The Commerce Commission has received an application from Scandinavian Tobacco Group seeking clearance to merge their New Zealand cigar and pipe tobacco business with Swedish Match.

Scandinavian Tobacco is a privately owned Danish company involved in the manufacture and supply of tobacco and associated products. In New Zealand it supplies cigars and pipe tobacco.

Swedish Match is a Swedish-based company which supplies similar products to Scandinavian Tobacco in New Zealand.

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 be available shortly on the Commission's website at www.comcom.govt.nz/clearances-register