Adani Ports Explores Acquisition of Controlling Stake in Associated British Ports

The biggest UK port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP), is allegedly being acquired by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). Billionaire Gautam Adani is taking this step to further enhance his international port empire.

Two pension funds in Canada now own 63.9% of ABP, which would be acquired as part of the deal. Among the owners are the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) with 33.88% and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) with 30%. To oversee the sale of their shares, the two investors have hired bankers.

Huge Network of ABP

The company is always looking for possibilities that fit in with its long-term plan and will benefit all of its stakeholders in the long run, according to a representative from ABP. 'Market speculation and rumours are not addressed as part of the company's policy,' the representative added further. Immingham is the biggest port in the UK in terms of tonnage, and ABP owns and operates 21 ports in England, Scotland, and Wales. Southampton is the top export port, handling £40 billion worth of exports every year.

In addition, more than 50% of the UK's offshore wind farms rely on the firm for their operations and maintenance needs. The Kuwait Investment Authority owns 10% of Wren House Infrastructure; Hermes Infrastructure Fund owns 20% of Anchorage Ports LLP; and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, GIC, owns 20% of ABP. Ports operated by ABP handle about 25% of the United Kingdom's maritime commerce. Between containers and RORO shipments, it processed 42.5 million metric tonnes of bulk cargo in 2025. The business made £586.5 million in profit on sales of £819.8 million.

Why ABP is an Important Deal for APSEZ ?

The present cargo handling capacity of the fifteen multi-commodity ports operated by APSEZ in India is 653 million tonnes, while the four overseas ports in Israel, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and Australia total 144 million tonnes. The company's FY26 cargo handling total was 501 million tonnes. By 2030, the firm plans to have handled 850 million tonnes of cargo and increased its capacity to 1 billion tonnes. Beyond that, it intends to spend up to INR 1 lakh crore (not including strategic mergers and acquisitions) on capacity expansion over the next five years.

There was gross debt of INR 55,103 crore and cash and equivalents on hand for APSEZ as of the end of March. A large portion of ABP's income is derived from long-term contracts with customers that ensure a minimum revenue regardless of the amount of cargo. Interesting to APSEZ is the fact that it generates large revenue from pilotage and conservancy services in addition to being the statutory harbour and river authority for the majority of its ports.