/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO
UNITED STATES
NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE
UNITED STATES
/
Trading Symbol: FCE.UN
Exchange: TSX
CALGARY
,
Dec. 21
/CNW/ - Fort
Chicago
Energy Partners L.P. ("Fort
Chicago
") announced today that an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Northbrook New York, LLC ("Northbrook"), which owns a 33 megawatt ("MW") hydro power generation facility. The aggregate purchase price to be paid is approximately US$80 million, including working capital at closing, and is expected to be financed from existing bank credit facilities. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010, subject to usual closing conditions, including the approval of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and the New York State Department of Public Service.
The Northbrook facility is a hydroelectric generating facility located on the Black River in upstate New York, just south of Lake Ontario. Northbrook commenced commercial operations in 1986 and operates as a run-of-river facility. The project has a nominal installed capacity of 33 MW and operates under a 50-year license issued by the FERC, which expires in 2032. The Northbrook facility is operated by an experienced third party contract operator. In the past, power produced by the facility has been sold under two-year contracts, however Fort
Chicago
intends to explore opportunities for a longer-term sales arrangement.
Stephen White
, President and CEO of Fort
Chicago
commented "The Northbrook facility is a well-performing, long-term and environmentally-friendly facility that we are pleased to add to our portfolio of power generation assets."
Fort
Chicago
Fort
Chicago
is a publicly traded limited partnership based in
Calgary
, Alberta, that owns and operates energy infrastructure assets across
North America
. Its Class A Units are listed on the TSX under the symbol FCE.UN. Fort
Chicago
is engaged in three principal businesses: a pipeline transportation business comprised of interests in two pipeline systems, the Alliance Pipeline and the Alberta Ethane Gathering System; an NGL extraction business which includes a significant interest in a world-class extraction facility near
Chicago
; and a power business with power facilities in Ontario, Colorado and California, district energy systems in Ontario and
Prince Edward Island
, and waste heat power facilities along the Alliance Pipeline. Fort
Chicago
and its businesses are also actively developing a number of greenfield investment opportunities that will be a key source of future growth, including LNG and pipeline facilities on the U.S. west coast, Alberta-based ethane and NGL extraction facilities, repowering and expansion opportunities at the California power facilities and Nova Scotia-based underground natural gas storage and pipeline facilities.
Class A Unit Ownership Restrictions
Fort
Chicago
is organized in accordance with the terms and conditions of a limited partnership agreement which provides that no Class A Units may be held by or transferred to, among other things, a person who is a "non-resident" of
Canada
, a person in which an interest would be a "tax shelter investment" or a partnership which is not a "Canadian partnership" for purposes of the Income Tax Act (
Canada
).
Certain information contained herein relating to, but not limited to, Fort
Chicago
and its businesses constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events or developments that Fort
Chicago
expects or anticipates may or will occur in the future, are forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "may", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "target", "project", "forecast" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or outlook. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of the acquisition, operations and contracting of the Northbrook power generation facility. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development and results of Fort Chicago's businesses include, but are not limited to, the following factors: the ability of Fort
Chicago
to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and achieve expected benefits; levels of oil and gas exploration and development activity; the status, credit risk and continued existence of contracted customers; the availability and price of capital; the availability and price of energy commodities; the availability of construction services and materials; fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates; Fort Chicago's ability to successfully obtain regulatory approvals; changes in tax, regulatory, environmental, and other laws and regulations; competitive factors in the pipeline, NGL and power industries; operational breakdowns, failures, or other disruptions; and the prevailing economic conditions in
North America
. Additional information on these and other risks, uncertainties and factors that could affect Fort Chicago's operations or financial results are included in its filings with the securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the provinces of
Canada
, as may be updated from time to time. Readers are also cautioned that the foregoing list of factors and risks is not exhaustive. The impact of any one risk, uncertainty or factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as these factors are independent and management's future course of action would depend on its assessment of all information at that time. Although Fort
Chicago
believes that the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking information are reasonable based on information available on the date of preparation, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. Undue reliance should not be placed on the information contained herein, as actual result achieved will vary from the information provided herein and the variations may be material. Fort
Chicago
makes no representation that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those set out in the forward-looking information. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof, and Fort
Chicago
does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
For further information: Stephen H. White, President and C.E.O.; Richard Weech, Vice President, Finance and C.F.O., Fort Chicago Energy Partners L.P., Livingston Place, Suite 440, 222 - 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2P 0B4, Phone: (403) 296-0140, Fax: (403) 213-3648, www.fortchicago.com
Share this article