Apollo Global Management and Other PE Firms in Final Bidding for Associated British Ports
European transportation buyouts are experiencing a surge, with Apollo Global Management, IFM Investors, and KKR competing to acquire the UK-based ports operator Associated British Ports (ABP). The private equity firms aim to purchase roughly 64% of ABP from CPP Investments and Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System in a deal valued at around £10 billion ($13.6 billion). If completed, this would be another major transaction in an already robust year for transportation sector deals. This potential acquisition follows several high-profile buyouts such as Apollo's agreement to take easyJet private for £5.7 billion and Lone Star Funds' €4 billion deal with ContiTech. The increased investor interest is driven by themes like reshoring, digital transformation, AI adoption, demographic shifts, and geopolitical changes.
Topics: Associated British Ports (ABP) mega-deals ports operator private equity transportation sector