The original MSC takeover candidate Terminal Darsena Toscana in Livorno is now expected to become part of the Grimaldi Group.
The Darsena Toscana terminal, one of the most important terminals for reefer cargo in Italy with an annual handling capacity of around 900,000 TEU, is changing hands. [ds_preview]
With the takeover of the terminal via its terminal subsidiary TIL, the shipping group MSC actually wanted to extend its control over Italian container terminals. However, the Italian antitrust authorities objected to this and MSC scrapped the plans.
Grimaldi, on the other hand, is now gaining important handling areas on the upper Tyrrhenian Sea. The shipping company is already active here; Livorno is an important port of call for RoRo and passenger traffic with Sardinia and other trades. With access to the TDT, new and large ships of the shipping company can now call at the port without any problems. According to reports, the purchase price for the terminal is likely to be around €150 million.
What will happen to container handling in Livorno?
The imminent takeover by Grimaldi was made public by an announcement from the Italian competition authority regarding the presentation of a corresponding contract. According to the agreement, Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. and Grimaldi Deep Sea S.p.A. will take full control of Terminal Darsena Toscana S.r.l. with 80% and 20% respectively. The terminal is being sold by Gruppo Investimenti Portuali (GIP)
The Italian media are now questioning the extent to which the existing core business of container handling at the TDT will continue. As an operator of multi-purpose terminals, Grimaldi can certainly do this, but reference is made to the shipping company’s tendency to focus its terminals primarily on its own activities.
