Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) just scored a major win, locking in its position as the sole investment bank advising CK Hutchison Holdings (CKHUY) on a blockbuster $19 billion port sale to a BlackRock (NYSE:BLK)-led consortium. The deal hands BlackRock control of 43 ports worldwide. Goldman's elite team, led by John Waldron and Raghav Maliah, moved fast, keeping the process tight and shutting out rivals like Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and KKR (NYSE:KKR), who had considered bidding. Meanwhile, banks are now circling the BlackRock group, vying for advisory and financing roles as the deal progresses.

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For Goldman, this is another notch on the belt. The bank already dominates the global M&A league tables, and this deal strengthens its deep ties with CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong giant founded by billionaire Li Ka-shing. Former Citigroup CEO Mike Corbat's consultancy, Teton Advisors, also played a behind-the-scenes role in guiding CK Hutchison through the transaction. Investors took noticeCK Hutchison's stock exploded 22% today in Hong Kong, its biggest one-day surge since 1998, the year before the U.S. handed the Panama Canal over to local authorities. But despite the geopolitical buzz, CK Hutchison co-managing director Frank Sixt insists the deal is purely commercial, dismissing speculation about U.S. strategic interests.

Now, all eyes are on the final stepsdue diligence, regulatory approvals, and whether BlackRock makes any strategic shifts. For investors, this deal signals a growing appetite for infrastructure assets, with private equity and institutional giants betting big. And for Goldman, it's yet another reminder of why it remains Wall Street's go-to bank for complex, high-stakes transactions.