"Hun Sen ally linked to secretive billion-dollar Cuban cigar deal"

[LigSecVol]

Came across this interesting article on the latest Habanos S.A. co-owner(s)/group:

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/cigars-10072022161145.html

[El Presidente]

The group who took on Imperial Tobacco's 50% have been extensively reported. 

Let's say they have had a rocky introduction to Cuba JV's 

[LigSecVol]

10 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

The group who took on Imperial Tobacco's 50% have been extensively reported. 

Let's say they have had a rocky introduction to Cuba JV's 

 

The whole thing and people involved seem 'rocky'! 😅

I didn't know it was extensively reported. Aside from an 'Allied Group' in HK in the initial stages of the deal (from main cigar sites) and later a 'SunCity' through some other scare financial-related sources, I couldn't find much until I stumbled upon this article (written a year ago). 

 

[NSXCIGAR]

Anyone who would put buy Imperial's stake after looking at the pathetic return Altadis/Imperial got after 22 years has more dollars than sense. They'd have been better off putting their $500M in an index fund from 2000-2022 without the headaches and been liquid. 

Imperial bailed for a reason. I'd have kept that in mind. And considering the state of affairs in Cuba and particularly the tobacco industry there as of 2022 I would have stayed as far away from HSA as possible. Looking at back-of-the-napkin numbers I would estimate that same 50% stake is possibly worth the same or less than the $500M Altadis paid in 2000. 

A sucker is born every minute and Cuba is unmatched in its ability to attract them.

[El Presidente]

6 minutes ago, LigSecVol said:

 

The whole thing and people involved seem 'rocky'! 😅

I didn't know it was extensively reported. Aside from an 'Allied Group' in HK in the initial stages of the deal (from main cigar sites) and later a 'SunCity' through some other scare financial-related sources, I couldn't find much until I stumbled upon this article (written a year ago). 

 

Jail term for director was biggish news 

In the end, if you took out all the snake oil salesman and purported dealers/runners (various industries ) from those involved globally in Cuban Cigar distribution, you could have the annual marketing meeting in a telephone box 

 

[LigSecVol]

1 minute ago, El Presidente said:

Jail term for director was biggish news 

In the end, if you took out all the snake oil salesman and purported dealers/runners (various industries ) from those invoolved in Cuban Cigar distribution, you could have the annual marketing meeting in a telephone box 

 

True, that guy's arrest in Macau was big news. I didn't connect the dots between him, Suncity and HSA until much later. I see there was an article dating back to 2020 about him:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-11/macau-gambling-executive-linked-to-1-billion-cohiba-cigar-deal#xj4y7vzkg

I found the RFA article shed further light on who else is involved. Your second sentence all too perfectly summarized the article and the state of CC distribution, lol. It feels like racketeering. 😂

[El Presidente]

6 minutes ago, LigSecVol said:

Your second sentence all too perfectly summarized the article and the state of CC distribution, lol. It feels like racketeering. 😂

It's almost like paying Apple 10BN a year to only load Google  

Racketeering, shmacketeering. Welcome to capitalism today. 

[Hoepssa]

China born, neutralised Cambodia citizenship, in East Asia, we know what kind of these people are.

Habanos is sold to another cummies.