China Merchants Joins Talks for CK Hutchison’s Vexed Ports Sale

Ports operator China Merchants Group is in talks to join a consortium seeking to buy dozens of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s ports, people familiar with the matter said, giving renewed momentum to a deal that stalled after emerging as a geopolitical flashpoint between China and the US.

China Merchants is joining negotiations as a potential way to help fellow state-owned firm China Cosco Shipping Corp. finance the deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Both firms are keen to acquire the assets given the rarity of gaining exposure to more than ...