In its latest assessment for the infrastructure in the US, the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) assessment had given the nation's roads, bridges, rail, drinking water, waste water, solid waste and others an aggregate almost flunking grade.
Utilities
Czech conglomerate CEZ Group may sign $10B Temelin nuclear plant expansion deal in 2015
CEZ Group, a utility conglomerate based in Prague, could ink a $10 billion deal to expand the Temelin nuclear power plant some time in the second quarter of 2015. CEZ is in talks with US' Westinghouse and a consortium that includes Russia's Atomstroyexport, according to a Reuters report.
Brazil's Vale forms joint venture with power company Cemig, reduces stake in controversial Amazon dam
Vale, the world's leading producer of iron ore, agreed to enter into a joint venture with power company Cemig to run six hydroelectric power plants. Vale also halved its 9% stake in Norte Energia, which builds a hydroelectric dam in Amazon, Brazil
UK engineering solutions provider Costain Group Plc exits its minority stake in three joint ventures to publicly traded water utility Severn Trent Plc
UK engineering solutions provider Costain Group Plc exited its minority stake in three joint ventures to publicly traded water utility Severn Trent Plc to raise investment funds and working capital.
Carlyle, KKR advance in the bidding for Transpacific Industries' waste management unit
US-based private equity firms Carlyle Group and KKR & Co and Australian investment firm Archer Capital have advanced in the sale of Transpacific Industries Group's waste management business. The three firms are working with banks to put together loan packages to back their bids.
Latest News
Power Assets Holdings Ltd. will spin off its subsidiary Hongkong Electric Company Ltd. to HK Electric Investments, a single-investment trust. Power Assets was said to be aiming for a HK Electric Investments listing early next year to raise $5.7 billion.
Israeli water meter developer Arad Group is in advanced talks to buy a 50% stake in a Mexican water-measuring company, a Bloomberg report said. The deal is reportedly worth $10 million and is expected to be closed early next year.
The government of Ireland has chosen a consortium led by British energy supplier Centrica PLC to acquire the retail unit of its gas utility Bord Gais Energy. Centrica's group will buy the asset for €1.12 billion.
The largest utility firm in Finland, Fortum Oyj, would be exiting from its power distribution business in Finland to Suomi Power Networks, Bloomberg said in its report.
The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported on Wednesday, including Fortum, National Vision, Saipem, CTT, MTS, Southern Pacific, Warrnambool, Verbund, Bakkafrost, Popular and Marathon Oil.
Fortis Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement and plan of merger to acquire UNS Energy Corporation for US$60.25 per common share in cash
State-run electricity distributor Power Grid Corp of India Ltd will be pricing its share sale near the top end of its marketed range, according to sources interviewed by Bloomberg.
State-backed Power Grid Corporation is looking to raise as much as INR7,600 crore by selling 84.71 crore shares in a follow-on public offering. Shares will be priced at INR85 to INR90 apiece.
At a time when interest rates are low, investors are now seeking to invest in European infrastructure to get higher returns. However, the assets are scarce, according to a Reuters report.
