Takeover target Asciano has agreed to open its books to logistics firm Qube Holdings, setting the stage for a likely contest among its suitors.
Earlier this month, the ports and rail operator had received a $9.02 billion offer from a consortium that includes Qube, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board fund and infrastructure investor Global Investment Partners.
Asciano chairman Malcolm Broomhead had said his board was considering the new offer, and whether to grant due diligence to Qube or not.
That offer narrowly improved on an earlier $8.9 billion bid by Canadian infrastructure giant Brookfield, which Asciano's board has backed.
Qube, which is chaired by former Patrick business boss Chris Corrigan, is interested in acquiring the container terminals business, as well as Asciano's stevedoring operations.
The consortium plans to carve up the Asciano business to step around regulatory hurdles, with GIP and CPPIB likely to take over Pacific National rail, the country's largest private rail freight business.
Qube had threatened to vote against the Brookfield proposal at a shareholder meeting to vote on a scheme of arrangement, which was later deferred.
It had sought access to Asciano's books and said it could complete due diligence by mid-December, in an effort to make a binding proposal as quickly as possible.
"The Asciano board remains committed to maximising value for shareholders," Asciano said in a statement on Monday.
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