In January, Hutchison Harbour Ring and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announce far-reaching Relationship. Warner Bros. Consumer Products names HHR and Global Brands Group exclusive licensing agent for Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Deal grants exclusive rights to open and operate "Warner Bros. Studio Stores" and "Warner Bros. Studios Presents" retail formats. Agreement also awards licensing rights for production of merchandise to be sold in "Warner Bros. Studio Stores" and "Warner Bros. Studios Presents" retail formats. HHR provides sourcing services to WBCP licensees worldwide outside of the United States and Canada.

In January, 3 HK rolls out 3 Service. It is the first in the world to deliver NEC c616 video mobile phones. 

In January, Vanda Systems & Communications Holdings Limited (Vanda) conditionally agrees to purchase 100 per cent of Hutchison Global Communications Investments Limited (HGC), which wholly owns Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGCL). Vanda conditionally agrees to buy 100 per cent of PowerCom Network Hong Kong Limited (PowerCom), an innovative provider of broadband services that can be accessed through power sockets. PowerCom is a joint venture between Cheung Kong Enterprises Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited, and CLP Telecommunications Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CLP Holdings Ltd. 

In January, 3 Ireland announces signing off Heads of Terms for a national roaming agreement with Vodafone Ireland on Vodafone Ireland's 2G (GSM) network in the Republic of Ireland. 

In February, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited announces merger of its concrete and quarry operations in Hong Kong between its subsidiary, Anderson Asia (Holdings) Limited, and the Hong Kong arm of Hanson PLC, one of the leading building materials suppliers across the globe. The partnership is on a 50-50 basis.

In February, Honkong Electric Holdings Limited (HEH) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Hongkong Electric International Limited (HEI), has finalised shareholding arrangements with five other shareholders for a 1,400 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant project in Thailand after a major restructuring of the project. Following the signing of the shareholder agreement, HEI becomes the largest foreign shareholder in the joint venture company. Other foreign investors are Chubu Electric and Toyota Tsusho which take up 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

In March, Hutchison Global Communications Limited and KT Corporation announce the joint establishment of the world's first inter-Autonomous System ("AS") International Ethernet network. 

In March, Partner Communications Company Ltd. announces that it has entered into a memorandum of agreement with Matav Cable Systems Ltd. ("Matav") to invest USD137 million in Matav for a 40 per cent share of Matav equity and control of the company. 

In April, CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. ("CK Life Sciences") and Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd ("CKI") acquire interests in AquaTower - the exclusive potable water supplier of four regional towns in Victoria. On completion of the acquisition, CK Life Sciences and CKI holds a 51 per cent and 49 per cent equity in AquaTower respectively.

In April, Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) announces that the Company has signed a HKD3.3 billion 5-year term loan consortium facility to finance YICT's Phase III project. 

In April, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited announces to make its first foray into water assets in the United Kingdom by acquiring 100 per cent of Cambridge Water in South Cambridgeshire, UK. The consideration for the acquisition is GBP 51,375,000 (HKD717,708,750).

In May, Hutchison Whampoa (China) Limited signs an agreement with The Procter & Gamble Company and certain of its subsidiaries to sell its remaining 20 per cent interest in the Mainland China joint venture Procter & Gamble-Hutchison Limited for a cash consideration of USD2 billion, realising a gain of HKD13.7 billion.

In May, H3G Italy S.p.A announces the appointment of LG Electronics of Korea as its preferred UMTS Videophone provider. Under the commercial agreement, LG Electronics is committed to supplying three million UMTS dual mode handsets, compatible with GSM standards (900 and 1800 Mhz.) and GPRS, to the 3 group of companies by the end of 2004.

In May, the Group signs an agreement with NTT DoCoMo, Inc ("DoCoMo"). The two companies have agreed to, at HWL's discretion, exchange DoCoMo's 20 per cent investment in Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Limited for a stake in Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited, a subsidiary of the Group. The total consideration of this transaction is 120 million sterling pounds.

In May, Hutchison Telecom consolidates 3G, GSM Dualband and CDMA mobile services under the "3" brand. 

In June, A.S. Watson announces the acquisition of health and beauty retail businesses Drogas. Drogas is a leading health and beauty chain operating more than 80 stores in Latvia and Lithuania.

In June, the Group signs an agreement with Hyundai Merchant Marine Co Ltd to purchase 12 per cent of the shares of HMM at a consideration of approximately HKD 606 million.

In June, Hutchison Harbour Ring Limited launches the first virtual keyboard in UK.

In June, Hutchison Essar announces the acquisition of 100 per cent of Aircel Limited and Aircel Cellular Limited from Sterling Infotech Limited.

In July, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited acquires a 40 per cent equity stake in the Lane Cove Tunnel Company Pty Ltd ("LCTC") in Australia and becomes the biggest shareholder of LCTC. LCTC has been awarded the concession to build and operate the Lane Cove Tunnel and the Falcon Street Ramp in Sydney. The consideration for the acquisition is AD239 million.

In July, Husky Energy announces it has purchased all the issued and outstanding shares of Temple Exploration Inc., a private Calgary oil and gas company, for D115 million.

In July, Husky Energy announces it has signed a farm-out and joint venture agreement with Trident Exploration Corp. to develop natural gas from coal or coal bed methane in central Alberta. The agreement extends the original 2002 joint venture between Husky and Trident for the exploration and development of NGC in the Fenn Rumsey area. The agreement calls for an additional 120 wells to be drilled over the next two years.

In July, Hutch becomes the first telecom operator in India to roll out the Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) standard, that has the capability to provide high speed, multimedia mobile services such as video streaming on mobile phones. 

In July, Metro Broadcast and Radio Guangdong announce to form alliance for broadcasting two segments jointly every afternoon from 2 August 2004, serving over 35 million audience in Hong Kong, Guangdong and the Zhujiang Delta areas.

In August, Hutchison 3G Australia (H3GA), a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd, announces that it has signed a new network sharing agreement with Telstra. Under the agreement, the H3GA radio access network becomes the core asset of the joint enterprise. In return for the 50 per cent ownership of the asset, Telstra is required to pay Hutchison D450 million, under a fixed payment schedule, in four instalments, starting November 2004. 

In August, Husky Energy announces it has signed a petroleum contract with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) for the 29/26 exploration block in the South China Sea. It is the seventh petroleum contract signed between Husky and CNOOC.

In August, A.S. Watson (ASW) announces its acquisition of a 40 per cent stake in Dirk Rossmann GmbH, a German health and beauty retail chain. The acquisition of Kruidvat Group in 2002 brought to ASW a network of Rossmann stores in Central Europe - Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic - on a 50/50 joint venture basis. From the same deal, ASW has the option to purchase 40 per cent of the Rossmann's German operation from the former Kruidvat owner the De Rijcke family, to be exercised within 24 months (until October 2004).

In August, a consortium led by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI) enters into an agreement with National Grid Transco PLC to buy the North England Gas Distribution Network (NEG). CKI holds 69.8 per cent of the consortium vehicle, while the remaining interests in the consortium are held by United Utilities PLC (15 per cent) and the Li Ka Shing (Overseas) Foundation (15.2 per cent). The total consideration for NEG is GBP1.393 billion and completion is expected to take place on 1 April 2005. CKI and Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd. (HEH) announce on 12 September 2004 that they have entered into an agreement for HEH to acquire from CKI 19.9 per cent interests in NEG.

In September, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) form a joint venture to invest in a container terminal at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Phase V. The new company - Shanghai Mingdong Container Terminals Limited - is a 50/50 joint venture between SIPG and Hutchison Ports Waigaoqiao Limited. With a tenure of 50 years, the joint venture has a registered capital of RMB 4 billion.

In October, Hutchison Global Communications Limited and Taiwan Fixed Network Co Ltd announce the joint establishment of an international Ethernet network connecting Hong Kong and Taiwan. This network provides multipoint-to-multipoint trans-geographical data services to customers in the two markets.

In October, Hutchison Port Holdings enters into an agreement with the Port Authority of Thailand to develop six container terminals in the Laem Chabang Port. Hutchison Laemchabang Terminal Limited, formed by a consortium comprising HPH, Hutchison Ports Thailand and Lexton Thailand, has been awarded a 30-year concession to build and operate six container terminals in Chon Buri's Laem Chabang deep-sea port.

In October, Husky Energy announces an agreement has been reached to purchase a 68.7 per cent interest in a production sharing contract from its partner in the Madura Strait, offshore Indonesia. The USD50-million transaction gives Husky a 100 per cent interest in an exploration block where two natural gas fields have been discovered.

In November, A.S. Watson announces a new 50:50 joint venture with leading Korean retail company LG Mart Co. The new joint venture company is named "GS-Watsons" and a personal healthcare retail chain will be launched under the "Watsons" banner.

In November, Hutchison Global Communications Limited, PCCW Limited and New World Telecommunications Limited join forces to establish a private Internet peering arrangement. The new arrangement provides high-speed and reliable Internet connections for customers.

In November, Hutchison Whampoa (China) Limited announces to form a joint venture with Guangzhou Bai Yun Shan Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited. The new joint venture, named Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Company Limited, focuses on the manufacturing and marketing of traditional Chinese medicine. 

In December, Partner Communications Company becomes the first network to provide full commercial 3G services including P2P video calls in the central part of Israel.

In December, Hutchison 3G Italy Investments S.à r.l. enters into an agreement with CIRtel International S.A. ("Cirtel") to purchase from Cirtel entire shareholding in Hutchison 3G Italia S.p.A. ("H3G Italy"). As a result, the Group has 89.32 per cent interests in H3G Italy.