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  • BAT Pulls Pouches from France, Criticizes Debateless Ban

    BAT Pulls Pouches from France, Criticizes Debateless Ban

    BAT France said it has stopped marketing nicotine pouches nationwide as of April 1, complying with a government decree issued on Sept. 5, 2025 that entered into force this week. The company confirmed it is withdrawing the products from sale in line with the regulation.

    At the same time, BAT France criticized the move as a regulatory ban adopted without parliamentary debate, arguing it runs counter to harm-reduction strategies and France’s goal of a “tobacco-free generation” by 2032. The company said the decision comes amid ongoing European discussions over revisions to the Tobacco Excise Directive and evaluation of the Tobacco Products Directive, and pledged to continue advocating for what it called a science-based, proportionate framework while focusing on vaping products for adult smokers.

  • FDA’s Pouch Fast-Track Scheme Stalling Over Youth Worries

    FDA’s Pouch Fast-Track Scheme Stalling Over Youth Worries

    A fast-track review program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration aimed at accelerating authorizations for nicotine pouch products has stalled, as agency scientists weigh concerns about youth uptake and risks to non-users against potential harm-reduction benefits for smokers, according to sources cited by Reuters. Reuters said applications tied to pouch brands from Philip Morris International (Zyn) and British American Tobacco (Velo) remain under review despite expectations that decisions would be made by the end of 2025 under the pilot scheme. The FDA has already authorized six products under Altria Group’s on! brand, but reviewers are said to be taking a more cautious stance on other applications where evidence of net public-health benefit is viewed as less clear-cut.

    While FDA data shows pouch use among middle- and high-school students remains relatively low, it has been rising, prompting heightened scrutiny. Tobacco companies argue the pilot program is critical for restoring legal market competition amid a surge of unregulated products, while public-health advocates warn that rapid authorizations could fuel new addiction trends. The FDA said decisions continue to be guided by science and statutory standards rather than external pressure.

  • BAT Malaysia to Trim Workforce

    BAT Malaysia to Trim Workforce

    British American Tobacco Malaysia Bhd said it may reduce its workforce as part of an operational “optimization” linked to the rollout of a new route-to-market distribution model from July 1. In a filing today (March 31), the company said affected employees would receive statutory and contractual entitlements, including retrenchment benefits where applicable. BAT Malaysia reported 283 employees in its 2024 annual report, but the filing did not specify how many roles could be impacted. The company said the move is intended to align staffing with future operating requirements and follows a shift begun in 2022 toward allowing retailers to place orders through online channels, sales representatives, or call centers, a model it previously said could reduce costs by 20% to 25%.

    The announcement comes amid tighter regulation of tobacco products in Malaysia, including a reported plan for a nationwide vape ban starting with disposable products, a 42.8% excise duty increase on tobacco and heated tobacco products under Budget 2026, new pictorial health warnings, and a ban on retail cigarette displays. The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act, which took effect in 2024, prohibits the sale of tobacco and vape products to individuals under 18. Shares of BAT Malaysia last traded at RM5.65 ($1.41) at today’s noon break, valuing the company at RM1.61 billion ($403 million).

  • Charlotte’s Web Announces Financials, Deal with BAT

    Charlotte’s Web Announces Financials, Deal with BAT

    Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. announced a transaction with BT DE Investments yesterday (March 30), a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, to convert a $54.2 million convertible debenture plus accrued interest into equity at $0.68 per share and complete a concurrent $10 million private placement, resulting in the issuance of about 110 million shares and a total equity commitment of roughly $75 million. The deal would eliminate about $65 million in debt, stop future interest accrual, and leave the company with no long-term debt, subject to shareholder and TSX approval at a meeting planned for May 28, 2026.

    Today (March 31), the company released its 2025 financials and said it advanced product innovation, in-house manufacturing, and healthcare channel development while holding annual revenue broadly steady at $49.9 million. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 4.7% year over year to $13.3 million, supported by new Brightside low-dose hemp THC gummies, sleep products, functional mushrooms, and minor cannabinoids, though gross margin was affected by a one-time inventory charge tied to legacy gummies. Full-year gross margin improved to 43.5% and SG&A fell 21% to $42 million following cost reductions, narrowing the operating loss to $20.3 million from $32 million in 2024. The company ended the year with $8 million in cash and reported progress toward internalizing gummy production, achieving a clean NSF 455-2 cGMP audit, and establishing a Scientific Advisory Board to support its expanding medical practitioner channel.

    Charlotte’s Web said the strengthened balance sheet will support its planned participation in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation pilot enabling access to hemp-derived CBD products for Medicare beneficiaries and ongoing clinical development by DeFloria, its joint venture with BAT and Ajna BioSciences, which is preparing to begin Phase 2 trials of a botanical CBD-based treatment candidate in mid-2026.

  • Organigram Shares Results of AGM, Gains Approval for Sanity Acquisition

    Organigram Shares Results of AGM, Gains Approval for Sanity Acquisition

    Shareholders of Organigram Global Inc. overwhelmingly approved the company’s proposed acquisition of Germany-based Sanity Group GmbH and a related private placement with British American Tobacco subsidiary BT DE Investments at a meeting held on March 30. The transaction resolution passed with 93% of votes cast, excluding shares associated with BAT, and authorizes Organigram to issue up to 96.3 million common shares to Sanity Group shareholders and BAT in connection with the deal.

    The acquisition, expected to close in April subject to customary conditions, is positioned to expand Organigram’s presence from its leading position in Canada’s adult-use market into the German medical cannabis sector and establish a broader European operational footprint. Shareholders also approved the election of 10 directors, the reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditor, and the approval of unallocated awards under the company’s long-term equity incentive plan.

  • Organigram Says Proxy Firm for Sanity Group Purchase

    Organigram Says Proxy Firm for Sanity Group Purchase

    Organigram Global Inc., a leading licensed producer of cannabis, said proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. has recommended shareholders vote in favor of its proposed acquisition of Sanity Group GmbH ahead of a March 30 meeting. ISS cited strong strategic rationale, including increased scale, geographic diversification, and improved cash flow, as well as credible valuation and positive market reaction. The deal includes €113.4 million in upfront consideration, with additional earn-out potential, and is backed by Organigram’s board and its largest shareholder, BT DE Investments Inc., a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, signaling institutional confidence in the transaction.

  • BAT Announces May 2026 Dividend  

    BAT Announces May 2026 Dividend  

    British American Tobacco p.l.c. announced its interim dividend for the year ended December 31, 2025, payable in four quarterly instalments. The first payment, the May Dividend, of 61.26p ($0.81) per ordinary share, will be paid on May 7 to shareholders on the U.K. main register and the South Africa branch register as of March 27. For South African branch shareholders, the dividend is payable in rand at a rate of £1 = R22.3938, resulting in a gross dividend of 1,371.84 SA cents per share, with 20% dividends tax withheld, leaving a net payment of 1,097.48 SA cents per share. The dividend is considered a foreign dividend for South African tax purposes, sourced from the U.K.

  • BAT Publishes AGM 2026 Notice

    BAT Publishes AGM 2026 Notice

    Today (March 10), British American Tobacco published its Notice of Annual General Meeting 2026 and related documents on its website ahead of the AGM scheduled for April 15. Shareholders can access the 2025 Combined Annual and Sustainability Report, performance summaries, AGM Notice, and proxy forms online.

    For South African shareholders, the last day to trade is April 7, with the Record Date set for April 10. All documents are also available via the UK National Storage Mechanism in compliance with listing rules.

  • BAT Facing UK Lawsuit Over North Korea Sanctions

    BAT Facing UK Lawsuit Over North Korea Sanctions

    British American Tobacco is facing a London High Court lawsuit from over 100 current and former shareholders who allege the company failed to properly disclose to markets its breaches of U.S. sanctions related to business in North Korea, Reuters is reporting. The claims follow BAT’s 2023 settlement with U.S. authorities, in which a subsidiary admitted to conspiring to violate sanctions and commit bank fraud by selling tobacco products to North Korea between 2007 and 2017, resulting in a $635 million payment. The lawsuit, filed on February 27, accuses BAT of withholding information about its North Korea operations for over a decade, though the value of the claim and further details have not been disclosed.

  • Health Groups Call for F1 to Cut Ties with Pouch Sponsors

    Health Groups Call for F1 to Cut Ties with Pouch Sponsors

    Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids said that 160 public health and advocacy groups from 57 countries have urged Formula One to extend its ban on tobacco sponsorships to include nicotine pouches, warning that current team partnerships with Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, promoting Zyn and Velo through Ferrari and McLaren, make branding visible to millions of young fans. In a letter to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, the groups said the sponsorships undermine the sport’s youth-focused expansion efforts and expose minors to addictive nicotine products, citing data that a significant share of F1’s social media audience is under 25. Separate letters were also sent to The Walt Disney Company, The Lego Group, and Mattel, calling on them to support a comprehensive prohibition on all tobacco-related sponsorships in the sport.