June 17 (Reuters) - The founder and executive chairman of the world's largest container shipping company MSC, Gianluigi Aponte, is looking to acquire a stake in German rival Hapag-Lloyd, Manager Magazin reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
Aponte has been in talks with Hapag-Lloyd's main shareholders for some time despite being brushed off, the business magazine reported.
MSC and Hapag-Lloyd did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Manager Magazin said a spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd declined to comment.
German billionaire Klaus-Michael Kuehne and Chilean shipping company Compania Sud Americana De Vapores each hold 30% in Hapag-Lloyd, LSEG data show.
Reporting by Linda Pasquini, editing by Thomas Seythal
Source: Reuters