Merger of Kvosar ehf. and Skólavörubúðin ehf.

The Competition Authority received notification that Kvos ehf., which owns, among others, Prentsmiðjuna Odda hf. and Odda skrifstofuvörur ehf., had purchased all the shares in Skólavörubúðin ehf. From the information provided in the notification, it appears clear that as a result of the merger, Oddi skrifstofuvörur will strengthen its position in the areas of business concerned with the sale of general office supplies, such as paper, stationery and computer consumables. On the other hand, it appears clear that the merger will not have harmful competitive effects, as the main competitors in the wholesale and retail distribution of office supplies are very strong companies, such as Penninn hf. and Office1 Superstore. In light of this and other evidence in the case, the Competition Authority did not consider that the merger would prevent effective competition within the meaning of the Competition Act, and therefore saw no reason to take further action in respect of it.