Gaz Metro Announces Closing of a Private Placement of $200 Million Series U First Mortgage Bonds

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - May 16, 2017) -

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

Valener Inc. ("Valener") (TSX:VNR)(TSX:VNR.PR.A) today announced that Gaz Métro inc. ("GMi") completed a private placement of $200 million Series U First Mortgage Bonds (the "Series U Bonds"). The Series U Bonds are secured by a guarantee as to payment of principal and interest by Gaz Métro Limited Partnership ("Gaz Métro") and are backed by the assets of GMi and Gaz Métro. The Series U Bonds, bearing interest at the rate of 3.53% per annum, will mature on May 16, 2047. The Series U Bonds have been assigned a rating of A+ by Standard & Poor's and a rating of A by DBRS Limited.

GMi will lend the proceeds from the private placement to Gaz Métro on substantially similar terms as to interest rate and maturity. Gaz Métro will use the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. The Series U Bonds were offered on an agency basis through a syndicate of dealers led by National Bank Financial Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc., as joint bookrunners and co-lead private placement agents, together with BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc., MUFG Securities (Canada) Ltd., Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. and Casgrain & Company Limited, as agents.

The Series U Bonds have not been and will not be qualified for distribution to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer or sale of the Series U Bonds in Canada is being made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus and dealer registration requirements of such securities laws. The Series U Bonds have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered, sold or delivered in the United States of America or its territories or possessions or to U.S. persons except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Series U Bonds in the United States.

Overview of Valener

Valener is a widely held public company that serves as the investment vehicle in Gaz Métro. Through its investment in Gaz Métro, Valener offers its shareholders a solid investment in a diversified and largely regulated energy portfolio in Québec and Vermont. As a strategic partner, Valener, on the one hand, contributes to Gaz Métro's growth, and on the other, invests in wind power production in Québec alongside Gaz Métro. Valener favours energy sources and uses that are innovative, clean, competitive and profitable. Valener's common shares and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the "VNR" symbol for common shares and under the "VNR.PR.A" symbol for Series A preferred shares. www.valener.com.

Overview of Gaz Métro and GMi

GMi mainly holds an economic interest of approximately 71% in Gaz Métro, for which it acts as the General Partner and a financing vehicle.

With more than $7 billion in assets, Gaz Métro is a leading energy provider. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Québec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves some 300 municipalities and more than 205,000 customers. Gaz Métro is also present in Vermont, where it serves more than 315,000 customers. There, it operates in the electricity production and the electricity and natural gas distribution markets. Gaz Métro is actively involved in developing and operating innovative, promising energy projects, including natural gas as fuel, liquefied natural gas as a replacement for higher emission-producing energies, the production of wind power and the development of biomethane. Gaz Métro is a major energy sector player that takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its partners (GMi and Valener Inc.) and employees. www.gazmetro.com.

Photos, videos (b-roll) and logos are available in Gaz Métro's Multimedia library.