Italy’s anti-trust authority said recently it had opened an investigation into MSC’s acquisition of 49% of domestic ferry company, Moby for allegedly restricting competition.
The deal may have affected routes, for both goods and passengers, between Italy and its larger islands, where only Moby and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), or at most a third group, operate, the regulator said in a statement, according to Italian media.
It claimed that the market was “highly concentrated” and already characterised by significant barriers to entry.
Moby operates ferries linking Italy’s mainland to Sardinia and Corsica.
The watchdog is also looking into a €243 mill financing package granted by MSC subsidiary, SAS, to Moby in 2023.
The authority, assisted by the Italian tax police, carried out inspections at the offices of the companies involved in the investigation.
GNV said in a statement to local media that it provided maximum co-operation during the inspections.
Moby is majority-owned by the Onorato Armatori group.
