One of the three suitors for Leighton Holdings Ltd.'s (LEI.AU)
Thiess Waste Management unit is said to have dropped out of the
running after final offers in the drawn-out sale were due last
Friday, The Australian Financial Review reported Monday, without
citing a source for the information.
The newspaper said it hasn't been confirmed that Sita, a joint
venture between France's Suez Environment SA (SEV.FR) and
Singapore's Sembcorp Industries Ltd. (U96.SG), has dropped out of
the auction.
It added that Suez's shares dropped to a record low late
Thursday after the utility posted a profit warning and warned "the
downward trend observed in waste activities in the first quarter in
Europe has accelerated in the second."
Exclusivity is expected to be granted as early as Monday to
either Transpacific Industries Group Ltd. (TPI.AU) or Germany's
Remondis, the AFR reported. If an acceptable offer isn't received,
Leighton may abandon the sale, it said.
A spokesman for Leighton wasn't immediately available to
comment.
Newspaper website: http://www.afr.com
Write to Melbourne bureau at djnews.sydney@dowjones.com