£10bn Bid for Britain’s Biggest Ports Group

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is considering a bid for Associated British Ports in a move that could give his infrastructure empire control of one of the most important gateways in Britain’s logistics network.

The proposed deal would mark Adani’s first investment in the UK and significantly extend the international reach of his ports business, which already has operations in India, Israel, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Australia.

According to the Financial Times, Adani is exploring an offer as two of Associated British Ports’ largest shareholders prepare for a possible exit.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, which hold 34 per cent and 33 per cent respectively, are examining a sale that they hope will value the ports operator at more than £10 billion. Asset manager Hermes, which owns approximately 6 per cent, could also dispose of its holding.

However, discussions remain at an early stage and there is no certainty that a formal bid will follow. People familiar with the situation told the FT that Adani could pursue the acquisition alongside a partner and that any transaction would be unlikely to complete this year.

The scale of the potential deal underlines the strategic importance of Associated British Ports to the movement of goods across Britain.

ABP owns and operates 21 ports across England, Scotland and Wales, collectively handling around a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade. Its network includes Immingham, the country’s largest port by tonnage, and Southampton, Britain’s leading export port.

The group’s operations span container traffic, roll-on roll-off freight, vehicles, dry and liquid bulk cargo, cruise vessels and industrial property. ABP says its ports support approximately £157 billion of trade annually, placing the business at the heart of UK manufacturing, retail and international supply chains.

The company is also undertaking infrastructure upgrades across its estate. In June, the UK’s National Wealth Fund announced a £200 million loan to support improvements covering logistics, clean energy and industrial infrastructure. The programme includes expansion of the Immingham Eastern RoRo Terminal to increase North Sea freight capacity and improve operational efficiency. National Wealth Fund

For Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, an acquisition would provide an immediate and substantial foothold in a G7 economy. The company describes itself as India’s largest integrated transport operator and is pursuing an international expansion strategy encompassing ports, logistics, marine services and multimodal freight.

Its international ports division reported an 80 per cent year-on-year rise in revenue during the quarter ending June 2026, reflecting growing contributions from operations outside India. Adani Ports

ABP’s remaining major shareholders include Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, with 20 per cent, and the Kuwait Investment Authority’s Wren House Infrastructure, which owns 10 per cent.