Norway's Competition Authority is considering a prohibition on Elkjøp's planned acquisition of Eplehuset, signaling a significant regulatory hurdle for the electronics retailer's expansion strategy.
The regulator stated in a press release on Monday evening that the proposed merger could lead to weakened competition in the market for Apple products sold to private consumers.
The intervention highlights the authority's focus on niche market segments where consolidation could reduce consumer choice or pricing power.
By specifically citing the Apple product segment, the regulator suggests that the combined entity would hold a dominant position in the retail distribution of high-demand tech goods, potentially allowing for price increases or reduced service quality for end-users.
This development adds uncertainty to the transaction timeline.
While the authority is currently in the evaluation phase, a formal prohibition would effectively block the deal unless significant remedies are proposed.