The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-30

LONDON, sept. -G.-l ne tobacco war
has been ended by the amalgamation
OF the American and British interests.
The papers were finally signed today.
The new tobacco company Will be reg
istered in London on Monday. An Of
fetal statement was given out. the tex.
OF which follows.
The business OF Ogdens, limited. has
been transferred 10 the Imperial To-
bacco Company and the exporc busi-
ness OF the Imperial. Ogdens and the
American Tobacco Company and its
allies, have been amalgamated and a
joint company is in course OF forma-
tion, under the name Of the British
American Tobacco Company limited.
The result is. that the Imperial Com
pany will. as agreed between the hitn-
erto competing parties, be left I'm pos
session OF the trade OF the United
Kingdom, while the American Company
is not 10 be disturbed in the United
States or Cuba, and the British Ameri-
can Company will compete for the
trade of the other parts of the world.
The Imperial Company will pay for
the good Will of Ogdens business in or
binary shares. ranking with the similar
shares Of the original vendors behind
the IL per cent. preference shares OF
that company and will pay for the
tangible assets of Ogdens in cash.
u. 3. Duke, r. II. Walters and
| Thomas Ogden will be elected to seats
in the Imperial board and the first d.
| rectors of the British-American Com
pany will consist of Sir William Henry
| Wills, J. b. Duke, j. B. Cobb, II. III.
| Wills W. r. Harris. c. +. Lambert,
| w. w. fuller, w. G. Player, c. c. Dula.
| Hugo Won r. Cunliffe Owen. PercivaI
:. Hill Thomas Gracey, W. =. Ogden,
| K. y. Walters. Percy ogden, w. r.
| Walters and Harold Roberts.
The transfer Of Ogdens English bus
| ihess will take effect September 80 and
| from that day it will be in the hands
| of the Imperial Company.
| 1T is believed this combination is
the first attempt to unite any great in :
| terr rational industry and its progress
| will be watched with interest every
| where.
Referring 10 the termination of the
conflict, an official OF the American
| Company said to a representative OF the
Associated Press:
''It is the first combination. to my
mind, on right lines, and one that as
sures unity of interests where power
full American and English concerns go
out hand-in-ha TO seek the trade
| of the rest of the world. It has been
a difficult matter. requiring the most
careful consideration. The negotia-
| tions have been proceeding since Au-
| gust 18th. 1t was a subject which could
not be discussed in the press while
they were in progress, but now that
they are concluded, We have decided to
| issue an authoritative statement 20
| ~ arhIad accounts ppYznnHilE
/ think the lines on which this com
| bination is formed. are = .St!nea "a
affect the larger fields Of general Anglo
| American relations
I'VE are decidedly pleased at the out
come of the negotiations said one OF
the highest officials Of the American
Tobacco Company, discussing the sit
uation with representative Of the
Associated Press. Not only are W.
pleased at the good business d@a!, o3'
! Of which We made several millions. bu
| we are pleased because the comb lnatior
means a real amalgamation OF inter
ests instead OF buying of an opposi
ton at a price, which appears To th'
opponent TO b. a profitable fgure. SGcf
real working combination Of Ameri
can and English interests has jus
7. been effected. will in any line OF busi
: ness unquestionably dominate the trade
: OF the world.
Regarding the details. you can 81.
that the capital Of the British Amert
! ran Company will be $50, 900. .001. Mr.
Duke will be president. While IL i
: convenient To register IL as an Engiisl
| company and have Its headquarters II
London, we have named twelve dl
rectors and the Imperial Company
{ interests have named six. Their re
spectiye financial interests are two
thirds American and one-third English
There is nothing to prevent transfer
ring the headquarters TO America j
II ever proves more convenient TO op
crate there. but al present the bust
, ness can best be carried on in Lon
don.
We have named three directors fol
the board of the Imperial Company
which will hereafter confine itself TO thu
United Kingdom while the British
American Company goes IN Tor ths
world trade outside OF the Unite(
States, Cuba and the United Kingdom
The Cuban provision insures for Amer
, leans the cigar business OF the island
; OF which we now control eighty De,
: cent The Imperial Company throws
into the new company, its colonial bus
| iness. So, with our trade outside ths
! United States, the British-American
Company starts with a ready made an
nual business of 1000 1000. 900 cigarettes
alone.
: Regarding the Imperial Company
factories in the United States concern
3 ing which considerable matter has been
| printed in England. they are mercy
leaf factories and will be operated Tor
that purpose"