Nearly all of RAI’s cigarette trademarks are now owned by international tobacco companies.
The international rights to the Natural American Spirit brand name and associated trademarks have been sold to the Japan Tobacco Group by Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $5.0 billion.
The sale also includes the international companies that distribute and market the brand outside the U.S.
The purchase does not include the rights to the Natural American Spirit brand name and associated trademarks in the U.S. market, U.S. duty-free locations, U.S. territories or in U.S. military outlets, all of which will be retained by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Inc. Santa Fe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RAI.
With this transaction completed, the international rights to nearly all of RAI’s operating companies’ cigarette trademarks are now owned by international tobacco companies, allowing the RAI companies to focus on brand growth in the U.S. market.