The deal is a fascinating and promising example of impact investing, that uncharted space between philanthropy and profitmaximization, and the U.S. needs much more of this, not to mention developing countries.
The focus clearly seems to be on profitmaximization through higher pricing of cigarettes to offset the decline in volume of cigarette sales with lower emphasis on growing market share.
Those who assert this position postulate that business schools trained generations of executives who focused almost solely on profitmaximization with a steadfast belief that markets and self-regulation would preclude a crisis.
This notion of a conscious approach to value creation is built on the fundamental premise that every business performs better when it has a deeper purpose than short-term profitmaximization and recognizes its responsibility to all of its stakeholders, not just its shareholders.