CK Hutchison - the owner of Hutchison Ports - has made the following Stock Exchange announcement today (28th July 2025)
"This announcement is made by the board of directors (the “Board”) of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) pursuant to Rule 13.09(2)(a) of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities (the “Listing Rules”) on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Inside Information Provisions (as defined under the Listing Rules) under Part XIVA of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
"The Company confirms that the period for exclusive negotiations between the Group and a consortium, as referred to in the announcement issued by the Company on 4 March 2025, has expired.
"Notwithstanding such expiry, the Group remains in discussions with members of the consortium with a view to inviting major strategic investor from the PRC to join as a significant member of the consortium. Changes to the membership of the consortium and the structure of the transaction (the “New Arrangements”) will be needed for the transaction to be capable of being approved by all relevant authorities. The Group intends to allow such time as is required for such discussions to achieve the New Arrangements.
"The Company has stated on several occasions that it will not proceed with any transaction that does not have the approval of all relevant authorities (please refer to earlier communications of the Company)."
The original consortium comprised of BlackRock and TiL (the terminals business of MSC). It is being rumoured that the "major strategic investor from the PRC" is COSCO. Of course, COSCO itself, like MSC, is already a major terminal operator, both in China and elsewhere. CMA CGM Group is also be rumoured to be in talks...
