Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) (TSE: 2914) announced today that it has concluded an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Zandera Ltd. (“Zandera”), a leader in e-cigarettes and best known for its E-Lites brand. Founded in 2009, Zandera sells the most recognized range of high quality rechargeable and ready-to-use e-cigarettes in the United Kingdom.
“Our investment in Zandera provides the JT Group with an excellent entry-point into the fast-growing e-cigarette category,” commented Masamichi Terabatake, JTI’s (Japan Tobacco International) Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO. “With E-Lites’ well-established brand and product portfolio, we are able to offer adult consumers another important extension to our growing range of emerging and innovative products such as tobacco vapor pods (Ploom).”
The executive management team of Zandera will remain with the JT Group post-acquisition in order to leverage upon their extensive knowledge and experience of the e-cigarette industry, their understanding of the product, technology and regulatory landscape.[...]