Sydney, July 19, 2007 (ABN Newswire) - Macquarie Bank has announced first-quarter profits were substantially higher than a year ago and that it was planning for strong growth. Chief Executive Alan Moss attributed the bank's performance to good market conditions and continued investment in growth Most of the Macquarie's expansion would be from existing businesses but there may be some small and medium size acquisitions. Macquarie Bank is also on track with plans to establish a non-operating holding company to accommodate its banking and non-banking businesses and will put a plan to shareholders in he December quarter. Macquarie Bank has turned in a series of increasing profits over the past four years.

Newcrest Mining has announced a joint venture to explore for copper-gold in Fiji with Japanese firms Nittetsu Mining and Mitsubishi Materials. Initial interests will see Nittetsu with a stake of around 72% and Mitsubishi with the approximate remainder of 28%. Newcrest has been invited to earn a 65 percent interest over a period of up to 5 and a half years by funding exploration. The area is a highly prospective mineralized system about 30kms west of Suva and if a mine is developed each of the participants will have a right to physically off-take its share. Once Newcrest completes its earn-in, Nittetsu will have a right to purchase up to 20 percent of all production from Newcrest on commercial terms. Newcrest Mining has increased net profit earnings every year since a net loss in 2002.

Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG) and a Mexican infrastructure investor have today advised they are lodging of a joint bid to acquire the 30-year lease for a package of four toll roads in Mexico from FARAC (Fédération des Amicales Régimentaires et des Anciens Combattants), a trust fund owned by the Mexican Government. The bid is structured as a 60:40 partnership with MIG holding the 40 percent stake. It is currently anticipated that FARAC will announce preferred status to one bidding consortium in early August 2007 prior to the award of any concession. Macquarie Infrastructure Groups financial highlight was in 2005

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