MONTREAL, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abitibi-Consolidated announced today that it has entered into a binding letter of intent with the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec to create a joint-venture for the Company's Ontario hydroelectric generation facilities. The Company will retain a 75% interest in the joint-venture, called ACH Limited Partnership, while the Caisse will acquire a 25% interest. The Caisse has also provided a commitment to ACH Limited Partnership for a 10-year unsecured term loan of $250 million, non-recourse to the Company, to partially fund the acquisition of the facilities.
The transaction, on a consolidated basis, is expected to yield gross proceeds of $297.5 million to Abitibi-Consolidated.
ACH Limited Partnership is intended to be Abitibi-Consolidated's growth vehicle in energy generation. Abitibi-Consolidated's substantial ownership interest in the joint-venture reflects the ongoing strategic importance of its electricity generation assets. The Company will enter into agreements by virtue of which it will continue to operate and manage the facilities.
Closing of the transaction is expected to take place in the first half of 2007 and is subject to execution of definitive agreements and certain other conditions and approvals. Scotia Capital and CIBC World Markets have advised the Company in regards to this transaction.
ACH Limited Partnership encompasses eight hydroelectric facilities located in Ontario, representing an aggregate installed capacity of 136.8 MW and a normalised annual generation of approximately 828 GWh.
About Abitibi-Consolidated
Abitibi-Consolidated is a global leader in newsprint and commercial printing papers as well as a major producer of wood products, serving clients in some 70 countries from its 45 operating facilities. Abitibi-Consolidated is among the largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines in North America, diverting annually approximately 1.9 million tonnes of waste paper from landfills. It also ranks first in Canada in terms of total certified woodlands. Abitibi-Consolidated shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: A) and on the New York Stock Exchange .
CONTACTS
Investors: Media:
Francesco Alessi Denis Leclerc
Vice-President Director Public Affairs
Investor Relations and Taxation 514 394-3601
514 394-2341
