Teck Resources Limited (Teck) has reached an agreement to sell it’s two thirds interest in Waneta Dam and related transmission assets in British Columbia, Canada, for $1.2 billion to Fortis Inc, subject to certain conditions, including a clause where minority owner BC Hydro could take over full ownership.
Teck Resources Limited (Teck) has reached an agreement to sell it’s two thirds interest in Waneta Dam and related transmission assets in British Columbia, Canada, for $1.2 billion to Fortis Inc, subject to certain conditions, including a clause where minority owner BC Hydro could take over full ownership.
Under the Fortis agreement, announced in May, Teck Metals Ltd will be granted a 20-year lease to use Fortis' two-thirds interest in Waneta to produce power for its industrial operations in Trail. Annual payments will begin at approximately $75 million per year and escalate at 2% per annum, equivalent to an initial power price of $40/MWh based on 1,880 GWh of energy per annum. Teck Metals will have an option to extend the lease for a further 10 years at comparable rates.
"This agreement will further strengthen Teck's balance sheet and provide significant new capital that can be reinvested to grow our overall business," said Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck. "We have secured a long-term power supply for Trail Operations at competitive, below-market pricing and will invest in innovative projects to further enhance and modernize this facility."
"Waneta is a high-quality, renewable energy facility located in an area central to our BC operations, making this acquisition a natural fit with our strategy to increase our investment in sustainable energy," said Barry Perry, President and CEO of Fortis. "Waneta will be a stable long-term asset that will generate strong cash flows secured by a 20-year lease with Teck. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share."
Teck expects to realize a net book gain of approximately $800 million on the closing of the transaction. No cash tax will be payable on the proceeds.
Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including receipt of certain approvals and consents. In addition, BC Hydro, which owns one-third of the Waneta Dam assets and currently receives one-third of the Waneta Dam generation, has a right of first offer with respect to the sale of Teck's two-third interest under the 2010 co-ownership and operating agreement between Teck Metals and BC Hydro in relation to Waneta. In addition, certain consents and amendments from BC Hydro are required in connection with the transaction. Teck will pay a break fee to Fortis in the event BC Hydro exercises its right of first offer. Closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017.
In a statement, BC Hydro said it will carefully evaluate the terms of this opportunity to determine if it is in the best interest of its customers. A decision to move forward would be subject to approval by the BC Utilities Commission and a transaction would need to be completed within 12 months of its decision, which is expected by July..