Reynolds American to Buy Lorillard for $27.4B
Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Lorillard, Inc., the third largest tobacco company in the United States and maker of Newport cigarettes, announces that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which RAI has agreed to acquire Lorillard in a cash-and-stock transaction currently valued at $68.88 per Lorillard share, or a total of $27.4 billion, including the assumption of net debt.
Under the terms of the transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Lorillard shareholders will receive, for each Lorillard share, $50.50 in cash and 0.2909 of a share in RAI stock at closing, representing $68.88 per share based on RAI's closing share price yesterday. That represents a premium of 40.4 percent to the stock price on Feb. 28, 2014 the last trading day prior to initial media speculation around a possible transaction, and a premium of 12.6 percent to the stock price on July 2, 2014 prior to more recent news reports.
Following the transaction, RAI is projected to have over $11 billion in revenues and approximately $5 billion in operating income, and its operating companies will have growth pillars across key industry categories: Newport, Camel, Pall Mall and Natural American Spirit in combustible cigarettes; Grizzly in smokeless tobacco; and VUSE in the growing e-cigarette market.
RAI also announces that it has reached an agreement with Imperial, the fourth-largest international tobacco company, under which Imperial has agreed to purchase the KOOL, Salem, Winston, Maverick and blu eCigs brands and other assets and liabilities for a total consideration of $7.1 billion in cash. RAI expects to receive net cash proceeds of approximately $4.4 billion after taxes. The addition of these brands to Imperial's U.S. operations will more than triple its share of the U.S. cigarette market, position it for long-term success in traditional tobacco products and the growing e-cigarette category, and elevate it to the status of a major U.S. competitor for the first time.
As part of the divestiture, Imperial will acquire certain assets owned by Lorillard including its manufacturing and R&D facilities in Greensboro, N.C., and approximately 2,900 employees, including a national sales force. The closing of the sale of these assets to Imperial is conditioned upon, among other things, RAI's completion of the acquisition of Lorillard.
BAT, RAI's largest shareholder, has reiterated its strong confidence in the prospects of RAI and is fully supportive of, and has agreed to vote its shares in favor of, the transaction. As part of the transaction, BAT will maintain its 42 percent ownership in RAI through an investment of approximately $4.7 billion (based on RAI's closing share price of $60.16 as of July 2, 2014, the same share price used to determine the stock component of Lorillard shareholders' consideration).
In addition, RAI and BAT have agreed in principle to pursue an ongoing technology-sharing initiative for the development and commercialization of next-generation tobacco products, including heat-not-burn cigarettes and vapor products.
Susan Cameron, RAI's president and chief executive officer, will continue in that role after completion of the acquisition, and the company will remain headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. Murray Kessler, Lorillard's chairman, president and chief executive officer, will join RAI's board after the closing of the transaction.
Complementary Core Strengths
"Reynolds American and Lorillard have complementary core strengths and the addition of Newport to our operating companies' existing key brand portfolios – including flagship brands Camel, Pall Mall, Natural American Spirit and Grizzly – will enhance our ability to compete in the combustible cigarette and smokeless categories," says Cameron. "We are also confident in R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company's digital vapor cigarette VUSE, which offers superior technology and has received very positive early results in its national rollout. This transaction will provide RAI with additional resources to invest in innovation, R&D and its operating companies' brands. This will benefit adult tobacco consumers and wholesale and retail customers alike."
"We are proud of Lorillard's record of shareholder value creation and operational success, and we view this transaction, which provides a significant premium to our shareholders, as the culmination of our efforts," says Kessler. "Importantly, we consider these transactions not only a win for our shareholders, but also a win for our customers, consumers and employees. We look forward to working with Reynolds American and Imperial to complete these transactions."
"We are confident in the strategic and financial merits of these transactions," Nicandro Durante, chief executive officer of BAT, says. "Additionally, we find the long-term prospects of this combination compelling, which is why we are making an additional investment in Reynolds American."
Creates Stronger, More Diversified Industry Player
The acquisition of Lorillard will significantly strengthen and diversify R.J. Reynolds' cigarette portfolio, resulting in the most balanced offering in the industry with brands including Newport, Camel and Pall Mall. The addition of Newport will be a key component of R.J. Reynolds' future growth-brand strategy as Newport leads the U.S. menthol category. Lorillard reported that Newport ended 2013 with a 12.6 percent share of market, and the brand has demonstrated a solid growth trajectory over the past three decades.
R.J. Reynolds will also enjoy increased geographic capabilities resulting from its brands' strength in the Western U.S. and Lorillard's complementary strong presence in the Eastern U.S.
Cameron says RAI believes R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company's VUSE brand is a game-changing vapor product. "We made the determination several years ago to internally design and develop VUSE as the first digital vapor cigarette, and intend to remain focused on its growth and expansion nationwide. Imperial is getting a great brand in blu eCigs, and will remain a key competitor in that growing category of the industry.
"Additionally, our agreement with BAT to jointly pursue development of new tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn cigarettes and vapor products, holds great promise for global growth in those categories," Cameron says. "This will certainly enhance value for all shareholders."
Cameron says that the company is confident that the review of the menthol category of the U.S. cigarette market underway at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will result in reasonable, science-based regulatory decisions.
"We agree with the FDA that menthol in cigarettes is not associated with an increase in disease risk to the user compared to non-menthol cigarettes. We further believe that current scientific evidence does not support that there is any greater population-level risk as a result of menthol in cigarettes. The agency's commitments to science-based regulation, coupled with a transparent rulemaking process, will allow us to manage this issue over time," Cameron says.
The synergies and higher sales volumes resulting from this transaction will position RAI's operating companies to fuel continued investment in product development, R&D and innovation for the long-term future of the company. RAI anticipates that after completion of the acquisition, R.J. Reynolds will begin hiring for manufacturing and selected other positions and that process is expected to extend over an 18-month period.
The transaction will also fuel RAI's continued investment in its transforming tobacco agenda: leading change in the industry by driving innovation throughout its businesses, redefining enjoyment for adult tobacco consumers, reducing the harm caused by smoking, and accelerating the decline in youth tobacco use.
Under the terms of the transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Lorillard shareholders will receive, for each Lorillard share, $50.50 in cash and 0.2909 of a share in RAI stock at closing, representing $68.88 per share based on RAI's closing share price yesterday. That represents a premium of 40.4 percent to the stock price on Feb. 28, 2014 the last trading day prior to initial media speculation around a possible transaction, and a premium of 12.6 percent to the stock price on July 2, 2014 prior to more recent news reports.
Following the transaction, RAI is projected to have over $11 billion in revenues and approximately $5 billion in operating income, and its operating companies will have growth pillars across key industry categories: Newport, Camel, Pall Mall and Natural American Spirit in combustible cigarettes; Grizzly in smokeless tobacco; and VUSE in the growing e-cigarette market.
RAI also announces that it has reached an agreement with Imperial, the fourth-largest international tobacco company, under which Imperial has agreed to purchase the KOOL, Salem, Winston, Maverick and blu eCigs brands and other assets and liabilities for a total consideration of $7.1 billion in cash. RAI expects to receive net cash proceeds of approximately $4.4 billion after taxes. The addition of these brands to Imperial's U.S. operations will more than triple its share of the U.S. cigarette market, position it for long-term success in traditional tobacco products and the growing e-cigarette category, and elevate it to the status of a major U.S. competitor for the first time.
As part of the divestiture, Imperial will acquire certain assets owned by Lorillard including its manufacturing and R&D facilities in Greensboro, N.C., and approximately 2,900 employees, including a national sales force. The closing of the sale of these assets to Imperial is conditioned upon, among other things, RAI's completion of the acquisition of Lorillard.
BAT, RAI's largest shareholder, has reiterated its strong confidence in the prospects of RAI and is fully supportive of, and has agreed to vote its shares in favor of, the transaction. As part of the transaction, BAT will maintain its 42 percent ownership in RAI through an investment of approximately $4.7 billion (based on RAI's closing share price of $60.16 as of July 2, 2014, the same share price used to determine the stock component of Lorillard shareholders' consideration).
In addition, RAI and BAT have agreed in principle to pursue an ongoing technology-sharing initiative for the development and commercialization of next-generation tobacco products, including heat-not-burn cigarettes and vapor products.
Susan Cameron, RAI's president and chief executive officer, will continue in that role after completion of the acquisition, and the company will remain headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. Murray Kessler, Lorillard's chairman, president and chief executive officer, will join RAI's board after the closing of the transaction.
Complementary Core Strengths
"Reynolds American and Lorillard have complementary core strengths and the addition of Newport to our operating companies' existing key brand portfolios – including flagship brands Camel, Pall Mall, Natural American Spirit and Grizzly – will enhance our ability to compete in the combustible cigarette and smokeless categories," says Cameron. "We are also confident in R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company's digital vapor cigarette VUSE, which offers superior technology and has received very positive early results in its national rollout. This transaction will provide RAI with additional resources to invest in innovation, R&D and its operating companies' brands. This will benefit adult tobacco consumers and wholesale and retail customers alike."
"We are proud of Lorillard's record of shareholder value creation and operational success, and we view this transaction, which provides a significant premium to our shareholders, as the culmination of our efforts," says Kessler. "Importantly, we consider these transactions not only a win for our shareholders, but also a win for our customers, consumers and employees. We look forward to working with Reynolds American and Imperial to complete these transactions."
"We are confident in the strategic and financial merits of these transactions," Nicandro Durante, chief executive officer of BAT, says. "Additionally, we find the long-term prospects of this combination compelling, which is why we are making an additional investment in Reynolds American."
Creates Stronger, More Diversified Industry Player
The acquisition of Lorillard will significantly strengthen and diversify R.J. Reynolds' cigarette portfolio, resulting in the most balanced offering in the industry with brands including Newport, Camel and Pall Mall. The addition of Newport will be a key component of R.J. Reynolds' future growth-brand strategy as Newport leads the U.S. menthol category. Lorillard reported that Newport ended 2013 with a 12.6 percent share of market, and the brand has demonstrated a solid growth trajectory over the past three decades.
R.J. Reynolds will also enjoy increased geographic capabilities resulting from its brands' strength in the Western U.S. and Lorillard's complementary strong presence in the Eastern U.S.
Cameron says RAI believes R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company's VUSE brand is a game-changing vapor product. "We made the determination several years ago to internally design and develop VUSE as the first digital vapor cigarette, and intend to remain focused on its growth and expansion nationwide. Imperial is getting a great brand in blu eCigs, and will remain a key competitor in that growing category of the industry.
"Additionally, our agreement with BAT to jointly pursue development of new tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn cigarettes and vapor products, holds great promise for global growth in those categories," Cameron says. "This will certainly enhance value for all shareholders."
Cameron says that the company is confident that the review of the menthol category of the U.S. cigarette market underway at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will result in reasonable, science-based regulatory decisions.
"We agree with the FDA that menthol in cigarettes is not associated with an increase in disease risk to the user compared to non-menthol cigarettes. We further believe that current scientific evidence does not support that there is any greater population-level risk as a result of menthol in cigarettes. The agency's commitments to science-based regulation, coupled with a transparent rulemaking process, will allow us to manage this issue over time," Cameron says.
The synergies and higher sales volumes resulting from this transaction will position RAI's operating companies to fuel continued investment in product development, R&D and innovation for the long-term future of the company. RAI anticipates that after completion of the acquisition, R.J. Reynolds will begin hiring for manufacturing and selected other positions and that process is expected to extend over an 18-month period.
The transaction will also fuel RAI's continued investment in its transforming tobacco agenda: leading change in the industry by driving innovation throughout its businesses, redefining enjoyment for adult tobacco consumers, reducing the harm caused by smoking, and accelerating the decline in youth tobacco use.