Australia's IFM buys 68% stake in UK port operator ABP

· Logistics · United Kingdom · Australia

Australian infrastructure fund IFM Investors agreed to acquire a 68% stake in Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK's largest port owner and operator, from shareholders Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and OMERS. Financial terms were not disclosed, but media reports valued the deal at $13.3 billion. The agreement follows months of speculation about bidders circling ABP. ABP is the biggest port group in the UK, and the transaction puts a large piece of British gateway infrastructure into Australian pension-fund hands. The immediate effect is a change of control at a major North European port operator, with the new majority owner's investment priorities likely to shape capacity plans.

Why it matters：Ownership of a top-tier European port gateway is changing hands at a time when infrastructure funds are competing hard for trade assets, which could reset valuations for other port M&A.

Key points

  • Buyers are Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and OMERS; seller-side terms were not disclosed.
  • Media reports put the deal's value at $13.3 billion.
  • ABP is described as the UK's largest port owner and operator.

Sources (original reporting)

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