Cezary Podkul

The poll , which finds that 81% of respondents are willing to pay 1% more in taxes for infrastructure, also reveals that 94% of Americans are concerned about the condition of the nation’s infrastructure. Additionally, 41% of respondents view energy facilities as the most important aspect of US infrastructure that needs fixing.

Seller BAA says that a strong level of interest in the London airport will result in the premium over the airport’s regulated asset base of £1.75bn. Bidders reportedly include Citi, Vancouver Airport and John Hancock, which last year successfully bid $2.5bn for Chicago's Midway Airport.

This year governments will spend 2.9% of world GDP on infrastructure, or an additional $280 billion, according to consultancy CG/LA. Norman Anderson, the firm’s CEO, also predicts that in 2009 the US will move toward a more Spanish-style model of infrastructure financing.

The approval from the state’s Utilities and Transportation Commission removes the last roadblock for the Macquarie-led take-private of the largest utility in the state. Parties to the transaction have until 9 January to ask the UTC to reconsider the decision, but to date no such motion has been filed.

Stressed and distressed sellers of infrastructure assets in the private sector will overshadow public sellers in 2009, managers of UBS’ $1.5 billion International Infrastructure Fund estimate. Fiscal pressures for public-to-private transactions will continue to build but won't translate into dealflow as quickly.

Will 2009 be the year the US takes a cue from Spain in financing its infrastructure, asks Cezary Podkul.

In its place, the state will seek to develop a series of smaller, individual projects with more local input from constituencies affected by their construction. The private sector will still be invited to partner with the government to deliver the projects ‘where appropriate’.

The Australian infrastructure specialist believes that it will be in a negative net asset position as of 31 December 2008 as a result of impairment charges, which will come from non-core assets being marked-to-market prior to being sold.

Two of the projects will be structured as federal highway concessions while the third will be awarded under the State of Bahia's PPP programme. The state’s head of planning, Romeu Temporal, expects all three project tenders to be launched in the first three months of the year.

James McNulty will help the Cleveland-based private equity firm identify opportunities in North American parking, transportation and infrastructure businesses.