China's Antitrust Regulator to Review BlackRock-Led's $23 Billion Panama Ports Deal

Published: 2025-03-28 09:45:14 ET BLK

By Raffaele Huang

SINGAPORE--China's antitrust regulator said Friday that it would review the $23 billion deal by Hong Kong-based ports operator CK Hutchison to sell ports to a BlackRock-led group.

"We will review the deal in accordance with the law to protect fair competition and safeguard the public interest of society," the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.

A consortium of investors led by BlackRock agreed in early March to buy majority stakes in ports on either end of the Panama Canal from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison. The deal also includes dozens of other ports around the world.

The companies said at the time that the deal wasn't final. They said they hoped to sign definitive documents by April 2.

Write to Raffaele Huang at raffaele.huang@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-28-25 0944ET