Three major private equity firms—Apollo Global Management, KKR & Co., and IFM Investors—have reached the final bidding stage for a majority stake in Associated British Ports (AB Ports), the United Kingdom’s largest port operator.
The sellers, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Omers Administration Corp., are seeking to divest their combined 64% stake in AB Ports, which is valued at approximately £10 billion (US$13.6 billion). The transaction would mark one of the largest private equity deals in the UK port sector in recent years.
AB Ports operates 21 facilities across England, Scotland, and Wales, handling roughly a quarter of the UK’s maritime trade. The bidding process, now in its final phase, remains competitive, with no guarantee of completion. Apollo, KKR, and IFM are among the shortlisted bidders, according to Bloomberg.
Omers was part of the original consortium that took AB Ports private in 2006. The sale aligns with a broader trend of institutional investors exiting long-held infrastructure assets to realize value.
