The three companies are already under investigation for the matter in the EU and all have issued statements explaining that they are now facing subpoenas from the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice’s antitrust division, who are “opening a criminal investigation involving allegations of similar conduct.”
Both SalMar and Mowi issued identical statements, saying that: “there are no basis for the EU inspection and that the class action complaints clearly lack merit and are entirely unsubstantiated. This equally applies to any criminal investigation in the US.”
Meanwhile Grieg revealed that the action related to the two US-based subsidiaries of Ocean Quality AS – Ocean Quality USA and Ocean Quality Premium Brands.
However, they state: “Grieg Seafood ASA and Ocean Quality AS are not aware of any kind of practices that support the allegations, or other practices that undermines competition in either the EU or the US.”
All three companies add that they “will fully cooperate with the Department of Justice and will provide as requested all information in relation to our US subsidiaries”.
Meanwhile Lerøy Seafood USA, a company in the Lerøy Seafood Group, says it "considers there to be no basis for the investigations. The same applies to the class action complaints in the US, which Lerøy considers to be without merit."
