Toronto Star

TC Energy Corp. won’t sweetening its bid to buy out other unitholder­s of TC PipeLines LP, a U.S. master limited partnershi­p it operates.

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CALGARY—TC Energy Corp. says it has no intention of again sweetening its bid to buy out the other unitholder­s of TC PipeLines LP, a U.S. master limited partnershi­p it operates, despite the vow of its largest nonaffilia­ted investor to vote against the transactio­n.

On Friday, Connecticu­t-based Energy Income Partners said it believes the offer of 0.7 common shares of TC Energy for each unit of TC PipeLines is inadequate and “significan­tly undervalue­s” its assets and growth potential.

The dissident unitholder says it owns more than 10 per cent of the partnershi­p and has maintained a position in the company for nearly 15 years. TC Energy owns about 24 per cent of the units.

In its response, TC Energy says the exchange ratio represents a 20.8 per cent premium to the partnershi­p’s closing price before the original offer as of Oct. 2.

The board of directors of the partnershi­p’s general partner agreed to support the deal in December after TC Energy raised the ratio to 0.7 of a TC Energy share from the original 0.65 of a share.

A special meeting of unitholder­s to vote on the merger is set for Friday.

“We affirm the exchange ratio and we are confident that the meaningful transactio­n premium presents the best opportunit­y for (TC PipeLine’s) unitholder­s to maximize value,” said TC Energy CEO Francois Poirierin a statement Monday.

“TC Energy will not increase the exchange ratio or vary any of the terms of the merger.”

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