Retriever and Infomedia merger approved subject to divestment of Infomedia Norway

The Norwegian Competition Authority has approved Infomedia Retriever Holding’s acquisition of shares in Retriever and Infomedia, subject to certain conditions. The company has committed, among other things, to divest Infomedia Norway to an approved buyer in order to ensure continued effective competition in the market for media monitoring services in Norway.

Infomedia Retriever Holding is a holding company established in 2024 for the purpose of owning shares in Retriever and Infomedia. Both Retriever and Infomedia provide media monitoring, media analysis, and media archive services to customers in Norway. The parties are the two largest players in this market, and a merged entity would become the clear market leader.

– The acquisition would significantly impede effective competition in the market for media monitoring services in Norway, as the competitive pressure the parties currently exert on each other would be eliminated. In response to the Authority’s concerns, Infomedia Retriever Holding has now offered a set of remedies, says Acting Director of the Finance and Communications Division, Vegard Aandal-Nilsen.

The remedies include a commitment by Infomedia Retriever Holding to divest Infomedia Norge AS to a suitable and independent purchaser. The purchaser must be approved by the Norwegian Competition Authority. Furthermore, Infomedia Retriever Holding has committed to offer the purchaser access to existing agreements and rights to ensure that Infomedia can continue to operate as an effective competitor in the market.

– It is our assessment that the remedies offered by Infomedia Retriever Holding will ensure that Infomedia can continue to operate as a fully functional entity, thereby facilitating continued effective competition in the market for media monitoring services in Norway. The Authority has therefore approved the acquisition subject to these conditions, says Senior Adviser Fredrik Sortland.