Deal has multiple benefits

Article Excerpt

BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P., $45.98, is a buy. The partnership (Toronto symbol BEP.UN; Units o/s: 309.1 million; Market cap: $29.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 3.5%; www.brookfieldrenewable.com) cuts risk by selling power from its plants under long-term contracts. This provides the company with stable cash flows. For instance, it recently signed a 40-year power purchase agreement with Hydro Quebec for its 265-megawatt Lievre facilities. The contract is at a significant premium to the prices the facility has historically achieved. That will generate an added $20 million in yearly revenue for Brookfield over the previous contract. What’s more, given the duration of the contract and the top-notch credit quality of Hydro Quebec, Brookfield subsequently raised an additional $1.0 billion of 40-year investment grade debt on the basis of the contract. The company aims to channel that capital into its growth to generate an additional $100 million of annual cash flow. Brookfield Renewable Partners is a buy. buy…