The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index, but it was acquired by British American Tobacco in 1999.

[2] The company was founded by Louis Rothman in 1890 as a small kiosk on Fleet Street in London.

In the 1970s, Rothmans became involved in sponsorships, sponsoring the British Olympic team in 1972 and the inaugural Hong Kong Sevens in 1976.

[5] In January 1996, the Rembrandt Group and Richemont merged their tobacco businesses under the "Rothmans International" name.

In 1984 Porsche produced the 911 SC RS rally car specifically for Rothmans with the car being run by David Richards and the newly formed Prodrive (set up and run by both Ian Parry & David Richards).

Coincidentally, Richards was sponsored by Rothmans when he was co-driving Ari Vatanen to his privateer 1981 World Drivers' Championship success aboard the Ford Escort RS1800.

Williams drivers Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve won the F1 title in 1996 and 1997, respectively, with the team also taking the Constructor's Championship both years.

Driving a V8 powered Holden VL Commodore SS Group A, team boss Allan Moffat and co-driver John Harvey won the first ever WTCC race, the 1987 Monza 500.