- Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison Holdings is weighing a London and Hong Kong listing for its global telecommunications business as early as Q3 2026.
- The proposed spin-off follows recent regulatory clearance of a major UK asset merger and could value telco units at about $20 billion.
What happened: CK Hutchison explores London and Hong Kong listing for telecom spin-off
Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd is contemplating a dual listing of its global telecommunications assets in London and Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter speaking to Reuters on 20 January, 2026.
Sources say the group, founded by billionaire Li Ka-shing, is preparing to spin off its telecom unit — which spans operations in Europe, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia — and could launch the listing as early as the third quarter of 2026. London is being considered for the primary listing, with Hong Kong as a secondary venue.
Preparations for the potential spin-off began after regulatory approval was secured for a $19 billion transaction combining UK assets with Vodafone UK, forming a joint venture. The telecom business could be valued at around $20 billion at the time of listing, sources say.
Investment banks Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank are advising on the listing exercise, though plans are not final and could shift in coming weeks. Internal debate within CK Hutchison over the strategic direction of the spin-off — including whether to pursue deals such as a possible merger between Italian unit Wind Tre and French operator Iliad’s Italian operations — may affect timing.
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Why it’s important
This potential listing is notable not simply as an IPO candidate, but as a structural recalibration of multinational telecom assets for capital market re-assessment. Large, geographically dispersed telecom portfolios have long suffered from valuation discounts, driven by regulatory fragmentation, heavy capital expenditure and opaque group structures.
By carving out its telecom business and positioning it for public markets, CK Hutchison is signalling a belief that cleaner corporate structures and focused equity stories can unlock higher valuations. The choice of London alongside Hong Kong underscores an effort to appeal to global infrastructure investors seeking stable, cash-generative assets with long-term growth tied to connectivity demand.
For the wider technology and telecom ecosystem, the move highlights how operators are adapting to investor expectations at a time when 5G roll-outs, fibre expansion and digital infrastructure convergence require sustained funding. If successful, the spin-off could set a precedent for other conglomerates to restructure telecom holdings in pursuit of capital re-rating.
More broadly, it reflects a shift in how telecom networks are being framed — less as utility-like cost centres, and more as strategic digital infrastructure platforms competing for global capital.
