The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry
Norwegian seafood producer SalMar has agreed to acquire a majority stake in salmon farming company Måsøval, in a deal valued at approximately NOK 3.4 billion (approx. €290 million), strengthening its position in one of the country's most important aquaculture regions.
Under the agreement, SalMar will acquire 85.7 million shares in Måsøval from Heimstø AS, representing around 70% of the company's share capital. The agreed purchase price of NOK 39.50 per share values Måsøval at approximately NOK 4.84 bn.
The consideration will comprise 733,906 newly issued SalMar shares, accounting for 10% of the transaction value, with the remaining balance paid in cash. The share component has been valued at NOK 461.40 per SalMar share, based on the company's closing share price on Euronext Oslo Børs on 6 July 2026.
The acquisition is expected to reinforce SalMar's operations in Central Norway, a key region for salmon farming, while expanding its production platform and supporting long-term growth. The company said the combination will improve the utilisation of resources, expertise and infrastructure, strengthen innovation capabilities and support sustainable value creation across the Norwegian coastline.
Frode Arntsen, chief executive officer of SalMar, said: "We believe this represents an exciting industrial opportunity that will strengthen SalMar's position in Central Norway, one of our most important core regions for aquaculture.
Arntsen added: "Måsøval is a historically well-established and well-managed company with strong roots in the region, and its operations are a good fit with SalMar's existing activities. The companies share common roots on Frøya, and we see significant potential for further development."
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
As part of the agreement, Heimstø has been granted the right to sell the SalMar shares received as consideration back to the company at NOK461.40 per share for a period of 12 months following completion.
Following completion, SalMar said it intends to offer minority shareholders in Måsøval the opportunity to sell their shares at the same price of NOK 39.50 per share.
The acquisition reflects continued consolidation within the Norwegian aquaculture sector as producers seek greater scale, operational efficiencies and enhanced sustainability capabilities in response to rising global demand for farmed salmon.
SalMar said it will provide further details on the transaction and its expected impact when it reports its second-quarter 2026 results on 25 August.
