History of JT

Japan Tobacco Inc. established. (Japanese tobacco market opened to foreign tobacco manufacturers. )

The Business Development Division established to promote new businesses.

The Business Development Division is later reorganized into operational divisions engaged in the foods and pharmaceuticals businesses, finishing in July 1990.

Fukuoka and Tosu factories closed and Kita Kyushu factory built to modernize and rationalize tobacco production.

Nine more tobacco factories closed by June 1996 to further rationalize production.

Import tariffs on imported cigarettes abolished.

"JT" communication name introduced.

Head office temporarily relocated from Minato-ku to Shinagawa-ku during construction of new headoffice building.

The Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute established to enhance in-house research capabilities.

Government releases first tranche of outstanding JT shares for initial public offering (394,276 sharesoffered at 1,438,000 yen apiece).

JT stock listed on the first sections of stock exchanges in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.

JT stock listed on stock exchanges in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Niigata and Sapporo.

Head office moved back to Minato-ku from Shinagawa-ku following completion of new head office building.

Government releases second tranche of outstanding JT shares (272,390 shares offered at 815,000 yenapiece).

JT ends its salt monopoly business in line with abolition of the salt monopoly system.

The Tobacco Mutual Aid Pension scheme integrated into the Employees' Pension scheme.

JT signs an agreement with Unimat Corporation on a tie-up regarding soft drink business.

JT later acquires a majority stake in Unimat.

JT acquires a majority stake in Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. through a tender offer.

JT acquires the non-U.S. tobacco business of RJR Nabisco Inc.

JT acquires the foods business of Asahi Kasei Corporation, including Asahi Foods and seven other subsidiaries.

Under a business tie-up between JT and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the two companies' R&D operations related to medical pharmaceuticals are concentrated at JT, while their promotion operations are combined at Torii Pharmaceutical.

Sendai, Nagoya and Hashimoto factories closed as a rationalization measure to ensure long-term profitability for the domestic tobacco business.

JT repurchases 45,800 own shares to increase its management options.

Hiroshima, Fuchu, Matsuyama and Naha factories closed as a rationalization measure to ensure long-term profitability for the domestic tobacco business.

Government releases third tranche of outstanding JT shares (289,334 shares offered at 843,000 yen apiece), reducing its stake in JT to the minimum level allowed under law.

JT repurchases 38,184 own shares to increase its management options.

Ueda, Hakodate, Takasaki, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Usuki, Kagoshima and Miyakonojo factories closed as arationalization measure to ensure long-term profitability for the domestic tobacco business.

JT terminates a licensing contract under which it had exclusive rights to produce and sell Marlboro brand products in Japan and use the Marlboro trademark in the country.

JT implements a five-for-one stock split in order to expand the investor base, effective April 1, 2006.

JT acquires all outstanding shares of Gallaher Group Plc.

JT acquires a majority stake in Katokichi Co., Ltd. through a tender offer.

JT concentrates its processed foods operations, including frozen foods operations and seasonings operations, at Katokichi.

Kanazawa factory closed as a rationalization measure to establish a more competitive operating structure in the domestic tobacco business.

Morioka factory and Yonago factory closed as a rationalization measure to establish a more competitive operating structure in the domestic tobacco business.