• Skip to main content
  • Go to main navigation
  • Go to language selector
SearchFree text

Swedish Match
  • svenska
Close
  • Swedish Match websites

    • Image Bank
    • Swedish Match Brasil
    • Swedish Match Industries
    • Snus and Match Museum
  • Brand websites

    Smokefree

    • Swedish Match e-commerce service (SE)
    • General (US)
    • Longhorn (US)
    • Pinkerton Tobacco
    • Niqo Co.

    Lights

    • Cricket
    • Nitedals
    • Redheads
  • Other

    • Swedish Match Denmark
    • Swedish Match Norway
    • The Solstickan Foundation (SE)
  • Home
  • Our company More Less

    Our company

    • About us
    • Markets More Less
      • Our product categories and markets
    • Company history More Less
      • Svenska Tobaks AB
      • Svenska Tändsticks AB
      • Swedish Match AB
    • Corporate Governance More Less
      • Articles of association
      • AGM minutes
  • Our business More Less

    Our business

    • Smokefree More Less
      • Nicotine products and regulations
      • History of snus
      • Snus production
    • Cigars More Less
      • History of cigars
    • Lights
  • Sustainability More Less

    Sustainability

    • Strategy and approach
    • Materiality assessment More Less
      • Sustainable Tobacco Program
    • Code of Conduct More Less
      • Supplier Code of Conduct
      • Swedish Match North America Terms and Conditions
    • Sustainability information More Less
      • Environment
      • Compliance
      • Employees and social conditions
      • Human rights
    • Sustainability reporting
  • Investors More Less

    Investors

    • Share holdings
    • Financial reports
    • Debt information More Less
      • Debt programs
      • Outstanding bonds
  • Media More Less

    Media

    • Press releases and news
    • Swedish Match logotype
    • Images
    • Videos
    • Swedish Match Norway More Less
      • Our history
      • Sustainability
    • Media contacts
  • Snus and health More Less

    Snus and health

    • Our standpoint
    • Swedish Match Scientific Publications More Less
      • Our Scientific Publications
    • GOTHIATEK® More Less
      • GOTHIATEK® standard
    • The Swedish Experience
    • Research on snus
    • Smoking cessation
    • Snus and the Swedish Food Act
    • Nicotine More Less
      • Nicotine labeling of Swedish Match products
      • Snus, nicotine and nicotine addiction
    • Tobacco use More Less
      • Tobacco use in figures
  • Career More Less

    Career

    • Employee strategy
    • Our culture
    • Work environment
    • Diversity and non-discrimination
    • Competence development
    • Compensation and benefits
    • Vacant positions
    • Student
    • HR contacts
Our websites
Language:
  • English
  • svenska
Media
  • Press releases and news
  • Swedish Match logotype
  • Images
  • Videos
  • Swedish Match Norway
  • Media contacts
Swedish Match's logo
Press release; Nov 26, 1997 11:00 PM CET

Swedish Match acquires R.J. Reynolds Cigar business in Finland

Swedish Match has entered into an agreement with R.J. Reynolds International regarding the acquisition of the production operations of the cigar plant in Pietersaari in Finland per December 1, 1997.

According to the terms of the agreement, all cigar brands will be transferred to Swedish Match. However, R.J. Reynolds OY will on behalf of Swedish Match continue to handle the sales, marketing and distribution of the cigars as previously.

The cigar business of R.J. Reynold in Finland will be integrated in the cigar division of Swedish Match. The personnel will be employed by Swedish Match with pre-existing terms and conditions.

Through the agreement Swedish Match will get access to the Finish market with strong, well known and leading brands such as Hofnar, Van Kemp and some other strong local brands. Before the acquisition Swedish Match had no cigar position in Finland.

The integration of the RJR Finland Cigar activities will create further synergistic effects at the purchase of tobacco and packaging as well as production.

Swedish Match is a company specialized in tobacco products, matches and lighters with a turnover of approximately 7.500 MSEK. Swedish Match is a listed company both at the Stockholm Stock Exchange and at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, in New York.

The Swedish Match cigar division is one of the world’s leading cigar manufactures, well known for its quality cigar products that are sold in more than 90 countries.

The cigar division, with 6 factories in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Indonesia, has a long tradition of producing famous brands such as La Paz, Willhem II, Clubmaster, Justus van Maurik and Montague with strong market positions in many parts of the world.

For further information, please contact:

Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs Office: +46 8 658 03 64
Mobile: +46 70 558 03 64
Residence: +46 8 768 45 22

Göran Ekdahl, Vice President, Corporate Communication Office: +46 8 658 01 62
Mobile: +46 70 858 11 62
Residence: +46 8 768 38 22

Boel Sundvall, Vice President, Investor Relations Office: +46 8 658 01 73
Mobile: +46 70 651 39 09
Residence: +46 8 25 87 12

Background information

The Finnish cigar market has increased since 1994 to a level of 65 million sticks in 1996. The trend is stable or slightly increasing, supported by a cigar boom in US and similar trends in Europe and other markets.

R.J. Reynold’s own cigar brand activities show a 67% market share of the total Finnish cigar market which has a total value of 110-120 MSEK 1996. Total exports are 7 million cigars with presence in Scandinavian and Baltic Duty Free, Sweden and some other countries.

The size of the total Swedish Match cigar business is over 1 billion cigars per year with a total sale of 678 MSEK (1996). The cigar division recently introduced a premium high quality, totally hand made longfiller cigar in the US and some European markets, consolidating its position as quality cigar manufacturer. The division’s strongest markets are West Europe and North Europe and other international markets like Australia, Thailand etc. Next to that North America is becoming an important market.

  • EN_163_0_19971127.doc
  • EN_163_1_19971127.pdf

Related documents

  • Presentations
  • CEO comment
  • Annual General Meeting
Home / Media / Press releases and news / Swedish Match acquires R.J. Reynolds Cigar business in Finland

Contact us

  • Media contacts
  • HR contacts
  • Consumer contact

Find us

  • Headquarters
  • Sales office
  • Factory
  • Distribution
  • Store
  • Research & Development
  • All addresses
Map

Corporate headquarters

Phone: +46 10 13 93 000

Sveavägen 44
SE-118 85 Stockholm

Corporate headquarters
Swedish Match

Swedish Match AB
SE-118 85 Stockholm

Phone +46 10 13 93 000
Corporate reg no. 556015-0756

About the website

  • Sitemap
  • Site policy
  • Privacy notice
  • Information about cookies
  • Legal responsibility

Find information

  • Search
  • FAQ
  • Archive