Altadis Rejects Second Takeover Attempt
Tuesday April 10, 2007
The world's largest cigar maker (which is also the fifth largest cigarette company) may soon be acquired, or divided into three separate entities. Altadis SA has just announced that they have rejected the second attempt of Imperial Tobacco to acquire the company. According to speculation, if Altadis is not acquired soon, the company may be broken up into three parts: cigarettes, cigars, and distribution. Read more in the New York Times.
Personally, I believe it is necessary to recognize that there is a big difference between cigarette and cigar smokers. All the new restrictions being imposed on smoking in public are primarily aimed at cigarette smokers, but cigar smokers are suffering collateral damage (read more). If the world's largest cigar company was not also in the business of selling cigarettes, then this would be a significant milestone in finally separating the bulls from the calves. What do you think? Your comments are welcome, below.
Personally, I believe it is necessary to recognize that there is a big difference between cigarette and cigar smokers. All the new restrictions being imposed on smoking in public are primarily aimed at cigarette smokers, but cigar smokers are suffering collateral damage (read more). If the world's largest cigar company was not also in the business of selling cigarettes, then this would be a significant milestone in finally separating the bulls from the calves. What do you think? Your comments are welcome, below.
Comments
I don’t like defending the rights of cigarette smokers who are some of the same people who banned cigar smokers from bars and other establishments, years before the recent round of public smoking bans became fashionable.
I stand up for all smokers. If we get devided then we stand no chance at all. I only smoke cigars but not every day. When I travel and do not bring cigars I still get a smoking room. Hotels going 100% non smoking is the next trend in the works.
stinkie from Cigar Beat
I would like to own stock in a publicly held cigar company, but there aren’t any - only tobacco companies that make cigarettes, cigars, and other products. The only pure cigar companies are privately held. So instead of separating the bulls from the calves, how about separating the bulls from the bears? I like cigars and would love to invest in some cigar company stocks. I’m bullish on cigars, but bearish on cigarettes.
For such an active online community, we cigar smokers should be embarrassed about how little time and effort we devote to defending our right to smoke. We should distance ourselves from cigarettes and make our own case. elgarfio is correct, cigarette smokers kicked us out years ago. We have nothing in common. We enjoy fine, handcrafted works of art, while they are nicotine addicts.
“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” –Benjamin Franklin