The state of New South Wales in Australia has recently hired Morgan Stanley for studying the commercial sale of Newcastle port.

Morgan Stanley will review the financial planning for the lease of the Port of Newcastle. The bank will be tasked with finding a buyer if it recommends a lease as the best way forward.

Law firm Minter Ellison and accounting firm PwC have also been retained by NSW government after advising on earlier privatizations.

New South Wales treasurer Mike Baird announced plans for a 99-year lease of the port in his budget statement in June 2013.

Within Newcastle port's precincts sit three coal terminals owned and operated by Port Waratah Coal Services and Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group. In 2012, Newcastle port's three terminals together shipped around 132.5 million mt of coal - 105.8 million mt for PWCS and 26.7 million mt for NCIG.