US Department of Justice starts price fixing investigation against Norwegian salmon giants

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Mowi, SalMar and Grieg Seafood have said there is no basis for the price fixing investigation against them by the United States Department of Justice.

Several Norwegian salmon farming companies have responded on Thursday evening with regard to the European Commission’s inspection on possible cooperation between a number of Norwegian salmon producers and the subsequent lawsuit in the United States related to the same case.

“Mowi has been informed that we will receive a subpoena from the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice where they are opening a criminal investigation involving allegations of similar conduct,” the company wrote in a stock exchange statement.

Mowi considers that there is no basis for the EU inspection and that the lawsuit lacks substance and is completely unfounded. This also applies to any criminal investigation in the United States.

“Mowi will cooperate fully with the Department of Justice and will provide all requested information related to our US subsidiaries,” added the company.

The company further stated that there is no new information on the European Commission’s case management.

“No basis” for investigation
SalMar also stated in a stock exchange statement that it received a subpoena from the Antitrust Division in the US Department of Justice that they are opening an investigation against the company.

SalMar also considers that there is no basis for investigation in the EU and that the group lawsuits are baseless. The same applies to any criminal investigation in the United States.

SalMar will work with the Ministry of Justice and provide all requested information.

Around one and a half hours before midnight, Grieg Seafood also issued a stock exchange statement, stating that the subsidiaries Ocean Quality, Ocean Quality USA and Ocean Quality Premium Brands, have been notified by the US Department of Justice that an investigation is being opened against the companies.

The same is confirmed in an email from communications manager Kristina Furnes.

“In the wake of the European Commission investigating possible anti-competitive practices in the salmon industry and of ongoing lawsuits in the US on the same case, we have been informed that Ocean Quality will receive a subpoena from the US Competition Authority and that they will launch their own investigation into the case,” Furnes wrote.

“Grieg Seafood is not aware of any kind of practice that undermines competition in either the EU or the US. We cooperate fully with the European Commission and will also cooperate with the US Competition Authority.” she added.

© Ilaks.no #Norway Today

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