Imperial Tobacco's profits grow

Imperial is the world's fourth-largest tobacco company

Imperial Tobacco, which is trying to takeover Franco-Spanish rival Altadis, has reported a rise in annual profits.

Pre-tax profits rose 6% in the 12 months to the end of September to £1.24bn ($2.55bn).

Imperial is waiting for the Spanish regulator CNMV to approve its 16.2bn euros ($23.3bn; £11.3bn) acquisition.

Imperial is the name behind cigarette brands such as Lambert & Butler, West and Richmond, while Altadis makes Gauloises and Gitanes.

Some of Imperial's growth came from the acquisition in February of the fourth-biggest US cigarette-maker Commonwealth Brands for £974m.

Imperial is the fourth-largest tobacco company, operating in more than 130 countries with about 14,500 employees.