Moby Lines selected to take over Toremar

摘要

Regionale Toscana has announced that Moby Lines has been selected as the preferred company to buy Toremar. Only one other company, Toscana di Navigazione, responded to a tender issued by Regionale Toscana, the local govern- ment authority for the Tuscany region of Italy, inviting offers to buy Toremar and take over the operator's routes between the Italian mainland and five islands off the northwest coast. Moby Lines already operates five ferries on two of Toremar's routes between Piombino and the island of Elba. Regionale Toscana reports that the company will increase frequencies, lower fares, introduce new tonnage, reduce the annual subsidy required from €174 million to €160 million and guarantee employment levels. In return, Moby Lines will be granted an exclusive operating concession for 12 years. The agreement will be signed after a due diligence process has been completed. Moby Lines has agreed to pay €10,258,000 for a 100% holding in Toremar.