SPRING LAKE, Mich. (BUSINESS WIRE) Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corporation (OTCQB ECIG), today announced that it has completed the acquisition of VIP , one of the United Kingdom s leading and most profitable electronic cigarette companies, for a combination cash and stock in excess of $50 million. The acquisition officially closed the morning of April 22nd, following wire transfer receipt delays with the closing of the banks in the UK for the long Easter weekend. VIP has one of the leading product portfolios of any electronic cigarette company worldwide and has developed a unique multi channel distribution model with own retail stores, retail mobile kiosk units, online, and traditional retail. The acquisition will have a material impact on both revenue and profit of the company.

Manchester, United Kingdom based VIP was launched in 2009 by co founders Miguel Corral and David Levin. Over the past four years they built VIP into one of the most profitable and well run electronic cigarette companies across Europe, with a leading presence in the England and a number one market position in Ireland. The company has continually innovated in every aspect of its business from its product portfolio to its distribution model to its breakthrough and highly innovative advertising. The company has developed one of the broadest product portfolios of any ecig company worldwide, that includes traditional rechargeables and disposables, the latest mods, open and closed vaping systems, tanks, some of the highest quality and best tasting liquids, all packaged in tamper evident, child proof packaging.

VIP is distributed through a unique multi channel distribution model and has developed an attractive e commerce segment, a highly profitable retail mobile unit kiosk model located in major consumer traffic areas, and their own flagship retail stores. The Company recently began expansion to major retailers in the UK, and has quickly gained acceptance from major supermarket chains throughout the country. Brent Willis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Victory, and former senior executive at AB InBev and Coca Cola commented, VIP is a high potential franchise with an outstanding leadership team that will each be taking on broader global roles in the combined enterprise. Of all the electronic cigarette companies, VIP was the most profitable company as a percentage of sales of any ecig firm we have seen worldwide. Their product portfolio, premium brand, and distribution approaches have global potential and we intend to heavily invest in expanding their distribution model and product portfolio.

In addition to brand, product and distribution expansion opportunities, the Company will also pursue back office, supply and other cost synergies together with London based VAPESTICK that joined the Victory group in January. Mr. Corral commented, Everyone at VIP is extremely excited about joining Victory and becoming a driving force behind the largest independent electronic cigarette company in the world. We knew that to effectively compete in the next phase of this industry that we would need to partner with someone that shared our same vision and would facilitate us to achieve our long term objectives. We chose Victory because they have the people, the resources, and infrastructure that when combined with our team, will enable us to accomplish our vision now just on a global basis, and now much faster.

Victory has been consolidating the electronic cigarette industry, and has completed four major transactions or partnerships in the past four months including the Field s Texas Group and the FIN Branding Group in the United States, and VAPESTICK and now VIP in Europe. The company expects to continue its external and organic growth activities as it consolidates its industry leadership position and expands into attractive growth markets around the world.

About Victory

Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corporation is dedicated to providing a cleaner and healthier alternative to smoking for all, and intends to empower smokers to regain their freedom. Victory is the largest independent electronic cigarette company in the world, owns the trademarks VAPESTICK , FIN , Victory , GreenStix , VIP and others. The company owns multiple subsidiary companies and has operations in North America, Central America, Latin America, Western Europe, and Asia. Victory offers consumers a full product portfolio that incorporates the highest quality and latest technology, and has been rated as superior in real tobacco taste amongst major brands.

About VIP

VIP is one of Europe s leading brands of premium electronic cigarettes, founded in 2009 by co founders Miguel Corral and David Levin, and later joined by Dave Ryder, Chief Product Officer. With its full portfolio across all relevant segments within electronic cigarettes and vaping products, VIP has grown to become one of the most recognized brands in the United Kingdom, the number one brand in Ireland, and the preferred brand in taste amongst consumers in the UK. The Company currently sells its products online at , through its own flagship retail outlets, online, in mobile kiosk units, and in major retailers in the UK. The business is a member in good standing of ECITA (European Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association).

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, reflecting management’s current expectations regarding future results of operations, economic performance, financial condition and achievements of Victory, including statements regarding Victory s expectation to see continued growth. The forward looking statements are based on the assumption that operating performance and results will continue to materialize consistent with recent trends. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Forward looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include Victory s reliance on additional financing, Victory s profitability and financial health, risks associated with Victory s products, including that they may pose a health risk governmental regulations may impact Victory s business the market or consumers may not accept Victory s products Victory relies on a single class of products existing or pending patents may affect Victory s business and other factors disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless required by applicable law, Victory undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements.

Proposed ban of ‘too realistic’ e-cigarettes by european union draws ire of proponents of nicotine devices

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All electronic cigarettes currently on sale in Britain would be banned and removed from shelves under new European Union proposals.

As more children use e cigarettes, heath officials worry it will lead to regular smoking

Children like adults are increasingly trying electronic cigarettes, according to the first large national study to gauge use by middle and high school students.

About 2% of the students said they d used an e cigarette in the previous month, according to a survey done last year. That was up from 1% in 2011.

More kids still smoke traditional cigarettes than the new electronic ones, and it s not clear how dangerous e cigarettes are. It s also not clear from the report how many are using them on a daily or weekly basis.

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A confidential negotiating document drafted by the European Commission seeks to overturn a vote by Members of European Parliament that rejected outlawing them in their present form.

Brussels officials fear that there is a “risk that electronic cigarettes can develop into a gateway to normal cigarettes,” according to the paper. It wants to include the smoke free alternative under a new EU “tobacco products directive” despite the fact they contain no tobacco.

The attempt to ban e cigarettes drew anger from suppliers in Britain, where 1.3 million have switched to the devices.

Fraser Cropper, the chief executive officer of Totally Wicked, an e cigarette supplier based in Lancashire, U.K., said “Behind closed doors in Brussels, unaccountable and unelected bureaucrats are drafting proposals that will deny millions of existing and former smokers access to a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes.”

A town in northern France has become the first to impose a ban on electronic cigarettes in public buildings. Francois Digard, the mayor of Saint Lo in the La Manche region of Normandy, passed a decree this month outlawing them.

France, which has an estimated 1.5 million e cigarette users, is mulling a ban but the mayor apparently decided to jump the gun after several non smokers said they were unhappy about the devices being smoked in public libraries. “The e cigarette is not neutral in the immediate environment. With it emitting odour and a bit of smoke it can really bother some people,” Digard told France Bleu Cotentin radio.

EU officials say the devices ‘normalize the action of smoking’

As cigarette smoking has been increasingly stigmatized, the sale of electronic cigarettes has risen dramatically.

E cigarettes consist of a battery, a cartridge containing nicotine, a solution of propylene glycol or glycerine mixed with water, and an atomizer to turn the solution into a vapour. The nicotine is delivered without a flame and without tobacco or tar and e cigarette users describe the experience as “vaping” rather than smoking. They are widely considered a healthier alternative, however, the Dutch public health institute on Wednesday published a policy paper claiming that electronic cigarettes are as harmful as ordinary cigarettes, saying that they are addictive and contain poisonous substances.

Because the products are new and do not contain tobacco, they are outside EU law and are more or less unregulated in Britain and across Europe.

The officials in Brussels want that to change, saying the devices “normalize the action of smoking”. “Electronic cigarettes are a tobacco related product and should be regulated within this directive. They simulate smoking behaviour and are increasingly used and marketed to young people and non smokers,” said the commission negotiating paper.

‘Forcing e cigarettes off the shelves would be crazy. It would remove a valuable support for people desperate to stop smoking’

The proposals would ban, by 2017, e cigarettes that produce levels of nicotine above 20mg per mL, those with refillable cartridges or those that taste like tobacco. Suppliers say all e cigarettes currently available would fall foul of the rules.

Martin Callanan, a Conservative MEP, said “Forcing e cigarettes off the shelves would be crazy. It would remove a valuable support for people desperate to stop smoking and thus could potentially lead to needless deaths.”

A commission spokesman said “I never comment on leaked documents.”

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