IFM Investors has agreed to acquire a 63.9% stake in Associated British Ports (ABP) by buying out the entire holdings of (Canada Pension Plan Investment Board) CPP Investments and OMERS for an undisclosed sum.
The Australian and UK pension fund-owned manager is acquiring the 33.9% stake held by CPP Investments since 2015 and OMERS’ 30% interest, marking the Canadian pension fund’s exit after a 20-year hold period.
According to the 2025 annual report, ABP’s ultimate parent entity Associated British Ports Jersey was held by an institutional consortium. Alongside OMERS and CPP Investments, the shareholder group comprises Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC via Cheyne Walk Investment with a 20% stake, Kuwait Investment Authority’s Wren House Infrastructure holding 10% and Federated Hermes through Anchorage Ports with 6.12%.
ABP operates 19 facilities and handles approximately 25% of UK seaborne trade while supporting over half of the country’s offshore wind capacity. Its operations span four main divisions, led by the Humber, the UK’s largest ports complex handling 60m tonnes of cargo annually; and Southampton, the UK’s top deep-sea gateway handling £59bn (€70.4bn) in non-EU trade as well as serving as Europe’s leading cruise turnaround port.
The network is completed by its South Wales ports, which support key regional sectors such as steel and agriculture alongside local energy transition projects, and a short sea ports division comprising nine facilities across Great Britain that handle 4m tonnes of freight annually.
Kyle Mangini, global head of infrastructure, IFM Investors, said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement where a fund managed by IFM would acquire a majority stake in ABP, the UK’s largest ports group with strategically located assets serving some of the country’s most important trade and industrial regions.
“We look forward to supporting continued development of ABP’s infrastructure and operations, drawing on IFM’s long-term investment approach and experience across ports and other essential infrastructure assets. As an investor owned by Australian and UK pension funds, this transaction reflects our longstanding commitment to mobilising pension capital into UK infrastructure.”
James Bryce, managing director, head of infrastructure, CPP Investments, said: “ABP is a high-quality business which has an extremely important role to play supporting the UK economy in the years ahead and we are confident it will continue to thrive under new ownership.
“This transaction represents an attractive opportunity to realise the value of our long-term investment and recycle capital into new opportunities, helping us deliver strong long-term returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries.”
Luca Lupo, senior managing director and head of Europe, OMERS Infrastructure, said: “We are proud to have supported ABP over the past 20 years, working alongside fellow shareholders and management to grow and strengthen one of the UK’s critical infrastructure businesses.”
Lupo said the UK remains a priority market for OMERS Infrastructure, and “we are actively exploring new opportunities to invest in high-quality infrastructure businesses across the country”.
Henrik L Pedersen, CEO of Associated British Ports, said: “Attracting investment from a fund managed by IFM Investors is a powerful endorsement of our business, our people and our strategy. We are excited to unlock further growth opportunities, together with IFM Investors and our other shareholders, continuing ABP’s long-term investment benefiting our customers, our local communities, and the UK.”
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