French state-controlled utility Electricite de France's (EDF.FR) chief executive Thursday said he expects the company to obtain the necessary authorizations for its purchase of half of U.S. peer Constellation Energy Group Inc.'s (CEG) nuclear operations by the end of the year.

EDF is also confident of finalizing a deal with Centrica PLC (CNA.LN) for the U.K. utility to take a 20% stake in British Energy, CEO Pierre Gadonneix also said at an event in Paris.

-By Adam Mitchell, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 4017 1740; adam.mitchell@dowjones.com