Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Vincent Yu/AP
Li Ker-Ching
Asia's richest man eyeing up Irish state assets
Li Ka-Shing, who’s worth over €15bn, is considering investing in the ESB, Bord Gais, and Ireland’s ports.
ONE OF THE WORLD’S richest men is considering making major investments in Ireland’s state-owned assets, according to reports in today’s Sunday Times.
Li Ka-Shing, a Cantonese investor with an estimated wealth of over €15bn, sent a delegation to meet Brian Cowen, senior representatives from the departments of Finance and Enterprise, and officials from IDA Ireland in November of last year to examine whether he could take a part-holding in major assets like the ESB and Bord Gais, the paper reports.
Mark Paul writes that the delegation to meet the senior state representatives was led by Robert Finnegan, chief executive of mobile phone operator 3, which is owned by Hutchinson Whampoa, one of the many major companies controlled by the Hong Kong billionaire.
Investment targets would include the ESB, Bord Gais, Bord na Mona, the National Lottery, and the state’s ports.
have your say