PERAC Memo #10 - 2024: Tobacco Company List

Tobacco Company List

View original on mass.gov →

Summary

PERAC distributes the updated April 2024 Tobacco Company List, which supersedes all prior versions and is effective upon receipt. Under Chapter 119 of the Acts of 1997, retirement systems are prohibited from making new investments in any company that derives more than 15% of its revenue from tobacco product sales. Boards must forward the list to their investment advisors and, if any portfolio holdings are found to be non-compliant, must consult with PERAC before divesting in a prudent manner. The list covers more than 100 companies across roughly 30 countries.

Full Text

Memorandum Memorandum PERAC Memo #10: Tobacco Company List Date: 03/20/2024 Referenced Sources: PERAC Website PERAC Memo #10, 2024

To All Retirement Boards: M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Retirement Boards

FROM: John P. Galvin, Compliance Officer

RE: Tobacco Company List

DATE: March 18, 2024

On October 22, 1997 PERAC Memo #37/1997 informed you of the adoption of Chapter 119 of the Acts of 1997. That statute prohibits retirement systems from making any new investments in stocks, securities, or other obligations of any company which derives more than 15% of its revenue from the sale of tobacco products. On December 18, 1997 PERAC sent Memo #48 regarding the implementation of Chapter 119 and the first Tobacco Company List.

Enclosed please find a Tobacco Company List dated April 2024. This list replaces any other Tobacco Company List previously sent to your board and is effective upon receipt by the retirement boards. Most of these companies appeared on previous lists and such investments were prohibited from the time the companies first appeared on the list. Please forward a copy to your investment advisors or inform them that this list is available on the PERAC website. In communicating with your investment advisors, please inform them that the Tobacco Company List is only for their Massachusetts public fund clients and that any other use of the list is strictly prohibited.

As part of its audit process, PERAC will assess the portfolio of each board to determine compliance. That review will determine if the board, after January 13, 1998, has purchased stock, securities, or other obligations of any company which derives more than 15% of its revenue from the sale of tobacco products. In the event a portfolio is not in compliance, the board must bring the portfolio into compliance by divesting in a prudent manner. Prior to taking any action, the board shall consult with PERAC.

In applying the statute to pooled funds, PERAC will assess the 15% rule against the entire pool as the board is purchasing shares in the pool not the individual holdings of the pool. Thus a pooled fund, if in violation of this standard, will be included on the list.

If you have any questions, please contact this office.

Enclosure

TOBACCO COMPANY LIST

APRIL 2024

COMPANY COUNTRY

22nd Century Group, Inc. United States Altria Group, Inc. United States AMCON Distributing Company United States B.A.T. Capital Corporation United States Charlie’s Holdings, Inc. United States Fyolo Technology Corp United States Healthier Choices Management Corp. United States Mativ Holdings, Inc. United States Old Holdco, Inc. United States Performance Food Group Company United States Philip Morris International Inc. United States Pyxus International, Inc. United States Reynolds American Inc. United States Starfleet Innotec Inc United States Turning Point Brands, Inc. United States Universal Corporation United States Vapor Group Inc United States Vapor Hub International Inc. United States Vector Group Ltd. United States VPR Brands LP United States Wee-Cig International Corp United States British American Tobacco Bangladesh Co. Ltd. Bangladesh

Badeco Adria d.d. Sarajevo Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bulgartabac Holding AD Bulgaria Gotse Delchev Tabac AD Bulgaria Nicotiana BT Holding AD Bulgaria Sila Holding Plc Bulgaria Yuri Gagarin AD Bulgaria

Anhui Genuine New Materials Co Ltd China Chengdu Hongqi Chain Co Ltd China Huabao Flavours & Fragrances Co Ltd China Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. China RLX Technology Inc China Shenzhen Jinjia Group Co., Ltd. China Smoore International Holdings Ltd China WEIli Holdings Ltd China

Cyprus Trading Corporation Plc Cyprus

Philip Morris CR as Czech Republic

Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S Denmark STG Global Finance B.V. Denmark

Eastern Company SAE Egypt

Kumulus Vape SA France

Karelia Tobacco Company Inc SA Greece

China Boton Group Company Limited Hong Kong China Tobacco International HK Co Ltd Hong Kong Ecogreen International Group Limited Hong Kong Huabao International Holdings Ltd. Hong Kong Litu Holdings Limited Hong Kong

Godfrey Phillips India Limited India ITC Limited India NTC Industries Ltd. India Sinnar Bidi Udyog Ltd. India VST Industries Limited India

Indonesian Tobacco Tbk PT Indonesia PT Bentoel International Investama Tbk Indonesia PT Gudang Garam Tbk Indonesia PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna Tbk Indonesia PT Wicaksana Overseas International Tbk Indonesia Wismilak Inti Makmur Tbk PT Indonesia

Globrands Group Ltd. Israel

Societe Ivoirienne des Tabacs SA Ivory Coast

Carreras Ltd. Jamaica

Japan Tobacco Inc. Japan

Al-Eqbal Investment Company PLC Jordan Jordanian Duty Free Shops PSC Jordan Union Investment Corporation P.L.C. Jordan Union Tobacco & Cigarette Industries Co PSC Jordan

British American Tobacco Kenya PLC Kenya

KT&G Corporation Korea Kuk-Il Paper Mfg Co., Ltd. Korea

Tutunski Kombinat AD Prilep Macedonia

7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad Malaysia Bright Packaging Industry Bhd Malaysia British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Berhad Malaysia

B.A.T. Netherlands Finance B.V. Imperial Brands Finance Netherlands B.V Netherlands Netherlands

Khyber Tobacco Company Ltd. Pakistan Pakistan Tobacco Company Ltd. Pakistan Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited Pakistan Tri Pack Films Ltd. Pakistan

Jerusalem Cigarette Co Ltd. Palestinian Territory

Eurocash Spolka Akcyjna Poland

Coka Duvanska Industrija ad Coka Serbia Philip Morris Operations a.d. Nis Serbia

New Toyo International Holdings Ltd. Singapore

Compania de Distribucion Integral Logista Holdings, S.A. Spain Miquel y Costas & Miquel, S.A. Spain

Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc Sri Lanka

Nolato Aktiebolag Sweden Swedish Match AB Sweden

Taiwan FamilyMart Co., Ltd. Taiwan

Tanzania Cigarette Company Ltd. Tanzania

The West Indian Tobacco Company Ltd. Trinidad and Tobago

Bizim Toptan Satis Magazalari AS Turkey

British American Tobacco Uganda Uganda

B.A.T. International Finance P.L.C. United Kingdom British American Tobacco Plc United Kingdom Imperial Brands Finance Plc United Kingdom Imperial Brands Plc United Kingdom McColl’s Retail Group Plc United Kingdom

Cat Loi JSC Vietnam Cong ty Co phan Ngan Son Vietnam

British American Tobacco (Zambia) Plc Zambia

British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (Holdings) Ltd. Zimbabwe