National Grid sells $10.4B in assets.

Byline: Laura Board in London

London-based National Grid Transco plc on Tuesday, Aug. 31, wrapped up a protracted U.K. gas pipelines auction with [pounds sterling]5.8 billion-worth ($10.5 billion) of agreements with three different buying consortia seen by some as increasing the prospects of a large U.S. deal.

The company, which operates the U.K.'s largest power transmission network, is selling its pipeline in the north of England to a consortium led by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. and including Britain's United Utilities plc for [pounds sterling]1.4 billion.

The Wales and west of England distribution network is going to Australia's Macquarie Bank Ltd. and partners for [pounds sterling]1.2 billion, while two networks in the south of England and Scotland are to be sold to a consortium comprising Perth, Scotland-based Scottish and Southern Energy plc with Canada's Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc. and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan …