PD Ports, a leading ports and logistics business in the UK, announced today that Pontegadea Inversiones, S.L. (“Pontegadea”) has agreed to acquire a 49% stake in the company from Brookfield Asset Management (“Brookfield”), subject to customary regulatory approvals. Brookfield will remain invested in the business and, as a long-term shareholder, will work closely with Pontegadea to support the continued growth of PD Ports.
PD Ports contributes £1.4 billion annually to the Teesside economy, supporting 22,000 jobs in the wider supply chain and directly employing more than 1,400 people across 11 UK sites. As the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees, PD Ports ensures the river is safe and navigable, helping to generate economic growth and build a legacy for future generations
Frans Calje, CEO of PD Ports said: “This deal signals a bold new chapter for PD Ports – one that builds on our proud heritage and sets a confident course for the future. We look forward to working with our new shareholder to drive the continued growth of our business. PD Ports’ ability to attract a high-quality investor is a powerful endorsement of the business, its people and its long-term vision. While we have successful operations around the UK – including Groveport, Felixstowe and the Isle of Wight – we are firmly anchored in Teesside and will continue to make targeted investments in our sites and our operations here and around the UK.”
Pontegadea is a leading investment firm, with assets located across the globe and in different sectors such as real estate, retail, energy transition and infrastructure. This transaction, a further step for Pontegadea’s global strategy of investment diversification, consolidates its commitment to invest in innovative infrastructures with solid partners of international renown. Pontegadea has significant experience working with scaled businesses, holding stakes in companies such as Inditex, Enagás, REN, Redeia, and Q-Park.
About PD Ports
PD Ports is one of the UK’s major port groups, operating across 11 locations nationwide including Teesport and Hartlepool in the north, a cluster of sites on and around the River Humber, and Felixstowe, Thames and the Isle of Wight in the south.
PD Ports is the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees, with a jurisdiction of 12 miles to the Tees estuary with legal responsibility to ensure safe navigation for all vessels and maintenance of the river.
About Pontegadea
Pontegadea Group is an investment holding company created in 2001, focused on a wide range of sectors as real estate, energy, infrastructure or retail, including long-term equity and liquid assets among its strategy. Besides the portfolio of top-level assets, Pontegadea holds a significant stake in traded and private companies.
About Brookfield
Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management. Brookfield invests client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. Brookfield offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors.