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Bloomberg News reports that CK Hutchison is exploring a split sale of ports worldwide

Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that CK Hutchison was considering a restructured'sale' of dozens ports to a global consortium. This would involve breaking 'the transaction up into smaller parcels, each with a different ownership structure.

CK Hutchison - based in the 'Chinese controlled territory' of Hong Kong - has been heavily criticized by Beijing after it announced plans last year to'sell 43 ports across the 23 countries including two near the Panama Canal, to a consortium headed by BlackRock - and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s family-controlled MSC shipping group.

The report stated that under the proposed arrangement, China's COSCO Shipping Corp, a state-owned company, could have a larger stake in ports in regions that are more aligned to?Beijing such as Africa.

Bloomberg reported that other members of the consortium including Aponte’s Terminal Investement and BlackRock would have greater control on assets elsewhere.

According to the report, China told COSCO that a similar?structure was acceptable. However, talks are still at an early stage, and some key details need to be finalised.

CK Hutchison didn't immediately respond to a comment request. (Reporting and editing by Nivedita Battacharjee in Bengaluru.

(source: Reuters)