Reynolds and we look forward to putting the recommended offer to shareholders," said BAT Chief Executive Nicandro Durante in the statement.He added that the blockbuster deal "will create a stronger, global tobacco and NGP business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world"."We believe this will drive continued, sustainable profit growth and returns for shareholders long into the future."Reynolds shareholders will receive $29.44 in cash and 0.5260 BAT ordinary shares, under the terms of the transaction.That represented an increase of 26 percent compared with the closing Reynolds share price on October 20 -- the day before BAT's unsuccessful bid.The offer comprises $25 billion worth of BAT shares and $24.4 billion in cash and values the entire Reynolds group at more than $85 billion.BAT forecasts that it will make at least $400 million in annualised cost savings following the purchase, while the deal remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.The London-listed firm plans to expand further in the e-cigarette market -- where it is already the largest international company outside the US -- adding Reynolds' popular Vuse vapour brand to its portfolio.Major global tobacco companies are smoking out emerging markets to offset sliding demand in Western Europe, where high taxes, public smoking bans and health worries have persuaded many people to give up or turn to e-cigarettes, battery-powered devices that heat a nicotine liquid.Reynolds is the second biggest player in the US market and has three out of the four top-selling cigarette brands.Half of BAT's sales are in developed nations and the rest in emerging markets, while it claims to sell its cigarette brands to one in eight of the world's one billion smokers.- Deal 'makes eminent sense' -Shane MacGuill, head of tobacco at consultancy Euromonitor International, added that the deal was motivated by the lucrative US market."BAT and Reynolds American have a strong existing relationship and while cost savings will be relatively modest the full access this acquisition would give BAT to the US -- a lucrative, consolidated market with high barriers to entry -- meaning it makes eminent sense," said MacGuill."BAT will be inheriting full control of strong brands such as Newport, Camel and the super-premium Natural American Spirit."It will also gain the option to leverage Reynolds American's emerging product platform in world markets."In morning London deals, BAT's share price added 0.24 percent to 4,774 pence on London's declining stock market.The world's biggest cigarette producer by market share is the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation, followed by Marlboro maker Philip Morris International.
Others have suggested banning the sale of filtered cigarettes altogether on the basis of their adverse environmental impact
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While the race to win the fickle hearts of Chinese smokers isn't over by any means, domestic tobacco giants including China's largest cigarette maker Yunnan Hongta Group have already begun to fret over foreign competition
