Australian governments and corporations have more than US$28.78 billion of infrastructure assets slated for sale, but conditions for asset vendors have rarely been more difficult due to slowing global economies, tight debt markets and most listed infrastructure investors remaining cash-strapped, reported Dow Jones Newswires.
The Queensland state government has added to the asset glut, saying it plans to sell $12.33 billion worth of public assets over the next three to five years, including road, port and rail assets, as it moves to plug a hole in state revenues caused by the global financial crisis.
Merrill Lynch estimates there is a further $16.45 billion in infrastructure assets flagged for sale by Australian companies, while the New South Wales centre-left state government is also pursuing the sale of its electricity retail assets by the end of this year.
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