News / EC clears the way for Maersk takeover of Hamburg Süd

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The European Commission has cleared Maersk Line’s proposed acquisition of Hamburg Süd, subject to the German carrier terminating membership of five vessel-sharing alliances when the transaction closes.

The EC said that, having “examined the effects of the merger on competition” in the 17 tradelanes connecting Europe, it found it would have, “as initially notified, created new links between the previously unconnected entities” – namely Maersk Line and the five vessel-sharing agreements.

It said: “In order to address the commission’s concerns, Maersk offered to ...