Malaysia's Rothmans To Unveil Tobacco Deal On Tuesday (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Malaysia's Rothmans To Unveil Tobacco Deal On Tuesday
Date: Monday, 7/19/99

KUALA LUMPUR -- Cigarette maker Rothmans of Pall Mall (Malaysia) Bhd.
(P.RPM) said Monday it planned to make an announcement Tuesday on its
offer to buy the operating businesses of Malaysian Tobacco Co. Bhd.
(P.MTB) for cash.

"A detailed announcement will be made tomorrow (Tuesday) after the signing
of the relevant agreements," Rothmans said.

The acquisition is part of the global linkup between tobacco giants B.A.T.
Industries Plc (BTI) and Rothmans International BV. Malaysian Tobacco is a
unit of B.A.T. Industries.

Rothmans' shares were trading unchanged from Friday's close at 28.25
ringgit ($1=MYR3.80), while Malaysian Tobacco was down 10 sen at MYR5.30
before the stocks were suspended Monday in afternoon trading.