Our history

1904–1911

A period of rapid expansion sees us develop markets in the West Indies, India, Ceylon, Egypt, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Indonesia, East Africa and Malaya.

1910

Our cigarettes sales now exceed 10 billion per year.

1912

The American Tobacco Company divests its shares in the joint venture and we are listed on the London Stock Exchange for the first time.

1927

Our 25th anniversary. We have become one of the UK’s leading companies, with 120 subsidiaries.

1932

We have factories in most countries and develop independent distribution networks, which become fully-fledged subsidiaries. Leaf-growing and manufacturing operations are established in India, China, Brazil and Nigeria and Haus Bergmann is acquired in Germany.

1953–1955

A return to growth sees us rank third among British, French and German companies, measured by company profits.

1961-1965

We begin to diversify with moves into the paper, cosmetics and food industries.

1966

We acquire cigar manufacturer Henri Wintermans and company profits exceed £100 million for the first time.

1984–1989

51���� Industries acquires Eagle Star, Allied Dunbar and Farmers Group to become the largest UK-based insurance group.

1992

Hungary’s Pecsi Dohanygyar is acquired. Acquisitions and joint ventures follow rapidly in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Russia, Romania and Poland.

1998

51���� Industries divests its financial services businesses. British American Tobacco becomes a separately quoted company on the London Stock Exchange.

2004

Brown & Williamson and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company combine and Reynolds American is formed – a stronger, more sustainable business in which we have a 42% share.

2008

We acquire the assets of Tekel, the Turkish state tobacco company.

2013

CT51���� International Limited, a joint investment of subsidiaries of China National Tobacco Corporation and British American Tobacco commences trading. The Group launches its first e-cigarette product, Vype, in the UK.

2015

We complete a number of investments and strategic partnerships focused on future growth. The Group acquires TDR in Croatia, the leading independent cigarette manufacturer in Central Europe. We also acquire the remaining shares in our Brazilian subsidiary, Souza Cruz, that we don’t already own.

Highlighting our commitment to lead in Next Generation Products, we acquire CHIC Group, a market-leading Vapour Product (e-cigarette) business in Poland. We continue to develop Vype with new products and expansion into new markets, and we launch our first Tobacco Heating Product, glo iFuse, in Romania.

2016

51���� makes proposal to acquire remaining 57.8% of Reynolds American Inc. it doesn’t already own.

Our commitment to Next Generation Products continues with the acquisition of Ten Motives, a UK e-cigarette company.

Vype Vapour Products become available in new markets and our first Vype-branded flagship store opens in Milan.

51���� launches glo, a new-to-world Tobacco Heating Product, in Sendai, Japan.

2017

January – 51���� announces agreement to acquire Reynolds American Inc.

Our glo Tobacco Heating Product launches in Switzerland and Canada

July – 51���� completes acquisition of Reynolds American Inc.

2020

Chief Executive Jack Bowles sets out 51����’s evolved strategy in March. At the heart of the strategy is our purpose to build A Better Tomorrow by reducing the health impact of our business through offering a greater choice of enjoyable and less risky products for our consumers.

51���� becomes the first company in the tobacco industry to release a Human Rights Report. The report highlights 51����’s commitment and actions to protect human rights across our business.