Disclosure requirements continued in several markets

The Norwegian Competition Authority extends disclosure requirements for specific market players in several markets.

The disclosure requirements entail that the companies concerned must inform the Authority about mergers and acquisitions they are involved in, also when the regular notification thresholds are not met.

The disclosure requirements are applicable for a period of two years, until the end of 2022. All the companies in question were subject to similar obligations in the previous two-year period, which ended on 31.12.2020. The disclosure requirements have thus been continued for another two-year period.

The disclosure requirements have been renewed and continued for the following markets and companies:

• Motor fuel retailing: Uno-X Energi AS, St1 Norge AS, Certas Energy Norway AS and Circle K Norge AS
• Electricity generation: Statkraft AS, BKK AS, Skagerak Energi AS and Agder Energi AS
• Waste management and recycling: Norsk Gjenvinning Norge AS
• Locksmith services: AssaAbloy Norge AS
• Laundry services: Nor Tekstil AS
• Garden centres: Plantasjen Norge ASA
• Newspapers: Amedia AS, Polaris Media ASA and Schibsted ASA
• Broadband services: Telenor ASA

– The purpose of the disclosure requirements is to make the Authority aware of acquisitions that these companies make. The aim is to prevent that acquisitions by large companies of smaller market players cause harm to competition. Such acquisitions may, in some cases, lead to higher prices and less choice for consumers, says Director General Lars Sørgard.

The Competition Authority regularly considers whether it is necessary to impose disclosure requirements on other market players.