Updated Sep 7, 2026 – 2.51pm, first published at 12.25pmAustal has held talks with an investment group about a counterbid for its shipyards in the United States – potentially throwing a spanner in the works for the $1.7 billion bid from South Korean conglomerate Hanwha.Australia’s biggest shipbuilder confirmed it had been in discussions with Wildcat Infrastructure, an investment firm based in Florida. It described the talks as preliminary and clarified that no bid had been tabled.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles