The sale brings the state-run giant a step closer to disposing of assets totalling as much as $15.1 billion by the end of this year.

The Brookfield-led consortium also includes British Columbia's pension fund and Chinese and Singaporean sovereign wealth funds CIC and GIC, respectively.

The consortium will make a first payment of $4.34 billion, corresponding to 84% of the total deal value, with the balance of $850 million to be paid over the next five years.

According