Philip Morris and Altria in merger talks to form US$200bil company

Philip Morris cigarette

NEW YORK: Marlboro maker Philip Morris International Inc said on Tuesday it was in talks to reunite in a merger with Altria Group Inc following its 2008 spin-off, as the tobacco giants seek to pool resources in the fast growing e-cigarette market.

The merger between the two companies, the biggest ever in the consumer sector and the fourth-largest deal of all time, would create a tobacco giant with a market capitalization of approximately US$200 billion.