HK tycoon Li eyes Finland electricity unit

Li Ka-shing, Asia's richest man, is looking to buy Fortum Oyj's electricity distribution business in Finland, a report said on Wednesday.

A Dow Jones Newswire report cited a person familiar with the matter saying that the tycoon's infrastructure unit, Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI). is looking to acquire the operation and has hired bankers.

The deal, which could amount to $2 billion, would be another acquisition made by Li recently in the European utilities sector, stable returns of which have appealed to Asian buyers, the report said.

In June, a consortium led by Li agreed to buy Dutch waste management company, AVR Afvalverwerking B.V., in a deal worth more than $1 billion.

The flagship infrastructure unit in 2011 acquired Northumbrian Water Group, one of Britain's biggest water utilities, in a deal worth nearly $4 billion.

According to the Dow Jones report, CKI has hired UBS AG as its banker to work on the deal.

CKI, chaired by Li's eldest son and heir to his Cheung Kong conglomerate, Victor, is involved in the development, investment and operation of infrastructure business in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

The 85-year-old Li Ka-shing was ranked in March as the eighth wealthiest person in the world by the Forbes rich list, with a net worth estimated at $31 billion.