Philip Morris International is in merger talks with Altria in a deal that would combine the US and international makers of Marlboro, creating a tobacco giant with a market value of more than $210bn.
In a statement, PMI said it was considering an all-stock, merger of equals. “There can be no assurance that any agreement or transaction will result from these discussions”.
The talks come just over two years since their main rival British American Tobacco agreed to buy Reynolds American in a $49.4bn deal.
