CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – April 1, 2015) – TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) (TransCanada) today closed the sale of its remaining 30 per cent interest in Gas Transmission Northwest LLC (GTN) to its master limited partnership, TC PipeLines, LP (NYSE:TCP) (the Partnership).
GTN is a 2,178 kilometre (1,353 mile) pipeline that transports natural gas under long-term contracts from the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin and the Rocky Mountains to Washington, Oregon and California. In 2014, our remaining 30 per cent interest in GTN generated comparable EBITDA of US$43 million.
The US$446 million transaction is comprised of US$253 million in cash, the assumption of US$98 million in proportional GTN debt and the issuance of US$95 million of new Class B units to TransCanada. The Class B units will entitle TransCanada to a distribution based on 30 per cent of GTN’s annual cash distributions as follows: i) for the first five years, 100 per cent of distributions above US$20 million; and ii) for subsequent years, 25 per cent of distributions above US$20 million. This structure is designed to be mutually beneficial for both TransCanada and the Partnership as it provides shared exposure to the potential financial upside from GTN.
TransCanada, through its subsidiaries, currently holds a 28 per cent interest in TC PipeLines, LP, a United States master limited partnership, which was formed to acquire, own and actively participate in the management of U.S. natural gas pipelines and related assets.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This publication contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “estimate”, “intend” or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada security holders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management’s assessment of TransCanada’s and its subsidiaries’ future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release, and not to use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information except as required by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the Quarterly Report to Shareholders dated February 13, 2015 and 2014 Annual Report filed under TransCanada’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
TransCanada Media Enquiries:
Mark Cooper/Davis Sheremata
403.920.7859 or 800.608.7859
TransCanada Investor & Analyst Enquiries:
David Moneta/ Lee Evans
403.920.7911 or 800.361.6522