CK Hutchison has confirmed MSC as the main investor in a consortium looking to acquire 43 of its global port assets, in a deal reportedly worth $22.8 billion.
The announcement was made by CK Hutchison Co-Managing Director Dominic Lai at the company’s annual general meeting on 22 May. According to Reuters, Lai confirmed MSC’s involvement when asked directly, stating the shipping giant had been the leading investor “from the beginning”.
MSC had not previously been officially named in the bidding group, which is led by US-based investment firm BlackRock.
The sale includes strategically significant assets such as two ports along the Panama Canal, a region of ongoing geopolitical interest. Reuters highlighted that the proposed transaction has sparked political debate, particularly in the context of rising tensions between the US and China.
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In April, China’s top market regulator stated it was closely monitoring the deal and emphasised that all involved parties must comply with antitrust regulations. CK Hutchison has since issued assurances that the transaction “would strictly adhere to all required compliance standards,” according to Reuters.
The proposed divestment has also attracted attention in the US. As Reuters reported, President Donald Trump has characterised the deal as a move to curtail Chinese influence in the Panama Canal, calling it a “reclaiming” of the waterway.
CK Hutchison, which is controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, is undertaking one of the most substantial shifts in terminal ownership seen globally in recent years. As Reuters outlines, the confirmation of MSC’s lead role could signal a new direction in the control and operation of some of the world’s most strategic port infrastructure.
In a previous development, CK Hutchison said it would delay the sale of its two Panama Canal port operations to the BlackRock-led consortium. The postponement followed mounting political pressure from Beijing.
