The European Antitrust is about to launch an investigation into the Spanish part of the agreement concerning the joint offer by MSC and BlackRock for the acquisition of the CK Hutchinson container terminals.
This is revealed by Reuters, citing sources informed on the matter.
As is known, on March 4th last, the sale of the terminal assets of Hutchison Ports by the Chinese (Hong Kong) conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings to the consortium formed by the US investment firm BlackRock, by Global Infrastructure Partners (specializing in infrastructure and controlled by BlackRock itself) and by the terminal company Terminal Investment Limited (controlled by the Swiss shipping company MSC) was announced.
The sale and purchase operation, which concerns 90% of the capital held by HPH in Panama Ports Company and 80% of CK Hutchinson, would include in Spain a major container terminal in the port of Barcelona.
According to Reuters, for the European Union there are all the premises for a risk of excessive concentration of the Spanish market in favor of MSC to be configured, which, as is known, also controls MSC Terminal Valencia through TIL. Hence the possibility that the group led by the shipowner Gianluigi Aponte faces an investigation by the European antitrust.
Also according to the news agency, the European Commission could also open an in-depth investigation at the end of the preliminary review of the agreement, scheduled for December 10.
