Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX:FMG) is known to be in discussions to divest 40% stake in its Pilbara port and rail assets. It is known that the discussions have moved on from the 30% stake to 40% stake initially being put up for sale by Fortescue. Fortescue is thought to be looking at divesting slightly more than 40% of the assets. The company is unlikely to divest more than 50% of the assets. Lazard and Macquarie Capital are handling the sale process and short-listed parties have been given access to due diligence materials. Shortlisted bidders include Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) and Temasek Capital. Global Infrastructure Partners is also reported to be part of the bidding process. Fortescue expects a $3 billion to $4 billion cash deal by the end of June, 2013.

Several bidders have shown interest to acquire stakes in the airports business of Hochtief AG (DB:HOT), Reuters reported. Fraport AG (XTRA:FRA), Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (TSX:BAM.A) and Allianz SE (DB:ALV) have already submitted offers, Reuters said citing two people familiar with the deal. According to one of Reuters' sources, a fifth bidder has launched an offer for the German operations of Hochtief's airport business. A source representing a potential buyer of the assets has said Hochtief could now fetch as much as €1.2 billion in the sale, which Deutsche Bank is organizing. Deutsche Bank, Hochtief, Fraport and Allianz declined to comment, while Global Infrastructure Partners and Brookfield were not immediately available for comment to Reuters.

The city of Chicago has selected six groups of airport investors and operators as potential bidders for the privatization of Chicago Midway Airport. The six groups were selected from sixteen that responded to a city request for qualifications. The bids have been evaluated by city staff, advisers and Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Midway Advisory Panel on their financial capacity and their experience in airport operations. The six groups include AMP Capital Investors Limited, Corporación América S.A., Global Infrastructure Partners, Great Lakes Airport Alliance consisting of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Europe) Limited and Ferrovial, S.A., Incheon International Airport Corporation and Hastings Funds Management Limited and Industry Funds Management Pty Ltd. and The Manchester Airport Group PLC. In the next several weeks, city officials will share information about the bids and the next step towards the potential privatization.