WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/STR/N/5/NOR
19 July 1999
(99-2977)
Working Party on
State Trading EnterprisesOriginal:  English
STATE TRADING
Updating Notification Pursuant to Article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994 and Paragraph 1
of the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII
NORWAY
The following communication, dated 15 July 1999, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Norway.
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Pursuant to Article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994 and Paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the
Interpretation of Article XVII, please find attached an update of the Norwegian notification
concerning AS Vinmonopolet (G/STR/N/4/NOR dated 13 January 1999).
I.A. Identification Arcus AS
I.B. Products affected Spirituous beverages and other spirits (HS 22.08)
VI. Additional information
The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) decided in December 1998 to request the Government
to put forward a proposal in 1999 on the privatizat ion of the state-owned company Arcus AS.  Arcus
Produkter AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arcus AS, produces and imports spirits for consumptionand also produces and distributes spirits for technical/medical use in the domestic market.  Arcus
Produkter AS has exclusive rights to produce spirits in Norway.  Those privileges will be
reconsidered in connection with the privatization process.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has, in cooperation with the management of Arcus AS,
engaged a financial adviser to assist in the planning and implementation of the share sale.  As part of
this task, the adviser will make an assessment of the value of the company and produce a sales
prospectus.  Then presentations will be made for investors.  The intention is to carry out a full
privatization of the Arcus Group, if possible, during 1999.  The outcome of this process will be
notified later on.
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