Leading shipping lines offer to settle EU pricing probe: sources

Brussels

LEADING shipping container groups Maersk, MSC and 13 other firms have offered to change their pricing practices to settle an EU (European Union) antitrust probe and stave off any fines, three people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The case is being closely watched by other sectors such as supermarkets and chemical firms which use similar methods to announce future price hikes to enable customers to choose the best rates and are keen to get some regulatory guidance.

The European Commission opened an investigation into the companies, among the world's 18 largest shipping liners, in November 2013 following dawn raids …