The Commerce Commission has received a joint application from Pyne Gould Guinness Limited (PGG) and Wrightson Limited seeking clearance to merge their entire businesses.

PGG is based in Dunedin, and is a rural servicing provider to the South Island agricultural sector. PGG also has limited involvement in the North Island, and a small presence in Australia. PGG is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

Wrightson is a national provider of goods and services to the agriculture sector. Its core services include rural and horticultural supplies, wool services, livestock trading services, seed and grain products, agricultural research, insurance broking services, real estate services and financial services.

In considering the application, the Commission's role is to determine whether the acquisition has the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.

A public version of the application will shortly be available on the Commission's website www.comcom.govt.nz under Public Registers.