THE Rupert family is expected to expand its presence in the international luxury goods market with the help of a R3,5-billion cash hoard from the sale of part of its 35% stake in UK-based company British American Tobacco (BAT), reports Business Day. Two Rupert-controlled companies, Richemont and Rembrandt Group (Remgro), unveiled plans on Monday to redeem further preference shares in BAT as part of previously announced plans to realise part of their BAT investment. R&R Holdings, the holding company that is two-thirds owned by Richemont and a third by Remgro, is due to redeem a second tranche of 60,4-million BAT preference shares in June. The report says that, while it is unclear what Rembrandt will do with the proceeds, analysts expect that Richemont will be involved in some substantial acquisitions in line with its increasing focus on luxury goods, held through wholly owned Vendme, and its increasingly arms-length relationship with the Ruperts’ tobacco interests.