The European Commission announced today that it has authorised the Swiss shipowning group to make acquisitions in two leading companies in the European logistics and port market: the French Clasquin and the German HHLA ( of 21 March and 4 September 2024). In particular, pursuant to the regulation European merger company, Luxembourg's SAS Shipping Agencies Services of the MSC group has been authorized to to implement the acquisition of sole control of Clasquin, which is listed on the Euronext Growth market, as the EU Commission has concluded that the merger would not raise problems under the competition profile given its limited impact on the competition in the markets in which the companies operate.

In addition, the Commission, on the basis of the same regulation, has authorized the acquisition of joint control of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) by SAS Shipping Agencies Services and HGV, a company owned by of the city-state of Hamburg, as it would not arouse competition concerns as there are a number of of competitors in the northern European port market.