Altria Group Inc (MO)

[EZ2]

Imperial Tobacco up as two rivals reportedly mull joint bid


4:58:35 AM ET 2/21/2007

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Shares in U.K. tobacco company Imperial Tobacco (UK:IMT) rose 2.4% in London after Spanish newspaper El Economista reported that the company could be in line for a joint bid from two of its rivals. The report, which didn't cite sources, said that Altria Group Inc's (MO) Philip Morris unit has initiated contact with Franco-Spanish group Altadis (ES:017704001) over making a bid for the company. Altadis shares dipped 0.8% in Madrid