Nigerian Billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi Leads $23 Billion Acquisition of Panama Canal Ports

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a subsidiary of BlackRock owned by Adebayo Ogunlesi, has acquired key port operations near the Panama Canal in a US$23 billion deal. The acquisition comes as Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings agrees to sell its shares in a subsidiary operating in the region to a consortium that includes GIP.

As part of the agreement, GIP will manage the newly acquired assets in partnership with Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) and other strategic partners.

Commenting on the acquisition, Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, stated:

“We are delighted to partner with Terminal Investment Limited and MSC, with whom we have a longstanding and productive relationship, to make an offer for certain interests in ports owned and operated by Hutchison Ports Holdings. Given GIP’s substantial expertise in owning and operating ports, together with our partners, we can focus on our joint ambition for these assets to continue to be world-class port operators – competitive, efficient, commercial, and service-focused.”

Under Ogunlesi’s leadership, GIP has grown into the world’s largest independent infrastructure manager, overseeing more than US$100 billion in assets. The firm’s infrastructure equity funds alone account for US$60 billion of its portfolio, reinforcing its position as a global leader in infrastructure investment.