Amancio Ortega acquires 49% of the UK logistics company PD Ports

Inditex founder and largest shareholder, Amancio Ortega, through his investment arm Pontegadea , has completed the acquisition of 49% of the UK port and logistics company PD Ports from Brookfield Asset Management, the British group announced in a statement.

Following this transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals and the amount of which has not been disclosed, Brookfield Asset Management will continue to invest in the business and, as a long-term shareholder, will work closely with Pontegadea to support PD Ports' continued growth.

PD Ports contributes £1.4 billion (€1.154 billion) annually to the Teesside economy in England , supports 22,000 jobs across the supply chain and directly employs more than 1,400 people across 11 sites across the UK.

As the statutory port authority for the River Tees, PD Ports ensures the river's safety and navigability, helping to generate economic growth and build a legacy for future generations, the statement emphasized.

"This agreement marks a bold new chapter for PD Ports, building on our proud legacy and setting a confident course for the future. We look forward to working with our new shareholder to drive the continued growth of our business," said PD Ports CEO Frans Calje .

"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 across the UK—including Groveport, Felixstowe, and the Isle of Wight—we are firmly anchored on Teesside and will continue to make targeted investments in our sites and operations here and across the UK," he added.

This new purchase by the Inditex founder also comes amid ongoing negotiations to acquire the Sabadell Financial Center, which houses Banco Sabadell's offices in Miami, from KKR and Parkway for $275 million (€235.23 million), sources familiar with the deal confirmed to Europa Press.

Specifically, Pontegadea is in negotiations to acquire this 30-story office tower, located at 1111 Brickell Avenue, according to The Real Deal, which states that if the deal closes, it would be the largest office sale so far this year in South Florida.

The investment vehicle of the founder of Inditex has approached this purchase through its US subsidiary, Ponte Gadea.

This month, the Inditex founder also purchased a hotel in Paris for €97 million from the Spanish chain Derby Hotels. Located in a historic building in the center of the French capital, the hotel was acquired by Derby Hotels in 2007 for €75 million.

In addition, Ortega's investment vehicle recently closed the purchase of an office building in Barcelona that houses the headquarters of Grupo Planeta from Blackstone for $284 million (€250 million), which would make it Ortega's largest acquisition in Spain since the purchase of the Torre Foster in Madrid in 2016 for $490 million.

Pontegadea, formed by the companies Pontegadea Inversiones, Partler 2006, and Pontegadea GB 2020, earned €9.322 billion in 2024, which is 17.3% more than in the previous year.

The group's assets reached a valuation of €110.615 billion, representing a 9.3% increase compared to €101.117 billion in 2003.

The conglomerate recorded revenue of €43.125 billion, an 8.7% increase, while net worth rose to €90.546 billion, up from €82.558 billion in 2023.

Pontegadea's business model is based on the acquisition and management of non-residential buildings—primarily offices—located primarily in the centers of major cities around the world.

In addition to offices, the founder of Inditex owns hotels, logistics warehouses, residential blocks, and shopping centers, among other properties, spread across countries such as Spain, the United States, France, Canada, and Korea.

The founder of Inditex, who controls 59.294% of the company, equivalent to 1.848 billion shares, invests part of the dividends he receives from Inditex in the real estate sector.

Specifically, Ortega will receive €3.104 billion in dividends from the company this year, up from the €2.845 billion he received in this regard last year, when his dividend increased by 28%.

Thus, the founder of Inditex owns the largest Spanish real estate company, focused on the purchase and management of large buildings, with a portfolio of real estate assets consisting primarily of non-residential office buildings located in the centers of major cities in Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Asia.