AsianFin -- Investors will be watching closely for updates from CK Hutchison on the planned sale of its global ports business to a consortium led by U.S. investment giant BlackRock, as the Hong Kong-based conglomerate reports interim results on Thursday.

The ports-to-telecoms group will release its earnings at 5 p.m. local time (0900 GMT), giving analysts their first chance to question management about the transaction since it was unveiled in March.

Breaking from precedent, CK Hutchison did not hold analyst or media briefings following its 2024 results, which came shortly after it announced the proposed sale, including two ports along the strategic Panama Canal.

The deal, involving 43 ports across 23 countries and backed by BlackRock and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s shipping empire MSC, has sparked sharp criticism from China. In a July 28 update, the company said it was in discussions to bring a “major strategic investor” from China into the bidding group after exclusive talks with the original consortium ended.