BAT post smoking pre-tax profit figures

BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT) yesterday posted a 10 per cent rise pre-tax profits for 2009 to £2.7 billion, boosted by acquisitions and favourable currency movements.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Feb 2010, 20:03 BST

Updated 25th Feb 2010, 20:08 BST

Revenue rose 17 per cent to 14.2bn, partly reflecting the impact of acquiring Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni and Tekel in 2008 and Bentoel Internasional Investama in June last year.

BAT's four "global drive brands" achieved volume growth of 4 per cent, with Pall Mall cigarettes leading with a 10 per cent gain and Dunhill up 9 per cent.