Tobacco firm agrees to $10 million a year payments

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota has settled a lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and ITG Brands over payments due for a landmark agreement between the companies. The settlement, said Attorney General Keith Ellison, is $81 million. Payments will be at least $10 million annually, all going to the state’s general fund, Ellison said. The pay-out settlement was based on a 2019 court case in which the state argued that the company wrongfully failed to pay millions of dollars because of a brand-transfer issue.

R.J. Reynolds profile

Reynolds brands include Camel, Capri, Carlton Doral, Eclipse, GPC, Kent, Lucky Strike, Misty, Monarch, More, Newport Now,Old Gold, Pall Mall, Tareyton,  Vantage and Viceroy earlier Barclay, Belair and Real.