SYDNEY, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Australia's Asciano Ltd AIO.AX ,
the target of a A$9 billion ($6.5 billion) takeover battle that
has seen rival bidders merge to make a joint assault, on
Wednesday posted a 5.3 percent rise in first-half net profit
after increasing coal haulage.
Asciano, Australia's biggest rail and port operator,
reported statutory net profit of A$199.8 million in the six
months to Dec. 31, compared with A$189.7 million a year earlier.
Revenue fell 4.3 percent to A$1.85 billion as strong coal
volumes in Queensland state were offset by flat or soft volumes
elsewhere in the country.
Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc BAMa.TO and
Australian cargo handler Qube Holdings Ltd QUB.AX said on
Tuesday they were weighing a joint bid for Asciano.