Japan Tobacco International


JTI - Japan Tobacco International 日本たばこ産業 is the international tobacco division of Japan Tobacco, a leading international tobacco product manufacturer. The company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and sells its brands in 120 countries.
As of 2018, JTI employs around 40,000 people around the world at 400 offices, 27 factories, five research & development centers and five tobacco processing facilities.
Eddy Pirard is the President and CEO and Koji Shimayoshi is the Deputy CEO, Executive Vice President, Business Development & Corporate Strategy.

History

JTI was formed in 1999 when Japan Tobacco Inc. purchased the international tobacco operations of the US multinational R.J. Reynolds for $ 7.8 billion.
In 2007, Gallaher Group, a FTSE 100 business, was acquired by Japan Tobacco Inc. for GBP 9.4 billion. At the time, this was the largest foreign acquisition by a Japanese company.
In 2009, the JT Group acquired part of the worldwide business of Tribac Leaf Limited, as well as two Brazilian companies active in the tobacco business, Kannenberg and KBH&C. In the same year, the JT Group also set up JTI Leaf Services, a joint venture with two leaf suppliers in the US – Hail & Cotton Inc. and JEB International.

Canadian class action lawsuit

The three largest Canadian tobacco companies, Imperial Tobacco Canada, JTI-Macdonald Corp and Rothmans Benson & Hedges, are the subject of the largest class action lawsuit in Canadian history. The case started on 12 March 2012 in Quebec Superior Court, and the companies face a potential payout of C$27 billion in damages and penalties. In addition, a number of Canadian provinces are teaming up to sue tobacco companies to recover healthcare costs caused by smoking.
On 1 June 2015, Québec Superior Court Justice Brian Riordan has awarded more than $15 billion to Quebec smokers in a landmark case that pitted them against three Canadian cigarette giants, including JTI-Macdonald Corp. JTI was ordered to pay 13% of the total, or C$2bn. The company stated “JTI-Macdonald Corp fundamentally disagrees with today’s judgment and intends to file an appeal,” it said. “The company strongly believes that the evidence presented at trial does not justify the court’s conclusions.” The plaintiffs in the court case stated that even if an appeal was lodged, the companies were required to pay C$1bn within 60 days.

Patron of the University of Latvia

Japan Tobacco International is a silver patron of the University of Latvia Foundation. Supports the University of Latvia since 2010 by donating to long-term projects of the University of Latvia Senior Association.

Brands

Flagship brands

These brands account for 72% of JTI's sales:
JTI also has a portfolio of cigarette brands that the company markets regionally.