Costs impact Talca-Chillan hwy's 9mths. results

The concessionaire behind the Talca-Chillan highway in Chile posted a 1.88bn peso (US$3mn) net loss in the first nine months, versus a 46.5mn peso net loss in the same period last year, Talca Chillan Sociedad Concesionaria said in a statement to the country's securities regulator, the SVS. Increased operating, administrative/sales and financial costs impacted results, with the concessionaire posting a 15.8mn peso operating loss and a 1.88% drop in revenue to 14bn pesos for the period. The concessionaire won the 11.5-year operation and maintenance concession for the highway between the cities of Talca and Chillan in Regions VII and VIII in 1996, which includes carrying out new works and improving current infrastructure. The 193km stretch is part of the Pan-American Highway (Ruta 5). Cintra Chile (43.4%), Empresa Constructora Delta (27.4%), Constructora Delta Ferrovial (13.1%), Inversiones Sodeia Cinco (15.9%) and Ferrovial Agroman Empresa Constructora (0.14%) make up Talca Chillan Sociedad Concesionaria. Last week, Diario Financiero quoted Delta company president Hector Henriquez as saying that they plan to sell by year-end or early next year their stake in the highway.