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$11b swoop on ASX building giants leaves James Hardie the lone prize
The CSR, Boral and Adbri buyouts come at a low point in the construction cycle, with better times expected from mid-2025 once interest rate cuts arrive.
- Simon Evans
Cleanaway closes lid on Melbourne City’s garbo Citywide
Street Talk understands Cleanaway has seen off rival suitors for the business, with a deal expected to be announced as early as this week.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Private equity piles into Sydney telco infrastructure player CPS
Founded in 1992, CPS has grown to 170 staffers working on 1850 projects across the country.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Infratil nabs Goldman, Barrenjoey, UBS for $1b CDC data centre play
The three investment banks led the two-part transaction that will also bolster the New Zealand-based company’s balance sheet.
- Aaron Weinman
Queensland Airports Limited auction kicks off; process letters out
Sources said buying a slice of QAL – or even getting a good look at its books – could be a leg-up for an investor hopeful of sinking their teeth into North Queensland Airport.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
June
Experts question Qld toll road accounting ‘magic pudding’
Queensland’s plan to resume operating the state’s toll roads from 2051 would add $3.6 billion in value to the state’s balance sheet, figures show.
- Tess Bennett
Queensland Labor’s infrastructure bill soars to $107b
Treasurer Cameron Dick has flagged cost blowouts amid increased infrastructure investments ahead of next week’s state budget.
- James Hall
Local bridge builders secure deal of a lifetime with US steel giant
The Mullaney family overcame tragedy to build InQuik into a thriving business in seven years, with CMC signing a deal to control the company’s US operations.
- Simon Evans
May
HMC Capital lobs bid for Symphony Infrastructure Partners
Sources say it is going toe-to-toe with a handful of infrastructure investors in the auction’s second-stage.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Sanjeev Gupta’s InfraBuild accuses Chinese rivals of bending rules
The British industrialist’s Australian steel business wants regulators to curb Chinese suppliers of steel mesh used here in residential concrete foundations.
- Simon Evans
Transurban says drivers could pay more under NSW reforms
NSW’s proposed toll road reforms would hit some drivers with higher fares, create traffic congestion and would not necessarily be fairer, Transurban has claimed.
- Jenny Wiggins
More congestion, more profit: ex-CEO slams Sydney interchange plan
Ex-NSW roads executives say the controversial Rozelle Interchange was designed to have more congestion to increase the value of WestConnex before it was sold.
- Campbell Kwan
November 2023
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Projects culled, but it’s the same old lack of discipline
Catherine King has cleaned up a project pile-up that took a decade to accumulate. But there is nothing in place to stop it happening again.
- The AFR View
King says decision to block Qatar flights wasn’t to protect Qantas
The Transport Minister says national interest a factor in deciding whether to boost capacity from international airlines into Australia.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Mark Ludlow
Why two ports in New York cost radically different amounts
Infraclear collates infrastructure project and financial documents to help parties seek a fair deal and save time negotiating.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Opinion
- Energy
The power behind the takeover battle for Origin
The battle for Origin demonstrates the power of Australia’s industry funds as well as the many questions hanging over the pace of the energy transition.
- Jennifer Hewett
Canadian group highlights the trouble with Australia’s energy ambitions
OMERS Infrastructure is steering clear of the country’s renewable energy zones, and says the delays in planning and development make investments too risky.
- Jenny Wiggins
Defence welcomes infrastructure deal makers amid rising tensions
Defence might be a small player in the national infrastructure space, but it is an important one for the nation’s security.
- Andrew Tillett
- Updated
- Catherine King
Labor faces state revolt over infrastructure funding changes
NSW, Western Australia and Queensland say they are already out of pocket even before the federal government reduces the share of projects it will fund.
- Ronald Mizen and Mark Ludlow
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Infrastructure policy lost touch with economic reality
It was hard to find shovel-ready projects during the GFC, and it won’t be easy to dial down an infrastructure boom that has not been put through sufficient scrutiny.
- The AFR View
Labor to force states to pay more for infrastructure projects
The move, to be announced on Tuesday, follows a review which found some projects did “not demonstrate merit” and lacked strategic rationale.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The big problem with the $120b infrastructure pipeline
The super industry’s sitting on large construction portfolios. If there is another round of asset recycling projects, governments may have to look elsewhere.
- Anthony Macdonald
Investors ‘taking a breather’ from infrastructure dealmaking
But investments with a “higher level of complexity” were still happening, Macquarie Asset Management’s Ani Satchcroft said.
- Jenny Wiggins
- Opinion
- Infrastructure
High-speed rail collides with reality
Governments have been talking about high-speed rail for decades but are yet to create one kilometre of it to make the dream real. The Albanese government promises to be different, but who will pay?
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The one debate this Macquarie infrastructure guru finds ‘nuts’
Ani Satchcroft says higher rates are making complex deals harder, and debates about the widening definition of infrastructure miss the point.
- James Thomson