Japan Tobacco International

JTI was formed in 1999 when Japan Tobacco Inc. purchased the international tobacco operations of the US multinational R.J. Reynolds for $ 7.8 billion.

In 2007, Gallaher Group, a FTSE 100 business, was acquired by Japan Tobacco Inc. for GBP 9.4 billion. At the time, this was the largest foreign acquisition by a Japanese company.

In 2009, the JT Group acquired part of the worldwide business of Tribac Leaf Limited (a company that trades tobacco in Africa), as well as two Brazilian companies active in the tobacco business, Kannenberg and KBH&C. In the same year, the JT Group also set up JTI Leaf Services, a joint venture with two leaf suppliers in the US – Hail & Cotton Inc. and JEB International.[6]

The three largest Canadian tobacco companies, Imperial Tobacco Canada, JTI-Macdonald Corp and Rothmans Benson & Hedges, are the subject of the largest class action lawsuit in Canadian history. The case started on 12 March 2012 in Quebec Superior Court, and the companies face a potential payout of C$27 billion (US $20.18 billion) in damages and penalties. In addition, a number of Canadian provinces are teaming up to sue tobacco companies to recover healthcare costs caused by smoking.[7]

On 1 June 2015, Québec Superior Court Justice Brian Riordan has awarded more than $15 billion to Quebec smokers in a landmark case that pitted them against three Canadian cigarette giants, including JTI-Macdonald Corp.[8][9] JTI was ordered to pay 13% of the total, or C$2bn. The company stated “JTI-Macdonald Corp fundamentally disagrees with today’s judgment and intends to file an appeal,” it said. “The company strongly believes that the evidence presented at trial does not justify the court’s conclusions.” The plaintiffs in the court case stated that even if an appeal was lodged, the companies were required to pay C$1bn within 60 days.[10]

• Official website