The Konkurransetilsynet has granted conditional clearance for Karo Healthcare to acquire Aco Hud Nordic, after approving a buyer for the divested skincare brand Locobase.
The authority said the sale of the Locobase brand in the Nordic region was a key remedy required to address competition concerns arising from the transaction.
Remedy accepted
Karo Healthcare proposed the divestment of Locobase as a remedy to secure approval for the merger. The company has now signed an agreement with a third party to purchase the brand in the Nordic markets.
According to the competition authority, the proposed buyer meets the requirements of being an independent and suitable purchaser.
“It is positive that a new player willing to compete in the market for therapeutic skincare is entering,” said Marita Mæland Skjæveland, department director at the Norwegian Competition Authority.
Case closed after remedy approval
With the buyer approved, the authority has concluded its review and lifted the prohibition on completing the merger.
The transaction had been under scrutiny since October 2025, when the merger notification was first submitted. The authority opened an in-depth review in November 2025, received proposed remedies in January 2026, and warned that intervention could be necessary the following month.
In March 2026, the regulator issued a conditional approval decision, requiring the divestment of Locobase before the merger could proceed. The approval of the buyer on 22 April completes that process.
The authority said the remedy ensures continued competition in the Nordic market for therapeutic skincare products, where both merging companies are active.
Source: https://konkurransetilsynet.no/godkjenner-tiltak-i-karo-healthcare-sitt-oppkjop-av-aco-hud-nordic/
