Posted on April 13, 2026
A potential ownership reshuffle around Associated British Ports is starting to draw early attention from some of the largest pools of infrastructure capital, with firms including KKR & Co. KKR -1.73% 76 and BlackRock Inc.’s Global Infrastructure Partners assessing the situation, according to people familiar with the matter. The initial interest suggests the asset could attract a competitive field if a formal process develops, particularly as large investors continue to look for scaled, long-duration infrastructure exposure that could offer resilient cash flow characteristics.
At the center of the situation is a combined 64% stake held by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Omers Administration Corp., with the sellers said to be seeking around £10 billion ($13.2 billion). Additional investors, including Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. and DP World Ltd., are also expected to study the opportunity, pointing to what could evolve into a broader bidding dynamic. That said, deliberations remain ongoing and there is no certainty a transaction will ultimately take place.
The underlying asset helps explain the level of interest. Associated British Ports operates 21 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales and handles roughly 25% of the UK’s seaborne trade, positioning it as a central part of the country’s logistics network. The remaining ownership includes investors such as GIC Pte, Hermes Infrastructure and Wren House, while DP World Ltd. already operates ports and freight rail terminals in the UK. For investors, the scale and strategic positioning of the platform could make this a closely watched process as infrastructure capital continues to assess opportunities of this size.
