{Big Tobacco} Merchants of Death

In March 2008, Swiss-based Philip Morris International (PMI) spun off from U.S.-based Altria (parent corporation to Philip Morris USA). PMI is the world’s largest and most profitable tobacco transnational. PMI currently operates in 160 countries and holds about 15 percent of the international tobacco market. In 2007, PMI reported revenues (excluding taxes) of over $22 billion and operating profit of $8.9 billion.

Philip Morris International corporate profile:
2007 Revenues: $22.8 billion (net of excise taxes)
2007 Profits: $8.9 billion

Headquarters:
Av. de Rhodanie 50
1001 Lausanne, Switzerland
Tel: +41 58 242 0000

Corporate Leadership:
Louis Camilleri, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Click here for factsheet on the split – English / French / Spanish

British American Tobacco is the number 2 tobacco transnational:

British American Tobacco corporate profile:
2007 Revenue: $20.0 billion (net of excise taxes)
2007 Profits: $5.7 billion

Headquarters:
Globe House
4 Temple Place
London, WC2R 2PG, United Kingdom
Tel: +44-207-845-1000

Corporate Leadership:
Jan du Plessis, Chair of the Board and Paul Adams, Chief Executive Officer

Japan Tobacco is number 3 in the global tobacco  market. The Japanese government holds a 50% stake in this tobacco transnational.

Japan Tobacco corporate profile:
2007 Revenue: $17.4 billion (excluding taxes)
2007 Profits: $2.8 billion

Headquarters:
2-2-1, Toranomon,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8422, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3582-3111
Fax: +81-3-5572-1441

Corporate Leadership:
Hiroshi Kimura, President, Chief Executive Officer and Yoji Wakui, Chair of the Board