The European Commission confirmed it had opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed €3.5-billion euro ($3.62 billion) acquisition of MotoGP owners - Dorna Sports - by Liberty Media, owners of Formula 1.
Liberty Media said in April that it would acquire about 86% of Dorna Sports, the parent company of FIM World Championship Grand Prix, also known as MotoGP.
The EU said that Liberty owns the exclusive commercial rights for the FIA Formula One World Championship, while Dorna Sports holds exclusive commercial rights for MotoGP and other motorcycle racing championships.
"The Commission's preliminary investigation indicates that the transaction may reduce competition between Liberty Media and Dorna Sports in the licensing of broadcasting rights for motorsports content", the EU said on Thursday.
Liberty Media said it would work with the EU during the probe and that it had agreed with sellers to extend the completion date for the deal to June 30, 2025 in order to accommodate the investigation. Liberty also said that it believed the transaction should be approved.
In a deal approved by regulators and completed on 23 January 2017, Liberty Media agreed to buy controlling interest in the Formula One Group for $4.4 billion (€4.2 billion).
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