LONDON (Jan 17): British American Tobacco has agreed a US$49.4 billion takeover of US rival Reynolds American Inc, creating the world's biggest listed tobacco company after it nudged up an earlier offer by more than US$2 billion.

BAT, which already owned 42% of Reynolds, will pay US$29.44 in cash and 0.5260 BAT shares for each Reynolds share, it said, a 26% premium over the price of the stock on Oct 20, the day before its first offer was made public.

The Camel and Newport cigarette maker rejected the approach a month later, according to sources, although the two sides remained in talks.

The deal will mark the return of BAT to the lucrative and highly regulated US market after a 12-year absence, making it the only tobacco giant with a leading presence in American and international markets.

BAT Chief Executive Nicandro Durante said bringing the two companies together would drive "sustained profit growth and returns for shareholders".

"It will create a stronger, global tobacco and NGP (next generation products) business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world," he said on Tuesday.