The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) has initiated further proceedings concerning a transaction according to which Elisa Oyj is to gain control over Anvia Oyj.
Elisa Oyj and Anvia Oyj operate in the telecommunications services market in Finland. The core business of both parties encompasses services offered across landline and mobile telephone networks. Together the two companies will enjoy an extremely strong position in these markets, especially in Anvia’s traditional operating area of Ostrobothnia.
In its further proceedings, the FCCA will investigate whether the acquisition significantly impedes effective competition in the Finnish market or a substantial part of it, particularly if the reason for this is an attempt to establish or strengthen market dominance. Following its further proceedings, the FCCA may approve the acquisition as such, attach conditions to the approval, or request the Finnish Market Court to prohibit the acquisition. According to the Finnish Competition Act, these further proceedings cannot take longer than three months.
The decision issued by the FCCA on 9 January 2015 includes numerous business secrets of the parties involved. It cannot therefore be published until the confidential information has been removed. The public version of the decision will be posted on the FCCA’s website as soon as it has been finalised.