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Post by ferryfast admin on Apr 5, 2006 7:56:47 GMT -5
Tuesday, April 4, 2006 · Last updated 8:50 a.m. PT
Authorities raid Color Line ferry company
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OSLO, Norway -- European competition authorities on Tuesday raided the headquarters of Norway's Color Line AS ferry company as part of an antitrust investigation.
The surprise inspection was to check for possible competition violations by the Norwegian ferry operator, the EFTA Surveillance Authority, or ESA, said in a statement.
"Surprise inspections are a preliminary step in antitrust investigations. The fact that the EFTA Surveillance Authority carries out an inspection does not mean that the company is guilty of anticompetitive behavior," the ESA said.
ESA is the enforcement arm of the European Free Trade Association, or EFTA. Through treaties with the European Union, EFTA members Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have open markets with the 25-nation European bloc even though they are not members.
Color Line spokesman Helge Otto Mathisen said the company was cooperating fully with the ESA inspectors, who were assisted by the Norwegian Competition Authority.
"Such a review of documentation is a normal practice when competition authorities want insights in the market," he said.
Oslo-based Color Line is a major European ferry line, with 3,500 employees in four countries, 10 ships and seven international routes between Norway, Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
The group said it transports about 4.2 million passengers and nearly 1 million motor vehicles per year, and has annual revenue of about 4 billion kroner ($615 million).
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On the Net:
www.eftasurv.int
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