SalMar announced on the Oslo Børs that it intends to acquire the remaining stake in salmon-farming company Wilsgård.
SalMar agreed to work with Wilsgård Sea Service in February on developing its ownership interests in Wilsgård. Wilsgård Sea Service and SalMar collectively owned 75 percent of the shares in the salmon-farming company, which has operations in production areas 11 and 12 in Northern Norway with a maximum allowable biomass of 5,844 metric tons (MT).
On 22 April, the boards of Wilsgård and SalMar Farming – a subsidiary of SalMar – and the parent company all agreed to a triangular merger that would see SalMar take over all ownership of Wilsgård.
The three companies agreed to the valuation of Wilsgård amounting to NOK 1.76 billion (USD 169 million, EUR 148 million). SalMar said the consideration will consist of a combination of shares and cash, with consideration shares making up 80 percent of the merger cost and cash making up the remaining 20 percent.
Connected with the purchase, SalMar also authorized an increase of the company’s share capital through the issuance of 1.57 million new shares.
“Since SalMar's acquisition of NTS and the merger with NRS in 2022, SalMar has held a 37.5 percent ownership interest in Wilsgård,” SalMar said. “The merger between Wilsgård and SalMar Farming brings together two strong players in fisheries and aquaculture, contributing to regional development. The merger is expected to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance financial resilience.”
SalMar acquired NTS in 2022, following the latter company’s own acquisition of 70 percent of Norway Royal Salmon which itself had recently merged with SalmoNor.
SalMar has recently acquired a number of other salmon-farming companies, including upping its stake in both Refsnes Laks and Øylaks in early 2024, acquiring a controlling stake in AS Knutshaugfisk in November 2024, and snagging the remaining 15 percent stake of SalMar Aker Ocean in March 2025.
