The Norwegian Competition Authority received 455 tip-offs about possible anti-competitive behaviour and violations in 2024.
Throughout 2024, a broad tip campaign was conducted on multiple platforms and through informational meetings with business organisations. The goal was to solicit more tip-offs and increase knowledge about the Competition Act. The tip-offs have been about both illegal cooperation and abuse of dominant positions.
– Receiving tip-offs about violations of the Competition Act is an important source for efficient enforcement. The fact that we receive so many tip-offs indicates that people know where to turn if they suspect violations of the Competition Act, says Gjermund Nese, Acting Director General of the Norwegian Competition Authority.
A survey conducted by the Norwegian Competition Authority shows that about 1 in 3 business leaders believe that illegal cooperation occurs in Norway. The violations they believe are being committed mainly involve price cooperation, information exchange, and market sharing.
In 2024, the Norwegian Competition Authority issued a decision against three actors in an investigation in the grocery market, concluded an investigation in the pharmacy market, and started an investigation in the driving school market.
Many mergers and acquisitions
In 2024, the Norwegian Competition Authority handled 151 merger notifications. 98 percent of them were concluded within 25 working days. The number of merger notifications has increased from 2023 when there were 113 such notifications. In 2024, the Authority intervened against Norva24 Vest’s acquisition of Vitek Miljø. The decision was upheld by the Competition Appeals Tribunal.
– We have noticed an increase in the number of notifications of mergers and acquisitions. 98 percent are cleared within 25 days. Efficient merger control saves resources for the businesses and contributes to well-functioning competition, says Nese.
In the Norwegian Competition Authority’s annual report for 2024, you can read more about this and the various cases from last year. Here you will also find more general information about the Authority’s work.
Follow the link to read the annual report (in Norwegian).