W. Va. Code § 16-9B-2
(d) "Cigarette" means any product that contains nicotine, is intended to be burned or heated under ordinary conditions of use, and consists of or contains:
(i) "Tobacco product manufacturer" means an entity that after the date of enactment of this article directly (and not exclusively through any affiliate):
(3) Becomes a successor of an entity described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection.
The term "tobacco product manufacturer" shall not include an affiliate of a tobacco product manufacturer unless such affiliate itself falls within subdivision (1), (2) or (3).