The warning from a spokesman for the State Administration for Market Regulation on Sunday was in response to a media question over a recent report that suggested the wealthy Italian Aponte family was looking to carve out two Panama Canal ports from the US$23 billion deal.
The deal, which US investment firm BlackRock is leading, is still being reviewed by the market regulator.
“We are highly concerned about the relevant transaction and will review it in accordance with the law,” the spokesman said.
“The parties to the transaction shall not circumvent the review in any way and shall not implement the concentration [of business operators] before approval, otherwise they will bear the legal responsibility.”
According to Article 20 of the mainland’s Anti-Monopoly Law, “concentration” refers to the merger of business operators, acquiring control over another by acquiring their equity or assets, or an operator acquiring control or influence over others with a contract or other means.
