Australian investment firm IFM Investors has agreed to acquire a 63.9 per cent controlling stake in Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest port operator, in a deal valuing the business at about £10 billion.
The transaction will see Canadian pension funds CPP Investments and OMERS sell their respective 33.9 per cent and 30 per cent holdings, marking a major shift in ownership of Britain’s critical maritime infrastructure.
ABP operates 19 ports across the UK, handling about a quarter of the country’s seaborne trade and supporting key industries, including energy and offshore wind.
IFM Investors, which manages about £157 billion in assets globally, said the investment would support the continued development of ABP’s port infrastructure and operations.
ABP chief executive Henrik L. Pedersen welcomed the deal, saying the company would pursue further growth opportunities with IFM and its remaining shareholders.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, including a national security review, and is expected to close in the first half of 2027.
