Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. has hired law firm Paul Hastings LLP to work on the blockbuster sale of its ports business, a major win for an adviser that rarely cracks the top of M&A league tables,

The trade war is already sending merger troops to the front line. BlackRock shook hands on a deal to buy ports along the Panama Canal and beyond from CK Hutchison for $23 billion. It helps boss Larry Fink shore up his infrastructure strategy and provides the Hong Kong-based conglomerate a useful escape from political crosshairs.

"Unlike gold, to which Bitcoin is often compared, there’s no ability to meet excess demand with increased supply," BlackRock's analysts said.

The BlackRock-TiL consortium, comprising financial giant BlackRock and Terminal Investment (TiL), will buy CK Hutchison Holdings' 90% interest in the Panama Ports Company and a total of 43 ports comprising 199 berths in 23 countries,

Asset manager BlackRock has concluded the acquisition of Preqin, an independent provider of private markets data. In December 2024, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reviewed BlackRock's proposed £2.