Sol, Libertadores hwys. post 9mth. net loss

Chilean highway concessionaires Autopista del Sol and Autopista los Libertadores posted net losses of 596mn pesos (US$964,000) and 580mn pesos respectively in the first nine months. For the same period last year, Sol posted an 184mn-peso net profit and Libertadores a 373mn-peso net loss, the concessionaires said in separate statements to the country's securities regulator, the SVS. Infraestructura 2000, a consortium led by Spanish construction group OHL, controls both concessionaires. The net loss was attributed to cost increases, and while Sol's operating profit fell 7.75% to 3.48bn pesos, Libertadores saw operating profit rise 6.08% to 2.71bn pesos. Sol's revenues grew 4.85% to 10.7bn pesos and Libertadores' 5.33% to 5.19bn pesos. Autopista del Sol runs from the capital of Santiago to the port city of San Antonio, and Los Libertadores winds from Santiago to the town of Los Andes, the last major stop before crossing over the Andes mountains to Argentina. Sol is worth US$151mn, and is a 23-year concession awarded in 1995, while Los Libertadores is worth US$122mn, and is a 28-year concession awarded in 1996.