Deals
Asia Gambling Exec Linked to $1 Billion Cuban Cigar Deal
- SunCity CFO listed as director of Hong Kong firm named in sale
- Little is known about buyers of Imperial Brands cigar unit
Photographer: Santi Burgos/Bloomberg
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The buyers of Imperial Brands Plc’s premium cigar business, including world-renowned Cohiba, have been shrouded in a smoky veil of secrecy. But one group of investors is being fronted by a Hong Kong businessman who helps run some of Asia’s biggest gambling operations.
Last month, Imperial agreed to sell its premium cigar business outside of the U.S. to Allied Cigar Corp. for 1.04 billion euros ($1.1 billion), part of a disposal of its high-end cigar portfolio that also includes the Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo brands. A spokesman for Imperial declined at the time to provide details on the suitor, while the cigarette maker’s management described the acquirers as “the right long-term owners” for the cigar business in a statement.