UNITHOLDERS OF FORT CHICAGO ENERGY PARTNERS L.P. APPROVE CONVERSION TO A
CORPORATION
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/
Trading Symbol: FCE.UN
Exchange: TSX
CALGARY, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Fort Chicago Energy Partners L.P. ("Fort Chicago") is pleased to announce that, at a special meeting of holders of Class A limited partnership units of Fort Chicago (the "Class A Units") held today, the extraordinary resolution relating to the conversion of Fort Chicago from a limited partnership to a taxable Canadian corporation, namely Veresen Inc., pursuant to an arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) was overwhelmingly approved by 99.98 percent of the votes cast by holders of Class A Units present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
Fort Chicago's plan to convert to a corporation is subject to final approval by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (the "Final Order") and receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals and material third party consents and approvals. The hearing of the petition for the Final Order has been scheduled for November 25, 2010. Fort Chicago expects the Arrangement to be completed on January 1, 2011 (the "Effective Date").
Pursuant to the Arrangement, holders of Class A Units will receive one common share of Veresen Inc. (each, a "Common Share") in exchange for each Class A Unit held on the Effective Date. In addition, all of the rights, covenants, obligations and liabilities of Fort Chicago under the 5.75% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures, Series C due July 31, 2017 (the "Series C Debentures") will be assumed by Veresen Inc. on the Effective Date. The listing of the Common Shares and the Series C Debentures on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") is subject to Veresen Inc. fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the TSX. Assuming that all of these requirements are satisfied, it is currently anticipated that the Common Shares and Series C Debentures will commence trading on the TSX within 3 to 5 business days of the Effective Date under the symbols "VSN" and "VSN.DB.C", respectively.
The resolution approving the Shareholder Rights Plan of Veresen Inc. also received the requisite approvals from the holders of Class A Units at the meeting.
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 Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FCE.UN and its convertible unsecured subordinated debentures, Series B and convertible unsecured subordinated debentures, Series C are listed on the TSX under the symbols FCE.DB.B and FCE.DB.C, respectively. 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 an interest in a world-class extraction facility near Chicago; and a power business with power facilities in Ontario, New York, Colorado and California, district energy systems in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, waste heat power facilities along the Alliance Pipeline in Saskatchewan and renewable power projects in British Columbia. Fort Chicago and each of its pipeline, NGL extraction and power businesses are also actively developing a number of greenfield investment opportunities that will be a key source of future growth. In the normal course of its business, Fort Chicago and each of its businesses regularly evaluate and pursue acquisition and development opportunities.
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). This restriction will not apply to the securities of Fort Chicago following the conversion of Fort Chicago into a corporation.
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, the timing and completion of the Arrangement, the receipt of the necessary consents and approvals for the Arrangement to proceed, and the listing and trading of the Common Shares and Series C Debentures on the TSX. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the following factors: Fort Chicago's ability to successfully obtain the regulatory, stock exchange, court and any other third party approvals necessary to complete the Arrangement; the failure to complete the Arrangement and the resulting continued application to Fort Chicago subsequent to January 1, 2011 of the Canadian federal income tax legislation relating to publicly traded specified investment flow-through trusts and partnerships; and changes in Canadian federal tax laws. 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 forgoing 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
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