Veresen focuses on its strengths

Article Excerpt

After agreeing to sell its power plants, Veresen is once again focused on its true area of expertise—pipelines. With lots of renewable energy projects starting up, new competition threatened to cut the returns the company could make from power generation. Veresen will use the proceeds to pay down debt. More important, lower interest payments should help protect its high dividend payout ratio. VERESEN INC. $14 (Toronto symbol VSN; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 313.6 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; Dividend yield: 7.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.vereseninc.com) owns pipelines (60% of its assets), natural gas-processing facilities (22%) power plants (18%). Those holdings include 50% of the Alliance gas line, spanning the 3,000 kilometres between Chicago and Fort St. John, B.C.; the Ruby pipeline, is another important holding, and runs 1,100 kilometres from Wyoming to Oregon. Veresen also owns the Alberta Ethane Gathering System and 42.7% of the Aux Sable natural gas liquids plant. The company began operating as Fort Chicago Energy…