swedishletter

PAUL R. WATKINS (1890 - 1973) DANA LATHAM (1898 - 1974) CHICAGO OFFICE SEARS TOWER, SUITE 5800 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606 PHONE (312) 876-7700, FAX 983-0767 HONG KONG OFFICE 20TH FLOOR STANDARD CHARTERED BANK BUILDING 4 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG PHONE +852-2522-7888, FAX 2522-7000 LONDON OFFICE 99 BISHOPSGATE, ELEVENTH FLOOR LONDON EC2M 3XF ENGLAND PHONE +44-20-7710-1000, FAX 7374-4400 LOS ANGELES OFFICE 633 WEST FIFTH STREET, SUITE 4000 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071-2007 PHONE (213) 485-1234, FAX 891-5783 MOSCOW OFFICE ULITSA GAGNEKA, 7, 9TH FLOOR MOSCOW 123058, RUSSIA PHONE +7-095 785-1234, FAX 785-1235 NEW JERSEY OFFICE ONE NEWARK CENTER, 18TH FLOOR NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07101-3174 PHONE (973) 639-1234, FAX 639-7280 # LATHAM & WATKINS ATTORNEYS AT LAW 53RD AT THIRD, SUITE 1000 885 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022-4802 TELEPHONE (212) 906-1200 FAX (212) 751-4864 December 22, 2000 Writer's Direct Dial: 212 906-1272 Email: bruce.prager@lw.com ORANGE COUNTY OFFICE 650 TOWN CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 2000 COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA 92626-1925 PHONE (714) 640-1235, FAX 756-8200 SAN DIEGO OFFICE 701 'B' STREET, SUITE 2100 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92101-8197 PHONE (619) 238-1234, FAX 096-7419 SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE 505 MONTGOMERY STREET, SUITE 1900 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111-2582 PHONE (415) 391-0000, FAX 395-6095 SILICON VALLEY OFFICE 135 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025 PHONE (650) 328-4800, FAX 463-2800 SINGAPORE OFFICE 80 RAFFLES PLACE, #14-20 UOB PLAZA 2, SINGAPORE 048824 PHONE +65-538-1181, FAX 538-1171 TOKYO OFFICE KANEMATSU BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR 2-14-1 KYOBASHI, CHUO-KU TOKYO 104-0031, JAPAN PHONE +813-5524-1900, FAX 5524-1901 WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE 1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., N.W., SUITE 1300 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004-2305 PHONE (202) 637-2200, FAX 637-2201 FILE NO. 023491-0017 # VIA FACSIMILE AND U.S. MAIL Marion Bruno, Esq. Assistant Director Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition Premerger Notification Office Room 303 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20580 Re: Swedish Match North America, Inc./National Tobacco Company Dear Marion: This letter follows upon the conversation that my partner James Kearney and I had this morning with John Graubert of the Federal Trade Commission, General Counsel's office. I am writing on behalf of Swedish Match North America, Inc., and with the concurrence of National Tobacco Company, to advise you that those parties have determined to abandon the February 10, 2000 Asset Purchase Agreement relating to Swedish Match's proposed purchase of National's chewing tobacco brands and related assets. Accordingly, I have been authorized by Swedish Match AB to withdraw the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act Notification and Report Form, Transaction No. 2000-1965, that it filed in connection with that proposed transaction. NY_DOCS498850.1 [W97] LATHAM & WATKINS Marion Bruno, Esq. December 22, 2000 Page 2 Should you have any questions regarding this matter please call me. Have a very happy Holiday Season. Bruce J. Prager, Esq. of LATHAM & WATKINS cc: John D. Graubert, Esq. Richard Liebeskind, Esq. NY_DOCS\498850.1 [W97]