Montréal (Québec), September
30, 2003 - Boralex Power Income Fund (the "Fund")
(TSX, BPT.UN) confirms the completion of a previously
announced transaction to acquire two hydroelectric
power stations in New York State, U.S., from Black
Hills Generation Inc., a subsidiary of Black Hills
Corporation ("Black Hills") (NYSE, BKH),
for a total consideration of US$177.3 million
(approximately C$239.4 million), subject to post-closing
adjustments. With these acquisitions, the Fund's
total installed capacity will increase from 131.0
MW to 191.0 MW, or by about 46%.
Held by a new U.S. subsidiary, the power stations
at Hudson Falls (installed capacity of 45.8 MW)
and South Glens Falls (installed capacity of 13.9
MW) are located on the Hudson River, near the
city of Glens Falls, New York. The power stations
have long-term power purchase contracts with Niagara
Mohawk Power Corporation (NIMO), a regulated public
company with a high credit rating. The contracts
expire in 2035 and 2034, respectively. Built in
the mid-1990s, these two modern, efficient hydroelectric
power stations have a good track record for very
stable electricity production. Management, operating
and maintenance services for these facilities
will be provided by a U.S. subsidiary of Boralex
Inc.
In addition, the 18,500,000 subscription receipts
issued by the Fund on July 28, 2003, in accordance
with the short-form prospectus dated July 18,
2003, have been exchanged today for trust units
of the Fund on a one-to-one ratio.
Boralex Power Income Fund is an unincorporated
open-ended trust that indirectly owns ten power
generating stations located in the province of
Québec and the United States producing
energy from different sources including wood-residue
or natural gas-fired thermal and cogenerating
facilities as well as hydroelectric power stations.
In total, these power stations have an installed
capacity of close to 191.0 MW. The Fund’s
units are listed for trading on The Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol BPT.UN.
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