RAI judged likely to acquire Lorillard

It looks increasingly likely that Reynolds American (RAI) will acquire Lorillard, according to a research note issued by Bonnie Herzog, managing director of beverage, tobacco and convenience store research at Wells Fargo Securities (WFS).

In part, Herzog’s position is based on news reports that came out yesterday afternoon indicating that RAI was in “active discussions” to buy Lorillard.

But it is based too on WFS’s RAI-Lorillard merger analysis published on March 3 and on the belief that such a merger would be value creating for the shareholders of both RAI and Lorillard.

Herzog said also that British American Tobacco could either acquire or, more likely, form a strategic partnership with the combined RAI-Lorillard entity.

Given that it formed a partnership, BAT would be likely to contribute capital to help finance the deal and maintain in the combined entity the 42 percent stake it has in RAI.

E-cigarettes highly efficient quit aids

E-cigarettes are considerably more effective than over-the-counter treatments such as nicotine gum and patches at helping people to quit smoking, according to a story in The Independent quoting the results of a new study by researchers at University College London (UCL).

One leading expert was quoted as saying it would be “perfectly reasonable” for the devices, which would soon be licensed as medicines, to be prescribed on the National Health Service (NHS).

Despite concerns that the recent rise in popularity of e-cigarettes might be renormalizing smoking, UCL professor Robert West said that these devices had proven to be highly efficient quit-smoking aids, which could “substantially improve public health.”

The UCL study looked at the success rate of nearly 6,000 quitters. Those who used e-cigarettes were 60 percent more likely to report succeeding than either those who tried to quit with over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies, or those who quit without help.

E-cigarettes were found to be as effective as prescription medicines, but the group of smokers with the highest quitting success rate were those who used free NHS stop-smoking services.

Trademark dispute over Blu e-cigarettes

Zippo Manufacturing Company (ZMC), maker of the Zippo® lighter, and its subsidiary ZippMark, said on Tuesday that they were suing LOEC Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lorillard, for alleged trademark infringement, according to a ZFC press note issued through PRNewswire.

Zippo’s lawsuit, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, seeks to prevent LOEC from selling its e-cigarettes under the brand name “blu” because of Zippo’s ownership of the trademark BLU® for its line of blue-flame butane lighters.

“Despite our attempts to resolve this matter amicably, Zippo has been compelled to seek the court’s assistance to protect our Blu trademarks,” said Zippo president and CEO Gregory Booth.

“Zippo is instantly recognizable because we have long understood the value of our brand and the need to vigorously protect it against use by others.

“Our Blu trademarks are similarly valuable and will be similarly protected.”

Zippo’s trademark infringement claim was said to have come in response to LOEC seeking a declaratory judgment of non-infringement.

JT to grant 11 Asian student scholarships

Japan Tobacco Inc. said today that it would grant scholarships to 11 students from Asia as part of its 2014 Asian Scholarship Program (ASP) for human resource development in the region.

Aiming to promote international exchange and human resource development in Asia, the JT ASP was established in 1998 to offer financial support to Asian students.

Through the program, Asian graduate school and doctoral course students currently or imminently financing their own studies at 37 universities and colleges selected by JT throughout Japan will receive ¥150,000 each month for up to two years.

Every year JT awards scholarships to about 10 applicants, and a total of about 20 scholarship students study in each round of the program. There will be 21 scholarship students during this fiscal year, a number that includes the newly granted 11 students: four men and seven women.

A total of 194 students have been awarded scholarships since 1998.

As well as supporting study and research in Japan, JT offers also several opportunities to experience Japanese culture, establish networking with young JT employees and visit JT facilities.

“As a good corporate citizen, the JT Group has established various key areas for social contribution activities in the JT Group Social Contribution Policy, focusing on social welfare, arts and culture, environmental protection and disaster relief,” JT said in a note posted on its website.

“The JT Group will continue to conduct various social contribution activities including the JT Asian Scholarship Program.”

Zimbabwe prices down by 14 percent

So far this sales season, Zimbabwe’s average flue-cured price, at $3.18 per kg, is more than 14 percent down on that of the same period of last year, $3.71, according to a story in News Day.

No explanation was given as to why the prices paid to farmers were down so dramatically.

The latest figures issued by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) indicate that this season 151.5 million kg of flue-cured has been sold for $481.8 million. The sales comprised 109.5 million kg sold under contract and 42 million kg sold at auction.

By the same stage of last season, 118.8 million kg had been sold for $440.6 million.

At least 180 million kg of flue-cured is expected to be sold this year, up from 166 million kg last year.

Universal reports on challenging year

Universal Corporation yesterday reported net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, at $149.0 million or $5.25 per diluted share, increased on that of the previous year’s $132.8 million or $4.66 per diluted share.

Segment operating income, which excludes certain one-off items, was $175.2 million, down by $57.6 million or 24.7 percent.

The reduction in segment operating income was primarily attributed to weaker margins in Brazil from higher green-leaf costs, increased currency “remeasurement” and exchange costs, and higher sales of carryover and uncommitted inventories in fiscal year 2013.

Revenues of $2.5 billion for fiscal year 2014 were said to have been increased by 3.3 percent compared with those of the previous year, as slightly lower volumes were offset by higher prices.

“We performed well in the face of a challenging environment this year, and our underlying business and customer relationships remain strong,” said George C. Freeman III, chairman, president and CEO, in announcing the results.

“Given the larger crops this year, shipping volumes in the second half of fiscal year 2014 exceeded those in the comparable period last year. These increased volumes partially offset lower levels of carryover volumes in the first half of the year, weaker margins in Brazil, and negative foreign currency ‘remeasurement’ and exchange loss comparisons this year …”

Meanwhile, Universal’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share on the common shares of the company, payable on Aug. 11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 14.

In addition, the board declared a quarterly dividend of $16.875 per share on the company’s Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, payable on June 16 to shareholders of record as of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 1.

The board set the date of the annual meeting of shareholders as Aug. 5, 2014.