Press Release: Commission clears retail joint venture between Kesko and ICA in the Baltic States

The European Commission granted regulatory clearance, under the Merger Regulation, to a proposed joint venture between Finnish food retailer Kesko Oy and ICA AB, a leading food retailer in Sweden and Norway, 16 November 2004. The JV wanted to procure and sell daily consumer goods in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Although there were some overlaps in the activities of the two companies in Estonia and Latvia, the JV would face competition from other players in a market which is in full expansion and presents little barriers to entry.

ICA AB: Press Release, 16.11.04 http://www.ica.se/FrontServlet?s=om_ica&state=om_ica_dynamic&viewid=367800

Kesko: Press release, 16.11.04 http://www.kesko.fi/index.asp?id=ACA985C63CEE4D328C11C2DC0E1B186C&data=1,URL,http://www.kesko.fi/modules/release/show_release.asp?id=DA1027EC7AE948129ED0B535D1A5CB43

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