The merger of Nova hf. and Símafélagið ehf.

The Competition Authority in Iceland has considered Nova hf. acquisiton of Símafélagið ehf. The activities of Nova hf. mainly involve providing mobile telecommunication services where as Símafélagið ehf. specialises in providing services on the fixed network for fixed telecomunications and internet services. It can be seen that the focus on activities by the merging companies is quite different on the telecommunication market. The aim of the aquisition is to merge the companies so that they will be better equipped than before to provide services to companies, induviduals and households. Then the aim of the united company will have more opportunities to succeed in providing comprehensive telecommunications services i.e. mobile-, internet and if applicable, fixed telecommunication services. The Competition Authority does not see from the facts of the case that the relevant merger would lead to or strengthen a dominant position or that the merger would lead to a significant distortion of competition in other respects, cf. Article 17 c of the Competition Act. The Competition Authority in Iceland has come to the conclusion that there is no reason to interfere in this  merger on the basis of  Article 17 of the Competition Act.