R J Reynolds Tobacco International Inc

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International Inc. has purchased the third-largest cigarette brand in the former East Germany. The company signed an agreement with the former East German State Trust, Treuhandanstalt, to acquite Club. That brand has 15% of the local-brand segment in East Germany. Club has been sold and marketed by RJR Tobacco International's German subsidiary, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco GmbH, under a contractual agreement since March, 1990.

RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. said the company's international tobacco business will lay off 2,600 employees--14% of its foreign work force--in a major restructuring that will also include a $310-million charge against fourth-quarter earnings. Company officials said the job cutbacks will enhance RJR's competitive position in the increasingly important international tobacco arena and improve its long-term earnings growth prospects.

A pending joint venture would make R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International Inc. the first U.S. firm to make and sell its cigarette brands in Vietnam, a company spokeswoman said Sunday. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International, a unit of RJR Nabisco Inc., planned to sign a $21.2-million joint venture agreement Sunday with officials in central Vietnam. Company spokeswoman Jan Fulton said she could not confirm that the agreement had been signed as planned.

A pending joint venture would make R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International Inc. the first U.S. firm to make and sell its cigarette brands in Vietnam, a company spokeswoman said Sunday. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International, a unit of RJR Nabisco Inc., planned to sign a $21.2-million joint venture agreement Sunday with officials in central Vietnam. Company spokeswoman Jan Fulton said she could not confirm that the agreement had been signed as planned.

RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. said the company's international tobacco business will lay off 2,600 employees--14% of its foreign work force--in a major restructuring that will also include a $310-million charge against fourth-quarter earnings. Company officials said the job cutbacks will enhance RJR's competitive position in the increasingly important international tobacco arena and improve its long-term earnings growth prospects.

RJR Nabisco Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C., said Lester W. Pullen will become chairman and chief executive of its tobacco subsidiary, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco International Inc., effective July 1.

RJR to Make Cigarettes in Russia: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco International Inc. said it formed a partnership with AS-Petro, a Russian cigarette factory, to make tobacco products. RJR Tobacco said it will be the first American tobacco company to produce cigarettes in Russia. AS-Petro was the first Russian tobacco factory to return to private ownership after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It was state-owned for 72 years.

Two big U.S. tobacco firms announced Thursday that they will supply billions of cigarettes to the Soviet Union, capitalizing on a shortage causing political turmoil in that country. Financial details were not disclosed, but the deals represent significant new business for suppliers Philip Morris and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco. The companies have been emphasizing sales to foreign countries as the U.S. tobacco market has given ground to anti-smoking campaigns.

The Canadian government filed criminal charges Friday against affiliates of tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, accusing them of helping to flood that country with cheap contraband cigarettes during the 1990s. Also charged with fraud and conspiracy were eight current or former senior executives who allegedly took part in a scheme that authorities said robbed the federal government and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec of more than $800 million in cigarette taxes.

A remarkable thing is happening in the U.S. cigarette industry: As America continues its 25-year decline in per capita smoking, total cigarette sales are booming. The reason is that Asia suddenly, albeit reluctantly, dropped trade barriers to U.S. cigarettes. Pushed by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), the Reagan and Bush administrations threatened costly sanctions against Asian countries that wouldn't allow the importation of billions of Merits and Marlboros. U.S. cigarette exports rocketed to $2.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International Inc. has purchased the third-largest cigarette brand in the former East Germany. The company signed an agreement with the former East German State Trust, Treuhandanstalt, to acquite Club. That brand has 15% of the local-brand segment in East Germany. Club has been sold and marketed by RJR Tobacco International's German subsidiary, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco GmbH, under a contractual agreement since March, 1990.