Goes Ex. Divi on Wed (30p). yet the price has been going down, any holders have an incite as to why at all.

Regards

Stan .

nothing in the press as to what caused this on friday. Near all time high and with such a strong US dollar I do wonder if there could be a bid looming from one of the bigger US players. Worth watching.

higher high coming I think. Looking for £34 on this wave so long ftse holds up.

Half Yearly Report

Strengthening our Portfolio
· Excellent results from Growth Brands with underlying volumes up 12 per cent and net revenue up 15 per cent
· Success of brand migration programme continues to support Growth Brand performance
· Continued gains from Specialist Brands with underlying net revenue up 2 per cent
· Growth and Specialist Brands up to 59 per cent of reported tobacco net revenue (2014: 52 per cent)

Developing our Footprint
· Regulatory approval for US acquisition still expected in spring 2015
· Momentum continues in Growth Markets with underlying net revenue up 1 per cent (up 4 per cent excluding Iraq)
· Positive progress in Returns Markets with adjusted operating profit up 1 per cent
· Improving price/mix after strong second quarter

Cost Optimisation
· Cost optimisation programme on track to deliver further incremental savings of £85 million in FY15

Capital Discipline
· Cash conversion up to 102 per cent; on track for circa 90 per cent for the full year
· Adjusted net debt down by £2bn to £9bn in last 12 months
· Another dividend increase of 10 per cent


more....

StockMarketWire.com
Imperial Tobacco Group reports continued progress on its strategic objectives and is on track for the full year. CEO Alison Cooper said described the just-completed quarter as a good one that built on the company's H1 progress.

"Our continued focus on improving the consistency and quality of our performance has delivered excellent results from our Growth Brands which continue to grow net revenue, volume and market share.

"We've strengthened our performance in Returns Markets and maintained positive momentum in Growth Markets. We completed the US acquisition towards the end of the quarter and I am pleased with the successful start we've made in implementing our commercial and integration plans for ITG Brands. This consistent delivery against our strategic agenda leaves us on track to deliver against full year expectations and to create further sustainable value for our shareholders."

An interim management statement for the nine months to the end of June says: "We're continuing to make good progress against our key strategic objectives. The consistent application of our strategy, supported by focused investment, is continuing to build momentum across the business.

"Our Growth Brands are outperforming the market and we continue to grow our Specialist Brands, which together represent an increasing proportion of our business. Our footprint provides both stability and opportunities for growth, with improving revenue in Returns Markets and continued top line momentum in many of our Growth Markets. Our expanded share in the US strengthens our footprint, further diversifying our earnings. We've continued to focus on cost and cash management with the removal of business complexity enhancing operational effectiveness.

"Underlying tobacco net revenue was flat but grew 1 per cent excluding the impact in Iraq. Price mix was higher during the quarter as expected, particularly in a number of our Returns Markets where we grew net revenue by 1 per cent. Growth Market net revenue was down 1 per cent, held back by Iraq which masked growth of 3 per cent in the rest of the Division, with performance highlights in Russia, Taiwan, Norway and in premium cigars. In Returns Markets North we grew net revenue by 2 per cent with growth in markets including Germany, Australia and Ukraine. In Returns Markets South net revenue declined by 2 per cent with market pressures in Morocco continuing.

"We have continued to increase the net revenue, volume and share of our Growth Brands, with brand migrations continuing to demonstrate consistently high consumer retention. Growth and Specialist Brands generated 59 per cent of total tobacco net revenue compared to 53 per cent in the same period last year. "Underlying volumes were down 6 per cent, impacted by the political and security situation in Iraq which continues to deteriorate. Excluding this impact, underlying volumes were down 4 per cent, slightly better than industry volumes in our footprint which were down 4.5 per cent."

Divi up 10% http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5144886

confess i don't hold any tobacco stocks, though for no moral reason
they're certainly good defensively and (i think) with decent yields too

whether one should by BATS or IMT or even both is probably personal choice

in the last year, IMT has easily out-performed BATS, but with BATS just touching 200 dma (southbound) that might be a reason to buy

Barclays Capital today reaffirms its equal weight investment rating on Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (LON:IMT) and raised its price target to 3600p (from 3500p).

Imperial Tobacco changes name to Imperial Brands

StockMarketWire.com

Imperial Tobacco Group has changed its registered name to Imperial Brands with immediate effect following approval by shareholders at the annual general meeting on 3 February. The company's ticker on the London Stock Exchange for its ordinary shares will change to IMB with effect from 8.00 a.m. on 8 February and its new web address www.imperialbrandsplc.com will also go live on 8 February.

The company's ADR ticker will change to IMBBY with effect from the start of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on 8 February.

At 2:05pm: (LON:IMT) Imperial Tobacco Group PLC share price was -42.75p at 3555.75p


Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

more fat walletS for the media boys who convinced management that changing the name (and all that then goes along with that) was a spiffing idea

Just set up a new one under IMB.