The American Tobacco Company - synthèse en anglais

History :

At the start of the 20th century, The American Tobacco Company set aside a massive 30 million dollars to buy up British tobacco companies one by one. It became the Imperial Tobacco Company. From 1902 to 1980 the company was reshaped. These years were a time of consolidation for Imperial Tobacco. It bought several of the most important tobacco manufacturers. By the end of 1980, Imperial's 22 constituent companies were reduced to three: WD & HO Wills, John Player & Sons and Ogden's. From 1960 Imperial developed a strategy aimed towards diversification and away from its focus on tobacco. It diversified in food, plastic, electronic... A major reorganization of Imperial Tobacco began in 1981 as a result of the decline in the market for tobacco goods and the need for greater cost effectiveness. In October 1996, Imperial regained its corporate independence and the Imperial Tobacco Group PLC was listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 100 company.

Chart :

The Board of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, which meets at least five times a year, currently comprises a Non-Executive Chairman, seven Non-Executive Directors and four Executive Directors.

The chairman of the company is Iain Napier. He is a former chief executive of Taylor Woodrow PLC and main board director of Bass PLC. He was the Non-Executive Chairman of McBride PLC and John Menzies PLC, and a Non-Executive Director of Molson Coors Brewing Company and William Grant & Sons Holdings Limited. He brings considerable senior level board and general management experience to the group. He is a non-executive director of Imperial Tobacco from March 2000 and he became chairman in January 2007.

Conclusion :

Imperial Tobacco exists since 1901. It is a British multinational tobacco company. It is the world's fourth largest cigarette company and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers. Imperial Tobacco is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of FTSE 100. The chairman of the company is Iain Napier.

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