Report from Reuters re ATCO in "exclusive negotaitions" re AETD....for $500 million buy price!
SYDNEY May 12 (Reuters) - Canadian energy distribution company Atco (ACOx.TO) is in exclusive negotiations to buy some energy infrastructure assets owned by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners' WestNet Infrastructure Group in Australia, the company said.
Brookfield had been in talks with a number of buyers, including a consortium of Japanese buyers being advised by Macquarie Group , to buy the assets also known AET&D, sources familiar with the deal have told Reuters.
Local media has reported the deal could be worth around A$500 million ($534.7 million).
Atco said in a statement overnight it was in exclusive negotiations with AET&D Holdings and any deal was subject to board and regulatory approvals.
Brookfield acquired the assets, which include gas pipelines and networks in Australia, as part of a takeover for Australia's Prime Infrastructure Group last year.
Australian utility firm Duet Group , which owns equity interests in the assets up for sale, confirmed on Thursday it was in talks with Atco. ($1 = 0.935 Australian Dollars) (Reporting by Michael Smith and Sharon Klyne)
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