BBAG, the parent company of Bilfinger Berger Australia (BBA), confirmed plans to reduce its exposure to building and civil construction and said it was considering an IPO of BBA’s assets, which also includes Bilfinger Berger Services. An IPO would also see Abigroup return to the Australian Securities Exchange after it delisted in 2004. Join discussion...

Highly geared assets are just one liability in the infrastructure space. Plagued by failed public private partnerships (PPPs), governance issues and the pressures of being overladen with debt, the infrastructure sector is in need of serious reappraisal as an investment. Quite simply, investors are often left wondering if it is a good long-term venture. Join discussion...

Transurban Group, owner of toll roads in Australia and Virginia, rejected an unsolicited takeover offer from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Join discussion...

Macquarie Infrastructure Company LLC (MIC: News ) said its net loss was $18.35 million or $0.41 per share versus a profit of $0.50 million or $0.01 per share in the year earlier quarter, primarily reflecting a net non-cash derivative-related loss of $21.4 million. On average, 3 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share of $0.53 for the quarter Join discussion...

Overseas consortia include: Northern Direct including the company building the Go-Between Bridge with companies from France and the United Kingdom; Laing O'Rourke and Transfield; TransCity including Brisbane-based developers BMD Constructions plus firms from Spain and Italy; Dragados Northern Link with business interests from Spain; and Korea's Daelim and Korea Expressway Joint Venture. Join discussion...

Macquarie Infrastructure Group has reported an improvement in traffic and revenue across its toll roads in Europe and North America from a low point earlier this year. MIG, which is heavily exposed to overly indebted toll roads in the US, today released figures showing a 1.6 per cent increase in traffic across its toll roads for the September quarter, compared with 0.6 per cent growth in the June quarter and a 6.4 per cent decline in the March quarter. Revenue increased on all of its major toll roads. Join discussion...

The Transurban Group has chosen Leighton Contractors as preferred contractor for the $550m upgrade of the Hills M2 motorway in North West Sydney. Under the agreement, Leighton will deliver environmental planning and design and construction. Subject to environmental approvals, the upgrade incorporates the widening of existing sections of the roadway from two to three lanes, including the Norfolk Rd twin tunnels, new access ramps, and upgrades of operational management and control systems. Join discussion...

THE funny thing about toll roads is that the more popular they become, the less attractive the customer proposition: motorists pay for the pleasure of not so much motoring as passively observing fascinating scenery such as impact barriers and overhead advertising. Criterion had plenty of time to ponder the issue when stuck in obstinately slow traffic on Melbourne's City Link on a Friday afternoon. The tragedy is, the jam was in the city inbound lane and against the flow of escaping commuters. Join discussion...

THE lobby group representing big transport and construction companies is pushing for a slice of the NSW rail budget, which is worth more than $3 billion. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, which lobbies for public-private partnerships on big projects, is angling for a role in running the publicly owned suburban network. Join discussion...

Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group has mostly finished talks with Brookfield Asset Management and may release details of a plan as early as Monday to enlist a cornerstone investor, the Australian Financial Review reported, without citing anyone. Join discussion...