Billionaire Aponte’s MSC Agrees to Buy Italy Rail Operator Italo

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co SA is set to buy a stake in Italo - Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori SpA from Global Infrastructure Partners LP, in a deal that values the Italian high-speed train operator at about €4 billion ($4.23 billion).

The shipping company will get a stake of about 50%, while private equity fund GIP and Germany’s Allianz SE will retain joint governance of the remaining stake, according to a statement.

MSC and its billionaire founder Gianluigi Apontehave been on an acquisition-fueled expansion campaign spanning a number of key European transportation markets.

Italo is valued at about €4 billion ...