| PMI Reported To Be In Negotiations With Ruyan |
| An OfficialWire report on November 4th said Philip Morris International is in negotiations with Ruyan Group, the manufacturer of the original e-cigarette in 2005. According to an article on Quamnet.com, “Ruyan Group said that an agreement between the Company and Philip Morris International Management S.A. could not be reached on matters relating to the co-operation between them on its ‘electronic cigarettes’ by the end of the first and exclusive phase of negotiations.” It is unclear what the news could mean for the e-cigarette industry, but “Philip Morris wants in,” the report said (OfficialWire 11/4).
Can anyone shed light on this possibility? Is it a possibility? Why Ruyan? If not Ruyan then who? Or is someone just blowing a lot of smoke (vapor)? What would this do to all the competition if it became a reality? Could Marlboro one day have an electronic version? What are your thoughts? Does PMI really want in? |
Entries Tagged 'General' ↓
Philip Morris International looking at the e-cig business?
November 6th, 2009 — Acquisitions, Current Issues, General, Regulations: FDA etc., Science, Snus, Snuff & Alternative Products in US Markets, Tobacco Harm Reduction
Tab-Info Asia
October 16th, 2009 — Conferences, General
Will be held this November 11 – 13 at the Centara convention centre in Bangkok Thailand, hosted by Tobacco Reporter and organised by Think Event Marketing. Besides the exhibition there will be a concurrent congress on topical issues affecting the industry presented by Global leaders from the Tobacco Industry.
I plan on attending and will be pleased to see you there.
Let me know
Mississippi to Auction confiscated cigarettes:
October 16th, 2009 — Current Issues, General, Retail Cigarette Brand Prices Around the World
Mississippi announced this week it will hold a public auction on October 27th to sell about 1 million cartons of confiscated cigarettes and small cigars seized at a Tupelo warehouse facility earlier this year.
Presumably this is to recover / compensate the State for potential lost tax revenues?
What price will they sell for and how does this sit with other manufacturers and distributors in the state of Mississippi who have fully complied with the law and regulations? This sale undermines their efforts and fails to reward their honesty and integrity.
What do you think?
Altria takes aim on the cigar industry
October 11th, 2009 — Current Issues, General, Regulations: FDA etc.
| Had someone from retail send this article to me knowing that I had over 30 years in the cigar selling business.
United States |
| Testifying at a Washington, DC Council hearing on September 29th, representatives of Altria Group Inc. said they would support a bill that would ban the sale of single cigars, except in tobacco shops, introduces weight-based requirements for the number of cigars per package, and requires all tobacco products to be sold from behind the counter. (Washington Examiner 09/30)
So when I read this I went “oh my it’s happening”. What are your thoughts on Altria’s insistence of placing it’s hands on the entire tobacco industry, now specifically cigars? My thoughts focus on the knowledge I have gathered from retailers that confide with me that they could build their tobacco business better if Altria/PM would just stop interfering. This can not be good! So many years with very little interference is coming to end in the cigar business. Many have told this old cigar guy that this is not good at all! Tell me I’m wrong! Or tell me am I right! Are those that have told me these things right or wrong? |
Looking for safe-harbors in this recession?
July 27th, 2009 — Current Issues, General
Check out the link below to read more.
Alcohol, tobacco stocks weather recession
By Andrew Leckey
Tribune Media Services
Vice Fund – USA Mutuals – Free conference call
July 21st, 2009 — Conferences, Current Issues, General
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A COMPLIMENTARY CONFERENCE CALL UNDERSTANDING SIN INVESTING POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN UNCERTAIN MARKETS With Special Guests: Dr. KC Ma, Roland Chair of Investments at Stetson University and author of Sin Stock Returns with Dr. Fabozzi of Yale University Mr. Thomas Schumann, Chairman and Co-Founder of German Tobacco Group AG, Frankfurt |
UNDERSTANDING SIN INVESTING
POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN UNCERTAIN MARKETS
With Special Guests:
Dr. KC Ma, Roland Chair of Investments at Stetson University and author of Sin Stock Returns with Dr. Fabozzi of Yale University
Mr. Thomas Schumann, Chairman and Co-Founder of German Tobacco Group AG, Frankfurt
You Heard About the Vice Fund…
Now Learn Why Vice Investing May Be For You!
The past year has seen unprecedented market volatility. But while these turbulent markets have been painful for traditional sectors, they have created greater awareness and appreciation for the widely misunderstood Sin sector.
Ask the experts your own questions during our audience Q&A segment!
Registration is limited, so secure you place today online, either reply to this email or click http://www.usamutuals.com/contact.aspx to reserve your spot.
Please join us on a special conference call as we further educate investors on the potential opportunities within the Sin sector.
| Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by contacting 866.264.8783 or go to www.USAMutuals.com, or contact your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing. Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. The Vice Fund is non diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than a diversified fund. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock volatility than a diversified fund. The Fund invests in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The Fund invests in smaller companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. The S&P 500 Index is a broad based unmanaged index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general. You cannot invest directly in an index. The USA MUTUALS Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC. |
Charles Norton, CFA portfolio manager of the USA Mutuals Vice Fund will be moderating an informative and entertaining discussion featuring two of the leading experts on Sin Stocks as they discuss:
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What is considered a Sin/Vice company?
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Empirical evidence on how sin stocks have performed versus the S&P 500, on a risk-adjusted basis, for the period January 1970-June 2007
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Performance of sin stocks in different market conditions
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Potential financial cost of abstaining from ‘Sin’ stocks
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The business of tobacco
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How investors may potentially profit from investing in ‘Sin’ related industries such as Tobacco
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How will the new government programs influence the market?
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Should Sin stocks be a core part of an asset allocation investing strategy?
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Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by contacting 866.264.8783 or go to www.USAMutuals.com, or contact your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing.
Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. The Vice Fund is non diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than a diversified fund. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock volatility than a diversified fund. The Fund invests in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The Fund invests in smaller companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility.
The S&P 500 Index is a broad based unmanaged index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general. You cannot invest directly in an index.
The USA MUTUALS Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
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You Heard About the Vice Fund…
Now Learn Why Vice Investing May Be For You!
The past year has seen unprecedented market volatility. But while these turbulent markets have been painful for
| Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by contacting 866.264.8783 or go to www.USAMutuals.com, or contact your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing. Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. The Vice Fund is non diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than a diversified fund. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock volatility than a diversified fund. The Fund invests in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The Fund invests in smaller companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. The S&P 500 Index is a broad based unmanaged index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general. You cannot invest directly in an index. The USA MUTUALS Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC. |
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Invest Your Knowledgesm For more information regarding USA Mutuals and the USA Mutuals Vice Fund please visit us at http://www.usamutuals.com/. |
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| Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by contacting 866.264.8783 or go to www.USAMutuals.com, or contact your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing. Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. The Vice Fund is non diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than a diversified fund. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock volatility than a diversified fund. The Fund invests in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The Fund invests in smaller companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. The S&P 500 Index is a broad based unmanaged index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general. You cannot invest directly in an index. The USA MUTUALS Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC. |
Vice Funds – A new way to invest?
May 12th, 2009 — Current Issues, General
Confused by the Markets?
Wished You Had a Better Understanding about Mutual Fund Investments?
Do you know there is a Mutual Fund that specifically invests in Tobacco, Alcohol, Gaming and Aerospace/Defense Companies?
USA Mutuals Vice Fund (VICEX) was recently featured in the Smart Money article, Stocks for Sinners and recently received a 5-star overall Morningstar Rating-the highest rating possible- based on risk adjusted returns among 1,723 Large Blend Funds for the period ending 3.31.2009.
The Overall Morningstar Rating™ for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five- and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics, which are based on risk-adjusted performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The fund has experienced recent negative total returns. For current performance, please visit USAMutuals.com or call 1-866-264-8783.
To learn more about USA Mutuals Vice Fund as well as our insights of the Tobacco Industry, please visit booth 639 or attend our discussion at the Presentation Theater on Thursday at 12:00 noon (please email us at info@usamutuals.com to reserve your spot).
At USA Mutuals, we firmly believe investors should have the ability to leverage and invest their knowledge, insights and experiences into simple to understand, logical and professionally managed investment vehicles. We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans.
For up to date information on any of the USA Mutuals’ family of funds or to learn how you can Invest Your Knowledge, please contact USA Mutuals shareholder service representatives at 866.264.8783, visit www.USAMutuals.com or contact your financial adviser.
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The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by contacting 866.264.8783 or go to www.USAMutuals.com, or contact your financial adviser. Read it carefully before investing.
Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. The Vice Fund is non diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than a diversified fund. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock volatility than a diversified fund. The Fund invests in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The Fund invests in smaller companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility.</b
The USA MUTUALS Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC. (4.09)
Morningstar Disclosure
For each fund with at least a three –year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating TM (based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a fund’s monthly performance, including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. (Each share class is counted as a fraction of one fund within this scale and rated separately, which may cause slight variations in the distribution percentages.) The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five- and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. Vice Fund was rated against the following numbers of U.S. domiciled Large Blend funds over the following time periods: 1723 funds in the overall period, 1723 funds in the last three years and 1371 funds in the last five years. With respect to these Large Blend funds, Vice Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 5 stars, 4 stars, and 5 stars for the overall, three and five year periods, respectively, as of 3/31/09.
© 2009 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.
700 North Pearl St., Suite 900, Dallas, TX75201
Harm Reduction: The Voice of Reason
May 9th, 2009 — Current Issues, General, Regulations: FDA etc., Science, Snus, Snuff & Alternative Products in US Markets, Tobacco Harm Reduction
Sen.Ted Kennedy has introduced his FDA tobacco bill (S. 982) and scheduled a Senate HELP Committee mark-up session on the bill beginning Tuesday, May 12. It’s very interesting to me that the following article was written for publication this month for C-Store Decisions. I urge you if you believe that Harm Reduction should be advanced in this legislation that you call, fax or email the members of the committee and let them know that the Voice of Reason needs to be included. I’m sure you may sense a bit of sarcasm in this writing but I do believe that the Voice of Reason needs to be heard! What are your thoughts? Do you think the the Committee will make the changes? What are your concerns? Or will they just not listen?
Harm Reduction: The Voice of Reason
My passion for the reduction of harm of tobacco products over the past few years has greatly increased. I have met many folks that have the same passion to develop products that provide great promise to those who choose to use tobacco but with less harm than the traditional cigarette. Great strides have been made within the last year to introduce many new products that would, from my perspective, reduce harm. I must say though I would have never thought that the quest for harm reduction would be besieged with so much controversy and ignorance.
A year ago I wrote an article about the possibility of “tobacco actually being safer one day”. Isn’t it possible that things change or are many sticking to old, outdated paradigms when it comes to the mere reference of the word tobacco? In response to this referenced article, I have had the opportunity to experience many new exciting products. The first would be a smokeless cigarette called, “Aeros”. I must say that when I received this package from its inventor Richard Horian I was absolutely amazed at its ability to deliver satisfaction. In my mind, the absence of smoke and all of the “nasty’s” would seem to imply a reduction in harm.
In my quest over the last year to help retailers properly market to consumers that are looking for options when they either can’t light up or are looking for an alternative I also found a product called, Smoke Scents. I have had many late night conversations with a now good friend, Maurice Goulet, about the marvels of aroma therapy. Another new friend is Stuart Garrett who interestingly enough has reintroduced Nicotine Water (homeopathic). From all of my research smokers tell me it taste just like water and satisfies.
I’m sure you’ve all been called on by David Dean or one of his team from Star Tobacco regarding a new segment in the tobacco offering called dissolvable, featuring Arriva & Stonewall that make the evil nitrosamines disappear. And last year at the NACS conference Reynolds introduced the Camel dissolvable tobacco line. And in case you haven’t noticed the little pouch called Snus is quickly becoming a household name through the efforts of many but specifically Reynolds. I have even seen a Snus that is made out of apple rinds and I’m told it tastes good!
There are many like Brad Rodu, Carl Phillips & Bill Godshall that champion moist smokeless tobacco as a leading product in the relative harm reduction offer. There are those in the industry that advocate that moist smokeless tobacco is 99% safer than lighting up. But yet, we are lead to believe by the labeling on the can that there is no difference. Oh and by the way, there are those that say nicotine is just like caffeine, but we never hear that on the news. And now we have a senator from NJ that seemingly is more interested in protecting nicotine delivery through traditional cigarettes or through nicotine products made by his financially supporting pharmaceutical buddies.
From my perspective, the debate over electronic cigarettes is an interesting one. The debate centers on old school thinking versus new school thinking as the anti-tobacco folks just don’t have the ability to think rationally. If this product or any other product shows promise in the quest to reduce harm, would it not be in the best interest of those who use tobacco products to allow for advancement. Or must we live in a world where folks are not rational and act like the “kid who decides to go home with the football because things aren’t going his way?”
Unfortunately, the voice of reason is being muffled by folks who are being misled by a group with an agenda. Whether that agenda is driven by politics, Big Tobacco, Big Pharma or by irrational “zero tolerance” zealots, people deserve to know the truth. There are many entrepreneurs, small companies and large companies that are either developing or supporting these new innovations that are the voice of reason! Can you imagine, that “our elected officials” through their support of the Waxman FDA tobacco regulation have doomed smokers by not listening to those that are the voice of reason? Pretty disturbing wouldn’t you say?
