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Empresas y finanzas

Temasek agrees to buy stake in A.S.Watson for $5.7 billion


    HONG KONG (Reuters) - Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings has agreed to buy a 24.9 percent stake in Li Ka-shing's retail business A.S. Watson for about HK$44 billion ($5.7 billion).

    Li's Hutchison Whampoa <0013.HK>, which owns A.S Watson, said in a statement on Friday that it would use part of the proceeds from the stake sale to pay a special dividend of HK$7.00 per share to its shareholders.

    Hutchison launched a strategic review of its retail operations in October, with an aim to list part of the company in Hong Kong, among other financial centres.

    Temasek's investment in A.S Watson values the company at HK$144 billion ($18.6 billion). A.S. Watson's business includes ParknShop, the Watsons and Superdrug and Kruidvat personal care stores.

    (Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Ryan Woo)