Imperial Tobacco Group

Imperial Tobacco's strategy is based on five key objectives:

• To focus on tobacco and tobacco-related products
• To strengthen their home market positions in the UK and Germany
• To extend their international presence through both organic growth and acquisitions
• To pursue opportunities for profitable international development in selected markets
• To continue to increase productivity and control costs through capital investment in new technology

This proven strategy remains extremely successful, and Imperial Tobacco continue to create value for their shareholders and fulfilling careers for their employees.

In the six years since Imperial Tobacco began overseas expansion, international sales have grown to over 49 per cent of group operating profit.

Imperial Tobacco have transformed the Group into an multi-national tobacco business and they are now well-placed to capitalise on this strengthened international position and derive full value from our acquisitions.

Imperial Tobacco has shown year on year growth for the last six years and they continue to see real growth potential in a number of selected markets including Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

In the six years since Imperial Tobacco became an independent company and their listing on the London Stock exchange, operating profit has grown over 110 per cent from £373 million to £789 million.

Imperial Tobacco’s Business Development team continues to seek opportunities for market development. Since 1996, Imperial Tobacco has spent over £4.4 billion on acquisitions, including Rizla in January 1997, the Netherlands-based Van Nelle Tabak in 1998 and a portfolio of brands in Australia and New Zealand in 1999.

More recent acquisitions to Imperial Tobacco include: the Baelen Group - the leading Belgian manufacturer of roll your own tobacco; EFKA - a German manufacturer of rolling papers and tubes and; the business assets of Mayfair Vending - an important addition to their Sinclair Collis cigarette vending business, all in 2000.

The purchase of Tobaccor SA in April 2001, has given Imperial Tobacco a market leading position in eight African countries.

In May 2002 Imperial Tobacco competed the acquisition of Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, which marked a strategic evolution of their business. This positioned Imperial Tobacco as the world's fourth largest international tobacco company.

Source www.imperial-tobacco.com