Skip to main content

Fortis Inc. Provides Standby Commitment to Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador, Aug. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortis Inc. (“Fortis” or the “Corporation“) (TSX/NYSE: FTS) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Fortis Energy (Bermuda) Ltd. (“FEBL“) has agreed to provide a standby commitment (the “Standby Commitment“) for a rights offering (the “Rights Offering“) by Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (“CUC“) (TSX: CUP.U). Pursuant to the Rights Offering, CUC will issue up to an aggregate of 3,359,362 or 10% of its currently issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (the “CUC Shares“). FEBL will exercise the rights issued to it in the Rights Offering and will acquire a minimum of 1,946,032 CUC Shares at a price of US$14.24 per CUC Share for aggregate consideration of US$27,711,495.68.
Subject to certain customary terms and conditions, FEBL may acquire up to 1,413,330 additional CUC Shares at the same price pursuant to the Standby Commitment. If there are no other subscribers in the Rights Offering, FEBL will acquire a total of 3,359,362 CUC Shares through the Rights Offering and Standby Commitment for aggregate consideration of US$47,837,314.88. Based on the average daily rate of exchange quoted by the Bank of Canada on August 24, 2020, the consideration in Canadian dollars is C$18.81 per CUC Share or aggregate consideration of C$63,178,741.76 should there be no other subscribers in the Rights Offering.Prior to the Rights Offering, Fortis indirectly owned 19,460,326 CUC Shares representing approximately 58% of the CUC Shares. On closing of the Rights Offering, which is expected to occur on or about October 28, 2020, Fortis will beneficially own approximately 58% of the CUC Shares if the Rights Offering is fully subscribed or approximately 62% of the CUC Shares if there are no other subscribers in the Rights Offering.The purpose of the Rights Offering is to provide CUC with capital to be used to refinance existing debt and for general corporate purposes.Fortis will review its holdings in CUC Shares from time to time and may acquire additional securities or dispose of securities of CUC, in either case, in the open market, by private agreement or otherwise, depending on numerous factors, including without limitation, the availability of securities of CUC, economic conditions, market conditions and other business and investment opportunities available to Fortis.An early warning report will be filed by Fortis in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact Karen McCarthy, Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs at media@fortisinc.com.About Fortis
Fortis is a well-diversified leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry with 2019 revenue of $8.8 billion and total assets of $56 billion as at June 30, 2020. The Corporation’s 9,000 employees serve utility customers in five Canadian provinces, nine U.S. states and three Caribbean countries. Fortis shares are listed on the TSX and NYSE and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com, www.sedar.com, or www.sec.gov.
Fortis’ head office is located at Fortis Place, Suite 1100, 5 Springdale Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3T2.CUC’s head office is located at 457 North Sound Road, Grand Cayman KY1-1101, Cayman Islands.Forward-Looking Information
Fortis includes forward-looking information in this media release within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively referred to as “forward-looking information”). The purpose of the forward-looking information is to provide management’s expectations regarding the Corporation’s future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities and may not be appropriate for other purposes. All forward-looking information is given pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Wherever possible, words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “budgets”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “may”, “might”, “plans”, “projects”, “schedules”, “should”, “target”, “will”, “would” and the negative of these terms and other similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. The forward-looking information reflects management’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Corporation’s management and includes statements relating to the expectation that FEBL will acquire CUC Shares as a result of the Rights Offering and Standby Commitment. Although Fortis believes that the forward-looking statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. For additional information on risk factors that have the potential to affect the Corporation, reference should be made to the continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time by the Corporation with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking information included in this media release is given as of the date of this media release and Fortis disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
A .pdf version of this press release is available at: 
http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/1e1963e8-9510-409c-8b1e-ae193b9657cb 
For more information, please contact
Karen McCarthy
Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs
Fortis Inc.
709.737.5323
media@fortisinc.com   

Disclaimer & Cookie Notice

Welcome to GOLDEA services for Professionals

Before you continue, please confirm the following:

Professional advisers only

I am a professional adviser and would like to visit the GOLDEA CAPITAL for Professionals website.

Important Notice for Investors:

The services and products offered by Goldalea Capital Ltd. are intended exclusively for professional market participants as defined by applicable laws and regulations. This typically includes institutional investors, qualified investors, and high-net-worth individuals who have sufficient knowledge, experience, resources, and independence to assess the risks of trading on their own.

No Investment Advice:

The information, analyses, and market data provided are for general information purposes only and do not constitute individual investment advice. They should not be construed as a basis for investment decisions and do not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or individual needs of any recipient.

High Risks:

Trading in financial instruments is associated with significant risks and may result in the complete loss of the invested capital. Goldalea Capital Ltd. accepts no liability for losses incurred as a result of the use of the information provided or the execution of transactions.

Sole Responsibility:

The decision to invest or not to invest is solely the responsibility of the investor. Investors should obtain comprehensive information about the risks involved before making any investment decision and, if necessary, seek independent advice.

No Guarantees:

Goldalea Capital Ltd. makes no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Markets are subject to constant change, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Regional Restrictions:

The services offered by Goldalea Capital Ltd. may not be available to all persons or in all countries. It is the responsibility of the investor to ensure that they are authorized to use the services offered.

Please note: This disclaimer is for general information purposes only and does not replace individual legal or tax advice.