Norway's NTS, the majority owner of Norway Royal Salmon (NRS), said Thursday that it has begun a "strategic dialogue" in relation to a potential merger of NRS and SalmoNor.

The company also announced that NRS CEO Charles Hostlund has stepped down from his leadership role, and Klaus Haltebrekke, currently COO Business Development, will serve as interim CEO.

SalmoNor is the result of the to-be-completed merger between Midt-Norsk Havbruk AS and SalmoNor AS, two companies which are 100 percent owned by NTS.