The Competition Authority invites submissions regarding the proposed merger of Norðlenska matborðsins ehf., Kjarnafæðis hf. and SAH afurða ehf.

• The Competition Authority seeks comments and information from interested parties. Access is granted to the merger register, excluding confidential information.
• Both the interests of farmers and consumers are taken into account when assessing the merger.
• Comment period until 28 October 2020.

On 18 August 2020, the Competition Authority was notified of the proposed merger of Norðlenska matborðsins ehf. (hereinafter „Norðlenska“), Kjarnafæði hf. (hereinafter „Kjarnafæði“) and SAH afurða ehf. (hereinafter „SAH“). Norðlenska is a meat processing company with facilities in Akureyri, Húsavík and Reykjavík. Norðlenska slaughters horses, cattle, sheep and pigs. Furthermore, Norðlenska produces and sells various products from lamb, beef, pork and horse meat under the brand names Goði, KEA, Húsavíkurkjöt and Bautabúrið. Kjarnafæði is a food processing company that produces and sells various products from lamb, beef, pork and horse meat. SAH, which is owned by Kjarnafæði, operates a slaughterhouse and produce sales in Blönduós. The company's operations include the slaughter of horses, cattle and sheep, and the sale of produce to food processing companies.

In connection with its investigation of the merger, the Competition Authority invites submissions from interested parties. The Competition Authority is particularly seeking submissions on the following points:

• The impact of the merger on the interests of farmers and consumers.
• Competitive conditions in the slaughter of livestock in this country and the effect of the merger on competition between abattoirs for the slaughter of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs.
• The impact of the merger on the markets in which the merging parties operate.
• The Competition Authority also invites general submissions on the competitive conditions in the markets for meat products in Iceland, from livestock farming to the sale of finished meat products.

Attached to this notice is the so-called merger filing, without confidential information, in which detailed information from the merging parties about the merger can be found. Also attached is a copy of the Competition Authority's request for comments.

Comments regarding the merger should be submitted no later than 26 October 2020 to the email address samkeppni@samkeppni.is.

Attached:

[Consolidated register, non-confidential]

General information on merger control

The Competition Authority has the task, under the Competition Act, of investigating mergers and must, in this regard, assess whether a merger of companies significantly impairs competition and thereby harms the interests of the public and/or business life. In this case, both the interests of farmers and consumers are considered.

When assessing the effects of mergers, the Competition Authority collects information from the parties to the proceedings and any other relevant parties, as it deems necessary from time to time. In this case, the Competition Authority considers it important to give farmers, other customers, competitors and other stakeholders an opportunity to submit their views and information.