1902
UK’s Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company of the United States form a joint venture, the British American Tobacco Company. James ‘Buck’ Duke becomes the company’s first chairman. 1904-1911
We develop markets in the West Indies, India, Ceylon, Egypt, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Indonesia, East Africa and Malaya. 
1905
Acquires majority shares in Maspero Freres Company. 1910
Sales are more than 10 billion cigarettes. 1914
First World War begins. 
1915
Sales total 25 billion. 1921
Cigarrera Bigott Sucs is formed in Venezuela and, in the following few years, acquisitions are made in Chile, Mexico and Central America. 1927
Our 25th anniversary. We become one of the UK’s leading companies, with 120 subsidiaries. 1932
We have factories in most countries and develop independent distribution networks, which become fully-fledged subsidiaries. Leaf-growing and manufacturing operations are established in India, China, Brazil and Nigeria and Haus Bergmann is acquired in Germany. 1939
Second World War begins. 
1942
Profits that were static at £5.5 million right through the depression go down to £3 million until the war ended. 
1953-1955
We rank third among British, French and German companies, measured by company profits. 1960
Global sales exceed 280 billion with trading profits of more than £58 million. 
1961-1965
We begin to diversify with moves into the paper, cosmetics and food industries. 1966
We acquire cigar manufacturer Henri Wintermans and company profits exceed £100m for the first time. 1970-1973
We move into retailing with acquisitions including Argos in the UK and Saks Fifth Avenue in the USA. 1976
Peter Macadam becomes Chairman and BAT Industries is formed. Within two years it is the UK’s third biggest company. Annual sales increase to 500 billion cigarettes. 1981
Trading profits from the tobacco operations triple over the previous decade to more than £463 million. 1984-1989
BAT Industries acquires Eagle Star, Allied Dunbar and Farmers Group to become the largest UK-based insurance group. 
1992
Hungary’s Pecsi Dohanygyar are acquired. Acquisitions and joint ventures follow rapidly in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Russia, Romania and Poland. 1994
The prestigious Lucky Strike and Pall Mall brands are now added to our portfolio. 1998
BAT Industries divests its financial services businesses. British American Tobacco becomes a separately quoted company on the London Stock Exchange, with Martin Broughton as its chairman. 
1999
Following a global merger with Rothmans International we gain several major brands, including Dunhill. 2001
New investments in countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam and South Korea 2004
Brown & Williamson and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company combine and Reynolds American is formed – a stronger, more sustainable business in which we have a 42% share. 2008
We acquire the assets of Tekel, the Turkish state tobacco company. 2011
Major acquisition of Protabaco in Colombia for US$452 million. Our annual results for 2011 reveal another successful year with strong brand performance, an increase in organic revenue of 7% and adjusted profit from operations growing by 11%. 