Japan Tobacco buys Russia’s 4th-largest cigarette maker

TOKYO, March 18: Japan Tobacco has agreed to buy Donskoy Tabak, Russia's fourth-largest cigarette maker, for $1.6 billion (90 billion roubles) in a bid to reinforce its leading position in the country.
One of the world's biggest tobacco companies, whose global brands include Winston and Camel, Japan Tobacco (JT) has set its sights on international markets to counter slowing sales at home and intensifying competition in the e-cigarette market.
JT on Friday said the deal would boost its Russian market share to about 40 per cent from the current 33 per cent, which was already the largest in the country.
    -AFP