokers buy tobacco from tax-free sources, including ordering it from abroad and buying it illegally.
The body estimates that this means the government loses out on £3bn in tax revenue from tobacco.
“There is a real risk that the problem could be made worse if the Government decides to increase tobacco duty for a second time in nine months in the upcoming Budget,” said TMA director general Giles Roca. “These findings suggest the Government needs to completely re-think its tobacco taxation policy.”
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