The US Federal Trade Commission has reportedly issued a second request for information to two major US tobacco companies as the authority reviews their plans to merge.
Reynolds American and Lorillard agreed last month to merge in a $25 billion transaction, but the firms announced late last week that the FTC is seeking more information regarding the deal. The cigarette makers said they are cooperating fully with regulators and said that the second request does not change their timeline for the deal.
The companies said they expect to finalize their merger in the first half of next year.
Reynolds will acquire Lorillard in a plan that would leave the US with just two tobacco rivals that control 90 percent of the industry. According to reports, the companies have already offered to sell some brands including Kool and Blu e-cigarettes for $7.1 billion to competitor Imperial Tobacco Group, based in the UK, to appease competition concerns.
Full content: Daily Herald
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
University of Kentucky Eyes Structural Shift Amid Antitrust Pressures
Apr 24, 2025 by
CPI
Opt-Out Flops Out At WIPO Meeting on AI and IP
Apr 24, 2025 by
CPI
Belgian Watchdog Fines Pharma Giants Over Anti-Competitive Practices in Pharmacies
Apr 24, 2025 by
CPI
X Sues Minnesota Over Law Banning AI Deepfakes in Elections
Apr 24, 2025 by
CPI
Twelve States Sue Trump Over Tariff Policy, Citing Overreach of Executive Power
Apr 24, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Mergers in Digital Markets
Apr 21, 2025 by
CPI
Catching a Killer? Six “Genetic Markers” to Assess Nascent Competitor Acquisitions
Apr 21, 2025 by
John Taladay & Christine Ryu-Naya
Digital Decoded: Is There More Scope for Digital Mergers In 2025?
Apr 21, 2025 by
Colin Raftery, Michele Davis, Sarah Jensen & Martin Dickson
AI In the Mix – An Ever-Evolving Approach to Jurisdiction Over Digital Mergers in Europe
Apr 21, 2025 by
Ingrid Vandenborre & Ketevan Zukakishvili
Antitrust Enforcement Errors Due to a Failure to Understand Organizational Capabilities and Dynamic Competition
Apr 21, 2025 by
Magdalena Kuyterink & David J. Teece