ITC likely to buy RDB’s cigarette biz

13 Aug 2010 Evaluate

Cigarette-to-hospitality major ITC may buy the de-merged cigarette division of Kolkata-based RDB Industries in a deal worth Rs 300-350 crore, according to sources close to the development. ITC is in talks with RDB for buying the recently de-merged cigarette division.

 

This is the second attempt made by ITC to buy the loss-making division of RDB. Earlier in 2006-07, ITC quoted Rs 250 crore for the brands and plant which was rejected by RDB management. This time ITC has hiked the offer to Rs 300-350 crore and the talks are in advanced stage.

 

RDB, which has a plant capacity of producing over 20 billion cigarettes per annum, owns brands like Regent, Hero and No. 10, which are extremely popular in eastern India. RDB management was not able to make the National Tobacco Company (NTC), which it acquired in 1992, a profitable venture even after 18 years. The company de—merged its cigarette division in April this year.

 

Recently, RDB held talks with Japan Tobacco Inc (JTI) for selling the cigarette division. According to a well—informed source, a Mumbai—based investment banker was given the mandate and JTI had carried out due diligence for the factory. However, JTI kept the RDB deal on hold as its infusion of Rs 293 crore in its Indian joint venture, which it did without increasing its equity stake and bypassing the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) had met with controversy. crackcrack

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