CORRECTED-EU regulators to investigate MSC, BlackRock's bid for Hutchison's Barcelona terminal

BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators opened on Wednesday a full-scale investigation into BlackRock BLK.N and MSC's bid for CK Hutchison's 0001.HK terminal at Barcelona port, saying the deal could lead to higher prices or reduce the quality of container terminal services.

The European Commission said the merged entity may block rival container liner shipping companies, with MSC getting preferential treatment.

It will decide by April 30 whether to clear the deal. Reuters was the first to report that the EU competition enforcer would launch an investigation into the deal.