Li Ka-shing’s US$19 billion ports sale slows due to complex talks
CK Hutchison has said that it would not proceed with a transaction that did not have the approval of all relevant authorities
[HONG KONG] Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s attempt to sell dozens of CK Hutchison Holdings global ports, including two in the strategically key Panama Canal, has slowed as negotiators try to untangle a web of issues hampering an agreement, according to sources familiar with the matter.
While talks are ongoing, the timing of any potential deal is unknown because of uncertainties such as the structure of the buying consortium, the sources said. Differences over influence and strategy have caused the negotiations to run for months without a clear end in sight, the sources added.
Unresolved matters include what kind of role China Cosco Shipping will play, the sources said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. China’s biggest shipping company has been in talks to join a buyer group that includes BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s Terminal Investment.
Some buyers, including the Aponte family, are still committed because they regard the deal as important for growth, one of the sources said.
Spokespeople for Hutchison, TIL and Cosco did not respond to requests for comment. A representative for BlackRock declined to comment.
CK Hutchison in August ruled out the likelihood of the sale of 43 ports being completed this year, but remained optimistic about its prospects after inviting a Chinese investor into the mix. The conglomerate pointed out the complexity of the process, which if completed, could net it more than US$19 billion in cash.
While US President Donald Trump hailed the planned sale as a win over the Panama waterway, Beijing has expressed strong displeasure with what it sees as a betrayal of China and kowtowing to American pressure.
CK Hutchison has said that it would not proceed with a transaction that did not have the approval of all relevant authorities.
Revenue from CK Hutchison’s ports and related services business rose 9 per cent from a year earlier in the first half of 2025, helped by higher throughput and storage income in regions including mainland China, Asia, the Middle East, Mexico and Europe as customers stocked up on goods before US tariffs kicked in.
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The Hong Kong-listed company’s shares have climbed 31 per cent this year, with a big jump coming in early March when the ports deal was announced. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is up 28 per cent in 2025. BLOOMBERG
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