Carlyle in bid to buy IN Toll Road, PA Utility, Midway Airport, NJ Turnpike...

[elehhhhna]

From Bloomberg-Australia (WHAT? No news blackout there?)

Macquarie Says Investors to Raise $20 Billion for Public Works

By Ambereen Choudhury

Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Macquarie Bank Ltd., The Carlyle Group and Morgan Stanley are among global buyout firms and investment banks that are now trying to raise about $20 billion to invest in U.S. water companies, roads and airports, Macquarie said today.

Macquarie Bank, the world's largest private manager of infrastructure, creates and oversees funds with holdings that include U.S. Indiana Toll Road and Duquesne Light Holdings Inc., a Pittsburgh utility owner. It has bundled A$88 billion ($66 billion) of assets into funds that it manages.

``We've seen consistently that there isn't enough money for the deal flow that is out there,'' said Chris Leslie, chief executive officer of the Macquarie Infrastructure Partners fund at a conference in London. About $20 billion of new equity is coming to the U.S. infrastructure market, he said.

Macquarie, Australia's largest investment bank, faces greater competition from rivals including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Babcock & Brown Ltd. to buy companies ranging from ports to water companies.

Leslie said privatization projects in the U.S. include the Chicago Midway Airport. ``We are certainly encouraged by the fact that airports are being considered for privatization,'' he said.

Leslie said other targets include a stake in the New Jersey Turnpike. The state government is considering a sale of the toll road to raise money for transportation projects. At least 13 U.S. states may hire private companies to help build and operate $34.5 billion in toll roads spanning 2,700 miles, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a4oqqBnXdoRI&refer=australia

[aquart]

1. There is no excuse for this under any circumstances. NONE.

These greedy, soulless creeps are auctioning off the United States to foreign nations and foreign investors.

If there is so much damn profit in our toll roads, why are we giving it to foreign nations?

[elehhhhna]

3. Carlyle also own the company that RUNS the US Office of Personnel Mgmt:

Yep.

Company won contract to outsource US Office of Personnel Management.
Carlyle bought company.
Do "THE math".

[acmavm]

2. It is imperative that these bastards DO NOT GAIN CONTROL

of the water supply. These are not ethical people. And state governments have no right to turn the highways we PAID FOR over to these thugs.

This is capitalism at its ABSOLUTE worst.

[elehhhhna]

4. I think Poppy bought that aquafer in Paraguay so he could flip it at a profit

to --wait for it---Carlyle Group.
Unless his purch was a front for them already.

[unpossibles]

5. maybe that is their real plan:

screw things up and bankrupt America so bad that they can buy up important things for pennies on the dollar and hold us over the barrel. It also fits in with their whole "I don't trust the government but I trust corporations" mindset.

[elehhhhna]

6. Yep. Just like the old USSR. EXACTLY.

Privatise it all and steal w/no oversight.

Private equity partnerships have no blue sky filing demands. They can release or withhold ANY info they please.

[Nikki Stone1]

9. That certainly fits in with the Bush attitude toward the American people

Hmm

[populistdriven]

7. pennies for tollbooth operator

pennies for tollbooth operator (funny)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7796532583566974865


Mass turnpike prank (amazing)
http://www.zug.com/pranks/turnpike/


disgusting guy pays toolbooth with posterior (not funny)
http://www.yikers.com/video_guy_pays_toll_booth_woman_with_his_dirty_ass_cheeks.html

[elehhhhna]

8. CARLYLE BUYS PLANET EARTH. hello out there kick