Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s largest container ship owner, is expanding into the healthcare sector.

The Soren Toft-led company is set to takeover London-listed private hospital group Mediclinic as part of a consortium which has submitted a £3.7bn ($4.5bn) bid for the company.

The company has health-care facilities in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates as well as South Africa, where it has a dual listing.