FRANKFURT/ROM (dpa-AFX) - Lufthansa will initially take over 41 percent of the shares in the Italian airline Ita Airways. To this end, 325 million euros will be invested as part of a capital increase, the MDax group announced on Thursday evening. The Ministry of Economy and Finance in Rome, as the previous sole owner, undertook to contribute a further 250 million euros. Earlier, the ministry had announced the agreement without giving details.

Once the deal is completed, the Frankfurt-based company will take over Ita's operational management and provide the CEO and another of a total of five board members. According to the agreement, Lufthansa has various options to further increase its stake or to take over the airline completely. The purchase price would be based on Ita's business performance./msw/ceb/DP/jha