MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company (MSC), a global container shipping operator headquartered in Switzerland, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Italo-Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV) from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which will continue to own around 50% of Italo-NTV.
When the sale is completed, MSC and GIP will have joint governance of Italo-NTV together with funds managed by Allianz Capital Partners and other co-investors.
Italo-NTV is Italy’s (and Europe’s) first open-access private high-speed rail operator. High-speed services were launched in 2012 using a fleet of 25 360km/h AVG trains supplied and maintained by Alstom. To cope with growth, the company subsequently purchased 26 EVO 250km/h trains from Alstom.
In May 2023, Italo-NTV purchased Itabus to provide a multimodal offer and extend its reach in Italy.
“This agreement demonstrates our long-standing commitment to Italy and support for exceptional high-speed passenger rail transport in Italy.” says Mr Diego Aponte, president of MSC. “We strongly believe in Italo’s potential to further strengthen railway connectivity throughout Italy but also the Italian tourism market.
“Furthermore, today’s agreement also reflects our group’s goal to further develop sustainable modes of transport, both for passengers and goods. This is in line with Italy's efforts to improve its infrastructure network through new projects outlined in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to extend high-speed rail services to areas currently without access. We share a common vision with GIP and are proud to once again build on this strategic partnership.”
