A controlling interest in UK-based operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) is also reportedly soon to be offered to the market.
ABP comprises 21 port facilities and handles around 25% of total UK seaborne trade annually.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (Omers), jointly control 67% of ABP, (CPPIB has 34%, Omers retains 33%) and have reportedly appointed Morgan Stanley to examine a possible sale of their respective holdings. A transaction in H2 2026 being mooted that could see the Canadian partners net as much as £10bn (US$13bn).
The position of other major investors, including Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC (20%) and Wren House Infrastructure, an investment vehicle of the Kuwait Investment Authority (10%), is not known.
In 2006, ABP was sold for £2.8bn ($3.8bn), led by a consortium that included Goldman Sachs’ infrastructure arm and Omers. This shareholder base subsequently evolved, with CPPIB acquiring its stake in 2015.
