BlackRock's Acquisition
BlackRock, in partnership with Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited, has agreed to acquire 43 ports worldwide, including the strategic Balboa and Cristobal ports on the Panama Canal, in a deal valued at $22.8 billion.
This acquisition shifts control of these critical ports from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to an American-led consortium, addressing U.S. concerns about foreign influence over the canal. The transaction underscores the Trump administration's influence on global mergers and acquisitions, particularly in sectors deemed vital to national security.