CK Hutchison Confirms MSC Lead Investor in $22.8B Ports Sale

CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. has confirmed that the family-run MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte, is the main investor in a consortium seeking to acquire 43 of its global port assets in a deal valued at approximately $22.8 billion. The sale includes strategically important ports, such as two along the Panama Canal, and has become politically charged amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions. China's top market regulator has expressed close scrutiny over the deal, warning against attempts to evade antitrust investigations, while CK Hutchison has assured that the transaction will comply with all regulatory requirements. The deal, led by U.S.-based investment firm BlackRock and MSC, has also attracted U.S. attention, with former President Donald Trump framing it as an effort to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. Due to mounting political pressure, particularly from Beijing, the sale of the Panama Canal ports has been delayed until after regulatory reviews are completed. CK Hutchison’s co-managing director Dominic Lai emphasized MSC’s leading investor role throughout the process, although MSC has not publicly commented on the announcement.