R J Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc

* Flextronics International Ltd., the biggest maker of cellphones and computers for other companies, agreed to buy 55% of India-based Hughes Software Systems Ltd. for $226 million. * R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. agreed to delay its proposed $3-billion buyout of No. 3 Brown & Williamson Tobacco to give antitrust enforcers an additional 13 days to review the acquisition.

* Flextronics International Ltd., the biggest maker of cellphones and computers for other companies, agreed to buy 55% of India-based Hughes Software Systems Ltd. for $226 million. * R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. agreed to delay its proposed $3-billion buyout of No. 3 Brown & Williamson Tobacco to give antitrust enforcers an additional 13 days to review the acquisition.

The nation's two biggest U.S. tobacco companies raised wholesale cigarette prices by 14 cents a pack for the second time in just over four months. The moves could boost the retail price of a pack of Marlboros, Camels and other brands by even more as retailers set the price that smokers pay at the checkout register. Philip Morris Cos. said it notified wholesalers that it was boosting the price it charges them by $7 per 1,000 cigarettes, effective today. No. 2 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.

A New York state judge said he may void $625 million in lawyers' fees from New York's $25-billion settlement of litigation with Philip Morris Cos., RJR Tobacco Holdings Inc. and other tobacco companies. New York Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Ramos said that he was "in possession of facts suggesting unethical conduct," and that he might refer the matter to the state bar committee on discipline.

A New York appeals court unanimously rejected the class-action certification of a group of smokers seeking damages from major cigarette makers for illnesses allegedly caused by smoking, Philip Morris Cos. said. The plaintiffs brought the suit against Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., a unit of British American Tobacco.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. said smuggling allegations leveled against it by the Canadian government relate solely to its former international affiliates. Canada on Tuesday filed suit against Winston-Salem, N.C.-based R.J. Reynolds seeking at least $1 billion, claiming the company smuggled cigarettes into the country to undercut a government plan to discourage smoking with high taxes. R.J. Reynolds said the companies at the core of Canada's case--R.J.

Philip Morris Cos. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. asked a European court to declare that the European Commission lacked authority to file a lawsuit in U.S. courts alleging the company smuggled cigarettes into the European Union. The commission's suit, seeking unspecified financial damages, was filed Nov. 6 by in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, N.Y. It accused Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds of depriving the EU of customs duties in a smuggling operation that began in the late 1970s.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. won a new trial in a case that had brought a $200,000 judgment against the company in favor of the family of a deceased Tampa smoker. The cigarette maker also defeated Pennsylvania smokers' bid for class-action status in a separate case. Florida state Judge Ralph Steinberg on Thursday threw out the $200,000 in compensatory damages the family of Suzanne Jones had been awarded in his courtroom in October.

A New York state judge said he may void $625 million in lawyers' fees from New York's $25-billion settlement of litigation with Philip Morris Cos., RJR Tobacco Holdings Inc. and other tobacco companies. New York Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Ramos said that he was "in possession of facts suggesting unethical conduct," and that he might refer the matter to the state bar committee on discipline.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. will get a California Supreme Court review of a $14.8-million fine the company received for distributing tobacco at events where children were present. The California Supreme Court agreed to decide whether state Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer exceeded his authority with the fine for violating a state law banning tobacco giveaways on public grounds where minors might be in attendance.

The nation's two biggest U.S. tobacco companies raised wholesale cigarette prices by 14 cents a pack for the second time in just over four months. The moves could boost the retail price of a pack of Marlboros, Camels and other brands by even more as retailers set the price that smokers pay at the checkout register. Philip Morris Cos. said it notified wholesalers that it was boosting the price it charges them by $7 per 1,000 cigarettes, effective today. No. 2 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. won a new trial in a case that had brought a $200,000 judgment against the company in favor of the family of a deceased Tampa smoker. The cigarette maker also defeated Pennsylvania smokers' bid for class-action status in a separate case. Florida state Judge Ralph Steinberg on Thursday threw out the $200,000 in compensatory damages the family of Suzanne Jones had been awarded in his courtroom in October.

Philip Morris Cos. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. asked a European court to declare that the European Commission lacked authority to file a lawsuit in U.S. courts alleging the company smuggled cigarettes into the European Union. The commission's suit, seeking unspecified financial damages, was filed Nov. 6 by in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, N.Y. It accused Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds of depriving the EU of customs duties in a smuggling operation that began in the late 1970s.

A New York appeals court unanimously rejected the class-action certification of a group of smokers seeking damages from major cigarette makers for illnesses allegedly caused by smoking, Philip Morris Cos. said. The plaintiffs brought the suit against Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., a unit of British American Tobacco.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. said smuggling allegations leveled against it by the Canadian government relate solely to its former international affiliates. Canada on Tuesday filed suit against Winston-Salem, N.C.-based R.J. Reynolds seeking at least $1 billion, claiming the company smuggled cigarettes into the country to undercut a government plan to discourage smoking with high taxes. R.J. Reynolds said the companies at the core of Canada's case--R.J.