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VANCOUVER, Dec. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Westcoast Energy Inc. (the "Corporation") announced today that it has closed its previously announced public offering (the "Offering") of Cumulative 5-Year Minimum Rate Reset Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 10 (the "Series 10 First Preferred Shares"). The Offering was conducted through a syndicate of underwriters co-led by BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank (collectively, the "Underwriters"). 

In connection with closing, the Underwriters exercised the previously granted option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase an additional 15% of the Series 10 First Preferred Shares at the offering price.  As a result of the exercise in full of the Over-Allotment Option, the Corporation issued 4,600,000 Series 10 First Preferred Shares at a price of $25.00 per share for total gross proceeds of $115,000,000.  The Series 10 First Preferred Shares will begin trading on the TSX today under the symbol W.PR.K. The proceeds are expected to be used to refinance upcoming debt maturities and for general corporate purposes.

The Series 10 First Preferred Shares were offered only in the provinces of Canada by means of a short form prospectus of the Corporation dated December 7, 2015.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities, nor is it a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction. All sales will be made through registered securities dealers in jurisdictions where the offering has been qualified for distribution.

Westcoast Energy Inc. is an indirect subsidiary of Spectra Energy Corp.

Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE), a FORTUNE 500 company, is one of North America's leading pipeline and midstream companies. Based in Houston, Texas, the company's operations in the United States and Canada include more than 21,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil pipelines; approximately 300 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas storage; 4.8 million barrels of crude oil storage; as well as natural gas gathering, processing, and local distribution operations. Spectra Energy is the general partner of Spectra Energy Partners (NYSE: SEP), one of the largest pipeline master limited partnerships in the United States and owner of the natural gas and crude oil assets in Spectra Energy's U.S. portfolio. Spectra Energy also has a 50 percent ownership in DCP Midstream, the largest producer of natural gas liquids and the largest natural gas processor in the United States. Spectra Energy has served North American customers and communities for more than a century.

For more information, visit www.spectraenergy.com and www.spectraenergypartners.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties pertaining to operating performance, regulatory parameters, weather, economic conditions and commodity prices. You can find a discussion of those risks and uncertainties in our Canadian securities filings. While the Corporation makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Westcoast Energy Inc.