It looks like Mustad, the Norwegian hook manufacturer, might be out of limbo. Over the last several months, various companies have been cited as wanting to buy the troubled company, including Rapala and Pure Fishing. However, the owner of NLI Utvikling, a Norwegian industrial and investment company, has informed the Competition Authority in the country that it intends to buy Mustad. Borre Nordheim-Larsen told the authority that financial details weren't ironed out yet, but they should be resolved within the next month, and the final decision on the acquisition will be made. The news made waves, as most insiders had figured that another big company in the industry would buy O. Mustad & Son. NLI Utvikling is not very well known outside Norway. It describes itself as looking to invest in companies in “demanding” situations that have good growth potential.

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