British American Tobacco (BAT) hopes for lucky strike with $47bn offer for remaining stake in Reynolds American October 23, 2016 Reynolds American is this week expected to respond to a $47bn (£38.4bn) takeover offer from British American Tobacco (BAT), in a move that would create the world’s largest listed tobacco group by turnover. FTSE 100-listed BAT, which already owns 42.2 per cent of Reynolds, said on Friday it will pay $56.50 per share in a [...]
Woodford’s stalwart fund, the Woodford Equity Income Fund, suffers after a nightmare fortnight August 6, 2017 Renowned investor Neil Woodford will be hoping this week holds fewer hidden surprises than the last fortnight, as some of the largest companies in his portfolio have seen their share prices plummet. The business which held the largest position in Woodford’s Equity Income Fund portfolio, drug company AstraZeneca, suffered as its shares plunged towards the [...]
British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International face South Korea probe over alleged tax evasion August 30, 2016 Big Four cigarette makers British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International (PMI) are being investigated by South Korea’s tax authority over alleged tax evasion. South Korea’s National Tax Service has launched the probe over claims the tobacco firms evaded taxes on profits from a tobacco price hike last year, reported the Korea Times. The [...]
How the tobacco and vaping industries responded to the government’s new tobacco control plan July 18, 2017 The tobacco and vaping industries have largely welcomed a tobacco control plan released by the government today, which seeks to encourage a loosening of e-cigarette regulations after Brexit. The report, produced by the Department of Health, said the government would identify ways to de-regulate vaping after the UK leaves the European Union. These could include [...]
Sales light up at Big Four cigarette maker British American Tobacco but profits fall in mixed results July 28, 2016 Revenues were up but profits were down in a mixed bag of results for the Big Four cigarette maker British American Tobacco (BAT). The figures Turnover at the Pall Mall and Dunhill maker was up by 4.2 per cent reaching £6.7bn in the six months to 30 June. However, adjusted profit from operations were down 2.2 per cent, reaching [...]
Tobacco companies British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands are in the minority as stock market risers today June 24, 2016 After a morning of steep losses across London stocks in reaction to today's Brexit vote, there's one industry that's proving to be resilient in the face of market turmoil. While sectors such as banking have suffered today, two of the big four tobacco companies, Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco (BAT), are some of the only [...]
How tobacco stocks could now be damaging to your wealth September 4, 2017 A month has now passed since tobacco businesses – and their share prices – were sent reeling by a US regulatory announcement. So what was the news that, for example, wiped out all the gains British American Tobacco had made in the first half of this year? Was it perhaps about to become illegal to [...]
Why divesting from tobacco stocks is pointless virtue signalling June 26, 2017 This week marks the 10 year anniversary of the smoking ban in England, and tobacco is once again making headlines. Not content with the government prohibiting smoking in public places, various funds and companies have bought into the ludicrous divestment movement which seeks to bring down industries by trading their shares. The Guardian started the [...]
When it comes to drug policy, for once UK politicians should look to Donald Trump April 20, 2018 Given the whirlwind of foreign policy decisions and domestic policy scandals dominating the UK this week, you’d be forgiven for missing some extremely progressive news to come out of the US. While President Trump is rarely credited for his progressive stances on social issues or civil liberties, lo and behold! He is tackling the War [...]
The investment decision that haunts us most October 31, 2017 With the clocks going back this Sunday we got to talking about the one hour from our lives we would want to have over again if we could. From there, it was but a short jump to the single investment decision we wish we could take back or, given Halloween is just around the corner, [...]