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16 SMOKESHOP December 2015 Industry NEWS >>>PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, REGULATION, TRADE Bits&Pieces > The city of Boston's Board of Health voted in December to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, becoming the 86th city in the state to implement an age-21 law. Retail tobac- co shops and cigar bar are also now off-limits to those under 21, while the sale of flavored tobacco is limited to adult-only tobac- co shops. The new law becomes effective February 15th, 2016. > Hawaii became the first age-21 tobacco state in June, while nine other states are currently con- sidering such bills. A total of 19 states preempt local communities from enact- ing tougher legal minimum sales age laws. > New York state has become the 22nd state to settle disputed Master Settlement Agreement payments with original (OPM) and subsequent (SPM) participating manu- facturers that date back to 2003. The settlement calls for manufacturers to be given a credit against what they owe New York at the rate of 60 cents for every 20 cigarettes that New York's Native American retailers sold tax-free, for 150 million packs total and a savings of $90 million. MSA payment held in escrow during the disputed period will now be released to New York state. glenn allen, va.—Dan Carr, who joined General Cigar Company in 1996 as vice president of sales and who, through a series of executive promotions, rose to lead the company for the past five years as president, stepped down suddenly in December and left the company. Regis Broersma, who had previously served as managing director of STG Germany, was immediately appointed to fill the position in an announcement by Niels Frederickson, c.e.o. of General Cigar Co.'s parent company, Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG). The Dutch-born executive has worked in the cigar industry since 2002 and "has a great passion for cigars," according to STG. In 1999, Carr was appointed senior v.p. of sales for General's parent company, Swedish Match, and returned to General in 2004 as senior v.p. of sales and marketing. In 2009 he was named chief operating offi- cer of General, and in October 2010 was named president. In addition to Broersma's appoint- ment, STG has assigned the responsibil- ity of its entire global hand-made cigar businesses to Craig Reynolds in the newly created position of executive vice president. Reynolds' responsibil- ity includes General Cigar Co., its international business, and Cigars International, which is a leading online retailer in the US. Reynolds continues as president for Cigars International. "[Broersma] has the experience and the innovative approach needed to continue the impressive development of General Cigar together with its management team," said Frederiksen of the appointment. "Our hand- made cigar business accounts for 25 percent of our net sales and is a growth engine of our business. We want to reinforce this develop- ment by adding executive management capac- ity for the entire handmade business globally." General Cigar and Cigars International will continue to be operated as two separate, stand-alone businesses. General Cigar holds a leading market position and has a strong product portfolio in the U.S. for handmade and premium cigars. Cigars International has built a leading position as an online retailer and a direct marketer in the premium cigars and pipe tobacco segment. FACTORIES STG Lane, Georgia, U.S.A. Honduras American Tabaco S.A. (Hatsa), Honduras, C.A. STG Estelí, Nicaragua, C.A. General Cigar Dominica, Dominican Republic STG Moca, Dominican Republic Scandinavian Tobacco Group Wuustwezel N.V., Belgium STG Lummen, Belgium STG Eersel, The Netherlands STG Holstebro, Denmark STG Assens, Denmark STG Nykøbing, Denmark STG Indonesia, Pandaan, Indonesia STG Indonesia, Pasuruan Indonesia RETAIL STORES CI Hamburg Super-Store, Pa., USA CI Downtown Store, Pa., USA CI Downtown Store, Pa., USA P.G.C. Hajenius BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands Davidoff My Own Blend, Copenhagen, Denmark STG New Zealand, Aukland, New Zealand SALES OFFICES Cigars International/M&D Wholesale Distributors, Inc. Pa., U.S.A General Cigar Company, Va., U.S.A. STG Lane, Ga., U.S.A. STG Canada, Longueuil (Québec), Canada 13 European offices, Australia ST Group Replaces General Cigar President Dan Carr Scandinavian Tobacco Group Key Subsidiaries > General Cigar's new executive team (l. to r.): Regis Broermsma, president and Craig Reynolds, exec. v.p.