A Hogan Lovells team led by Munich Partner Nikolas Zirngibl, has advised British American Tobacco Group (BAT). BAT, via one of its wholly owned group companies, has acquired a non-controlling minority stake in one of Germany’s leading cannabis companies, Sanity Group.

This investment is complementary to other recent investments made by BAT or BAT companies, most notably the strategic R&D collaboration established with Canada’s Organigram Holdings Inc. announced in March last year. The stake in Sanity Group adds a European dimension to one of the many BAT explorations beyond nicotine.

Sanity Group, which is based in Berlin, has a well-established product portfolio of CBD consumer brands and medical cannabis brands. It also has a proven track record in the research, development and marketing of cannabis products.