Finance
Canadian pension funds to exit UK's Associated British Ports in over $13 billion deal, FT reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 5, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 5, 2026
Home > Finance > Canadian pension funds to exit UK's Associated British Ports in over $13 billion deal, FT reports
Quick Summary
Two Canadian pension funds plan to sell their stakes in Associated British Ports, valuing the operator at over £10 billion. Morgan Stanley is involved in the sale process.
Canadian Pension Funds Plan to Sell Stakes in Associated British Ports
Overview of the Sale
Feb 5 (Reuters) - Two Canadian pension funds plan to sell their stakes in Associated British Ports (ABP) in a deal that they hope will value the UK's biggest ports operator at more than 10 billion pounds ($13.63 billion), the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
Details of the Stakeholders
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), which holds 34% of ABP, and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), which owns 33%, have hired Morgan Stanley to explore a sale of their stakes, the newspaper said.
Asset manager Hermes, which owns about 6% of the group, could also sell its stake, the report added.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. ABP, CPPIB and OMERS did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Hermes could not be immediately reached for a comment.
Potential Timeline for the Deal
A deal could be reached as soon as the second half of this year, although the talks remain at an early stage, the report said.
About Associated British Ports
ABP owns 21 ports in the UK, including the Humber and Southampton, and handles more than a quarter of all port industry volumes, according to its website. The port operator was taken private in 2006 by a group of investors.
($1 = 0.7339 pounds)
(Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Key Takeaways
- •Canadian pension funds plan to sell stakes in ABP.
- •The deal values ABP at over £10 billion.
- •CPPIB and OMERS are the main stakeholders.
- •Morgan Stanley hired to explore the sale.
- •Reuters could not confirm the report immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian pension funds to exit UK's Associated British Ports in over $13 billion deal, FT reports
1What is a pension fund?
A pension fund is a type of investment fund that collects and invests money to provide retirement income for its members.
2What is an investment board?
An investment board is a group responsible for overseeing the investment strategies and decisions of a fund or organization.
3What is a stake in a company?
A stake in a company refers to the ownership interest or share that an individual or entity has in that company.
4What is a financial report?
A financial report is a formal record of the financial activities and position of a business, organization, or individual.
5What is a sale of stakes?
A sale of stakes refers to the process of selling ownership interests in a company, often to raise capital or exit an investment.
