Brazil's leading tobacco company Souza Cruz said on Monday its controlling shareholder is studying a plan to buy the rest of the company's shares, delist the stock and take the company private.

Souza Cruz said in a filing with Brazil's securities and exchange commission that its controlling shareholder, which is owned by British American Tobacco, had notified it that it was considering buying out all of the company's outstanding shares.
It stressed, however, that no decision has been made on whether to go ahead with the buyout. Souza Cruz's shares are listed on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange.
Souza Cruz's controlling shareholder is a holding company called Contab Participacoes. (pi)