News / Tough times ahead for North American port terminals as investors review their options

© Mihai Andritoiu

Financial investors in North American ports and operating terminals may face difficult choices in the next few years, as margins continue to be squeezed and returns diminish, according to a new report from AlixPartners.

Prior to the global recession, scores of institutional investors were lured to the sector and its seemingly risk-free and stable returns. That in itself created something of an asset bubble.

A series of deals saw private equity and fund managers acquire terminals for increasingly high prices, culminating in a Deutsche Bank-led ...