Swedish Match to strengthen its presence on the Italian tobacco market. Acquires distributor of tobacco products.

Swedish Match has entered into an agreement to purchase the tobacco business of Maga s.p.a. one of the leading independent distributors of niche tobacco products (in this case cigars, pipe tobacco and accessories) in Italy with a turnover of appr. 35 MSEK. The acquisition allows Swedish Match to establish its own marketing and sales organization in the important Italian market.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the beginning of September 2001.