Imperial Tobacco Group to Enhance Joint Venture Altadis Had With Habanos Cigars..

March 20, 2008 - Imperial Tobacco Group to Enhance Joint Venture Altadis Had With Habanos Cigars.. Altadis (Alliance Tobacco Distribution) is a multinational purveyor and manufacturer of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars. Altadis is the result of a 1999 merger between Tabacalera, the former Spanish tobacco monopoly and SEITA, the former French tobacco monopoly. Altadis was acquired by Imperial Tobacco, the world's 4th largest international tobacco company, in February 2008. Altadis manufactures Fortune, Gitanes and Ducados cigarettes and is the world's leading cigar distributor through its 50-50 venture with the Cuban state-owned cigar company Habanos.) "Following a number of very productive meetings, Imperial and its counter- party, Cubatabaco (Cuban State Tobacco Monopoly), have agreed to continue and enhance the Habanos cigar joint venture," Imperial said Wednesday (3/19/2008). Related news briefs: Cuban cigar sales rose 7 percent to $402 million in 2007.., Cigarette Makers Face Thousands of New Florida Suits.. and Imperial Tobacco Gets Approval to Sell Brands in U.S...