SYDNEY, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Australia's biggest ports and rail operator Asciano Group, the target of a 2.7 billion US dollar takeover bid, Wednesday said it may sell some of its operations as it reported a net loss for the year.

The company, which this week rejected a takeover bid from a US-based private equity firm saying it undervalued the group, delivered a net loss of 182.1 million dollars (167.1 million US) for the year to June 30, 2008.

Asciano, which was formed in June 2007 in a demerger from parent transport and logistics group Toll Holdings Ltd., said its operating business units performed well overall during the year.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), before significant items, increased by 10.1 percent to 677.7 million dollars in the period from June 15 to June 30, 2007, it said.

'For the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 inclusive, EBITDA before significant items was 652.9 million dollars, in line with Asciano's previous market guidance,' it said.

The company, which said it expected to perform well in 2008-2009, also said it would consider the sale of some of its operations.

'The proceeds will be used to fund future growth opportunities and to provide additional flexibility for Asciano in respect of its longer term capital structure.'

Asciano operates container ports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle and auto, bulk and general cargo services across more than 30 ports in Australia and New Zealand.

The company is a major provider of coal and grain haulage and transports other bulk commodities through its Australia-wide Pacific National rail freight business.

On Monday it rejected a joint takeover bid by TPG Capital, one of the world's largest private equity investment firms, and Global Infrastructure Partners saying it 'undervalues the business'.

- Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this report -