Australian infrastructure investment firm IFM Investors has acquired a controlling stake in Associated British Ports (ABP), Britain’s largest ports operator, in a transaction that values the company at approximately £10 billion ($19.1 billion). The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2027, gives IFM a 63.9 percent ownership position through the consolidation of shares held by two Canadian pension funds: The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (Omers) and The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP).

Based in Melbourne, IFM Investors manages funds on behalf of Australian and UK pension schemes. Kyle Mangini, IFM’s global head of infrastructure, noted the acquisition aligns with the firm’s strategy to channel pension capital into UK infrastructure assets.

ABP oversees operations at 19 ports across England, Scotland, and Wales, handling around 25 percent of the United Kingdom’s seaborne trade. The company employs approximately 2,500 staff members across its port facilities, terminals, and associated logistics businesses. Established as the government-owned British Transport Docks Board in 1962, ABP was privatised in 1981 under the Transport Act. CPP Investments and Omers acquired their stakes in ABP in 2015 and 2006, respectively. The Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GCC is among other significant shareholders.

James Bryce, head of infrastructure at CPP Investments, described the sale as an “attractive opportunity” to realise long-term investment value and redeploy capital into new ventures, ultimately supporting ongoing returns for CPP beneficiaries. Meanwhile, ABP Chief Executive Henrik L Pedersen characterized the transaction as the start of a "bold new chapter," expressing optimism about pursuing further growth in partnership with IFM Investors and existing shareholders. He emphasized the company’s commitment to long-term investments that benefit customers, local communities, and the broader UK economy.

This acquisition comes amid ongoing consolidation in the British ports sector. In a notable recent deal, Pontegadea Inversiones, the family office of Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega Gaona, purchased a 49 percent stake in PD Ports from Brookfield Asset Management in 2025. Headquartered in Teesside, PD Ports operates at multiple locations including Felixstowe, Hull, and Immingham, employing more than 1,400 individuals across 11 sites. Brookfield had acquired PD Ports in 2009 for a nominal £1, taking on significant debt to restructure the business.

The IFM acquisition solidifies its position within the UK infrastructure market by securing majority control over a critical national gateway for trade, while illustrating the growing global interest in British port assets.