He has instilled a new, aggressive nature in the company.

I think the industry gave in quite a bit. The [tobacco company] CEOs were very interested and very pressured into getting a settlement done. They were perfectly willing to pay the extra $60 billion if necessary.

The whole settlement is going to hurt the industry in terms of profitability. But multiples should improve, and this is basically why the industry is trying to settle. There has been a big cloud overhanging the industry for more than a decade now.

The whole settlement is going to hurt the industry in terms of profitability, ... But multiples should improve, and this is basically why the industry is trying to settle. There has been a big cloud overhanging the industry for more than a decade now.

I would say that this a minor loss for the industry. I would say this is going to make it more difficult for them in their negotiations in terms of a settlement.

The company enjoys strong brand equity and commanding positions in most of its markets, which are stable by nature, providing it with a robust and healthy platform for cash flow generation.