CK Life Sciences International, the biotech unit controlled by the Li Ka-shing family, is expected to post a loss for last year due to an increase in R&D spending and a decline in the value of its vineyard assets.
The company may report an annual loss of HK$126.6 million (US$16.3 million), compared with a profit of HK$17.3 million in 2023, CK Life said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday night. The company will announce its results on March 18.
“The change from profit to loss is attributable to the company’s conscious decision to increase research and development investments and a decline in the fair value of the vineyard portfolio,” CK Life said. “Overall, the operations of the group remained stable.”
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Shares of CK Life dropped 3.7 per cent to HK$0.52 in early trading on Friday, paring its gain to 27 per cent this year. The Hang Seng Index has gained nearly 25 per cent in 2025.
CK Life’s profit warning is in sharp contrast to hefty investment incomes from CK Hutchison, the conglomerate controlled by the Li family, which will reap US$19 billion from the sale of 43 port assets globally, including two Panama ports that have been the target of US President Donald Trump’s ire.
CK Hutchison’s stock jumped by a record 22 per cent on Wednesday after the deal’s announcement.
CK Life acquired Edinger Estate, the second-largest vineyard in Western Australia’s Margaret River region, for A$10.8 million (US$6.82 million) in 2022, maintaining its spree of adding at least one vineyard to its asset portfolio in the four preceding years.
CK Life is mainly engaged in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and other agriculture-related businesses.
The vineyard portfolio is one of the three segments of its agriculture-related business, which also includes Australian Agribusiness (Holdings) and salt producer Cheetham Salt Group, which it bought in 2012 for US$157 million.
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