Tekel

Tekel A.Ş. (Turkish, literally single-hand or monopoly and generally capitalised as TEKEL) was a Turkish tobacco and alcoholic beverages company. It was nationalised in 1925 from a parastatal (government owned/controlled) company, the Régie. A joint foreign and Ottoman consortium, the Régie was short for "La Société de la régie co-intéressée des tabacs de l'Empire Ottoman". Tekel evolved into the sole manufacturer and distributor of all alcohol and tobacco products in Turkey. Later on, Tekel was no longer a monopoly; however it had controlled taxing and distribution of all alcohol and tobacco products in Turkey until the end. The taxation department was handed over to the Turkish Revenue Administration after privatisation. Tekel's alcoholic beverages division was privatised in 2004, leading to the establishment of Mey İçki. British American Tobacco acquired Tekel's cigarette business assets in June 2008.