Oettinger Davidoff AG Acquires Majority Interest in Asia Distributor Bluebell Cigars (Asia) Ltd.

Just over a year since Oettinger Davidoff AG acquired a 25% interest in Bluebell Cigars (Asia) Ltd., its Asia distributor, the Swiss premium cigar maker has announced that it has acquired a majority interest as of Jan. 1.

As part of the acquisition, Bluebell Cigars (Asia) Ltd. will be renamed Davidoff of Geneva (Asia) Ltd. It will continue to be led by Laurent de Rougemont as managing director. In his new role as senior vice president Asia, he will now report directly to Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, and will also be a member of Oettinger Davidoff’s global management group.

Additionally, Gerhard Anderlohr, Oettinger Davidoff’s current head of Asia, will enter a new role as vice president business development, with what the company says will be a particular focus on China and the Chinese consumer.

“The 2015 Agreement with Bluebell Cigars (Asia) Ltd. provided us with a right over time to acquire a majority interest in our long-standing Asian partner and the time was now right to make that move,” said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, ceo of Oettinger Davidoff AG via a press release. “I am delighted in this way to cement our relationship with Bluebell and further deepen our commitment to the Asia Region, which continues to represent significant future potential for the Davidoff business.”

Ashley Micklewright, ceo of Bluebell (Asia) Ltd. said that “we are delighted Oettinger Davidoff exercised their right to increase their interest in our joint venture and that we can now operate the business in the spirit both parties initially intended over a year ago,” adding via a press release that “in today’s market, the impact of digital technologies and the harmonisation of markets across the globe has meant legacy relationships have had to be revisited and adapted so that the interest of parties remain aligned for the greater good of the brand. We have been particularly proud to have been associated with Davidoff for the past fifty years and of course its success in Asia, and we believe we have a foundation which will allow us to remain as proud for many more years to come.”

Bluebell Cigars (Asia) Ltd. has been in business since 1954 as a distributor of luxury and lifestyle brands in Asia. It currently represents over 50 luxury and lifestyle brands in 10 countries, with a product portfolio that includes fragrance and beauty, fashion apparel and accessories, jewelry and watches, homeware, digital concepts, gourmet food and cigars. Additionally, it operates 500 retail stores and employs over 2,500 dedicated staff.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.